Meeting Carson
When Carson was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder Level 3, along with suspected ADHD and sensory processing disorder, his parents, Tarah and Christopher, were determined to help him find his voice. At just two years old, Carson began early intervention through Sooner Start, where the family met Kris Fanning, a child development specialist who introduced them to the LAMP™ approach and LAMP Words for Life®.
"I just remember thinking, we’ve got to find a way for him to communicate," Kris said. "When I showed them LAMP WFL on an iPad, they just ran with it."
The Cheerios Moment
At first, Carson didn’t quite understand the device. But one day, everything clicked. "I’ll never forget the moment he found the ‘Cheerios’ button," Tarah said. "We handed him the box, and I just remember the brightness on his face—like, ‘Oh my gosh, I told them what I wanted, and I got it.’ That was the moment."
From then on, Carson began using his device to request food, ask for books, and share how he was feeling. “He’s just a real good little communicator,” Tarah said. “He’ll laugh and nudge you when he wants to play, or toss you a book and say ‘read.’”
Advocating at School
When Carson transitioned to public school, Tarah quickly realized his device wasn’t being used consistently. "It was coming home fully charged," she said. "That told me it was staying in his backpack."
So she created a comprehensive AAC binder for the school team—complete with core word charts, modeling strategies, myth vs. reality sheets, and even social media resources. “I wanted to make sure they had everything they needed,” she said.
Despite frequent staff turnover and limited AAC training, Tarah kept showing up. “I wasn’t asking them to teach him how to use it—he already knew. I just needed them to model language so he could build new motor patterns.”
Progress and Possibility
By the end of the year, things had improved. “His para is pretty proficient now,” Tarah said. “They’re starting to see that he’s a good communicator. He even learned his sight words on the device.”
Kris, who continued to support the family, saw the transformation firsthand. “Tarah taught me things I didn’t know about LAMP,” she said. “Seeing Carson use his device to talk about his day at school—it gave me goosebumps.”
Advice for Other Families
Tarah’s message to other parents is clear: “Advocate. Don’t settle.”
“Teach your child to carry their device. Make it part of their routine. And if your school team isn’t trained, help them. Print handouts. Make a binder. Show them you’re in it together.”
She also encourages schools to listen to families. “We’re not trying to be difficult—we’re the insiders to our kids. We just want them to be heard.”
Looking Ahead
Carson’s future is still unfolding, but Tarah is hopeful. “We always said if we could give him access to communication early and keep him a kid first, he’d have a bright future. I think he will.”
His little sister Hayden, also on the spectrum, is his biggest cheerleader. “She always makes sure he has his talker,” Tarah said. “At his kindergarten graduation, she yelled, ‘That’s my bub!’”
Reflecting on their journey, Tarah said, “When we first got the diagnosis, I wondered what the future would hold. But now, I see him learning something new every day. It’s going to be OK.”