Imagine 4 year old Cynthia, who can’t communicate that the sounds in the room are too loud or that she doesn’t want her food right now or that she can’t get a toy down from the shelf. Imagine her struggling to understand why another child isn’t playing the same way she is or that she’s having a hard time regulating her emotions and behaviors because the sensory overload is unbearable. And this isn’t Cynthia’s fault. Our world causes sensory overload, frustration, trauma, and many other obstacles that impede positive development for autistic children. This results in less access to childcare, fewer preschool options, increased suspension rates, exclusion from classroom curriculum, and lack of access to formative life opportunities that most families take for granted.

The Chattanooga Autism Center’s Bridges Behavior Therapy Clinic provides the right therapeutic environment to support skill building in children like Cynthia. It is sensory-friendly, has high staff-to-children ratios, and provides individually tailored therapy and support. By working with their trusted therapists, children like Cynthia strengthen their self-regulation, communication, and self-advocacy skills while building confidence along the way. Ultimately, the goal is to prepare these children to succeed as they transition into traditional school settings and in life.