Amie Giersdorf

Andrew’s Mom

💙 Parent Voices: They Gave Us Back Our Son

When Amie's son Andrew was diagnosed with autism just before his second birthday, everything changed. He was non-verbal, struggled with motor coordination, and communicating with him felt almost impossible. Like so many parents, Amie was overwhelmed with uncertainty, wondering what the future would hold and how she could help her son.

Then another parent introduced her to Jessica Irish and for her that introduction changed everything.

When Jessica opened Creating Brighter Futures, Amie didn't hesitate—her family became the very first to join the new center. Looking back today, she says it was one of the best decisions they ever made.

Andrew's progress came one step at a time. Through individualized ABA therapy, he learned to communicate using a device, developed important life skills, and gained the confidence needed to successfully transition into school. But for Amie, the greatest transformation wasn't just Andrew's progress—it was learning how to understand her son and connect with him in ways she never thought possible.

Throughout their journey, Creating Brighter Futures worked alongside their family every step of the way. Weekly parent meetings, daily communication, collaboration with Andrew's school, and personalized support helped ensure everyone was working toward the same goals. It wasn't simply therapy—it became a true partnership.

Today, Andrew continues to thrive, and Amie still considers the staff at Creating Brighter Futures part of her extended family. More than a decade later, she says their impact reaches far beyond therapy.

As she puts it:

"This center gave us back our kid."

🎥 Watch the video above to hear Amie share Andrew's story—and how Creating Brighter Futures helped open up his world—in her own words.



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 All families featured here have graduated from their programs and are no longer active clients.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.