Laila’s key to community

Laila, a six-year-old girl living in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, was diagnosed with autism early in life. As a result, she suffers from significant communication challenges and cannot express her physical and emotional needs nor engage in social interactions. Laila also experienced limited physical movement,which meant she could not engage in play without significant support. After a difficult start to life, Laila was brought by her mother to the Spafford Center where she received intensive speech and occupational therapy services.

Over the course of her time with the project, Laila made remarkable progress. She learned various communication strategies that would allow those closest to her to use critical words and pictures to understand her needs. Laila’s speech therapist taught her to improve her articulation and language skills, while her occupational therapist focused on sensory integration and fine motor coordination through playing together.

After considerable work, including training Laila’s caregivers in helpful strategies to support her development, Laila began using simple sentences to express herself and engage in conversations with others. She started to play with her peers and demonstrate independence in daily activities.

Laila’s journey has not only increased her social inclusion but also dramatically changed what life looks like for her family. The support provided created a stronger sense of unity, and increasing social interactions mean the family no longer feels isolated from their community.

The Spafford Center has given Laila the opportunity to engage in community life meaningfully and has provided her and her family with the support they need to learn and grow together.