“Mama, School!” is the Phrase That Says It All About Bentlee’s Journey With Andwell
“Talking about this, I get emotional,” said Katie, mother of three-year-old Bentlee. Bentlee has been receiving services from Andwell Therapy & Early Learning since he was 18 months old. When Bentlee was an infant, his body would stiffen, and he would shake. Katie said she felt something was wrong, but his pediatrician told her that Bentlee was just a little bit delayed neurologically and to give him time to catch up.
“As he got older, I noticed he wasn’t hitting his milestones—I have two older children, so I just knew when he should be rolling over, crawling, walking, and how babies goo and gaa. Bentlee never did those things.”
When he was 18 months old, she took Bentlee to Child Development Services for evaluation. He was referred to Andwell Therapy & Early Learning, where a second evaluation confirmed the first: Bentlee had autism.
“We transported him to and from speech therapy, and then occupational therapy, as well, at Andwell,” she recalled. “Once he turned three, he was enrolled in their preschool program. He’s in a classroom setting with peers where they do group play and everyone gets together at the lunch table to eat. They go outside. So, he now has that peer interaction, as well, and he continues to get his speech and OT during that time.”
Before Bentlee joined the classroom, his mom said, “even at home with siblings, with sharing and communicating, he would get very frustrated. He didn’t know how to express himself. He would point, but he would not even attempt to speak verbally. He needed me for every task: getting dressed, picking out toys. He didn’t have any independence.”
Now, Bentlee can say his full name, as well as the names of his siblings.
“He’ll tell you if he’s thirsty or hungry, and he can put on and take off clothing by himself,” Katie said, laughing. “Every morning, he tells me, ‘Mama, school! School!’ He transitions great. I drop him off and when I come back, he’s excited to see me, but he’ll tell his peers, ‘See you tomorrow!’ He’s a totally different child.”
Bentlee also learned sign language, and is now able to link the sign to the word, such as signing and saying “eat.”
“His speech and occupational therapy and classroom taught him that,” said Katie. “I don’t know what I would have done without them!”
Katie’s other two children are neuro-typical, “so this was all new to me,” she said. “It’s absolutely incredible the growth my child has made.”
Bentlee’s story is an example of how early support can open doors to connection, confidence, and joy. From those early days of uncertainty to the moment he proudly says “Mama, school,” Andwell’s Therapy & Early Learning team has been there to help him thrive.
If your child or a child you love could benefit from early intervention, speech or occupational therapy, or a nurturing classroom environment, we invite you to learn more about Andwell Therapy & Early Learning.
Stories like Bentlee’s are made possible by the generosity of people who believe in every child’s potential. If you’d like to help more families access care, connection, and hope—please consider making a gift today.
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