Why We Do What We Do!

PDC attended the 10th annual camp & resource fair hosted by Ingrid & her team from Mikey's Place.

During the resource fair, I met providers, family members, and parents with similar concerns. One lady, in her 60s, approached our table and asked, "Do you have any programs or activities for my 44-year old autistic daughter?". I perused through the volumes of resources & information that myself & Birgit Fisher post on Houston Autism Resources & Support and I came up with nothing. The lady told me her daughter worked part-time and had a job as a mail sorter prior to that. She also told me that activities and programs for adult autistics were scant. My mind started racing. I realized the lady standing before me could be me in 20 years! My autistic daughter is, currently, 13-years old. She is the reason Mr. Loren Marvin and I founded Paradigm Development Center (PDC).

I locked into this lady's words like my life depended on it. She went on to tell me that things never really got easier, she just got stronger. She grew as her daughter grew from one year to the next. She said that for years she has been connected to the same group of people who also have adult loved ones on the spectrum. I am very thankful to have met her and even more thankful she was so willing to share. It's always productive to gain real insight from people that are experiencing similar life circumstances. This insight is valuable because at Paradigm Development Center (PDC) we understand that this is a long-term educational journey, for our students. A journey that more than likely will not end at 18-years old. We are preparing our students for the 18 to 50 years AFTER they complete the formal education required by the state.

Workplace readiness or college readiness is at the center of our focus. We know that academics alone will not and is not assisting our student population to grow and reach their full potential as independent adults. Did you know that up to 85 percent of college graduates on the autism spectrum are unable to find and maintain stable employment? This article highlights ONE reason.

Each day, at PDC, we focus on academics equally as much as we focus on office skills, workplace or college readiness, social mannerisms, psycho-social management skills, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills. Every lesson and every activity at PDC is not just to educate but also to provide our students with the skills to survive in a society that may not understand them. A society, I might add, that typically doesn't want to understand them.

At PDC, we understand the importance of bringing awareness to others about autism. However, we also understand this is not necessarily an immediate reality that will have positive effects on our students. The bottom line: We teach our students where they are so they can slowly transition into society. Yes, society should be accepting but realistically society is not always accepting. We must accept this fact and move past it by teaching our students how to succeed.

The lady, from the resource fair, shared a reality that all parents of students on the autism spectrum must face. She said, "There is not one day I haven't worried about how my daughter will survive when I die". This reality is the driving force behind everything we do at PDC!


- Maranda Marvin. PDC School Director