Jenna B.

Roderick’s Mom

💙 Parent Voices: From Meltdowns to Milestones

When Jenna first brought Roderick to Creating Brighter Futures, he was experiencing severe language delays, unpredictable meltdowns, and growing frustration from being misunderstood. He had recently been diagnosed with high-functioning autism and suspected apraxia of speech — and while specialists had offered assessments, there was no clear path forward.

Then came Creating Brighter Futures.

From the very first assessment, Jenna saw something different. Even during that initial session, Roderick began picking up vocabulary. The team’s pace, structure, and approach clicked immediately. He was learning — not in months, but in minutes.

Jenna describes how the team not only worked with Roderick but worked with her. Weekly meetings with his BCBA gave her specific strategies to manage meltdowns and reinforce progress at home. What started as overwhelming chaos began to feel manageable — even empowering.

One summer in particular marked a breakthrough. Through the social group program, Roderick developed meaningful friendships for the first time. That experience lit a fire in him: a desire to communicate clearly, to connect with others, to be understood. Within weeks, he was forming full sentences. He began playing with peers, engaging in back-and-forth conversation, and building confidence that carried into school.

Today, Roderick is in a general education classroom, making friends, asking questions, and thriving both academically and socially. And for Jenna, one of the most meaningful outcomes is that he now values those connections — he wants friends, and he knows how to build those relationships.

Jenna credits Creating Brighter Futures with not just helping Roderick grow, but with teaching her how to support him every step of the way. “They didn’t just help my son,” she says. “They helped me become a better parent.”

A quick note: These testimonials were voluntarily shared by parents whose children have previously received services at Creating Brighter Futures. All families featured here have graduated from their programs and are no longer active clients. We're honored to share their reflections and celebrate the progress their children made along the way.