AJ’s Early Intervention Journey

Sarah adjusts three-year-old AJ on her lap as he reaches for his water cup. “He’s a very feisty little guy,” she says with a smile. “Very popular with everyone.” 

AJ was born with Down syndrome, a diagnosis Sarah and her husband, Brian, received before his birth after doctors discovered a related heart condition. That prenatal diagnosis meant AJ qualified for Pennsylvania’s Early Intervention program, supportive, in-home services for babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. 

Early Intervention helps children grow and thrive during the most critical years of brain development. But it’s not just about the child. Families receive hands-on support, learning simple, everyday ways to help their child—through play, mealtimes, and even bedtime routines. 

“We had used Strawberry Fields before for speech therapy for two of AJ’s older siblings,” Sarah explains. “We knew Laurie, one of the speech therapists, and she was great. So we thought, that’s our choice.” 

Starting at Six Weeks 

AJ began receiving services from Strawberry Fields when he was just six weeks old. At first, Sarah wasn’t sure what to expect. “You think, well, they’re not doing anything yet, what’s the therapist going to do?” she remembers. “But they did so much.” 

Annie Smith, PT, DPT, AJ’s physical therapist, guided the family through gentle movement and positioning exercises to help build strength. For children with Down syndrome, physical therapy often addresses low muscle tone and joint flexibility. Annie showed Sarah how to support AJ’s body during everyday moments, like playtime or tummy time, to help his muscles activate properly. “She’d even hold him up to show us what his muscles should be doing,” Sarah says.  

Soon, occupational therapist Carla Soares-Goulet, MSc, OTr, joined the team. She focused on AJ’s fine motor skills and sensory processing. “There was so much more to it than I expected,” Sarah says. Carla brought practical tools like blocks to build grip strength, a fidget tube to encourage squeezing, and a fork designed for easier self-feeding. “She noticed he was holding his fork by the wrong end and showed us how to fix it,” Sarah adds. “That made a big difference in his ability to feed himself.” 

A Team Effort  

As AJ grew, so did his Early Intervention team. 

Melissa Gentner, MS, CCC-SLP, his speech therapist, helped the family navigate early communication. When verbal speech proved difficult, Melissa taught them basic sign language. 

“There was a time we weren’t even sure AJ understood us,” Sarah recalls. “But Melissa helped us figure that out. It became a family affair. We’d tell the kids, ‘AJ learned a new sign this week, let’s all help him use it.’” 

Special education teacher Kim Callahan rounded out the team, supporting AJ’s learning and social skills. When AJ started attending childcare, Kim and, indeed, all the early intervention therapists working with AJ became a bridge between home and the center, helping staff learn how to support him.  

“His center had never worked with a child with Down syndrome before,” Sarah says. “Everyone was eager to learn, and the team helped bridge that gap, for AJ, for us, and for his classroom teachers.” 

Week by Week 

What stood out most to Sarah was how responsive and personalized the support was. “The therapists didn’t stick to a rigid schedule or plan,” she says. “If we were struggling with something that week, they’d pivot and focus on what AJ needed right then.”  That flexibility is at the heart of what makes Early Intervention unique. It’s not about checking off milestones on a fixed timeline.  

It’s about giving each child the tools they need to grow, learn, and gain independence in their own way. “AJ has his own kind of chart,” Sarah says. “It’s not about hitting goals by a certain age. It’s about building the skills he needs to succeed and be as independent as possible.” The team’s flexibility extended beyond therapy sessions, too. When the family didn’t have stairs at home for AJ to practice on, therapists met them at the park. “They were so flexible. Wherever we needed to be, they met us there,” Sarah says. 

Why It Matters 

Over three years, AJ has made remarkable progress. He’s just a little boy now, jumping off the back of the couch onto cushions like his siblings, taking tumbles and getting back up. He’s feisty, determined, and taking on his world one step at a time. 

Early Intervention is more than therapy. It’s about helping families understand their child’s needs, empowering them with tools and confidence, and celebrating each small but meaningful step forward 

“It’s worth it,” Sarah says. “AJ is where he is today because of all the services, all the time, and all the work the therapists and we put in.”

If you have concerns about your child’s development, the first step is to contact the Centre County Early Intervention office. From there, families can be connected to evaluations, answers, and services that support children during their earliest years of growth. 

To learn more about Early Intervention services at Strawberry Fields, visit www.sfionline.org/earlyintervention.