Kyrie, Christina & Kahlik Carden
Christina Carden knows well the challenges of parenting children with autism, as she is the mother of two young sons on the autism spectrum.
“I live and breathe the daily realities that so many families silently endure—juggling therapies, navigating school systems, attending countless appointments, and still showing up for work and community responsibilities,” said the Camp Hill resident.
Such was Carden’s motivation earlier this year for founding K & K Connections—Spectrum Spark Society.
“I just feel, in my heart, that I was meant to do this so that parents don’t feel so alone,” said Carden, who serves as executive director. “Our mission is to uplift, support and advocate for individuals and families affected by autism through education, resources and community connection.”
The “K & K” stands for Carden’s two sons, Kahlik, 16, who attends a charter school with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), and Kyrie, 4½, who’s enrolled in an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy program.
About 1 in 31, or 3.2% of U.S. children aged 8 are identified with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, according to estimates provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s Autism Disabilities Monitoring Network. It’s reported to occur in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups and is three to four times more likely in boys than girls.
The latest CDC statistics are up from a previous rate of 1 in 36 children in 2017. In fact, autism rates have risen by about 300% over the past 20 years, according to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The university cites a partial factor behind this as a recent broader definition of ASD to include some conditions that once had a separate diagnosis, such as Asperger’s Syndrome or Pervasive Development Disorder.
Secondly, the school notes that more public health programs now include screenings at wellness visits for children ages 18 to 24 months. Parents, caregivers and community members are also said to have greater awareness of symptoms, with the disorder more accepted in the general community.
Organizations like Carden’s help erase any remaining public stigma over ASD.
“I want a neurotypical child to feel that it’s OK to be friends with a neurodiverse child,” she said.
So far, K&K Connections offers family support services that include parental support groups via its website and navigating resources that help families access needed services.
The organization also offers access to youth and teen programs, educational advocacy and sensory friendly events, such as a “Boo Bash” autism art festival that took place in October. Carden also creates a monthly K & K newsletter for all registered to the organization’s website.
Carden presently runs and funds the organization on her own, in addition to holding a full-time job. However, she’s taking steps to obtain a nonprofit status for K & K that offers eligibility for obtaining financing grants and partnerships.
“Christina is really passionate about autism, and her passion is awesome,” said Nicole Williams, Carden’s work colleague. “Obviously, she has personal experience. It takes a very special person to deal with autism, and she has that experience.”
So, what keeps her going?
“Every day is something new with children on the spectrum,” Carden said. “It blows my mind whenever Kyrie learns a new word like ‘stop’ or ‘no.’”
Kyrie is a Level 2 non-verbal child on the autism spectrum who uses sign language and an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. Kahlik is considered on a high-functioning spectrum level and recently returned to attending school because he “missed the socialization,” his mother noted.
“As parents in the autism community, we’re often not seen and not heard,” Carden said. “That’s what we go through on a daily basis. We are tough. We have our moments, but we can’t let our kids see it.”
For information or to register for K & K Connections—Spectrum Spark Society, visit www.knkconnections.net, Facebook or phone 717-612-8446.
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