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SALT LAKE CITY — Behind Jaxxon’s big smile is a playful, energetic boy who is learning to connect with the world around him. Inside his classroom, the 7-year-old finds comfort in the things he loves: simple sensory play, interacting with his teachers and swinging around his favorite stuffed animal. “He is a really active kiddo,” said Kay Harden, program director at his school. “He’s been doing really well within his classroom.”Jaxxon has autism and is nonverbal, but Harden said he is learning how to connect and communicate in his own way. “When he first joined us, he didn’t have a lot of functional communication skills,” Harden said. “Over the last year, he’s learned some basic ways of communicating through sign language. He’s learned to say 'help' and 'please.'” Jaxxon also uses a communication system on an iPad to express his needs. As he has learned to communicate more, Harden said his personality has started to shine. “Now you see him running around and playing and smiling, and it’s just so, so nice to see him in an environment where he is really comfortable,” she said. That growth shows up in the moments Jaxxon enjoys most, like playing tag, throwing leaves and spending time with the people he trusts.“He’s starting to really play with peers, getting really comfortable with the staff over the last year,” Harden said. Now, Jaxxon needs a family that can continue helping him grow with patience, structure and support. “A family that is going to have a lot of structure within the home, but then also flexibility,” Harden said. Most of all, he needs a family that sees what his teachers already do; a joyful, growing boy full of potential. “He’s going to need an affectionate family,” Harden said. “He loves hugs.” His aides are hopeful that over the next year, Jaxxon will continue learning ASL and other ways to communicate. “I’m just excited to see him get that stability in a long-term home,” Harden said. To learn more about Jaxxon, visit RaiseTheFuture.org.
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