Hello everyone,
I am Deanna, as many of you know, and this will be the first time I will be telling you about Jp's journey. This journey has been an eye opener, a heart jerker and one that has brought me to my personal highs and at the same my personal lows. This journey has not been easy- but it's been wondrous.

Jp was born in Maplewood, MN on July 8th 2019. My labor was fast and fierce (just like JP). Undenounced to me, JP was born with his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck twice and was apparently very blue to those who were there. Jp was a normal developing child, he ate like an adult man, slept like a rock and smiled like no other.
It wasn't till Jp was around one and half that I and others noticed that Jp did not always seem to answer his name and he had no interest in talking. Around 2 years old I brought this up to his primary doctor and was told "boys talk later" and "this must be your first boy" "you don't need to worry, he's so social!" I worried- and you that know me know I worried! At this time I feel like we were on the train of the never ending ear infection train and I was positive he needed to be seen by an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) specialist. I took him in so many times for these ear infections I was starting to break. I brought this up to his primary care MD who explained to me that she was apart of the team who developed the standard of care in Canada for children with ear infections and when they should be referred to an ENT; according to her Jp had not had enough of them for us to be referred to an ENT. I am going to be fully transparent here and tell you all I was mad, hurt and I felt like I was consistently being dismissed. I went with this for another 4 months till Jp was at a WIC appointment and they recommended that I self refer to a program called "Help Me Grow." I got on my phone that night and placed the self referral, mind you this was peek COVID.
Month's later we had a team of people come out to our home to meet Jp and be jumped on by our huge goldendoodle puppy Quincy. The team listened to my concerns and answered all of my questions and feelings of being dismissed for so long about my concerns- at the end of our visit the dog was just as exhausted as I. He got belly rubs and Jp finally got a referral for a hearing test. I honestly felt, for the first time in a long time, heard, seen and understood.
Jp would then end up at the University of Minnesota audiology clinic where to my surprise was full of elderly men who all stared at Jp and I as I checked in with a backpack full of toys and snacks in the middle of winter. I'm sure I was a hot sweaty mess! Jp looked out the windows at all the huge construction equipment next to the clinic and he ran and ran and ran. If you are thinking all of that excitement slowed him down- you don't know Jp. We met with the audiologist and attempted a hearing test- anyone who has done this with a child; bless your heart! That was hell! After meeting with the ENT to talk about the results it turned out Jp was not hearing all the sounds he should be. And I was, for the first time, not shocked. I was every emotion all at the same time. The doctor went on to tell me that Jp had been hearing things like his hands are over his ears and that tubes would be the best treatment for him for now. We scheduled his surgery and waited to see if it was a success. At our follow up hearing test (round two of HELL) a sedated ABR (Audiology Brainstem Response) test was ordered and we scheduled this procedure knowing that this would be either 100% hearing or he would need hearing aids. Jp's tubes were a success! He at the amazing age of 4 years old was now hearing at 100%.
While I had been battling his auditory concerns, Jp attended speech therapy for his speech delay and occupational therapy. We fell in love with our team- they were at many times the only ones who understood my tears, frustrations, mini break downs and feelings of guilt. These would also be the same women who would guide me to the thought of Jp having Autism.

This is where our journey really started with autism.
Jp was referred to Fraser, "they are the Autism experts
 and that is where we got what they call a medical diagnosis of Autism- Level 2. I won't lie to any of you reading this and say I was happy-  I was relieved to finally have this amazing team supporting both Jp and I; but I was scared. I was scared of what that was going to look like for Jp developmentally, scared of what it actually meant for him academically, socially and what Jp's future would look like.

This is where I did what I always do; I dug and I dug and I dug. I checked out 25+ audiobooks on Autism; I am sure anything with the word Autism in it is in my timeline of checked out audiobooks. I researched everything and anything I could on Autism Level 2 and I did what my instincts told me to do- push forward.
When Jp was an infant he told me when he needed to be fed, changed and when he just wanted to held, and he SLEPT! At his older sister's softball games, people would tell me they wished they could sleep like he did- anywhere, anyplace, anytime and it didn't matter what the weather was, he would sleep.  Now that he's 5 it's less of sleeping anywhere anytime, and more of the I'll put myself to sleep and tell everyone else "goodnight," and if you didn't know that means everyone has to go to sleep too. The lesson behind that story is that Jp didn't need words to tell me what he needed, I trusted him and he trusted me to know what he needed and what he wanted, and this too is something that hasn't faded away.    
Jp is now 5 years old, he's in kindergarten and is very intelligent. The only difference between Jp and his peers is that Jp doesn't always use his voice to communicate. Jp has an AAC device (Augmented and Alternative Communication), which he uses to communicate. This has been a struggle since Jp likes to use the device to tell you the colors of the rainbow and ask for skittles and pancakes!
Most recently I have learned through my self education that Jp is a gestalt learner (I've included a link to give you all the information on this, https://neurolaunch.com/gestalt-language-processing/)
Jp's verbal communication has increased so much since attending Fraser and since he has started Kindergarten. He still struggles with conversational speech but he can name just about any animal and he can sing and dance to just about any animated movie. His new thing to say is "Hi, I'm Jp. What's your name?" :) and Yes, he is still taking his peanut toy and slamming it into the fridge while he yells "kill the beast!" Lately he's been quoting lines from Finding Nemo, so we are all about "first day of school, wake up! wake up Nemo!" and his most recent is if you ask him "how's the lucky fin?" He'll tell you "lucky!"  If you haven't had the experience of a Jp movie quote you are missing out on life!
Since learning about GLP (Gestalt Language Processing) I've come to understand why Jp uses scripting, echolalic language, and Idiosyncratic language; these are the ways Jp communicates and I am now fluent in Jp!

