Ashton Faller is an enthusiastic five-year-old, all energy and eager for kindergarten.
School officials are confident he can succeed in a regular classroom, despite early indicators of autism. His mother, Lisa, concurs and says Ashton is living testimony to early childhood programs like Little Red School House, an agency funded by United Way that is dedicated to children with disabilities. United Way commits nearly 40 percent of Local Community Fund dollars to programs for children and youth.
When their son approached his second birthday, Darren and Lisa Faller could not ignore the marked developmental differences between Ashton and his peers. After consulting the family pediatrician, they contacted “ Little Red” for guidance and support.
“Before we called, we didn’t know about Little Red, or any community programs really,” Lisa recalled. “We just never needed help like this before, but when Ashton did, we reached out and our eyes were opened to a whole new world.”
After testing qualified Ashton for services, the Fallers quickly discovered that Little Red is renowned for their specialized work in supporting children birth to age five who have, or are at risk of, developmental delays or disabilities. They enrolled Ashton with hope and after three years said the program exceeded even their highest expectations.
“Little Red has made a huge difference in our lives and such an incredibly deep impact on Ashton’s future,” Lisa said. “They treated the family with the same passion as Ashton and we learned so much about him, his capabilities and what we can do to support him.”
It is this commitment from Little Red, Lisa asserts, that gives children the opportunity to rise above their unique challenges to reach their full potential. A commitment that means her son, Ashton, will enter kindergarten ready to learn and expected to thrive.