At Optism, we deeply understand the various challenges families face when raising neurodiverse children, as this is precisely the journey we have experienced ourselves.
When my son Vince was just two years old, I started to notice that he wasn’t developing typically. Unlike other children his age, he wasn’t speaking, avoided eye contact, and walked on his tippy toes. As a first-time mother, I was worried and took him to see various pediatricians, but their diagnoses were contradictory and inconclusive.
Finally, when Vince was three, we received a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and our journey of intensive therapy, weekly doctor visits, and desperate school searches began. The social stigma surrounding autism in Asia only added to the difficulty, making us feel isolated at times.
But fast forward a decade, and with the support system we have built over the years, Vince has made remarkable progress. He never ceases to amaze me with his resilience, intelligence and great sense of humor.
Once nonverbal, Vince now attends a mainstream school, holds meaningful conversations, and is an avid track athlete. His progress fills me with pride and gratitude for the people who have played a role in his development.
One evening, as Vince and I looked back at old photos and marveled at how far he has come, my son smiled and said something that changed everything. “Mommy, I think we should help other people.” And that’s how Optism was born.