CELEBRATING EVERY MILESTONE

Life is full of celebrations and milestones, from first words to the first day of school. For many of us those moments happen on occasion, but for Chelsea Evenstad, they’re a daily occurrence.

Evenstad is the behavior services program director at the North Dakota Autism Center, the state’s center-based program that offers early intervention, one-on-one applied behavior analysis (ABA) programs, consultation, daycare and in-home services to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD can be a very challenging disorder, affecting behavior, communication and social skills. Both symptoms and their severity vary greatly from one person to the next―while one child might display repetitive behaviors, such as rocking, another might not be able to speak. But for Evenstad, it’s about the successes and not the obstacles.

Her passion for helping others with ASD ignited during college when she cared for adult individuals who had ASD and couldn’t speak

“Being able to communicate to others what you want and need is so critical to our wellbeing,” Evenstad said. “I thought there has to be a better way to improve the outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities.”

And she was right. According to the Center for Disease Control, children’s ASD symptoms can dramatically improve if they participate in behavioral therapy before they are three years old; and as Evenstad now knows first hand, it can be life changing.

In addition to program director, Evenstad is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) licensed in the state of North Dakota, specializing in ABA, which involves, but is not limited to, breaking challenging activities and skills down into their simplest, teachable parts. She has been with the ND Autism center for more than seven years, working with kids 14 months to 14 years old. Her days are packed, from put- ting together the children’s programs to training colleagues to coaching parents. But what really fuels her passion is working directly with the children.

“Seeing their faces light up when they accomplish something never gets old,” Evenstad said. “We celebrate every day here, whether it’s for a child who clapped for the first time or used the potty.”

The celebrations even go beyond the walls of the center. Evenstad provides therapy to kids in their homes who are struggling with certain issues, such as potty training. And if there are issues triggered outside the home, such as a trip to the grocery store, she’ll be there, too.

“ASD and its challenges don’t just go away when we lock our doors to the center,” Evenstad said. “Oftentimes, that’s when they can be at their worst, and we need to be there to give these kids the best chance at a successful outcome. I get texts and calls at night from parents and caregivers, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

In addition to the center’s early intervention program, in-home consults and therapy program, Evenstad works with the local school systems, observing classes, providing recommendations and working directly with ASD kids. Regardless of where she’s working, the squeals and excitement of big accomplishments are plentiful. Unfortunately, the number of BCBAs in our area is low.

Evenstad is just one of 18 BCBAs in the Moorhead and North Dakota area, and while she and the ND Autism Center have helped hundreds of kids, there are many others that don’t have access to the right treatment.

“There just aren’t enough of us to help these kids, and worse than that, there isn’t coverage or funding for the treatment,” Evenstad said.

Medicaid coverage is very limited and no ND insurance companies cover treatment for ASD. In fact, the Mental Health and Autism Insurance organization ranked North Dakota among the worst five states to live with ASD for that reason.

“It’s a challenge,” she added. “But like the disorder itself, with patience, time and perseverance I know we’ll see things start to change.”

Not only does Evenstad want to see that change, she wants to be the change.

“I really want to be a voice in our area and educate people on ASD,” Evenstad said. “I think most people either have a close personal understanding of the disorder or a distant understanding, and I’d like to close that gap.”

She also looks forward to honing in on her skills by continuing her education so she can give her staff and students the best support she can.

With ASD, meeting life’s milestones can be challenging, but with the right people and support, like that from Chelsea Evenstad at the ND Autism Center, the rewards and celebrations are even greater.

[AWM]