The Fitzpatrick Family’s Journey
When Silver Fitzpatrick and her family moved back to San Diego, little did they know the impact Rady Children’s Developmental Evaluation Clinic (DEC) would have on their lives. Having previously lived in Utah, where services for their children’s needs were limited, the Fitzpatrick family found a lifeline in DEC.
Silver and her husband met in San Diego, got married, and then moved to Utah for military recruiting duty. While there, they had two children, Amelia and Lincoln. Amelia, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), didn’t receive services until she was 3 years old. This delay negatively impacted her development.
“She was non-verbal at 18 months and didn’t start speaking sentences until she was 2-and-a-half,” Silver recalls. “The experience with Lincoln, however, was different. Back in San Diego, Lincoln was evaluated by DEC and quickly diagnosed with ASD at just 1 year old. Early intervention made a world of difference. He’s almost 2-and-a-half now and he’s giving us 12-word sentences. The contrast in their developmental progress is so obvious and I think it’s largely due to the timely support provided by DEC.”
Both children benefitted from DEC’s comprehensive approach. They received extensive services, including occupational therapy, speech therapy, and ABA (applied behavior analysis) services.
The thorough evaluation process at DEC involves a parent interview, in-person evaluation of the child’s cognitive and motor skills, and a detailed follow-up to discuss the diagnosis and next steps. This holistic evaluation ensures that each child’s unique needs are met.
“DEC is a pretty special place,” says Meghan Lukasik, PhD, clinical manager at DEC. “It’s an entry point for a lot of families coming into early intervention. We like to pride ourselves on looking at the whole child. We talk about throwing a wide net over a child’s early cognitive language, and motor, social and emotional functioning. And we really try to understand the family’s needs and make plans for them that will set the child up for success at a very early age when brain development is so critical.”
Supporting parents is crucial to DEC’s approach. The clinic provides comprehensive evaluations and tailored care plans. By involving families in every step, DEC helps them navigate the complexities of early intervention and developmental services.
“It’s honestly not just helping the kids, but there are resources for the parents too,” Lukasik says. “Learning to regulate oneself and prioritize self care is so important for parents managing their children’s special needs.”
Today, Amelia and Lincoln are thriving, active children. They love swimming, coloring and exploring. Silver hopes they will grow up to be fully functioning members of society, able to pursue their dreams and find happiness.
Reflecting on DEC’s impact, Silver expresses her gratitude. “I could not imagine having done this 50 years ago without this support and services. I don’t think that many children this program has helped would have been able to thrive in society without it. It’s all thanks to DEC’s evaluation that we’re able to even have these hopes and dreams for my kids.”
About Rady Children’s Developmental Evaluation Clinic
Celebrating 50 Years of Caring
For 50 years, Rady Children’s Developmental Evaluation Clinic (DEC) has been dedicated to assessing and diagnosing developmental and behavioral conditions in children, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). DEC’s mission is to support the healthy development of children through compassionate, collaborative, and culturally sensitive developmental evaluations and specialized services. The clinic’s team includes pediatricians, psychologists, therapists, and other specialists who work together to provide thorough evaluations. These evaluations involve parent interviews, direct assessments, and observations of the child.
DEC emphasizes early intervention, creating personalized care plans that cater to each child’s unique needs and connecting families with local resources and services. By offering detailed evaluations and individualized plans, DEC helps children achieve their full potential while also raising community awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and intervention.
DEC services are available at five locations across San Diego and Riverside counties, including the main campus in San Diego and satellite clinics in Torrey Hills, Murrieta, Chula Vista, and Oceanside. These clinics are housed alongside other developmental services specialties, such as speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and audiology, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, consultation, and training opportunities. Collaboration with medical professionals, including developmental and behavioral pediatricians and psychiatrists, is also a key feature. Multidisciplinary grand rounds, seminars, and continuing education are available on-site or via Zoom and other distance learning platforms.
To learn more about the Developmental Evaluation Clinic, click here.