Watching Amelia and Aryana Blossom

For children with autism, navigating the world around them can be a daunting challenge. This is especially true for five-year-old Amelia and three-year-old Aryana, sisters who both have autism spectrum disorder. The girls’ mom, Kaylee, struggled to watch her daughters live in a world where their needs were often overlooked.

“Imagine living in a world where sound, light and touch hurt. Imagine wanting someone you love to hold you, but you can’t express how they should hold you so it doesn’t hurt. Imagine the clothes you wear prickling your skin even though your mom tells you they are soft. Imagine knowing a multitude of words but not being able to express yourself in a way that others understand. These experiences are enough to make anyone feel frustrated, confused and sad,” said Kaylee.

Despite having the same diagnosis, Amelia and Aryana each have unique personalities and challenges that shaped their early childhood.

“Amelia did not talk very much but had an adorable flair of personality,” said Kaylee. “It was clear she had a lot to say but wasn’t able to communicate in a way others understood. As a result, she struggled with self-harm and anger that was overwhelming for both of us. She was desperately seeking ways to speak and communicate so she could connect with people,” said Kaylee.

“Aryana also did not speak much at all, only naming colors repetitively. Additionally, she refused all touch, was wary of new people and struggled to connect with the world around her.”

To help her daughters navigate these challenging experiences, Kaylee knew she needed expert assistance. After their pediatrician at McFarland Clinic referred them to ChildServe’s Autism program, they discovered a whole team of experts ready to help the girls access the world around them.

Amelia and Aryana attend Autism Day Program throughout the week and utilize some of the other services available through ChildServe’s Autism program. Having all of these services in one location allows parents to go to work while their children receive the care they need to thrive. Kaylee describes Autism Day Program as a structured environment designed for the comfort and success of kids with autism.

“The team in the Autism program reduces unnecessary stimuli while helping each unique child get used to different types of obstacles they may face. Their goal is to help the kids succeed in a world filled with environments and situations that are difficult for them,” said Kaylee.

Life changed drastically as the girls began reaching their goals.

“The resources ChildServe has given me to learn more about the world of autism helped me become a better parent,” said Kaylee. “They helped my children blossom into amazing little humans that have surpassed my expectations and dreams. The ChildServe team has given my children a life they would never have had otherwise.”

After three years at ChildServe, Amelia can communicate at her age level and be understood by her peers and adults. Likewise, after one year, Aryana can accept touch, play with her peers, accept new people and communicate her needs.

“ChildServe has given Amelia and Aryana tools and coping mechanisms to learn how to adjust and function in a world that used to be crippling for them,” said Kaylee. “If that is not inspiring, I don’t know what is.”

Our One-of-a-Kind Autism Program Is Growing!

Thanks to the generosity of our Forward Together Campaign donors, ChildServe has been hard at work expanding our life-changing Autism program to serve more children across Iowa. Our first Autism Day Program classroom opened in 2015, with just five children in the program. Today, we are serving 94 children in eight classrooms across four locations. As the need for this service continues to grow, we have plans to open additional classrooms in the coming year.

Many parents share that before coming to ChildServe, getting their children to all of the appointments needed to help them work on important goals was either impossible or required at least one parent to leave the workforce. ChildServe’s program offers a unique “one-stop shop” for children with autism—the only one of its kind in Iowa. The result? Parents can continue working, and children receive care from multiple experts and services all under one roof.

As participants in ChildServe’s Autism Day Program, children may also receive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and outpatient therapies as appropriate for their needs and goals. These services are built into their day so there’s no extra scheduling or coordinating for families. The experts in these services partner closely as they support each child:

• Autism Day Program—a specialized weekday care option for children two to six years old. Children participate in evidence-based treatments focused on their individual needs, abilities and goals.
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)—a behavioral intervention program that focuses on developing skills to thrive at home, school and in the community.
• Outpatient Therapy—includes occupational, speech and physical therapies that focus on motor skills, social skill development, language development, feeding skills and executive functioning (e.g., memory, decision-making and self-control).