A Child’s Autism Diagnosis Means a Mom’s Journey May be Different.
It doesn’t change a parent’s simple desire for their child’s health and happiness. Jennifer Keeling and Children’s T.E.A.M. Co-Founder, Kym Hannah, fought for ABA services for their children with autism. Their journeys sparked the beginning of ABA treatment at Children’s T.E.A.M. Both moms overcame daunting obstacles in their quest to find ABA treatment options for their daughters. For each, seeing the doors of the Children’s ABA T.E.A.M. Clinic open is another important step toward better serving families like their own.
Moving Out-of-State for Service
Jennifer’s daughter, Peyton, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. In Arkansas at the time, the number of qualified BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) in the entire state could be counted on one hand. Desperate to find services for their daughter, in 2008 Jennifer and her husband made the heart-wrenching decision to uproot their family. They moved to North Carolina so Peyton could attend The Mariposa School for Children with Autism.
When Jennifer learned of a school founded by Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M. parents in Northwest Arkansas, she was hopeful that it would offer her family an opportunity to move back to Arkansas after their time spent away from home. The school, today known as The Grace School at Children’s ABA T.E.A.M., agreed to enroll Peyton in 2010.
Jennifer describes the ABA treatment Peyton received during her time at The Grace School as a “life saver.” She credits ABA with making incredible improvements in her daughter’s anxiety and behaviors at home. As she grew, ABA treatment plans adjusted to include activities such as going out into the community, using money, practicing daily activities in the home, and holistically improving her independence in her day-to-day life.
Journey Around the Globe
While both Jennifer and Kym’s daughters ended up at The Grace School together, Kym’s journey there was quite different. It began with an international adoption from an orphanage in Ukraine. As an owner of a thriving pediatric therapy practice she co-founded in 2000, Kym felt well equipped to handle any therapy need her daughter might require in the future.
As a pediatric physical therapist herself, Kym was confident in addressing her daughter’s diagnosis of cerebral palsy. However, she quickly began to understand the severity of the behavioral challenges her daughter exhibited. In search of answers, Kym took her daughter to St. Louis Children’s Hospital for a comprehensive developmental evaluation.
It took several days for Kym to process her daughter’s new diagnosis… Autism. However, she quickly pivoted from awareness, to acceptance, then to action. She began a relentless journey to ensure that her daughter could have access to the very best treatment and education. It became clear to Kym that in addition to her daughter’s other pediatric therapies, ABA therapy was a high priority and need.
A Mother’s Mission
After her daughter’s diagnosis, Kym’s interest in bringing ABA treatment options to Northwest Arkansas became not only her mission as co-founder of Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M., but also a very personal goal as a mother. While her therapy clinics were already well known for providing pediatric therapy services, in 2010 Kym turned her attention to recruiting ABA providers from out of state, as universities throughout Arkansas were not yet equipped to train ABA therapists.
With a vision for collaboration between therapy disciplines, Kym enlisted Dr. Sheila Barnes, BCBA-D, to lead professional development courses for Children’s Therapy TEAM providers. Kym insisted her clinic offer pro-bono ABA consultation for children with intensive behavioral needs, as insurance providers in Arkansas were not yet covering ABA treatment.
Kym joined alongside a passionate clinician, Beth McKee, BCBA, and dedicated teacher, Katrina Lawson, LMSW, BCaBA to blaze the trail of increasing ABA services in NWA. Their efforts were backed by the bold and generous support of Jennifer Keeling’s own parents Gary and Vicki Jech. In the past few years, finally the recognition of the validity of ABA treatment began to take root in Arkansas.
A Brighter Future
ABA services have evolved dramatically since Kym and Jennifer first sought out services for their own daughters many years ago. Through their struggles, each mother has helped to ensure a brighter future for families seeking ABA treatment options in NWA.
Note: Per the ethics criteria for the BACB we must note, Peyton Keeling is a past Grace School student and past recipient of services at Children’s Therapy TEAM.