Acceptance – and comprehensive care – makes all the difference for autistic mother and son

“We thought every baby was this way,” said Feroza Mehta.

Feroza had been concerned about her son, Aidan, since his birth. But he was the family’s first child. It was hard to tell what was “normal” for a baby, and what might be a sign of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Aidan wasn’t diagnosed with ASD until he was two years old – in large part because researchers are only now discovering ways to identify and diagnose ASD in children younger than 18 months. Even after diagnosis, it was a struggle for Feroza to get connected with resources. Aidan’s doctors were all in different locations, and it took time to locate and coordinate county and school district supports.

When Aidan was four years old, he began working with M Health Fairview Psychologist Amy Esler, PhD, LP. Starting this fall, 12-year-old Aidan will be cared for at the new Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB).

MIDB opened to patients on Nov. 1 and is the first institute of its kind in Minnesota. It combines clinical care with leading-edge research into childhood brain and behavioral development.

It also brings together several M Health Fairview experts into one clinic location. These include specialists in child and adolescent psychiatry, developmental pediatrics, neuropsychology, psychology, and pediatric neurology. Together, this clinical team will partner with University of Minnesota researchers to advance our understanding of ASD, mental illness, and other behavioral and developmental conditions affecting Minnesota’s children and teens.

Going forward, MIDB will make it easier for families like Aidan and Feroza to receive accessible, leading-edge care.