We went from trying to survive to thriving with the Arrowsmith Program
How can we help the children in our country? Stop labelling them and saying what
they can’t do and research what the brain can do! Give them the chance to dream.
We have been on this journey with our child since they were three years old. After
being told by medical professionals that they were autistic, they would never talk,
write, or go to a normal school. In addition, we were informed when they were in
Grade 1 to brace ourselves as they would “get worse as they get older” and to put
them on medication. From the age of 6, their chance of living a normal life or getting
any sort of career seemed to already be decided by these professionals, and they
were boxed into this ‘never going to do so many things.’ For our child, I would never
accept this and started on the journey of healing the brain.
Whilst our journey has been long and difficult, the Arrowsmith Program has been
profoundly life-changing not only for them, but for our entire family. At the time, we
couldn’t access the program in Australia, so we left for Toronto to access the
program. This program is now offered online and is being accessed by many
parents who have been given no hope for their child from specialists, only a
diagnosis, and many hours of therapy.
In 10 years, we have gone from a child who struggled to write and we had to provide
a laptop in year 1, struggled with maths and reading comprehension, struggled to
make friends, and was being bullied, to today, a university graduate at the age of 20.
The year in Canada doing the Arrowsmith Program transformed their life. In 10
years, they caught up the 6 years they were behind in 18 months with a tutor, went
back into school in Year 7, completed Year 12 with A’s and B’s in their subjects, as
well as completing 4 university subjects and also a diploma in Business. They also
gave the valedictorian speech at their school formal.
When we went to Canada to ‘try’ this brain cognition program, half of us were from
Australia, as we all said nothing back home was working for our child. If we had
walked the journey that was recommended for our child from all the medical,
educational and specialists, they would not be where they are today and needing life
time of assistance. We had tried all the recommended therapies, but nothing was
helping. Until you address the cognitive issues, learning and school can be torture
for them.
There is a huge need for this program. I believe so passionately in the Arrowsmith
Program to help change the trajectory of a child’s life.
As Barbara Arrowsmith says, “Having a learning disability absolutely is not a life
sentence. You can strengthen very particular parts of the brain to allow them
to function, and it’s amazing when it happens.”
Science has proven that the brain has the capacity to change, and now Australian
education, medical, and government need to catch up. For the sake of our children,
the families and the cost to the country.