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Lighting A Spark
At Braylen's House, we're raising awareness and promoting initiatives to serve the people who need them most. We believe in taking action with the urgency to raise public awareness about some of the most pressing issues facing the Autism community. Please join us by supporting our efforts to make a measurable difference in the lives of those on the Spectrum.
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together"
Vincent van Gogh
Tylan Banks (11)
Louisville, Kentucky
Today's spark is for Tylan Banks of Louisville, Kentucky. Tylan loves video games and technology like most kids his age. He loves music and listening to beats to create raps over therm. Tylan loves math and maintains an A in this class. He is a social butterly and loves his family!
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We spoke with Tylan's mother to discuss some of her concerns and how a facility like Braylen's House Inc. can bring comfort for her family.
What services have you found are lacking in your community as your child ages?
There are very few processes to ensure that my son receives an excellent education. We've fought with the system, the entire duration of the program. My son is smart, intelligent, and even sociable. He breaks a lot of the characteristics and stereotypes that we've been told regarding kids on the spectrum. My son was diagnosed at the age of two.
I noticed the no eye contact, lining of items, and delayed speech at a very early age. We contacted a resource through my doctor, and they evaluated him. They advised me to give him treatment and therapy without a diagnosis, which I couldn't understand. Why treat something, and you don't know the issues? His father and I requested a psychologist evaluation. He was diagnosed in July 2011. At that point, we aggressively dove into therapy and social management.
Early intervention and therapy resulted in a well rounded, very sociable, and intelligent young man. The school system treats Autism like a special need rather than a gift that needs nurturing.
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Do you have any fears when it comes to the future of your child?
I don't have too many fears. I have the faith of a mustard seed when it comes to Tylan. It's almost a known fact around my family that he is the one we know to succeed. He just has a different outlook on life that I feel we are not privy to having.
However, I am worried about the influences and the world around him. The world looks at Autism as a disability rather than an ability seen through a different set of lenses.
How difficult has it been finding services outside of school for your child?
The city has stepped up its game. We have Michelle P Waiver, and we have unlimited resources that are out there to help. But there is no channel to help you on how to get those resources. We had to go out there and find those resources. They never fell in our lap. We networked with other parents, and we were relentless with our questions. We fought to have services paid for outside of school. I only wish those resources applied to the public school system.
How would a facility like Braylen’s House benefit you and your family?
It would give exposure to this need within our school system. It is so essential to penetrate the system with help for kids with "abilities." Private school is the best education for Tylan right now. There is a school that has a range of kids the spectrum and doesn't just group my child in a category. It's costly. His dad and I both work. We will be working even harder to support this education. Because of this, how do we provide transportation for him to get to this school? We both work 10 hour days. I currently pay for transportation right now for him to get to JCPS. That's an extra $400 a month.
I've also been pushing to get him in WEB Dubois Academy. I'm still currently trying. We were told that Tylan would have special considerations and priorities in schools because he is on the spectrum. That has not happened since we've been in the school systems. I want to at least provide his services outside of school, and Bralyen's house will help.
Jamison Walker (21)
Louisville, Kentucky
Jamison is a model who has participated in over ten runway shows in Louisville and Indiana. Jamison loves to run and runs 5-7 miles a day, five days a week! He enjoys putting puzzles together and all things Star Wars and Avengers.
Jamison’s mother says when it comes to services lacking in our community, “We honestly create our own.” Jamison and his mother would like to see more social activities with age-appropriate peers. The duo recommended monthly creative meetups - movies, hiking, travel destinations, game nights for ages 18-30.
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We here at Braylen’s House also feel that void and hope to be the change needed for our community.
Keonte (12)
We Light a Spark for Autism Avenger Keonte from Lafayette, Louisiana!
Keonte is an intelligent twelve-year-old who loves Science Fiction!
We spoke with Keonte's mom, who told us about some of her struggles on the Spectrum journey.
I have found that there are no services that cover everyone on the Spectrum. I feel like all the services are geared towards more severe cases
I fear that my child will be stereotyped and that he will not be used to his full capacity. He is brilliant and has a lot to offer.
It is challenging to find services both in and outside of our school
A facility like Braylen's house would benefit us because there would be a lot of opportunities for my child to be able to learn more about himself, and we, as a family, would be able to learn how to understand him better.
Bringing Change
Nick Kaegin (22)
Louisville, Kentucky
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Nick is a fan of all things Wrestling! He loves WWE, New Pro Japan, and local OVW Wrestling. Nick also enjoys Anime!
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We spoke with Nick and his family about some of the struggles of growning up in Kentucky with limited services while on the Spectrum. See what he had to say about why a facility like Braylen's House would benefit him and is familiy.
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The Need For Change
We have had a tough time getting work skills for Nick. The school he’s attending was supposed to have resources available to us; however, that was not the case. I have reached out several times to the school for assistance to no avail. Nick has never worked; he is very nervous and would do well if he had a job coach or someone to help him gain confidence and work with an employer that would understand his needs. It’s not working for me.
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My main concern is if something happens to me, what would he do? My daughter, of course, said she would take care of him, but I want him to be able to take care of himself.
When Nick was younger, he had several resources that we found, such as social skills classes, in-home therapy, speech therapy at school, amongst other things. Now that he has graduated and become an adult, those things are no longer available to him.
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We would benefit significantly from Braylen’s House by giving him the resources he needs to help him get and keep a job. That in itself would help build his confidence!
Tatiana Kelly (8)
Bronx, NY
Tatiana Kelley is a lively eight-year-old who loves Anime, dressing up for Halloween, and being a big sister.
We spoke with Tatiana's mom about what she feels a facility like Braylen's House could do for her family.
What services have you found are lacking in your community as Tatiana ages?
There are services for younger kids, such as early intervention, but my daughter is eight. She receives services in school, but outside the school, support is lacking. I would love to find appropriate after school programs that would help with homework and work on social skills. Tatiana hit puberty at an early age, and I felt alone. There is no one to help you navigate early puberty, what to do, how to explain it, and what ways I can help prepare her for hygiene and preparation that come along with puberty.
What are your fears when it comes to the future of Tatiana?
I am afraid of dying and leaving her in the world without support. I would love to have help with more than just her goals, but determining options regarding who would care for her when I'm not around.
How difficult has it been to find services in and outside of school for Tatiana?
It is horrible. NY has the best services in the East, yet there are no respite providers. I have had care coordinators ask me if I knew of people who could work with her! I don't want a neighbor watching her until I get home. I want her to be working on skills outside of school. There is a Community Hab service that helps teens navigate travel and behavior outside of school. I wish this service was available for school-aged kids as well. I don't know how to handle meltdowns in the middle of the grocery or stimming and her approaching strangers and their crying babies.
How would a facility like Braylen's House benefit you and your family?
If there were a facility like Braylen's House available years ago, I would have never left Kentucky. My family support is in Kentucky, but the supposed services are here in NY. I would love to move back to KY, but I am afraid, due to the lack of resources in Jefferson county. I reached out to one school in Louisville, and tuition was 30,000 per year. At the time, my salary was 22,000.