Team Kellan

Time flew! This is Kellan’s 5^th year participating in Go the Distance for Autism, an annual event that raises critical funds for the REED Autism Services family of programs that span from childhood to adulthood. Please join us in contributing to this worthy cause to build a brighter future for the REED autism community. We are truly grateful for your continued support.

For this year’s update, we’re taking a slightly different format – instead of the usual team effort, this year’s story is through the eyes of one person – Kellan’s mom is writing it! Read on to see why.

ABOUT KELLAN

Kellan is my 10-year old miracle. Just after he turned one year old, he was diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a rare neurological disorder. TSC took our family on a whirlwind with countless medical appointments for his development delays, epilepsy, to an eventual autism diagnosis. Kellan falls into the 50% of children with TSC who are also diagnosed with autism. 

Today, Kellan is in a much better place. 2024 marks a major medical milestone and his 5^th year at the REED Academy! REED uses applied behavior analysis (ABA) model of teaching for individuals with autism. I became a believer of ABA after seeing what Kellan can do during his first ABA therapy session. Kellan needs structure, repetition and a reward system to motivate him, all methods used by this evidence-based teaching.

Kellan’s daily regimen is a constant reminder of his diagnoses, but his sweet smile and affection melt all of that away when I look at him. If you don’t know Kellan already, he has a mild demeanor and loves to hold hands, though probably not as much as he loves eating his greens…broccoli, spinach, kale, you name it. I am so very proud of how far he’s gone. He is the strongest boy I know.

8 LONG YEARS, 1 TREMENDOUS LEAP

Kellan has been receiving ABA therapy since he was two years old, and I sat in every single session with him. The therapist would roll a car with him, tell him it’s a car, prompt him to point to the car, place another object next to the car, and ask him to point to the car. No matter how many times they did that, he could not identify it. 

Receptive language is one the greatest areas of deficits from Kellan’s condition, and none of the different ABA methods of teaching over the years worked. During the pandemic, I worked on REED’s receptive language program with Kellan as part of virtual learning. Over 18 months, we made many modifications to the program due to lack of progress, and had even incorporated videos, his favorite thing. We had high hopes, but it was a failure. He made progress in every program I worked on with him except for that one.

Fast forward to this past year, REED tried yet another method by using flash cards. It was a miracle! Kellan can now pick out a spoon out of three objects when asked. Spoon was the first object he mastered, and he has moved onto identifying other common household objects. 

Through the years, REED did not give up on Kellan’s receptive language program, continually revisiting methods and making modifications. When I had lost faith in that program, REED kept it. It is this kind of determination and dedication that makes REED an exceptional school. 

JOIN TEAM KELLAN! 

Join us on June 2, 2024, at Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ, as Kellan takes part in the Bike Ride & 5K Fun Run. Whether it be on foot or bike, there are many options that can match your pace. Let us know if you are interested in attending! And if you can’t make it in person, you can still show your support by making a contribution. Either way, you can be a part of Team Kellan!

We hope you have enjoyed following Kellan’s journey with REED and we can’t wait to show you what he does next!

*** Double your gift! Check to see if your employer will match your contributions today! Many corporations match employee donations. It’s really easy to do. If you need a direct link or have any questions on this specifically, we can help you through the process.***