Autistic grandson is making huge strides

David Schexnaydre with his 4-year-old grandson, Owen, who does speech and occupational therapy at Bay Area Rehabilitation Center.

“Owen was diagnosed about two years ago with a mild form of autism, and he was speech delayed. When I moved in with my son to help, the only thing Owen was saying at that time was ‘no.’ He was talking very little. Very little motion or gestures, anything like that.

“But now his speech is really improving. He’s saying two and three words, sometimes as many as four at a time. He already had some work doing sign language, so that is involved in his sentences sometimes.

“Yesterday for the first time, I was sitting on the couch at home when he walked up and said, ‘Pawpaw, what’s happening?’ That was pretty cool.

“Mr. Bill, his occupational therapist, has done wonders for Owen. He knows how to dress himself now. He’ll count out different objects with me and things like that. He’s learned how to put his shoes on.

“With autism, using the bathroom is sometimes a challenge, but he uses the bathroom pretty much on command now. That’s the last thing we’re hoping for, that he comes to us and tells us he needs to use the bathroom. When we get that taken care of, we think he’ll be in pretty good shape.”

— David Schexnaydre