Success Stories
Asperger Syndrome: a ritual that became a daily classroom struggle
"Due to the way my son's Asperger Syndrome seemed to take control of him, he would not start his in-class assignments until he did his -ritual' with his math workbook. He loved math but would not begin to work until he reviewed every single page he had done before today. Before getting down to work, he insisted on turning each page and reading through each one, until he was at today's blank page. As the school year went on, it took longer and longer for him to get down to work and the teachers were fit to be tied with his rigidity and sometimes explosiveness. Ellen's inventiveness gave Donny ways that were perfectly tailored for him to get his 'A' in math, finish his daily work calmly but without taking away the thrill he got out of flipping through his math pages. We realized that Ellen's strategies could also be used at home and life got a little easier for everybody in the house!"
Mrs. "C" - Mother of Donny, Age 8, Toronto, Canada
Young man with Asperger Syndrome learns lunchroom social skills at his first job
There are usually about 10 people in there and for two months no one spoke to me. No one said any rude things to me but also no one tried to include me and they did try to avoid me. Usually the people who came to lunch the same time as I did would just be polite until they could talk to someone else or they would look away when I would start to talk. Now I have a buddy who comes quite often to sit right next to me.
When I started to work with Ellen, she taught me social sentences like “Tell me about your trip.” or “Would you like to hear the score of the game?” or “If you would like to change the subject please tell me.” [That would help when I was talking too long about my interest in old baseball teams.” ]
I even know what to do if someone is in a bad mood or is acting quiet that day. Ellen gave me hints on when to say nothing when people confused me and I would be tempted to say things they would think were rude. I know now there are expressions of speech that confuse me and Ellen taught me to think first when people say something that does not make any sense to me. And later I ask her or someone else who understands me what that meant and how to handle it. I really like that now some people look at me like I am their friend in the lunchroom.
When becoming a teenager had its own set of challenges, this smart, sparkly, and determined 13 year old had her father's terminal illness in the forefront of her life.
How Ellen my Coach has helped me
"My dad recently got diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrigs disease), and she has helped me through all my troubles with that, so far. And my mom and I have conflicts a lot, and she helped me with that. And, last she helped me when I would wake up in the middle of the night and could not go back to sleep (she gave me suggestions on how to go back asleep, and they worked!!!). Ellen has helped me in many more ways than that, also, but this would be very long and boring if I included them all. So, in conclusion, I love my coach, and my life would be a lot more difficult without her. I believe her and I were meant to work together. I LOVE YOU, ELLEN!!!!!! "
13-year-old boy, gifted in both the arts and science, with 98 percentile in academic standardized testing, was about to fail 6th grade. Organizing and focusing to complete even basic tasks of daily life were an enormous challenge, although he loved to express his talents through his schoolwork.
Philip said "I am smart and sensitive so it fools people into thinking I am good at every life skill that comes easy to other people."
(This is his Bar Mitzvah speech 'thank you' to Ellen.)
"I thank you most, Ellen, for helping me put together the most difficult puzzle I have ever had-ME. You are my good friend, and I appreciate you so much, more than I could ever say in these words. You help me organize my schoolwork and my homework; I know I can always call you whenever I need to, and you are always available to me with good advice and lots of encouragement. How can I ever thank you for all the ways you have helped me?"
Philip, age 13, Florida
Phil struggled to get his life in order for many years before and after his diagnosis of Schizophrenia. Now at 38, he is beginning to truly figure out how to work and play while managing the challenges of a mental illness.
 Phil with his Certificate of Graduation from the Day Training program |
Phil, age 38, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
"My daughter, Ashley, was about 15 and a 'recovering' autistic when I first met Ellen. I was worn out from years of dealing with autism, having reached the point where my patience had virtually run out. My frustration was turning to anger and the years of patience I had managed to exhibit were slowly diminishing as my fatigue increased. And Ashley was the typical teenager in that she no longer thought Mom knew anything and wouldn't listen to anything I had to say. The power struggle between us was horrendous. Instead of fighting it out with her, I went out searching for teachers to work with her on all the issues she still had to deal with and virtually quit the role of teacher, myself.
God must have been watching over me when he sent Ellen Mossman my way. She was able to get Ashley to comprehend life issues and social concepts that I was having no success with in addition to taking much of the pressure off me. Now, instead of struggling with Ashley, I could call up Ellen and say, "Can you work with her with on ........?" And it would be accomplished.
She is now 22 and employed--independent and taking care of all her own business both financial and social. She is truly a miracle , having come from a minimal IQ level as a small child to a functioning, vibrant, interesting member of society. She graduated from high school on the dean's list for the first time and went straight into a job as a hospital staff member where she happily remains today.
I can only guess what might have happened to Ashley without Ellen's consistent, patient, firm and valuable intervention. Fortunately, I don't have to. In my opinion, Ellen's input put the finishing touches on a journey that had begun a decade-and-a-half before and was instrumental in turning a young girl who was still so autistic that employability seemed impossible, to the success story that we see today."
J.P Mother
Words from Ashley - continued from her mom's story above
"I am a young woman who likes to be independent. That means I need to learn lots of living skills. Ellen is a Coach with my relationships. A Coach helps you get better at anything you want. If you swim you have a coach. A Coach helps you use fitness to get strong. Ellen helps my skills get strong in learning to get along with people.. Ellen helps me with the best thing to say, and then next time I know what to do because it is already in my thoughts. Ellen coaches me to treat people with love and respect. I feel like I have been doing pretty good with that. Now I set goals. One goal is that I go out with my friends and I am doing that already. Then I set new goals and Ellen will coach me to get to my goal the fastest and best way. I have long-term goals which means it may take a while but I can start right now."
After struggling with a chronic illness, Dana made the large life decision to leave behind her career as a financial planner and do her soul work in a holistic clinic, and work on a doctorate in natural nutrition while building a property business and a future with her new husband, and then - becomes pregnant!
"Ellen is a gem! She worked with me in a most patient but assertive manner, exactly what I needed. She has a natural ability to "see inside a person." She identified my strengths and helped me grow, while still respecting my current limitations. I was constantly challenged but never felt any pressure. I was blessed to meet such a caring and wonderful individual. I learned so much during our sessions. I still refer to our notes, feeling uplifted whenever I think of our work together. Thank you Ellen for being you!" Love Dana&..
In above stories, names have been changed to protect confidentiality.