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Lynda Tache had a gut feeling that something might be different about her 9-month-old son's behavior, a sentiment that didn't change even when her pediatrician continued to tell her otherwise. Her son, Grant, was fine, he'd say.
At age 6, when Grant was diagnosed with autism the bittersweet moment of confirmation was addled by uncertainty. Other than local support groups, a bit of help from the Clark County School District, as well as state programs with waiting lists, the options weren't plentiful.
Additionally, Grant's late diagnosis meant they'd missed valuable time. Research has shown that early intervention is critical to improving basic abilities and even determines how your child will live later on in life. "It was devastating," she said. "The younger they are, the quicker they learn and it connects."
Following Grant's diagnosis, she mined for information from other parents she'd connected with in groups or at school. She did extensive research on her...