Our Journey Begins: Alex’s Story
This is where our story begins. For the rest, we just roll with the punches.
Early Milestones & First Concerns
Hi, I’m Alex, and I was born in August 2012. In February 2016, I was diagnosed with moderate autism.
In the beginning, everything seemed to be on track — I hit all my developmental milestones right on time, and even a bit early in some areas. But around my first birthday, something didn’t feel quite right. My parents noticed I wasn’t responding when they called my name.
Concerned, they took me for the standard 1-year hearing test. My hearing was perfectly fine, but they also raised worries about my speech delay. The audiologist encouraged them to consult a speech pathologist. The speech pathologist confirmed there was indeed a delay and recommended regular therapy sessions.
The Crèche Experience
Hoping to support my development further, my parents enrolled me in a small crèche just down the road. It took me a little while to adjust, but after a few weeks, I started to enjoy going to “school.” The group was small, the teachers were kind, and I ate well. Mealtimes became something I looked forward to — I loved my lunchbox and even started trying the cooked meals they served there.
A Sudden Regression
But by mid-year, things began to change.
I became more withdrawn. I stopped eating many of the foods I once enjoyed and started spending more time alone, avoiding interaction with the other children. I grew increasingly sensitive to loud noises and crowds, lined up my toys repetitively, avoided eye contact, and the few words I had never progressed.
Still, the teachers were gentle and patient — something my parents were deeply grateful for.
Life Takes a Turn
Then, life shifted again. At the end of that year, our home life changed dramatically. We had to move. The new place wasn’t near my current crèche, so I had to start at a different one. And to make it even harder, Granny and Grandpa had to move away, too, for a while.
For someone like me, someone with autism, change is incredibly hard.
New places. New people. New routines. It can feel like everything is unravelling.
The Beginning of Our True Journey
It was at the new crèche that everything came to a head —
… and our journey truly began….