Who are these people, anyway?

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Reuven was born in the summer of 2005, one year after we got married. Three and a half years later, in a neurologists office in Tel Aviv, he was officially diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome/ high functioning autism. My husband and I were 23 years old. 

The diagnosis seemed insane, since he had reached all of his milestones on time, and until he started playgroup, he had been a seemingly "normal" (if above average in cuteness) baby and toddler. This was the beginning of our journey with invisible disability.

After moving to New York to get the best services for him,  we tried therapy schools, mainstream schools and yeshivos with therapeutic support, afterschool home based interventions, therapy camps, special ed schools, a therapeutic school-house, homeschooling, talk therapy, and psychiatry. Some worked for a while, but ultimately, Reuven's specific and extremely unique diagnoses and heightened social awareness made most efforts fail.

It has been a long journey and now at the age of 17 and on the brink of total disaster, we have finally found a program that can help him.

So many people donated and continue to donate funds so that Reuven can get the treatment he needs. Many have supported Reuven and our family in other vital ways, and everyone is deeply invested in his progress. 

This blog is to include you all on this journey- so you can see what your efforts and generosity can accomplish!