Zach's parents want for him what every child deserves.  His mom Jill says, "I want Zach to be comfortable being Zach."  Until recently, communication difficulties were standing in the way of Zach's healthy development, and his parents were struggling to help him.

Jill's earliest suspicions were that her son had a hearing problem.  There were times when he seemed unable to hear even the loudest sounds.  After a hearing evaluation at age two ruled out hearing loss, the family went back to their pediatrician.  Zach was eventually diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and the family was referred to services through the school district.

Jill and Zach's father James were relieved to have an answer, but Zach's behavior grew more alarming after he started pre-school.  His parents received weekly phone calls from school regarding behavior incidents, and Zach was having a difficult time at home as well.  His compulsive behaviors caused him to shut out the rest of the world, disconnecting him from family members who wanted to help him.

Friends could sense Zach's parents' frustration, and one day someone mentioned the Rainbow Room program at the Liberty Children's Community Center.  The Rainbow Room is a pre-school classroom for children on the Autism Spectrum, and children in the Rainbow Room are fortunate to receive group and individual Speech-Language Therapy four days each week from the Delaware Speech and Hearing Center.  According to Jill, Andrea & Audrey, the Speech-Language Pathologists who work in the Rainbow Room "fit right into the fabric of the school," attending welcome meetings, and sending notes home to parents in their students' journals.

Zach is now in his second year in the Rainbow Room.  Through their interactions with the Delaware Speech and Hearing Center, his family has learned that many of their difficulties came from Zach's communication barriers.  They know now that, although "Zach always spoke, it didn't mean he was communicating."  He could repeat memorized phrases, but rarely knew the meaning of what he was saying.

In addition to Speech-Language Therapy, Zach sees an occupational therapist and has worked with a dietician.  Although "he is working very hard, he has no idea.  He thinks he's playing," which Jill thinks is the key to the success of this therapies.  Zach's parents learned the importance of play therapy from his Delaware Speech and Hearing Center therapists, who use games to teach a variety of speech, language and social skills.

When asked what she would share with other parents, Jill returns to the importance of communication therapy in the treatment of Austims Spectrum Disorders.  Since "learning is 100% communcation and observation," which are delayed in children with Autism, Speech-Language Therapy is essential.  Although they know that Zach will need further guidance as he enters each new phase of his life, Jill and James have hope now that their son is affectively voicing his thoughts and opinions.  "You have to be able to communicate with your child to have a loving relationship with them," and with help from the Rainbow Room and the Delaware Speech and Hearing Center, Zach is listening, talking and sharing like never before.