Danny is reaching new heights
Thanks to the expanded and renovated ASE space at Countryside Center, Danny is making remarkable progress and reaching new heights.
April 7, 2026
Danny, a longtime participant in Little City’s Autism Spectrum Engagement (ASE) program, has faced challenges for years because of his autism diagnosis.
Hyperactivity and a short attention span often made it difficult for him to engage in activities or go on community outings. But thanks to the expanded and renovated ASE space at Countryside Center – funded last spring by generous donors like you – Danny is making remarkable progress and reaching new heights.
Since the new space opened, Danny has shown a growing ability and desire to follow structured routines and transition between activities. Ade Dayo-Abatan, a Direct Support Professional who has worked with Danny for years, says the array of options hasn’t overwhelmed him; instead, it has helped him focus.
“Danny has always been very smart and has enjoyed things like working on puzzles, but now you can give him one and he will focus on it and really work to finish it,” Ade said. “He just always needed to move around a lot and had a hard time focusing on anything, but you can see how this new space has helped.”
The renovated room offers a variety of mental, physical, and social activities – from a foosball table and oversized Connect 4 games to a Wii station that encourages movement and concentration. Life Skills Supervisor Glenda Dike notes the space is still evolving. “New furniture like L-shaped tables will encourage more partnership work, and an entire sensory room still to be built will give participants like Danny an outlet for mental and physical breaks,” she said.
The changes also extend beyond the room itself. With a reduced staff-to-participant ratio for outings, Danny can now enjoy more frequent and longer community experiences. Glenda says the combination of space, resources, and staffing is transforming participants’ lives.
“We are already seeing so much progress with everyone in our program, and Danny has really started to increase his attention span and get into a routine,” Glenda said. “The more we use this space, the more we see people take big steps forward, even those who have been here for a very long time.”
Because of donors like you, Danny and others in the ASE program have the space, tools, and support to reach milestones once thought impossible.