Dedicated team of volunteers help find Harry's voice (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Autistic boy makes mum's dream come true

5:30pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in News Exclusive By Barbara Jordan

A REMARKABLE breakthrough has made a mum’s dream come true.

Five-year-old Harry Foster, who has autism, has just said his first word, ‘mum’.

His parents, Claire, aged 32, and Paul, aged 33, from Hale village, are confident he will one day be able to talk.

They set up a fund called His Voice Harry to pay for staff from Skybound, a company in Pembrokeshire, who specialise in applied behavioural analysis to train a team of people to help Harry.

Volunteers spend two hours every evening helping to develop his communication skills.

Harry’s mum, Claire, of Arklow Drive, said: “Since we set up our team, we have seen a huge change in Harry. He is flying through his targets and is now at a basic level of imitation, which is the key to learning.

“He had not said anything until he said: ‘mum’.

“His biggest frustration is communication.”

Harry, who has a seven-year-old brother, Joe, and three-year-old sister, Ava, was diagnosed two years ago as being high on the autistic spectrum.

His parents take it in turns to stay up with him every night.

Dr Daniel Kalb from Clear Springs Medical Cetnre in Texas has given Harry consultations in Skype and provided supplements to help his digestion.

His parents would love to take him there for treatment.

Claire said: “Dr Kalb have a wealth of knowledge and many years experience. We are also in contact with families who have gone to him with their child and seen a massive difference.”

A ladies night is being held at The Establishment in Victoria Square on Saturday, April 27, to raise funds for a week-long speech course with Skybound in August.

Events organiser Angela Morgan, of Chicks on Wheels in Ditchfield Road, is arranging the function. Tickets, priced £10, are available from her on 07732 635726.