A decade ago, while Kelly was looking for additional support for her son, Justin, a friend from an aerobics class told her about Bobby Dodd Institute (BDI). She decided to reach out. Kelly connected with Anna Maki, Director of Program Services at BDI. They quickly scheduled a meeting, and Kelly immediately applied for services for Justin.
First, BDI helped her successfully apply for SSI for him, including transitioning from Katie Beckett Deeming Waiver Medicaid to SSI straight Medicaid. BDI’s Benefits Navigation team also helped the family apply for the NOW/COMP waiver, guiding Kelly through the initial steps, explaining the required documentation, creating a checklist to ensure eligibility, and developing an advocacy strategy. Justin is currently on the waiting list, hoping to be approved.
Justin was diagnosed with autism at age four. Back then, Kelly remembers, she noticed delayed speech and missed developmental milestones. She felt overwhelmed and scared. She worried about what she needed to do and how best to support her son. After a few days of processing, she decided to take action and slowly became Justin’s most fierce advocate.
She began researching, connecting with providers, and learning about available therapies. They found the right combination of therapies and supports, adjusting as Justin’s needs changed. With consistent support, including speech, occupational, and physical therapy, as well as ABA, he made significant progress over time. Kelly’s confident that early intervention is key to success.
Justin is now 22 years old and thriving.
He attended the IDEAL program at Georgia State University, where he studied Film and Media. Kelly says this experience helped him find himself as a young adult. Today, Justin is highly independent, strong in expressive language, and works part-time as a marketing operations associate on a hybrid schedule. He also manages a successful YouTube channel.
Outside of work, he stays active in his community. He participates in Best Buddies through Emory University and has expressed interest in serving on the board of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Family Support funds from Bobby Dodd Institute have helped Kelly cover Justin’s YMCA activities, easing some of the financial burden. Even with insurance, she had to pay out of pocket for essential services like speech, occupational, and physical therapy. She also had to cover summer programs when school was out, along with activities to help Justin become comfortable in social settings, like visits to the Georgia Aquarium.
Kelly stayed connected with the organization and continued receiving support, including guidance to help her plan for Justin’s future. And, when life threw Kelly a curve ball in the form of a divorce, Kelly reached out to Anna for assistance in navigating child support. A new 2024 Georgia law provides for child support indefinitely past the age of 18 for individuals who are disabled and unable to support themselves due to their disability. With Anna’s support, Kelly now has a court order for child support indefinitely for Justin, which goes a long way to safeguard his financial future.
What helped Kelly throughout the years was her positivity and persistence. She encourages other families to focus on their child’s individual needs, because every child on the spectrum is different.
She notes that while access to services has improved over the years, a lot remains to be accomplished. Organizations like Bobby Dodd Institute help by providing practical support and guidance, connecting the dots. The organization provides personalized support, from navigating benefits to finding social opportunities for Justin.
Being a parent of a child with autism is not easy, but it can often be rewarding, and consistent support, advocacy, and community resources make it possible for young people like Justin to become independent and accomplished citizens.
