Ascend with ABA

05/10/2026

Strong. Selfless. Unstoppable.

Happy Mother’s Day 🌸

04/26/2026

Bekah Kelly, your compassion and leadership at Ascend cultivates an environment built on kindness, love, and support. It is so nice to celebrate you on your Birthday! Happy Birthday!

04/18/2026

04/18/2026

Most children who W sit aren’t doing anything “wrong”… they’re doing what feels easiest for their body.

W sitting can give a child extra stability when their core strength or balance is still developing. For some, it’s simply a comfortable habit. For others, it can be a small clue that their body might need a bit more support with strength, coordination, or posture.

The key isn’t constant correction or telling a child off. It’s noticing patterns, gently encouraging other positions, and understanding what their body might be communicating underneath the behaviour.

If you’ve ever been told to “stop” your child W sitting but weren’t sure why, this will help you see the bigger picture.

04/11/2026

☀️ 2026 Adaptive Swim Program is HERE! 💦

We are so excited to share the details for this year’s Adaptive Swim Program—creating a safe, supportive, and FUN environment for every swimmer to learn and grow!

📅 Dates: June 29 – July 29, 2026
🗓 Days: Mondays & Wednesdays
⏰ Time: 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
📍 Location: Allenton Bay Cliff Recreation Center

This 5-week program is designed to build confidence, encourage independence, and celebrate every win—big or small. Whether it’s getting comfortable in the water or strengthening swim skills, we’re here for it all 💙

✨ Led by an incredible team of volunteers and instructors who bring patience, energy, and heart to every session.

Spots are limited!

04/11/2026

One of the biggest misunderstandings about autism is what people think it looks like. People often picture one very specific image when they hear the word autism.

Maybe they imagine a child who doesn’t speak at all. Or a child who avoids eye contact. Or someone who sits alone, completely disconnected from the world around them.

But autism doesn’t always show up the way people expect. The truth is, autism is incredibly diverse. Some autistic individuals talk a lot.
Some talk very little.

Some can hold long conversations about topics they love. Others may communicate through gestures, devices, scripting, or behavior.

Some children appear very social on the outside.
They may smile, laugh, and want to be around others. But that doesn’t always mean social interaction is easy for them.

And some struggle deeply in social situations, trying to understand body language, tone of voice, sarcasm, or the unspoken rules that seem to come naturally to others.

Some autistic children excel academically.
Others work incredibly hard just to get through the school day. Some crave routine and predictability. Others seek out constant movement and stimulation.

Two autistic children can have the same diagnosis… and look completely different in how they move through the world. That’s because autism isn’t a single story. It’s a spectrum of experiences, strengths, challenges, personalities, and ways of thinking.

And for many families raising autistic children, one of the hardest parts isn’t the diagnosis itself…It’s the assumptions people make when they think they already know what autism “should” look like.

Behind every diagnosis is a unique individual.
And the more we understand that autism doesn’t fit into one simple box… the more space we create for our kids to be seen for who they truly are. 🩵

Every autistic child and adult is different, and that’s something the world is still learning. What is one thing about your child or grandchild that people would never guess about autism just by looking at them? I’d love to hear. 🤔

04/09/2026

I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to delve into the advantages of VBMAPP assessment and Natural Environment Teaching for children with disabilities in Vietnam, and I was deeply inspired by the passion and expertise of the majority, who showed a tremendous dedication to learning and extended a warm and heartfelt welcome.

04/04/2026

02/04/2026

Thanks you Ascend family, for my birthday celebration! You filled my heart with gratitude for our incredible team!

01/24/2026

Great way to meet new friends at a nice cozy nice!

Join parents and caregivers of individuals with Autism for our monthly Parents' Night Out in Virginia Beach parents/ caregivers only. We will come together in a safe manner to support one another face to face. Meetings will be facilitated by board member and Medicaid mentor, Theresa Zano-McMillan, and senior volunteer, Christina Morrow.
Please remember that this is an in-person support group meeting for parents and caregivers of individuals with Autism.