Family says controversial autism program a miracle

Kian Reaich began life as a happy, healthy little boy.

“He was a very typically developing kid and he was almost exceptional,” says his mother Kirsta.” He was speaking at a three-year- old level when he was two, and then he just shut down.”

“We lost contact with him, he stopped talking all together, there was no eye contact and all we could get out of him was this kind of eerie moaning.”

Kian was diagnosed with severe autism, and for two years, nothing seemed to help.

Then Krista heard about the “Son Rise” program at an Autism Canada conference last year.

“By joining these children in their repetitive behavior instead of stopping them, people using the Son Rise program can enter a child’s world and develop a real relationship with them.”

Krista tried one of the program’s techniques, copying Kian’s repetitive behaviours, and after a short while, she says something amazing happened.

“He relaxed and he jumped up and wrapped his arms around me and said,” I love you Mommy”. I still can’t believe that happened, I couldn’t stop crying.”

Since then, Kian’s parents their son’s progress has been incredible, but it hasn’t been easy. They have had to travel to the U.S. several times for instruction in the program’s techniques.

They practice the play techniques with Kian for hours every day, with the help of volunteers.

But all the time and effort has been well worth it.

“The changes we’ve seen in this little boy have been astonishing.”

The program has also been expensive and the Reiach’s turned to fundraising to help cover their costs.

Now they are raising money to help other families.

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