Living in Portsmouth has always meant living with movement. Our neighborhood is close to the water, and life seems to flow quickly between work schedules, school days, and family responsibilities. For a long time, our home felt disconnected from that rhythm. Our son, Isaiah, struggled deeply with transitions and participation, and those challenges shaped nearly every part of our daily life.
Isaiah is autistic, and before ABA therapy, transitions were the hardest moments of his day. Moving from one activity to another often felt unbearable for him. Ending playtime, starting homework, leaving the house, or even shifting from one room to another could lead to shutdowns or intense emotional reactions. He seemed stuck between wanting to engage and feeling unable to move forward.
At home, Isaiah often withdrew. He preferred to stay in one familiar space, repeating the same activities. Attempts to introduce change were met with resistance or distress. At school, participation was limited. He struggled to join group activities, follow classroom routines, or transition between lessons. Teachers described him as capable but disconnected, present physically but often elsewhere emotionally.
As parents, we felt heartbroken and exhausted. We spent so much time trying to prevent meltdowns that we lost sight of connection. Our home revolved around avoiding triggers instead of building skills. We worried that Isaiah was missing out, not because he lacked ability, but because transitions felt too overwhelming for him to manage.
When Isaiah received his autism diagnosis, ABA therapy was recommended, but we hesitated. We had concerns about therapy feeling too rigid or focused on compliance rather than understanding. What we wanted most was help reconnecting with our child and helping him reengage with the world around him.
Our experience with Kinfolk ABA began with reassurance. From the first meeting, our BCBA, Stephanie, emphasized that participation comes from regulation, not pressure. She took time to understand Isaiah’s routines, his interests, and the moments when he seemed most disconnected. She explained that ABA therapy would focus on teaching Isaiah how to move through transitions safely and confidently, rather than forcing him through them.
Isaiah was paired with an RBT named Malik, whose calm presence made an immediate difference. Malik observed quietly at first, noticing how Isaiah responded to transitions and where anxiety seemed to build. Therapy sessions were structured but gentle, focused on building trust and predictability. Malik followed Isaiah’s lead, using his interests to create moments of shared attention and engagement.
Transitions became the primary focus. Instead of expecting Isaiah to move abruptly from one task to another, Malik and Stephanie broke transitions into clear, manageable steps. Isaiah learned what to expect before a change occurred. He practiced ending activities with support and starting new ones with reassurance. These skills were practiced repeatedly in real moments throughout the day.
At home, small changes began to add up. Isaiah started responding to transition cues instead of immediately withdrawing. He still needed time, but the panic that once accompanied change slowly decreased. Malik helped Isaiah learn how to ask for more time or request help when transitions felt hard. These communication skills replaced behaviors that had previously been his only way to cope.
Participation followed naturally. As transitions became less overwhelming, Isaiah became more willing to engage. He joined family routines that he once avoided. Meals felt less tense. He began spending time in shared spaces instead of isolating himself. These moments of connection felt meaningful and earned.
School participation improved as well. Stephanie collaborated with Isaiah’s teachers, helping align strategies across environments. Transition supports were implemented in the classroom, giving Isaiah consistency between home and school. Teachers noticed that he stayed regulated longer and began participating more actively in lessons and group activities.
One moment stands out clearly. Isaiah was transitioning from recess back to class, something that had always been a major struggle. Instead of freezing or becoming upset, he followed the routine he had practiced, walked calmly inside, and joined his class. His teacher later told us it was the first time he had done so without distress. That moment felt like proof that the skills he was learning were truly becoming his own.
ABA therapy also changed how we supported Isaiah as parents. Stephanie coached us through responding calmly during transitions, reinforcing effort instead of perfection, and maintaining consistency without pressure. We learned that our reactions played a significant role in Isaiah’s ability to regulate. As we became more predictable and patient, he became more confident.
Living in Portsmouth, we value community and togetherness, but for a long time, Isaiah felt separated from those experiences. As therapy progressed, we felt him reconnecting, not just with routines, but with us. He laughed more, sought interaction, and shared moments that once felt rare.
Today, Isaiah still finds transitions challenging at times. Autism is part of who he is, and we honor that. The difference is that transitions no longer control his life. He has skills now. He understands what is happening and knows how to ask for support. Participation feels possible instead of overwhelming.
Kinfolk ABA helped our family reconnect with our child by focusing on understanding, patience, and skill building. They did not rush progress or promise instant results. They supported Isaiah step by step, meeting him where he was and helping him move forward with confidence.
For our Portsmouth family, ABA therapy did more than improve transitions or participation. It helped Isaiah reengage with his world and helped us rediscover connection within our home. That progress has changed the way we experience everyday life together, and it continues to shape a more hopeful path forward.
If reading this story has you wondering whether your own family could experience this kind of change, that possibility starts with one conversation. Kinfolk ABA works closely with families in Portsmouth to turn everyday challenges into real, sustainable progress that carries over into home, school, and community life. You do not have to have everything figured out before reaching out.
