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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa-based autism center has expanded its services in the northeast part of the state, a move one mother says has helped her better communicate with her three-year-old son.
The Homestead is celebrating its grand opening in Cedar Falls on Wednesday, though the facility has been open for several weeks. The company offers services to children and adults with autism, and it maintains offices in several parts of the state.
Brienna Decker's son, Garrett, was diagnosed with autism as a toddler.
"There are twenty people around every corner with their own recommendations, and not everything is necessarily clinically based," the Cedar Falls mom said of her process for selecting care for her son.
Decker heard of The Homestead but realized the closest facility was an hour away. That's now changed with the expansion into Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reported (http://bit.ly/1Pr2WB2 ). Garrett recently began receiving one-on-one treatment through the Cedar Falls center.
Decker said the treatment so far has had a major impact on Garett.
"At almost four years old, for the first time Garrett has a functional form of communication," she told the station.
Courtney Roberts, the clinic supervisor in Cedar Falls, often works with Garrett during sessions scheduled five times a week.
"We bring things into his environment and see what he plays with, what snacks he likes to eat," she said. "From there, we work on building up the skills."
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Information from: KCRG-TV, http://www.kcrg.com
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