For the longest time, Landon Graham didn’t have the voice to speak for himself. A student at Academic and Behavior School (ABS) East, Graham is nonverbal autistic. Also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Graham and loved ones used cues and an iPad at home with customized commands to communicate.
ABS East and its staff opened doors Graham and his family didn’t know were possible. More individualized attention and support changed his trajectory. A new iPad with curriculum expanded his learning and opened his communication.
Graham’s journey culminated with him donning a graduation cap and gown as he joined six fellow ABS East graduates for a school celebration on May 16.
“He had no voice,” said Lesley Bennett, Landon’s mother. “Especially when I’m not around. I know what Landon needs and wants, but now he can confirm it. He now can tell me what he wants from Walmart. He can go grocery shopping on my phone.
“This has opened up new ways of communicating. It gave him a voice.”
Landon showed signs of delayed development and autism at an early age, which included not speaking. At three years old, he began early childhood special education in Clear Creek Independent School District.
Now 19, his struggles have not only affected his learning and development, but his behavior too. But this is what ABS East staff excel at and they quickly found ways to connect with Graham and work with his nonverbal cues.
He quickly expanded his learning, including his vocabulary as he typed commands in the iPad.
“It’s interesting to recognize his growth,” ABS East teacher Antionette Dargins said. “He’s a wiz with the calculator and finding out what words he knows is interesting because it’s not traditional like a spelling test or reading sentences.”
At the graduation, Graham’s mother and grandmother hid in the back of the room, knowing he may run to them instead of staying up front with the other graduates. The plan worked and the two cheered from the back while Graham was called to the front for an outstanding student award before later going up to honor his graduation.
Graham’s smile was beaming and his mother was thankful.
“He has come a very long way,” she said. “I’m very grateful for the school. We used to not know what he wanted. Now he’s able to tell us.”