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Meet Miles

April is Autism Awareness Month! Please join with us to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism. 

Born in New York, Miles spent the first 18 months of his life shuttling between Manhattan and Seattle, and was a very typical, healthy, happy boy,.  Then, seemingly overnight, everything changed.  His parent’s were concerned as Miles’ began to exhibit the signs of autism.  Where he had loved playing, Miles stopped interacting.  Where he was an early talker, he suddenly lost all speech.  Where he had been an adventurous eater, he suddenly became finicky.  Where he had always been fearless and curious, he now avoided commonplace textures like grass and sand.  Where he had been affectionate, Miles was suddenly withdrawn, no longer responding to his name or willing to make eye contact.  When he wasn’t staring blankly out the window or at his own fingers as he splayed them in front of his face, he would often cover his ears, rocking back and forth and cry uncontrollably for hours.  Worst of all for his parents, Miles detested and recoiled from any touch or affection.   He appeared to be drowning in his own world, and his parents were helpless.

By Miles’ second birthday, Miles’ parents turned to Seattle Children’s Autism Center hoping to find an answer to their son’s regression.  Soon thereafter Miles received a formal diagnosis of autism.  Autism is not life threatening in the conventional sense, but it is no less crushing — in a very real sense the Miles that had been there at 12 months was now gone forever.   Hopes and dreams are suddenly replaced by gripping fears and uncertainty.  The adventurous, loving and talkative little boy was now gone, yet there was no time to grieve, because Miles needed help.

Seattle Children’s Autism Center was a beacon in the storm for the DiBona’s.  Starting from the day of diagnosis, the Autism Center listened to Miles’ family’s concerns and fears.  They provided access to wonderful medical professionals, innovative therapies, help finding a developmental preschool, and, perhaps most importantly, empathy and hope.  At this time, Miles and his family had fully relocated to Seattle, far from any family or support network that they might had “back home,” and Seattle Children’s Autism Center not only offered encouragement, guidance and support, but also, in a very real way, became “family” for Miles and his parents.

Seattle Children’s Autism Center provides assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support for autism spectrum disorders. We offer a range of medical and mental health services for babies, children and young adults.