Taylor himself wakes every single morning dancing and I mean, FULL ON DANCING!! He runs into my room each morning and gives me a huge hug. He then continues to dance and play with his little therapy dog, Rufus. Rufus, a companion dog, is a King Charles Spaniel and Taylor’s best friend.
Taylor has a zest for life and an infectious laugh. It is hard to believe how such happiness can shine through so many challenges.
Taylor was diagnosed at birth with Down syndrome. At the age of eight he was diagnosed with Autism. He is non-verbal and relies on his communication device to speak. He suffers from severe oral aversion that hinders his speech and his ability to eat. He is only able to eat a couple of different foods.
He requires Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech Therapy as well as a specialized school with a one to one teacher and behavior therapist. As with most children with Autism, he has difficulty socializing with children and adults and will more often than not, choose to play on his own.
With continued care he will continue to develop with the hope of eventually reaching his full potential and possibly independence.