When our son Nathaniel was born in April 2018, my mother, Jane, offered to care for him full-time, sparing us the expenses of daycare while my husband Alex and I both worked full-time. By age two, we noticed some delays in Nathaniel’s speech and development. Despite having some vocabulary words, he predominantly used gestures and sounds to communicate his needs so we decided to have him evaluated. Because of COVID, the Infants and Toddlers Program did a remote assessment, finding that Nathaniel’s development was age appropriate.

Despite my lingering concerns, we proceeded cautiously, and in 2021, we enrolled Nathaniel in music classes and soccer camps. This shed light on his developmental disparities compared to his peers. Encountering judgmental remarks and disapproving glances during these activities left me stressed and saddened that I did not know how to help my child succeed. Consequently, we sought a second opinion regarding Nathaniel’s development from Mount Washington and Kennedy Krieger, but could not get an appointment.

Over time, Nathaniel’s behavioral and social challenges intensified. Following my mother’s cancer diagnosis in August 2022, we enrolled Nathaniel and his younger brother, Maxwell, in part-time childcare. Unfortunately, Nathaniel’s behavior proved challenging for multiple childcare facilities, resulting in unsuccessful placements and escalating concerns. Amidst these hardships, my mother’s passing in October 2022 left us grappling with the urgent need for reliable full-time childcare.

With limited options, I started working from home full-time while looking for suitable care for Nathaniel. In contrast, Max thrived in his childcare setting. In January 2023, Max’s childcare director suggested we contact the Infinity Center for Behavior Services (ICBS) for Nathaniel. In March 2023, we scheduled an evaluation with the Infinity Center and a month later received a diagnosis. In July Nathaniel started attending the Harford County Infinity Center five days a week, for 4 hours per day. Within the first two weeks, we noticed a marked improvement in Nathaniel’s social aptitude and behavior.

Previously, Nathaniel had displayed little regard for safety or awareness of stranger danger, often attempting to wander off. Mundane tasks like grocery shopping or errands became daunting, let alone attempting enjoyable outings with the children.
However, following Nathaniel’s time at the Infinity Center, he has shown remarkable progress in comprehending and following safety directives, such as holding hands, staying close, and the crucial command to stop.

A year later, I now confidently manage activities with both children independently, a newfound source of joy and relief. Nathaniel now actively engages with his younger brother, engaging in shared games and exhibiting patience while waiting for his turn. He also actively participates in daily activities like dressing independently, brushing his teeth, and washing his hands, tasks he did not perform before enrolling in the ICBS.

With his newfound skills and blossoming confidence, Nathaniel recently enjoyed a delightful evening with his brother at Max’s childcare center and was able to play with unfamiliar peers. He talked with other children, later recounting the enjoyable experience and expressing eagerness to repeat it with his brother. A year ago, such a day seemed distant, but now it fills me with optimism for the future.

Every two weeks, I meet with Nathaniel’s Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Allison Casey, to review his Center activities, his skill development and any challenges. Allison provides insights on how to integrate new skills into daily home life, which I share with Nathaniel’s wider support network.

The entire team at the ICBS consistently go above and beyond to clarify concepts, offer support, and ensure seamless operations. The sense of kinship cultivated at the ICBS is profound, and I am saddened that Nathaniel will eventually age out, as the environment there truly embodies a sense of family.

Nathaniel will continue to attend the ICBS until August 2024 when he will transition to a general education first-grade program. Upon his transition to public school in September, we plan to continue in the group sessions in the evening at the ICBS to further enhance Nathaniel’s social skills in areas where improvement is still needed. Our experience with Nathaniel at ICBS, the dedicated staff, and all involved has been exceedingly positive. We are eagerly anticipating Nathaniel’s future journey with optimism, nurturing the belief that he will lead a fulfilling and optimistic life.

– Brittany, proud mother of Nathaniel