From Troubled Toddler to Confident Kid

When DiMarco was a toddler, his parents suspected that something was very wrong. Not only was he severely developmentally delayed, but his behavior was also erratic. At 2 years of age, he functioned at the level of a 6-month-old. He screamed uncontrollably, and moved recklessly. He was a fearful and lonely child who could not relate to or socialize with other children. DiMarco frequently exploded in anger and literally could not sit still.

Exhausted, his family struggled with how to cope and maintain a normal family life while doing all they could for their troubled child.

Help came when DiMarco's daycare referred his parents to Familylinks. The Familylinks team of professionals quickly identified his behavior as the effects of Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with Pervasive Developmental Delays.

Through their wraparound services, Familylinks provided immediate family crisis intervention in the home, and worked with the entire family so that they could handle DiMarco's outbursts and problem behavior.

But the really phenomenal changes in DiMarco began when he became kindergarten age and was enrolled in Familylinks' Therapeutic Learning Center.

According to DiMarco's parents, "These people were so wonderful with our child! They provided special education and behavioral health services in a completely personal, caring, nurturing, educational environment tailored to DiMarco's needs. Their highly professional staff, including an on-staff psychiatrist, worked tirelessly with our family and achieved miraculous results."

Today, at the age of 9, DiMarco is learning at an 8-year-old level. He is calm. He is reading. He is doing math, and behaving with confidence and respect for others. His parents add, "Now, when we go to the mall, no one can tell that DiMarco has Autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder."