For Sarah Ortiz, life has always been about embracing the unknown. With a background in biology, she spent years working in zoos in San Diego and Miami before traveling to Thailand for research. Unafraid of change, Sarah continuously seeks out new adventures. But nothing could have prepared her for the unexpected path that unfolded when her firstborn, David, was diagnosed with autism at just 11 months.
The Early Signs and Seeking Help
It was August 2020, at the height of the pandemic, when Sarah first noticed developmental concerns with David. Trusting her instincts, she voiced her worries to their pediatrician, who reassured her that David’s delays were likely due to a lack of social interaction. However, Sarah couldn’t shake the feeling that something more was going on.
“I didn’t believe it for even a hot second,” she recalls.
“None of my friends had babies that wouldn’t play with their toys, that wouldn’t respond to their names. Something was different.”
Desperate for answers, Sarah turned to an Arizona autism parenting group on Facebook, where hundreds of parents encouraged her to seek a developmental evaluation. A mother in the group connected Sarah with a Phoenix-area pediatrician, who was able to get David in for an evaluation. Confirming her instincts, David received an official diagnosis.
“He told us it was cut and dry — David was autistic,” Sarah recalls. “That clear diagnosis gave us the confidence to finally seek the support we so desperately needed.”
Discovering SARRC
Following David’s diagnosis, their developmental pediatrician recommended SARRC’s services.
“He told us, ‘SARRC is the Harvard of autism services,’” Sarah says. “We reached out right away, and SARRC’s Family Resource team got us into JumpStart just a few weeks later.”
JumpStart® became a key starting point. Through the program, Sarah met with a SARRC clinician who offered individualized support and guidance. The online learning modules equipped Sarah and her husband with a wide range of strategies to implement at home. However, it became clear that David was struggling to progress — especially with the virtual format, which posed challenges due to the ongoing pandemic. After completing the program, their clinician recommended SARRC’s Community School, a preschool program that provides early childhood education for children with and without autism in an inclusive setting.
David was enrolled in the toddler classroom at SARRC’s Community School® Phoenix campus, which became a lifeline for the Ortiz family.
Finding a Lifeline in SARRC
“SARRC became more than just a place for David — it became a guiding force for our family,” Sarah reflects. “With the pandemic limiting traditional support systems, SARRC’s community of therapists and specialists stepped in to fill the gap.”
David’s experience with SARRC proved invaluable when Sarah’s twins, Levi and Kaylinn, were born. Concerned about David’s delays, Sarah wondered if the twins would experience similar challenges. She learned more about SARRC’s Milestones program, which supports parents of infants ages 6 to 18 months with developmental guidance and resources.
“I had a feeling that their development was going to follow a similar path as David’s,” Sarah shares. “I just wanted them to participate right away, so they could be monitored by professionals who could evaluate them.”
Early Diagnosis and Continued Support
Sarah was certain that Levi’s delays mirrored David’s, and at 11 months old, Levi was diagnosed with autism through the Milestones® program. Initially unsure about Kaylinn, Sarah enrolled both children at 15 months into SARRC’s Community School — Levi receiving intervention services and Kaylinn attending as a typically developing peer monitored by therapists.
Kaylinn’s developmental trajectory soon confirmed Sarah’s concerns, and by 20 months, Kaylinn was diagnosed with autism as well.
“When Levi started at the Community School in September of 2023, I think he had five or six words, and now he’s speaking in sentences of 11 to 12 words,” Sarah says. “The change is incredible — the difference is night and day.”
With SARRC’s support, the twins have also made remarkable progress, gaining communication skills, learning social cues and adapting to routines that would have otherwise been overwhelming.
Looking Ahead
Today, Sarah looks at her children’s progress with gratitude. David, Levi and Kaylinn continue to grow, learn and surprise her every day. While the road hasn’t been easy, Sarah has embraced this unexpected journey, not just as a mother but as an advocate.
For parents just beginning their own autism journeys, Sarah has one piece of advice: “You don’t have to do this alone.”
She encourages parents to trust their instincts, seek professional guidance, and, above all, find their community.
“Reaching out for support doesn’t mean you’re failing — it means you’re giving your child the best chance to succeed,” she says. “And sometimes, it’s not just about the children. As parents, we need that support just as much.”