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Autism Therapist Peter Farag worked with Shannon Penrod’s son Jem when he was first diagnosed with Autism.  Both the mom and the therapist became close as Jem progressed.  Farag, whose Autism expertise often called him to other areas of the world, including Dubai and South Africa, would return periodically to Jem’s case at crucial moments, helping the boy and his family to overcome challenges.  At a recent leadership retreat held by the Center for Autism and Related Disorders the mom and the therapist found themselves on a team facing a “high rope challenge”.  Both were afraid of heights, neither wanted to do the challenge that required team work and nerves of steel.  The mom kiddingly said to Farag, “We could do that.  We’ve faced bigger challenges than that, just on the ground.”  Farag said “Let’s do it!” and the Mom instantly regretted it.  The two were put in harnesses and the mom pointed out another challenge that was less “spectacular”.  “We could do that one,” she said as she pointed to the other challenge, “It looks easier.”  Farag sized up the two challenges and said to her, “We never took the easy way with Jem, why would we do that now?”  And that’s all it took.  Two people afraid of heights climbed the pole and made their way across a wire by working together and trusting each other, as they had for years.   The crowd yelled, “Shannon, you have to trust Peter.”  She yelled back, “I trust Peter, more than anyone.”
 
Autism Live is a production of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), headquartered in Woodland Hills, California, and with offices throughout, the United States and around the globe. For more information on therapy for autism and other related disorders, visit the CARD website at http://centerforautism.com