Miriam Elliott will never forget her husband’s words nearly five years ago.

“The doctor feels Levar has autism,” Reginald Oliver told his wife after taking their son to his pediatrician.

“I was in denial. I thought this can’t be true,” Miriam recalled. “I broke down and cried.”

Then came a glimpse of the future from different specialists, Miriam said.  “One told us early on ‘he may talk.’ Another said, ‘he won’t ever talk.’”

The Brooklyn parents have learned the importance of patience not only when working with Levar but also their 4-year-old son James, who has an intellectual disability.

Today, 7-year-old Levar enjoys listening and dancing to Lady Gaga, working on the computer, playing games on the Wii, swimming and watching DVDs.

Reginald, who admits he too was shocked with Levar’s diagnosis, provided the strength which his family desperately needed. “I had to come to terms with autism,” he said. “But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking ‘this can’t be.’”

“He said, ‘we have to help him,’” Miriam said. “I watched Levar get therapies and other in-home services. I’d ask the therapists how to do some of what they were doing so I could continue it when they weren’t there. “

Levar began to thrive at the New York League for Early Learning’s William O’Connor Midwood School in Brooklyn. “He blossomed right there,” Miriam recalled. “I was like ‘that’s not Levar.’ I kept asking his teachers, ‘what are you doing at school; I want to reinforce it at home.”

Reggie would take Levar to a nearby park and work on a balance beam, as walking was a struggle. His hands were also weak.

“He showed me how to walk and do chin ups,” Levar said. “It was fun.”

About a year after receiving his diagnosis, Levar began to talk – a major breakthrough. “When he said ‘Ma,’ I just hugged him a cried. “I’d ask him to say it again,”

Miriam, who had worked as a Direct Service Professional helping people with developmental disabilities, reduced her hours so she could provide Levar with the support he needed.

“When you give birth to a child, you have to a teacher, and a mother,” she said. “We’re devoted to our children.”

With the support of Matthew Tsang, a Medicaid Service Coordinator from YAI, both Levar and James are accessing a variety of services from different non-profit agencies in the community.

"When I first began working with Levar and subsequently James, I knew this was a special family right away,” Matthew said. “The dedication and love that Reggie and Miriam give their children is truly special. What was once a gloomy outlook for the family has turned into pure sunlight with never ending happiness and laughter. Miriam wholeheartedly believes that her children are capable of touching the sky with their potential. As their Medicaid Service Coordinator, I will see to it that they do just that by providing them the supports and services that they need".  

James, who also attends the William O’Connor Midwood School, enjoys books, cars and playing Super Mario on the computer. She credits YAI’s yoga/ballet program for opening James up.

They refuse to place any limits on their children.

“Even the doctors say, ‘keep doing what you’re doing,’” Miriam says with pride. “Levar is going to have this disability for life; but he can have a good life. We push him, teach him and love him every day.”

Levar has hopes of becoming a professional football player and a doctor. “ I want to take care of people,” he said.

“Sometimes life can be very stressful, but we have to help them,” said Reginald, who works full time and is studying psychology.

“This is my mission,” Miriam added. “I used to be depressed, angry and cry. Now, I get up, hug them and love them.”