A Barren County Mother approached the 4-H Agent about wanting her daughter to participate in the 4-H program.  The child is  9 years old but had the intellectual disability of a 6 year old with Autism, ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome of being non-social and non-verbal. She is Homeschooled and has no other social interaction except Church.  I consulted with State Specialist and placed the child in the 4-H Cloverbud Club. Barren County is very fortunate to have fantastic Cloverbud Leaders with one being a retired Special Needs teacher.

At first she and her Mother came and sat in the back so when it got too noisy or overstimulating for her she could get up and walk outside to calm down. After the first meeting, the Mother called and said that she wanted to give it another try at the next meeting. The child became very interested in the art project, stayed the entire meeting and talked to another girl.  She has continued to progress in the meetings and lead the 4-H Pledge at the last meeting of the year.  The child is responding and talking to all of the other 4-H Cloverbud members; therefore it is a big breakthrough.

The parents wanted to include her in other 4-H clubs so she joined the 4-H Table Top Farmers, 4-H Furs and Feathers and 4-H Country Ham Project.  The 4-H’er has her own chickens and rabbits.  The 4-H leader went to her house to work with her on showing at the County Fair.  She received ribbons with her animals and has been entered in the State Fair Contest. She had a melt down at the 4-H Country Ham project meeting with so many other youth present, but  after calming down we took her by herself to complete salting her ham. The next meetings she is coming in 15 minutes early and completing  her project before the crowd arrives. The 4-H Clover bud Leader and this Agent will have her to give a two line speech on her 4-H Country Ham project to us so she can feel the accomplishment of completion.

She attended the Barren County 4-H Cloverbud Day Camp and wanted to go to the State wide 4-H Cloverbud Camp.  Her Mother was anxious but wanted to let her spread  her wings. They attended and stayed in a cabin by themselves so she could calm down when needed. She did attend most of the sessions and said she wants to try it again next year.

It is very rewarding to see the progress the non verbal child has made by participating in the 4-H program and allowing her to explore so many new challenges and opportunities.