NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
From Trial to Triumph:
How ‘Very Special Homes’ is
Changing One Life at a Time
By Jennifer Bonazzo Peters
When Barbara and Larry Weiner were raising their son Jonathan, they
never dreamed of him being diagnosed with a pervasive developmental
disorder not otherwise specified (PDD NOS), which is a part of the
Autism spectrum, at the age of four. Their child seemed to be very much on track with his
peers until pre-K, when the staff called Barbara in to inform her of social issues between
Jonathan and his fellow classmates.
As a teacher and, of course, an advocate of her son, Barbara called in her own resources
and child study teams to assist with the evaluation process. The diagnosis was ultimately
confirmed.