Around the time their daughter Rylee was 3 years old, Randi and Ryan McDonough started noticing signs that seemed particularly pronounced around routines like getting dressed or bedtime. And while many children might have a particular way they like to start and end a routine, Rylee was adamant about certain processes, which gave Randi and Ryan pause.
“For example, when getting dressed, she insisted on choosing her clothes and putting them on entirely by herself. If anyone tried to help — even when she was visibly struggling — she would have a meltdown. These meltdowns often involved yelling, crying, and throwing objects, and it could take her quite a while to calm down. Once she did, we usually had to start the activity over from the very beginning.”
Over time, some of the behaviors they were seeing became more frequent, 
prompting the family to seek additional guidance and support. That search ultimately led to Rylee’s autism diagnosis in November 2025, shortly after she turned four.
“After Rylee was diagnosed, we reached out to many different service providers but felt like we weren’t getting anywhere. My husband had previously worked in the school system with a student who had autism, and he stayed in touch with the student’s mother. We eventually reached out to her, and she highly recommended SARRC because of the wonderful experience she and her child had in the programs. We contacted SARRC that same day.”
When they learned about the different services available at SARRC, the family felt that JumpStart was the right place to begin. Designed specifically for families who are new to an autism diagnosis, the six-week program provides individualized support, training and practical tools through one-on-one coaching. Families can explore topics ranging from ABA therapy and PRT to challenging behaviors, navigating autism services in the community and potty training.
“Both my husband and I have backgrounds in education — he was an elementary general education teacher, and I was a special education teacher. We’ve worked with children who need extra support, but this time it was our own child, which made everything feel different. We wanted to start from square one and build a strong foundation for Rylee.”
As they worked through the program, Randi found that some of the most meaningful lessons went beyond specific strategies or tools.
“One moment that really stuck with me was when I asked our [SARRC clinician] whether one of Rylee’s quirks was related to autism or just typical toddler behavior. Very kindly, she responded, ‘Does it matter?’ That hit me hard. I had spent so much time trying to categorize her behaviors, but ultimately, it doesn’t change how we support her, how we communicate with her, or how much we love her.”
For Randi, the opportunity to simply spend time with Rylee during their JumpStart sessions was an invaluable bonding experience.
“The time Rylee and I spent together during [JumpStart] sessions is something I’ll always treasure. It may have looked like simple playtime, but for me, it was an opportunity to learn and grow alongside my daughter.”
After completing the six-week JumpStart program, Randi and Ryan began putting the resources and strategies they had learned into practice at home and started seeing meaningful changes in how they communicated and supported Rylee.
“JumpStart has had a huge impact on our family, even though we know we’re still early in our journey. We’ve noticed smoother communication at home, fewer moments of frustration, and more confidence in how we support Rylee. I’ve learned to be more intentional with how I communicate with Rylee. I used to ask a lot of questions and give her many choices, thinking it would help her narrow things down. Once I learned to use more statements instead, she began responding more and expanding her communication. It was eye-opening to see the choices she made on her own when given space.”
Looking back on the beginning of their journey, Randi hopes other families know they don’t have to navigate it alone.
“I want other families to know they don’t have to navigate this journey alone. In the beginning, everything felt overwhelming, but connecting with SARRC gave us clarity, support, and hope. Every child is different, but there is a community ready to walk beside you and help your child thrive.”