Reaching out to special-needs children - Non-English-speaking families may not always know where to get help - California

Emily Torres, 4, has no problem following her daily routine. Unprompted, she performs tasks most preschoolers only do when reminded.

“At bedtime, she brushes her teeth, combs her hair and puts her pajamas on,” said her mother, Angelica Torres. “She removes all the (decorative) pillows on her bed and piles them up and goes right to bed.

“But she’s very quiet,” Torres said.

Disturbingly quiet.

Emily, whose speech is delayed, withdraws from other children - something that mystified her mother, who had observed other 4-year-olds interact and chatter away.”*

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