Special Needs Living Akron/Canton- August 2022

Development Spotlight

INTRODUCING ANDREW VOJTUSH … BE YOUR CHILD’S ADVOCATE

By Andrea Hurr

Andrea Hurr

When you have a child with special needs, finding the right people to help can seem overwhelming, but finding that one person who goes out of their way for your child can make all the difference in the world.

A case in point here is Mrs. Debi Swan, SLP, who has had a huge impact on 12-year-old Andrew Vojtush’s life. Andrew, who has Autism spectrum disorder, met Debi at the elementary school he attended in Nordonia. He was completely nonverbal when they met, and she always said that he was a “multi-communicator” and would talk one day. They worked together for six years, and, with her help, Andrew learned to use an iPad with the program Proloquo2Go on it to help him communicate.

She believed in him and that he would use his voice, even when others didn’t think he would, and she became a huge advocate for him during IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and ETR (Evaluation Team Report) meetings. She was right, and a few years ago, Andrew did start talking! Andrew’s mom Amber says that he still struggles with some words but has come such a long way and that “Mrs. Swan definitely had a huge impact on his speech and communication skills.” Amber advises that you have to be your child’s own advocate and get involved in order to connect the right people to your child. “Be involved in school meetings, join social groups in person and online, and get involved with your county developmental disabilities board.” Not everyone is going to see your child how you can see them, and, just like with Andrew, it takes just that one special person to change their life. Of course, the Vojtushes have had a lot of other people along the way help them on their journey, and sports have had a great impact on their lives as well.

Andrew has played soccer on a VIP team in Twinsburg, basketball with Empower Sports, and baseball with the Northeast Ohio Challenger baseball league. In sixth grade, he participated in band for the first time and joined an after-school jump rope club. He also regularly participates in the Special Olympics track and field day held at Nordonia High School. He has played many of these sports matched with a peer buddy, and that peer model has been very important to him too.

There are still challenges within their community for sports programs and activities that include the special needs community, but word of mouth and asking around is how Amber was able to find so many programs that fit Andrew’s needs. Hopefully, as people and communities become more aware of the needs of their neighbors, more programs will be made available in every community.

Andrew is a twin and has two sisters and two brothers, and he’s even an uncle! He loves the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sesame Street and Wheel of Fortune, and Papa John’s pizza especially. When he grows up, he wants to work at Builda-Bear or Papa John’s.