Yubisela Terrones is the parent of Brayden. Brayden was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) when he was 4.5 years old. WAA asked Yubisela to share their story for this month’s “Story of Hope”.
“Brayden was about 2 years old when I noticed he wasn’t responding to his name, and he wasn’t playing with other kids, among other things.” Yubisela recounts. “He continued to struggle. When he was about 4.5 years old he was diagnosed with ASD.”
Yubisela faced what seemed like a devastating challenge. “It’s one thing to find out your child has autism. Now, imagine when you are a single mom with low income... you know your life is never going to be the same. But you still have hope that everyone will be ready to help your child. Then you realize that everywhere you go there are so many protocols and hoops to jump through – waiting lists, requirements to meet. That is when your real tough life starts.”
“As a single mom I knew no one else would help my son like me, so I enrolled him in every program/therapy I was referred to only to find very long wait lists and requirements to meet. I was active and found limited options available in my area. We did parent training, online lessons. But I knew it was not enough.
After my many calls my health insurance company enrolled me at every therapy office available in the Tri-Cities, and also one in Spokane. That program had a spot for a 12-week program. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I quit my job, found subsidized overnight lodging for 3-nights/week in a hotel for 2 months.
You should have seen us driving back & forth from the Tri-Cities to Spokane with boxes of clothes, toys, food… even through the snow! It was tough to find, but I found lodging to complete the third month of therapy. My son needed this.”
“One day WAA called to check on me. When I told them what I was doing, they said ‘let me see how we are going to help you’. Not IF, but HOW they are going to help. Within days they had arranged online ABA parenting training, and in-home personal therapy for my son! That sounded too good to be true. But thank God, it was true!”
“I don't have enough words to describe how amazing WAA’s help has been in our lives. Because of WAA our life has changed for good by getting the services that my child needs.”
“To understand that a single mom with a little child doesn’t need to drive 2 hours in the snow and stay at a hotel. And now, because WAA connected me, we have ABA therapy services coming to our house. And not just us. This company is now opening offices in the Tri-Cities to help more families. WAA didn’t just help us. They help us and many more families like us.”
When asked what are the ways that she thinks WAA is preparing Washington for children and families, Yubisela says, “You’ve proven that you get REAL HELP for your Members. Being a parent with a child with Autism is already a big challenge. What you’re doing is throwing a rope to parents that are drowning, you swim up to them, give them your hand and save their life. You gave us all the information we need and then you grab our hands so we don’t walk this path alone! And finally, I want to remind you that you also helped other families from the Tri-Cities area to have hope!”