Happily Everleigh After | AutismOklahoma Walk

Autism is a complex, lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during early childhood and can impact social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation. Autism is considered a spectrum condition, meaning it affects every individual differently and to varying degrees. While there is no single known cause of autism, early diagnosis and intervention can provide meaningful support, helping individuals thrive and live fulfilling lives filled with opportunity.

What autism looks like for our family:

Everleigh is now 9 years old and continues to make incredible progress every year. She has atypical speech patterns and was once commonly referred to as nonverbal. Today, she is able to communicate using short sentences and phrases, and many people outside of our immediate family are now able to understand portions of her speech as well. Her vocabulary continues to grow, and watching her find her voice has been one of our greatest joys.

In addition to verbal communication, Everleigh communicates through gestures, expressions, and determination. If you ever need a partner for charades, she is definitely the teammate you want. She currently participates in both private and school-based speech therapy services and has made tremendous gains over time.

Everleigh experiences some repetitive movements and may occasionally flap her hands, especially when excited or overwhelmed. She prefers consistency and can struggle with transitions or unexpected changes in routine. Loud or sudden noises can be difficult for her, and she may cover or cup her ears when overstimulated.

Like many autistic children, Everleigh has gone through phases of becoming strongly attached to certain objects or routines. Over the years this has included things like sippy cups, umbrellas, backpacks, bandaids, nail polish, and even a bin of mismatched socks she insisted on bringing on an airplane because it brought her comfort. These attachments, while sometimes unusual to others, have always been part of how she navigates and makes sense of the world around her.

When Everleigh was younger, transitions often led to significant meltdowns and difficulty regulating emotions. Through years of speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA therapy, individualized education plans, equestrian therapy and continued support, she has made remarkable progress in her ability to communicate, adapt, and engage with others. We are incredibly proud of how far she has come.

One thing we have learned along the way is that autism does not look the same for every person. When people meet Everleigh, they often comment on how loving, social, and affectionate she is. Autism cannot be defined by a single characteristic or stereotype. It exists across a wide spectrum of strengths, challenges, personalities, and abilities.

Some common characteristics of autism can include:

Delayed speech or limited verbal communication

Repetitive language or movements

Differences in nonverbal communication

Difficulty with transitions or changes in routine

Preference for structured or predictable activities

Strong interests or attachments to specific topics or objects

Sensory sensitivities or sensory-seeking behaviors

Most importantly, Everleigh is so much more than a diagnosis. She is funny, determined, loving, expressive, and uniquely herself. We are grateful for every milestone, every hard-earned victory, and every person who takes the time to learn, support, and advocate alongside us.

If you ever have questions about autism or Everleigh’s journey, we are always happy to share and help educate whenever we can.