Every parent wants to feel like they’re doing their best for their child, especially when navigating the early stages of a diagnosis. For Landon’s family, getting the right support at the right time made all the difference.
When Landon was first diagnosed with autism at just 22 months old, many parents would feel blindsided by such news. But, for Landon’s mother Alexis, it was more confirmation and an opportunity for quick action and growth.
She had already noticed signs from as early as 15 months…Landon wasn’t speaking yet, and he seemed to be missing many of the key milestones parents come to expect.
While she knew that her son was experiencing these things, and having a background working in special education and with autistic students, Alexis was most concerned with getting him a clear diagnosis to allow her to advocate for him and find an early intervention program.
“We were really lucky. We got a diagnosis at 22 months and started the evaluation process at 15 months through early intervention from our pediatrician.”
Unlike Landon, her older daughter’s diagnosis of developmental delays made it impossible to access the support she needed through insurance.
This experience ignited Alexis’ determination. She knew that the earlier they could access services, the better.
Navigating A New Normal
With Landon’s autism diagnosis, Alexis was determined to find a solution and turned to her insurance for ABA therapy options.
Alexis did look at other programs that were in-network, but they were either in-home programs that were missing the social skills component that was important to their family, or did not offer speech integration or the hours she was looking for. They wanted a center-based approach for Landon, especially being a pandemic-born baby who already lacked so much socialization exposure.
Seeking Support For Landon
She first started with an evaluation with Montgomery County (MoCo) Infants and Toddlers, the local system for providing early intervention services for children suspected of having a developmental delay. Landon started with a parent training therapy model with the program at 16 months. However, he aged out of the program on his 4th birthday.
Alexis went on to enroll Landon in an inclusion, mornings-only preschool when he was two and (while also attending Optimal Beginnings in the afternoons), but within 2 months, the school informed her that they would not be able to accommodate Landon because they felt that he was a handful and safety concern and presented a need for more one-on-one attention.
Alexis agreed about Landon needing more support, but she also felt that he needed a place where he was safe, understood, and set up for success, much like what Landon already had in the afternoon at Optimal Beginnings.
When Landon was ready to start in Montgomery County Public Schools in their Preschool Education Program (PEP), there were concerns that Landon would not qualify for one one-on-one support or a full-day program, causing difficult transitions and safety concerns.
His developmental psychologist at Children’s National Hospital felt a full-day ABA program was the ideal option as a preschool alternative and also recommended that Landon start kindergarten at age six and not five, due to having a late August birthday, which would allow him more time to develop socially, developmentally, and emotionally.
Finding Home at Optimal Beginnings
After exploring many options, Alexis turned to Optimal Beginnings and it was clear from the start that it was the right choice for Landon. Besides the convenience of being close to home, OB offered exactly what families like hers truly needed:
• An integrated services approach with both ABA therapy and speech programs under one roof.
• A team that worked with insurance to make full-time support possible.
• A setting designed for children like Landon, one that blended play-based learning with therapy programs.
From the moment they started onboarding with Optimal Beginnings, Alexis felt a sense of ease. The process was seamless — responsive communication, clear evaluations, and an insurance team that made full-time support possible, where the other ABA programs they reached out to were not as responsive or helpful or were not speech integrated.
The OB Billings department has been critical in their ability to have full-time support through their employee-funded plan, which allows insurance to make decisions outside of plans that cover ABA therapy. At first, Alexis was told Landon’s ABA therapy was denied, but after an appeal she came to find they were eligible through Landon’s autism diagnosis, making their costs fixed and their annual out-of-pocket maximum only $3k before covering all the cost of ABA and speech therapy.
OB has handled the heavy lifting so Alexis could focus on what matters most: Landon’s progress.
Calming the Chaos
Landon initially started with OB as an afternoon-only client in September 2022. By November 2022, he became a full-time client, essentially making OB their pre-school alternative.
Since joining the OB family, Landon has hit incredible milestones in his social skill-building. Alexis sees this as key to his independence. Who came to us as a withdrawn, fully non-verbal child has now developed a cheeky personality and remarkable communication progress, including:
•Using a speech tablet for communication
• Speaking sentences
• Asking questions
• Comprehending and responding to others
Landon also participates in all of the daytime programming and events. Because of the extensive preparation that OB puts forth to help the kids feel comfortable with sensory-intense events like Halloween, this is now his favorite holiday and he feels every day should be Halloween!
Tomorrow’s Promise
Alexis feels that her son and their family are living a great chapter. Through the support of OB, they have crafted a life that enables them to navigate and support their children and their growth.
While finding the right therapy program was critical, Alexis knew that the bigger challenge wasn’t just the diagnosis or securing services…it was navigating life beyond therapy.
She considers the therapy component of their life to be the easy part. Their version of “hard” are the real life moments like family outings and vacations, dinners out, and challenges with Landon’s behavior.
Ironically, it’s the future she’s scared about. More specifically, Landon’s transitioning to kindergarten in the public school system.
“I’m scared to death of transitioning him to kindergarten. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories. We’re concerned about the transition and support that Landon will receive.”
There are very limited options in the county for children like Landon and insurance does not cover non-public education. Like most families who experience this, a private-pay program is not a financial option. Alexis hopes to find a placement for Landon to fit his needs to get the best possible education.
To help support his future success, OB will assist on Landon’s transition to kindergarten and provide recommendations for Landon’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The plan is for Landon to continue to receive convenient support from OB once he starts kindergarten, with a bus taking him from school to OB to continue his therapy and make the transition more successful. Plus, he will attend in the summers and on school breaks.
Parent Support Matters, Too
Alexis felt the need to share Landon and her family’s story to help other parents who may be struggling with receiving support for an autism diagnosis.
She wishes that openness and vulnerability were the norm among parents navigating this journey, instead of the fear and isolation so many feel. She understands the emotional weight of feeling o
verwhelmed, uncertain, and scared of making the wrong decision.
That’s why she wants other parents to know they don’t have to figure it out alone. The right support exists; you just need to find the place that understands your child and sets them up for success.