Possibilities Center - Empowering Families Through Autism Resources

Thank you families that participated in our 3rd annual Wet and Sensory Foam event it was a great time ; the weather was perfect 👍. Thank you to all our community vendors that stepped up and came out to help volunteer your time to help make this a fun and exciting event for our kids. TALK ABA, Inc. The-A-signBloom Artistry

“ Why fit in when you were born to stand out” -
Dr. Seuss

This event is today !!!!! Join us ☀️☀️☀️☀️🙌

Today is National Disability Independence Day 🙌

Boys Club Pool Party 🎉 2024

let’s dance 🪩 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Today was so much fun 🥰🥰

Something we don’t talk about enough is the uncertainty and anxiety that come with your nonverbal child being sick.

When Charlie is sick, we only find out when it becomes glaringly obvious—like a fever or a cough. Charlie has an incredibly high pain tolerance, and when we can see that he’s unwell, we know it’s serious. This constant worry gnaws at me: what if he had something like appendicitis? I had mine removed during the pandemic before it burst because I could recognize the symptoms. But a child like Charlie can’t communicate those early signs of pain, and that terrifies me.

Today, I took Charlie to the doctor, trying to figure out why he has a fever and refuses to eat. The doctor saw that his throat is red, so at least we know he has a sore throat. We're still waiting on the strep, COVID, and flu tests results but it’s most likely just a cold.

What truly breaks my heart is the lack of training most nurses and healthcare professionals have regarding nonverbal autism. I explained to the nurse that Charlie is nonverbal and can’t tell us what he’s feeling. Our conversation went like this:

**Nurse:** What’s going on with Charlie?

**Me:** He has a fever and is refusing to eat, but I don’t know what else he’s feeling. He’s nonverbal and unable to communicate pain and feelings.

**Nurse:** Does he have a headache?

**Me:** I don’t know. He can’t tell me…

**Nurse:** Sore throat? Cough?

**Me:** 😐

I understand they have to ask those routine questions, but it’s frustrating. I feel unheard; probably something Charlie and I have in common. I wish there was more training.

I love our doctor’s office, but the lack of education on severe nonverbal autism is something I’ve noticed everywhere. There’s so much room for improvement. If anyone has any ideas on how to incorporate more autism training in nursing school, I’m all ears. This change would benefit millions of kiddos and their caregivers.

Today Boys Club worked on some fun crafts awesome 👏 job!

Coming Soon Yay!!

Summer Event please see flyer for details; thank you

Please follow us on our Instagram page ❤️❤️❤️

This is true for my son

The other day my husband was having a disagreement with our almost thirteen year old.

As the discussion went on, their voices were getting louder, more frustrated.

Our youngest, Finn, who is ten and autistic can be affected by the vibe or energy that fills a room.

He feels that negativity.

It makes him worry.

It increases his anxiety.

Although it wasn’t directed at him, he reacts.

He goes into fight or flight.

This can lead to a meltdown, aggression and even self injury.

I could tell he was beginning to get agitated at the loud voices he was hearing.

I could see his body becoming more tense.

His breathing more rapid. Heavy.

In those moments, I usually plead with the others in my home to not argue because it upsets our son.

I ask for voices to be lowered. For tones to change into more calm ones.

Obviously conflict can be a part of life, but our Baby Bird is so sensitive to that environment.

Loud, argumentative, and angry are triggers.

He struggles when people around him are like this.

Even at school, I would have to make sure his days weren’t filled with moments like this.

I would have to remind his teachers and it was even in his IEP.

He doesn’t like surprises. He likes to know what to expect.

I believe he uses past memories as a sort of compass to determine what a situation might end up like.

So when these moments arrise, I think he assumes it’s directed towards him.

Maybe that he’s in trouble.

I think it’s a moment of uncertainty for him.

He started to scream and throw things.

Then he started to cry.

I went to him on the couch and I’m not sure why…

But I said three words to him.

“You are safe.”

I explained to him that it was ok. He was safe. He wasn’t in any trouble and nothing bad was going to happen.

I wanted him to know that not only about himself, but about everyone he loves.

He can be a fierce protector too.

You could literally see the lightbulb moment he had in his teary eyes.

His defenses immediately went down.

His body more relaxed.

He let me hold him and I gave his arms some deep pressure squeezes, something that helps him, giving him the proprioceptive input that he often needs to regulate.

I told him I loved him and I asked him he could make me a list for our next grocery trip, trying to distract him from the noise in the background.

In my eight years of this journey, I’ve never used that phrase.

I’m not sure why or why it came to me in the moment.

Everyday, I learn more about my son and what he needs.

I learn how to navigate his hard moments and I follow his lead as much as possible.

How simple those three words were.

It made sense. Our kids are frightened in those moments. They need to hear that it’s going to be ok and that they are free from harms way.

The unknown can be scary for them.

A past situation or memory can be triggered.

We need to remind them that each scenario is different.

We need to guide them through those difficult times and be their calm in the storm.

Do you have a child who is sensitive to their environment like this?

What do you say or do to help them in their hard moments?

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PLEASE SAVE THE DATE NOW!!! THANK YOU

Kids Zumba at Activate Nutrition & Fitness on Saturdays 10 am. Please use this coupon for 50% off membership fee.

SPORTS Day with the Boys Club super fun time playing sports today . Thank you Oscar Rodríguez Martin Park for opening your recreational park and your warm and generous hospitality cooking us tacos and corn to our families . Your amazing! ❤️⚽️🏀🌞 a big THANK YOU

❤️❤️🎉🎉🎉🌞🌞🌞❤️❤️🍨🍨🍨

Pictures and video footage of our 4th annual ice cream social 🌞🍨❤️🎉 thank you Francis Farias-Ruiz kids Zumba ; Girl Scouts 5165 for rootbeer floats Bobette Smith ; Core3fitness in Clovis ;and GTS DJ events a special thank you to all our wonderful volunteers that made this event happen. Thank you to all our amazing families for coming out and enjoying this event.