Quest Kids Academy provides children with autism and other special needs a supportive environment that encourages individual growth and increases independence.

A child’s formative years are vital for their cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. But for those diagnosed with autism, the range of challenges they encounter on a daily basis can create significant struggles that increasingly impact their quality of life.

It’s no secret that autism diagnoses have been steadily increasing, with recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that one in 31 children under the age of 8 are born with the neurodevelopmental disorder. While increased aware-ness, better screening methods and earlier detection are notable positives in helping identify more cases, growing numbers also under-score the urgency of connecting these children and their families with desperately needed services and support.

As Director of Quest Kids Academy, Melissa Lopez knows it all starts with making meaningful connections with each child on an individual level.

“Even though special-needs diagnoses might look similar, every individual really is unique and their needs are varied. Two behaviors that might look the same on the outside might have different functions; those behaviors might be meeting different needs,” she says. “And those students really need a team that can look at how to help meet those needs on an individual level so that they can grow in a way unique to them and realize their own potential.”

Quest Kids Academy is a small, local private school that specializes in creating a supportive environment for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Relying on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to formulate a customized education plan, the school utilizes both reduced student-to-teacher ratios and a personalized approach to help create strong foundations for learning and the development of necessary life skills.

Building on the concepts of ABA, Quest not only provides families with therapy services, but also supports school-age children both academically and socially in an effort to acknowledge their strengths and abilities.

“A lot of our families receive ABA services for their [young] children, but when they reach school age, parents are a little lost on the next steps. And so we help bridge that gap at the Academy, where we still incorporate those concepts of ABA but start to introduce them to the school format—being in a group setting, taking turns, waiting in line, raising hands, all of that,” says Rob Cage, Vice President of Education and Employment Programs.

Empowering the children while celebrating their successes along the way is another focal point at Quest Kids Academy, as the school gives students the tools they need to become more independent and build self-confidence.

“We like to say the small things are the big things, and celebrating those small successes along the way is so important,” says Lopez. She cites a recent example of a student asking to use the restroom independently after they’ve relied on support over the years. “That’s life-changing, when a student can advocate for themselves in a way where their needs are met in a meaningful way.”

“It helps with some of the things that are vitally important to kids as they grow up and go through school,” Cage adds. “Some of it’s certainly confidence—being able to do those things with pride and receive praise. [But it also helps with] the identity of students, to be able to learn those skills so they can be included in life and have access to things that all their peers have as well.”

This fall, Quest Kids Academy will further expand its capabilities to serve the community when it opens its state-of-the-art, three-story facility in downtown Orlando. In addition to housing Quest’s therapy center on the first floor, the new location will have dedicated spaces for stu-dents based on their age, in addition to featuring the latest technology and other amenities tailored precisely to students’ range of needs.

“Everything has been designed with [our students] in mind. I can’t wait for our kids to get in there and see it because they are going to have some mind-blowing moments: They are really going to enjoy it,” says Lopez.

“[The new facility] should allow us to leverage our resources, and we will be able to serve more families who can benefit from having those continuous services in one building,” adds Cage.

Having spent 17 years in the field, Lopez is constantly reminded how fulfilling—both professionally and personally—it can be to work alongside these children and watch them reach new heights.

“To see some of our students who start out as toddlers and now they’ve grown into thriving young adults and transitioning into less-restrictive lives, that just makes you feel good as a person,” says Lopez. “Knowing you’re making an impact and affecting kids and their families’ lives … that’s probably the most rewarding part of what we do.”

Quest Kids Academy
Orlando
(407) 218-4340
QuestKids.org