Research that Benefits Children and Families-Uplifting Stories

I worked with a family with a special needs foster child for about five years.  The child was a former student at a child development center were I worked, and when the family needed assistance with his care, they contacted me to see if I would be interested in helping part time.  He was diagnosed with shaken baby syndrome, along other neurological complications as a result of being shaken.  He couldn't walk or talk and he had seizures back to back, ranging from very small to very severe.  He had to wear a helmet because often times the severe seizures would cause him to bang his head on the floor. 
I remember all the times he had to have this or that procedure done or the doctors keep switching the medicines to help control the seizures.  For years nothing seem to help, until finally, the doctors got the medicines and doses right.  We begin to see the seizures decrease and, eventually stop altogether.  He begin to crawl and became more away of his environment.  He also begin to express his wants, likes and dislikes, and he was able to recognize familiar people.
Last year he begin walking at the age of nine years old, and he continues to meet new goals.  Although, he still can not speak, he has defeated all the odds thus far, so I'm looking for him to blurt out any day now.
I believe that continued research for treatments of neurological disorders is why this child continues to thrive and progress daily. The procedures and treatments that were questionable at the time, proved to help him progress in his growth and development. This is definitely one of those case where research has benefited this child and family, and now the same research can help many other children and families.

Personal Reseach Journey

The topic I chose is autism in preschool age children, and I chose this topic because I believe it is important for early childhood educators to know the signs and system of a child who may have autism in order to prevent the child from being labeled as having behavior problems.  A more personal reason that I chose this topic is because I have friends with a child that exhibits some of the symptoms of autism, and I want to be able to assist them in learning as much as possible about the causes of autism, as well as, what they can do to help their child.

I am glad that we are learning to determine which research is quality so that I will be able to collect information to share that is correct and that will help educators and parents make the best decisions for children. 

I would appreciate it if anyone has any ideas and/or suggestions that will help me pull together reputable and useful information that will be valuable to children and families.