ABOUT Julee RENFROe

I am so glad you are here! You may be wondering, “Is something wrong with my child?” It is also possible that you are doubting yourself and/or your parenting skills.

I once found myself in that very dark and lonely place. My son is the third of our four children. By the time he was 2 years old, my concern grew a little more each day. I realized that his behavior and overall development were not typical, and I felt fearful. What could be wrong, and who could possibly help us? When would he start talking? How would he ever attend a school that I could trust would be the right fit for his needs? Why didn’t I know how to console him when he became upset? Even our pediatrician was unable to address many of my concerns. Why was it so difficult to get help and feel confident that anyone truly understood what we needed?

My son is now 34 years old and thriving. He has a job of which he is proud and at which he excels. He enjoys many friends and hobbies that he loves. He takes pleasure in cooking, reading, and working out, and he stays busy and engaged in a comfortable and productive life that satisfies him. He still has goals and dreams of things he hopes to accomplish over time, just as we all do.

I am a Registered Nurse who has specialized in Child Development and Maternal/Child Health throughout my entire nursing career of over 45 years. After my son was diagnosed with a developmental disorder at the age of 8, I became passionate about assisting other parents in obtaining early diagnoses for early intervention.

My personal journey with my son, from the initial recognition of concerns to a diagnosis and then to appropriate intervention, spanned decades. I long to help parents and caregivers avoid unnecessary delays.

There are many aspects of Autism and other developmental disorders that we still do not understand. However, one fact is clear: EARLY diagnosis leads to EARLY intervention. EARLY intervention leads to the best outcome!

For over 20 years, I have been passionate about helping parents navigate this journey. I would be honored to assist you and look forward to our first meaningful conversation, so we can begin taking steps in the right direction for you and your loved one.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19

a letter to parents

a letter to parents

A Letter to Parents

You may have concerns about your child’s development and may not be clear about how to address them. Perhaps you have already discussed your concerns with a family doctor, pediatrician or nurse practitioner. Even with sensitive screening tools and the professional expertise of skilled primary care providers, doubts may linger. You might be told to “wait and see,” or perhaps you are referred to a specialist, but that process can involve a long and difficult waiting period. You may be wondering what else you can do while waiting for more formal evaluations. It is also common for one parent to disagree with the other about the need for further assessments or evaluations.

I would be happy to meet with you to discuss your concerns. I have the privilege of collaborating with an amazing team of specialists. After I meet with you and hear your story about your child, I can likely provide you with a recommended navigation pathway to obtain the necessary evaluations so that you can better understand your child. At the very least, we can review the symptoms or behaviors you are encountering and determine together whether a multidisciplinary evaluation is needed at this time.

Those of us who work with families of children facing developmental or behavioral challenges often say, “When you have seen one child, you have seen one child.” While they may share the same diagnosis, the manifestations can differ from one child to another. Each child has unique strengths and weaknesses. Children with developmental delays and/or disabilities may struggle more to find their right path and might require additional support to get there.

I am here to help and look forward to meeting with you.

Julee

TESTIMONIALS

  • Julee was our lifesaver

    We followed through with the evaluation, and not only was our child diagnosed on the spectrum, but all our questions, fears, and confusion about where to start and what to do next were eased with Julee's support. Having all the therapists together in a room to discuss our child's treatment took years off the guesswork of finding effective help for our son. While there will always be challenges, the progress our child is experiencing already is significant! He can recognize facial expressions and is less likely to have sudden outbursts that seemed to define his life just a year ago. We will tell you that Julee was our lifesaver in the sea of unknowns dealing with the diagnosis of Autism for our son.

  • we would have lost valuable time

    As a parent, you simply never imagine that your child will be one of the many children diagnosed with Autism. When your fears are confirmed, and you receive the formal diagnosis of Autism or ASD, it’s difficult and overwhelming to know where to turn and what to do next. If it was not for Julee's assistance, we would have lost valuable time in getting our son the appropriate therapies he needs. We are grateful that God placed our now dear friend Julee Renfroe in our lives.

  • Our child has friends!

    We’ve come to learn through Julee that a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum for girls is often difficult. When our daughter didn’t seem to show the developmental markers for a girl her age, we became concerned and talked to our pediatrician about it. When our child started Kindergarten, we knew she needed help. She was having trouble in school, especially in social settings. Our pediatrician recommended we give Julee a call. Right away, she provided us with the tools and resources we needed to begin the evaluation process.

    One of my favorite things about Julee is that when we hit roadblocks with scheduling appointments, we would call her. We affectionately call her the Enforcer! She would hear us out and then get to work to clear the paths for us to get the evaluations we needed for our daughter.

    It’s been two years, and as a second grader, our child has completed her Occupational Therapy, tested out of Speech Pathology, and best of all, she has friends! She plays with her friends at school and can interact with her sister and cousin. The group meeting was priceless in the treatment of our daughter. Without Julee, these resources would not be available to families in need of help for their children.

  • A blessing to my medical practice

    The extensive evaluation process along with the support given to the families is comforting as they work through a difficult time of diagnosis. More of my patients are willing to pursue an earlier evaluation which leads to diagnosis. Thank you for helping me provide the best care for my patients.  It fills the gap between medical care and educational services.

Frequently asked questions

  • According to a July 2023 CDC report, the most common developmental disorders in children are autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, and other developmental delays. The report also found that the prevalence of developmental disabilities has been increasing, with nearly 1 in 11 children ages 3 to 17 diagnosed with a developmental disability in 2021, up from 7.4% in 2019.

    Data taken from CDC

  • Most developmental disabilities are thought to be caused by a complex mix of factors. These factors include genetics; parental health and behaviors (such as smoking and drinking) during pregnancy; complications during birth; infections the mother might have during pregnancy or the baby might have very early in life; and exposure of the mother or child to high levels of environmental toxins, such as lead. For some developmental disabilities, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, which is caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy, we know the cause. But for most, we don’t.

    Data taken from CDC

    • Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas.

    • These conditions begin during the child's developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person's lifetime.

    • Most developmental disabilities begin before a baby is born, but some can happen after birth because of injury, infection, or other factors.

    Data taken from CDC

    • Delayed milestones: Sitting up, crawling, walking, or talking later than other children of similar age

    • Difficulty communicating: Having trouble speaking, understanding what others say, or expressing thoughts

    • Social skills: Having trouble understanding social rules or connecting actions with consequences

    • Problem solving: Having difficulty solving problems or learning new skills

    • Other signs: Avoiding eye contact, tics, or trouble with fine motor skills

    Data taken from CDC

  • A developmental disability diagnosis can be made by a number of professionals, including psychologists, developmental pediatricians, and neurologists. The diagnosis process may include:

    • Standardized tests: A qualified professional may administer standardized tests to assess intellectual and adaptive skills, psychological and emotional considerations, physical health, and environmental factors. For young children, an Early Intervention Multidisciplinary Core Evaluation may be appropriate.

    • Questionnaires: Doctors may use questionnaires like the Ages and Stages Questionnaires or Child Development Inventories to evaluate a child's cognitive, verbal, and motor skills. Parents may also be asked to complete a Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) to help determine a child's level of functioning.

    • Observations: Clinicians may observe a child's behavior for signs of a disability, such as having trouble understanding social rules, learning to talk later than others, or sitting up, crawling, or walking later than others.

    • Other methods: Some conditions that lead to developmental disabilities may be diagnosed with a blood test, ultrasound, or other method, depending on the condition. These tests may be conducted during pregnancy or after birth.

    Establishing an effective and efficient partnership with early childhood professionals is an important ingredient of successful care coordination for children.

    Data taken from CDC