Danielle was diagnosed with apraxia at a young age, and her family initially struggled to feel hopeful about her progress. That began to change when they enrolled her in the SPARK program. Since joining, Danielle has made remarkable gains in her speech and development. Her parents were impressed by the program’s supportive approach and the variety of fun, engaging activities designed to help children thrive. The transformation in Danielle has been so meaningful that the family has already enrolled their son to start SPARK in June. They credit the program with helping Danielle make “leaps and bounds” in her growth – and couldn’t be more thankful. “We're loving the improvements and growth we're seeing in Danielle,” the family said.

When Elvie began SPARK, transitions were difficult. She was often slow to warm up and had frequent meltdowns during lessons. Her SPARK Parent Partner, Kim Spears, worked closely with Elvie’s mother to try different approaches. Together, they created a new routine – bringing comfort items to visits and moving sessions to more welcoming environments like the local library. A turning point came when Elvie’s best friend, Nova, joined a SPARK session at Rodman Library. Seeing a familiar face helped Elvie feel at ease, and her engagement improved dramatically. During one visit, she read The Three Little Kittens, drew a happy face in her journal, wrote her name, and successfully sequenced story events. With the support of her Parent Partner, her mom, and a trusted friend, Elvie is now excited about learning and eager for every SPARK visit.

When Harper entered SPARK, he faced multiple challenges, including health issues and learning delays. His family was navigating a difficult time, and SPARK became a stable, encouraging presence. At first, Harper had trouble focusing, often jumping, shouting, and struggling to participate in structured lessons. But over time, everything began to change. With the help of SPARK Parent Partner Kelly Anstine, Harper learned to follow lesson routines, developed excitement for learning, and built key academic skills. Today, he can write his name, count to 20, and identify shapes and colors. He even transitioned to a new classroom where he is thriving. His mom shared, “Since Harper started SPARK, he is right at the level he should be. He loves the stories and learning prompts.”

Lucas entered the SPARK program as a curious and energetic learner who struggled with some early academic skills. At the start, he didn’t know how to hold a pencil correctly. With guidance from SPARK Parent Partner Kelly Anstine and unwavering encouragement from his family, Lucas made incredible progress. He can now write his name, participates enthusiastically in lessons, and consistently meets his learning goals. Despite navigating medical challenges at home, Lucas’s family continues to push forward with positivity and resilience. Their commitment and Lucas’s own motivation have created a joyful, successful learning journey, and his progress has been a pleasure to witness.

Summer, a non-speaking learner, joined SPARK in 2024 with her mother, Melody, who was already working closely with a pediatrician and speech therapist to support her daughter’s communication needs. Early on, SPARK Parent Partner Kim Spears used picture cues, pointing, and gestures during lessons to help Summer participate. Eventually, Melody secured a talker device for Summer, which she now brings to each visit. The impact has been profound. Summer’s confidence has soared, and she now participates more independently. She writes her name using hand-over-hand guidance, engages with stories, and uses her talker to name letters. During one lesson, she even identified and shaded story characters using her device. With consistent encouragement from her mother and a tailored approach to learning, Summer is making beautiful progress – one word, one lesson, one success at a time.