14/04/2025
A Moment of Connection
At the CRB OT Clinic, Teacher Maya watched patiently as DL, a young boy with autism spectrum disorder, energetically circled around her, finding comfort in the repetitive movement. Without warning, DL scattered colorful sensory toys across the wooden floor, momentarily causing Maya to place her hand on her hip in mild frustration. Instead of redirecting him to the planned activity, Maya shrugged and decided to follow DL's lead, understanding that flexibility was essential in building trust. To her surprise, DL began methodically picking up each toy he had scattered, showing remarkable focus and organization. The breakthrough moment came when DL, making rare eye contact, approached Maya and placed a toy in her hand—a significant step in his social engagement journey. Teacher Maya's smile reflected not just pride in DL's progress but the profound joy that came from these small victories in their therapeutic relationship. As sunlight filtered through the clinic windows, Teacher Maya knew that today's unplanned session had become a perfect lesson in patience and connection. In the warmth of their shared smile, there existed a beautiful understanding: progress wasn't always linear, but every step forward was worth celebrating.
