Our Shining Stars
Kendyl
Kendyl had some diagnostic evaluations done before age 2, which resulted in attending a developmental preschool program as well as receiving some speech therapy, physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), feeding therapy, and consultations with a behavioral therapist. Her therapy addressed everything from visual stimulations, fine motor skills, language skills, social awareness, and oral skills like chewing, biting, moving food in her mouth, and handling food texture/variety. Although Kendyl was eventually diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) by her pediatrician, her mother saw other behaviors that were beyond SPD patterns but could not afford to get further evaluations to address the behaviors that were impeding her ability to learn and focus at school and social settings. Starry Foundation gave Kendyl a new evaluation that showed her to have some autistic behaviors as well as some gifted traits. Now her family had the tools to know how to help her at home and advocate for her needs at school. Best of all, the team of professionals was kind and broke down the results in a way that a parent can understand, and this new knowledge gave them the comfort that Kendyl's needs are being met and allowed them to be happier as a family.