Inspire, Fall 2007

Inspire 15 Feature Learning these new activities can provide desperately needed social outlets for autistic children, giving them the self-esteem it takes to break their normal patterns of isolation and engage their peers socially. However, the physical therapy the children receive often results in more than just mental development. “Children with autism display a deficiency in social interactions that often results in a physically sedentary lifestyle,” Joel points out. “Learning these activities really helps the children’s overall health, as they now have reasons to go outside and be active rather than staying inside playing video games or watching TV, which children with autism generally find very appealing.” Home therapy is advantageous for both Joel and his patients. Children with autism need familiarity and routine; therefore, they benefit greatly from receiving physical therapy in their own natural settings. “I can teach them how to go up and down their own stairs and how to ride bikes in their own neighborhoods. They’re learning to do things in the places where they live,” he explains. Home care also provides a convenient alternative to outpatient care. Like most families, families with autistic children have busy schedules. Receiving physical therapy at home means one less doctor’s appointment to drive to. “Many of my patients have diagnoses that require more than just physical therapy,” says Joel. “Many of them also see occupational therapists, speech therapists, or ABA (applied behavioral analysis) therapists. Often, children who are treated by an entourage of therapists receive home care from all of their therapists to make it more convenient for them and their families.” For Joel, the main benefit of providing home therapy is low overhead — he doesn’t need to rent space for seeing patients and needs to pay only for the gas it takes to drive to appointments throughout the day. Joel has found his career rewarding in many ways. The most satisfying moments have come when families tell him that their entire family dynamic has changed because of the therapy their child with autism has received. Many times the families have been limited in their activities because their autistic child did not want to or know how to participate. “One particular family loved to ride bikes on trails near their house,” Joel recalls. “But no matter how hard they tried, they were just not able to get their nine-year-old son to learn to ride on his own. This really limited their family time because they did not want to leave their son behind while everyone else went biking. I worked with the boy for several months until he finally learned to ride and was able to go with his family on bike rides at home and on vacation.” Besides the joy of seeing his young patients develop and grow, providing physical therapy in homes affected by autism gives Joel many opportunities to show the love of Christ. His daily schedule allows him to interact with families from many different cultural, social, and religious backgrounds. “I get to know the families very well because I treat the children on a weekly basis, often for long stretches at a time, like months or even years,” Joel relates. “It’s during those times that I learn about the family’s faith and their daily struggles. I’m often given the chance to share how I view life and daily struggles through the lens of my faith in Christ.” Joel says that some of the families are quite shocked when they learn that his values and beliefs do not match those of the surrounding American culture. “Physical therapy is known as the ‘healing profession,’” Joel continues, explaining how Jesus’ example is his guide as a Christian health-care provider in a lost and searching society. “As Christians we are called to a ministry of reconciliation — to bring the good news of peace to a dying world. What energizes me most is being able to do a restorative work by helping my patients gain or regain physical ability while sharing how the gospel is relevant to daily life — so their lives may also be restored through the knowledge of Christ.” Joel credits his time at Cedarville for helping him to prepare for the work he now enjoys. “Cedarville provided me with a great educational foundation that helped me as I pursued grad school,” he says. “It also helped me to mature spiritually, which enables me to interact closely with the fallen world with confidence and hope.” “What energizes me most is being able to do a restorative work by helping my patients gain or regain physical ability while sharing how the gospel is relevant to daily life — so their lives may also be restored through the knowledge of Christ.” I Currently, Joel is praying and considering different ways he can expand his business to meet the enormous needs of the autism community. He and his wife, Jennifer Reilly Eaby ’97, reside in Dacula, Georgia. They have a two-year-old daughter, Elisabeth, and are expecting their second child in February 2008. The Eabys attend Perimeter Church in Duluth, Georgia, where Joel is involved in the men’s discipleship ministry. You can reach joel at joeleaby@yahoo.com . Sarah Bartlett Borich ’02 is a freelance writer and editor who currently resides in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Ben Borich ’03. She can be reached via e-mail at sarahborich@gmail.com.