Jp's Journey is just one of millions. His is unique but not so much so and I have come to learn. I would like to share some interesting facts about autism:
1. The definition of Autism:  Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to complex developmental disorders and a wide range of health conditions that are responsible for various communication, social, skill, and behavioral challenges for a person.
That means Autism is not a single disability. Rather, it is a combination of various disorders.
2. Researches suggest that there aren’t any significant differences in the brain anatomy of the person with ASD compared to the general public. However, it affects the development of the particular areas of the brain that are associated with communication, social interaction, cognitive function, and skills. Simply put, autism is not a disease. Rather, it is a state of being.
3. Autism Has Nothing To Do with Intelligence
One of the most common theories is that autistic people are not intelligent. It is definitely not the case at all. Autism has nothing to do with the smartness or intelligence of a person. There are a lot of people diagnosed with autism that are very bright, creative, and have exceptional intelligence in certain subjects. Autism affects more in the likes of social skills, and emotional issues rather than learning abilities and development skills.
4. In 2023, about 1 in 36 children in the USA have been diagnosed with an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) like ADHD, OCD, ADD, or Bipolar Disorder – according to CDC and based on 2020 data.
5. Genetics-Simply put, there is not any specific single reason that we can blame for causing autism. However, according to various researches, genetics is one of the main causes. And, there is other research that suggests that ASD develops from a combination of environmental, non-genetic, and genetic influences.
6. There are various theories that chess is actually a great game to teach kids with autism. It is stated that many individuals with ASD show unusual skills in attention and organization compared to the general public. As a result, they can perform a lot better at chess. Also, as chess is a game of tactics and strategy, it becomes easy for people with ASD to focus. Interestingly, there are a lot of chess masters that are diagnosed with autism.
7.  These may be some super strengths for people who have ASD:
-Exceptional memory: Many individuals with autism have remarkable long-term memory capabilities, particularly for facts, details, and specific interests.
-Visual-spatial skills: Some autistic individuals excel in tasks involving visual-spatial processing, such as puzzles, pattern recognition, and visual arts.
-Attention to detail: A keen eye for detail is a common strength, which can be advantageous in fields like quality control, proofreading, or scientific research.
-Logical thinking: Many individuals with autism demonstrate strong logical and analytical thinking skills, which can be valuable in areas like mathematics, computer programming, and engineering.
-Special interests: Intense focus on specific topics can lead to deep expertise and innovative thinking in particular areas.
8. Autism Spectrum Disorder is more common than childhood diabetes, AIDS, and cancer combined. But it is still one of the least funded.
9.Autism spectrum disorder is not a disorder that gets worse with age. Individuals with ASD can learn and build new skills with the right support, and are most likely to improve with specialized, individualized services and opportunities for supported inclusion.
10. Boys are nearly 5 times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ASD.  Girls are often underdiagnosed with autism and misdiagnosed with other conditions.

Now that you've learned about both Jp and a little about Autism- I'd like to ask for your support. Steps for Autism is a fun little get together with a mini walk, hosted by The Autism Society of Minnesota. AuSM is a place where everyone can learn, access services, and develop skills. The organization has supported autistics for over 50 years. We support the whole state, the whole lifespan, and the whole spectrum.  We work to make the lives of individuals and families affected by autism better. AuSM serves Minnesotans throughout their lives. Our most important commitments are to:
Advocacy
Education
Support
Collaboration
Community building.

Because this is so near and dear to my heart I am asking if you would like to either donate to or hang out with us at the Steps for Autism event. As I learn more about what Jp's journey can look like I want to be sure that he and so many others have the resources they need to be encouraged, embraced and accepted, something that can be done with help from organizations like The Autism Society of Minnesota. You can choose to donate by clicking on the link and selecting "Jp's Journey" as the team you'd like to donate to or you can personally contact me (if you know me, you know me!) There are shirts you can purchase for the walk as well. You do not need to pay to come to the event or take part in the "walk" and you do not need to buy a shirt to participate in the event. I have pasted the link here for the shirts https://www.bonfire.com/steps-for-autism-2025/
and the webpage here https://givebutter.com/LV5BL6
Event information:
Steps for Autism 2025
Sunday, May 18th, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT
In Person
3700 Monterey Dr, St Louis Park, MN 55416, USA

Join us for the 25th Annual Steps for Autism in Minnesota from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sunday, May 18 at the ROC at the St. Louis Park Rec Center. You'll experience fun activities, an autism resource fair, and opportunities for community connections. It's always free to attend the resource fair and event on May 18, although we request that you register in advance.
What to Expect at Steps for Autism:
Resource Fair – Connect with organizations that offer services, programs, and support for the autism community.
Stage Show & Costumed Characters – Enjoy entertainment and engaging performances for all ages.
Fun and Inclusive Activities – Participate in interactive experiences designed for all abilities.
Community Building – Join families, autistic individuals, and allies in a welcoming, inclusive space.

Thank you all for choosing to be a part of Jp's Journey!