Dear Friends,
Our family's journey with autism started in our homeland, Albania, when our son, Emanuel received his diagnosis at two years old. This moment marked a major turning point for our family. We felt like everything collapsed. In hindsight, the signs were there. We just didn't see them — or maybe we were unwilling to see them.
After his diagnosis and early intervention, we clung to the belief that with time and therapy, he would improve. It was devastating when the CEO of the center in Albania told us, "Emanuel will probably need help for all his life. If you want to help your son, you must go somewhere with better resources. The United States is known for its exceptional treatment based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). They have the best intervention for kids on the spectrum." Of course, we wanted what was best for him, but moving to the United States meant uprooting our entire family, including his sisters.
We started searching for ABA centers and schools. Countless searches led us to various ABA centers that were a bit closer to home, but we kept coming back to Alpine Learning Group. Our hearts told us that was where he had to be. We visited Alpine for consultations and the staff taught us how to increase Emanuel's skills at home. For the first time, we had hope. We knew eventually, he needed to be at Alpine full time.
We remember the day we left Albania. We didn't turn back because we knew we were doing this for Emanuel. At the time, we didn't have any plan B. It was just Alpine. And here we are.
Initially, Alpine provided in-home ABA therapy and this past year, Emanuel entered the education program. He has learned many skills since starting Alpine, and so have we. He is learning to understand language, to play with toys, and to communicate. We know we made the right decision.
"When Emanuel entered Alpine, his learning really took off. He was learning new skills and understanding more complex language. It's wonderful to watch him blossom in school." - Dr. Bridget Taylor, Cofounder and CEO
The name Emanuel means "God is with us," and we think God has been with him by choosing the best people to help him.
Will you join us in supporting Alpine Learning Group this holiday season? Your generosity ensures that other families walking a similar path receive the invaluable gift that Alpine has given us — the gift of hope!
Sincerely,
Erlinda & Ilir Cupi
