THE parents of a severely autistic boy are appealing for donations so he can continue having life changing treatment in the US.

Four-year-old Joshua Miller from Bromley has global developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder, meaning he was unable to use his hands, feel his body, use his eyes together or speak.

However, a three month course of a radical drug-free treatment known as ‘brain balance’ at a clinic in Atlanta in the USA before Christmas helped Joshua make huge improvements.

Now his parents Erika and Trevor are desperate to take him out to the clinic again for another six months treatment, but they need to raise £30,000 to cover the costs and are appealing for help.

Mrs Miller, who lives with her husband and Joshua in Greenway, said: “This treatment can give Joshua and us a normal life, because caring for him takes up all of our life.”

The 37-year-old, who was a nurse before Joshua was born, says he made more progress in the three months at the clinic than with any other therapy in the previous two years.

She said: “Before he could not do anything with his hands at all. Now he can open doors and drawers, put shapes into boxes and draw with help. He is smiling and laughing more, and can now say a few words.

“Before brain balance his two eyes couldn't work together for binocular vision, therefore he was unable to look at books or develop hand eye co-ordination, but now he loves looking at books.

“He responds to his own name now, and is just generally calmer, more co-ordinated and less demanding.”

Mr Miller, a 48-year-old photographer, and his wife had to take out loans and use their life savings to pay for the first course of treatment, with the whole trip costing £16,000.

Mrs Miller said: “We want Joshua to have a normal, happy life, but we can’t afford to pay for six months more treatment, so we would be very grateful for any help.

“We are asking the people of Bromley to donate money they didn't know they have by searching down the back of their sofa and arm chairs.

“If 10,000 people can send us just £3, it's a small amount but life changing for Joshua.”

For details on donating go to recoverfromautism.com, and to help fundraise call Mrs Miller on 07910 133069 or email her at erikamiller@gmail.com

What is Brain Balance?

Developed by Dr Robert Melillo, brain balance works on the theory that autism and other development disorders are caused by an underlying condition called Functional Disconnection Syndrome.

This is where there is an imbalance in the connections and functions between the right and left hemispheres (sides) of the brain.

The brain balance programme stimulates the weaker hemisphere of the brain through a variety of activities, with the aim of making the hemispheres equal.

A typical three month brain balance course sees patients attending the clinic three times a week and also doing up to seven hours work at home every day.