Early Intervention Impact Felt 12 Years Later

Autism is near and dear to Black Stitch Apparel. Its owner and creator, Lisa Hall, has an Autistic son, Bradlee.  Bradlee entered the Up to 3 program at age two.  Now, he works at his family’s apparel company.

Nearly 12 years after her son was in Up to 3, Lisa wanted to give back to the program and bring awareness to Autism.  Beginning in April, Black Stitch Apparel started a fundraiser and donated all proceeds to Up to 3.

The Up to 3 Early Intervention Program is a part of the Center for Persons with Disabilities.  The program promotes the development of children who have any type of disability or developmental delay under the age of 3, providing specialized instruction for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

In June, Up to 3’s Janel Preston met with the Hall family to receive the fundraising money.  Janel was the family’s autism service provider and helped Bradlee receive an autism diagnosis.  She taught important intervention skills that helped the family engage and communicate with their child. She was greeted by the immediate Hall family and both sets of grandparents.  Janel said the experience was, “humbling […] to see that [her] interventions with this family made such a difference in all their lives.”

Early Intervention and obtaining a diagnosis impacts not only the child but the entire family, Preston said. Teaching parents to advocate for their child creates young adults and adults who in turn advocate for themselves.

Up to 3 thanks Black Stitch Apparel for their generous donation and support.

For more information about Early Intervention, contact Up to 3.

Support Black Stitch Apparel by visiting their Facebook Page.