Kamal Belhouane

When Shelley Janesz first brought her son, Kamal, to the Achievement Centers she was deeply frustrated. Young Kamal had recently been diagnosed with autism. At two, he was not communicating with his family and they did not know what to do.

"Will my son ever talk?" Shelly wondered.

When Shelley first met the Achievement Centers therapists who would be working with Kamal, they asked her what kind of toys Kamal enjoyed. Shelley was impressed that on their first home visit, the therapists brought toys that Kamal loved. She instantly felt that Kamal was in good hands with the Achievement Centers.

A speech and language therapist started working with Kamal in November 2004. By the end of December Kamal made his biggest breakthrough - he learned to use sign language to express "more." Shelley said the neighbors probably thought that they were having a party because she and the therapist shouted so joyously, "you would think firecrackers went off!"

Kamal’s strides in communication are his greatest accomplishments in his young life.

Kamal went from being a frustrated little boy who was non-verbal, to learning some sign language, then using a picture exchange communication system and finally to requesting things he wants with words.

Kamal is a happy, alert little boy who can count, identify letters and some colors and knows the alphabet. Shelley beams when she thinks about the success that Kamal has achieved.