Krystal and Kyle first learned about SARRC through their pediatrician and a close friend after noticing signs of autism in their 18-month-old daughter.
“In the beginning, the specific signs that first alerted us were her anxiety around any type of confinement,” Krystal recalls. “As time went on, we noticed more obvious signs like limited eye contact with peers, limited attempts at interaction, and difficulty adjusting to new environments and people.”
Their pediatrician recommended they contact SARRC for a formal evaluation, and hearing positive experiences from their friend encouraged them to take the next step. Soon after, the family visited SARRC for a diagnostic evaluation using the Naturalistic Observation Diagnostic Assessment (NODA) — a smartphone-based tool that allows parents to record everyday interactions for SARRC’s clinicians to review before the onsite visit. The additional insight NODA provides helps shorten families’ time in the clinic while giving the team a fuller picture of each child.
Their daughter received her official diagnosis the week of her 2nd birthday. Early on, the most significant challenges were sensory and social–emotional delays. Krystal remembers often seeing stories about children who struggled with tasks like hair brushing — something many families interpreted as defiance, but was, for them, part of daily life. Any form of bathing or hair care triggered overwhelming panic and meltdowns, sometimes leading to self-harm or hyperventilation.
Over time, and with support from her SARRC team, the family focused on helping Kora feel more in control through small, playful steps. Gradually, she began requesting to bathe on her own, though hair washing and brushing remained difficult. Two years later, Kora entered a typical Pre-K classroom, where she showed significant growth. She began using language to advocate for her sensory needs — asking her teacher for a quiet space to regulate or telling peers when certain sounds hurt her ears, all without escalating to fight-or-flight responses.
Today, Kora continues to gain skills independently and, with early intervention behind her, is ready to enter Kindergarten confidently and alongside her peers.
Seeing Kora thrive made Krystal and Kyle reflect on how transformative early intervention had been, and how they could help other families find the same support, so they joined SARRC’s Multiyear Visionary Partner (MVP) giving program.
“I knew I wanted to support SARRC because it has provided invaluable support for my family,” Krystal shares. “Having a child with autism, and knowing how common it is now, really underscores why inclusivity matters. The more we understand, the more we can ensure individuals with autism are meaningfully integrated into our communities.”
Their commitment grew from there. Krystal now serves as a founding chair of SARRC NextGen, a group dedicated to engaging the next generation of supporters by raising critical funds, building community connections, volunteering, and increasing awareness and acceptance of autism.
Are you interested in making a difference by becoming a SARRC Multiyear Visionary Partner? Learn more here.
