Working on integrating primitive reflexes is one of the best therapies we have done ...

 Working with Yvette on integrating primitive reflexes is one of the best therapies we have done for our youngest, now adult, daughter who is autistic and has developmental delays.  As early as 3 years old, we have tried almost every therapy or program for our daughter because we always felt she had potential and believed that she had the cognitive ability to lead a high functioning life.  Everything from the traditional speech and occupational therapies to a plethora of non-traditional, alternative therapies.  If you can name it, we probably have tried it.  Each one of these therapies resulted in a small gain but we still were not able to see significant cognitive gains especially as it related to executive functioning until we worked with Yvette on integrating her primitive reflexes. 

Fast forward 6 months into the program, and her teacher from school called home to find out what it was that we were doing differently.  She was making more connections with the content in her courses in terms of her cognitive abilities and they were pleased with her progress.  In addition to improvements in her executive functioning, her coordination skills and muscle tone significantly improved.  As an example, she always wanted to skip but could not figure out how since any activity which involved complex, cross body motor skills, was extremely difficult for her.  With Yvette’s program and guidance, she started to jump rope, was able to pick up marbles with her toes, was able to do the cats cradle and more.  The only regret I have with the program is not starting it much earlier in her life.  Integrating primitive reflexes should be one of the first therapies a child with autism or ID should try.  We are very grateful to Yvette for her guidance and for working with our daughter and ourselves.  Our daughter not only graduated from high school with a full diploma, she is now attending an independent living and vocational training program at Lesley University.

N. Karim (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)