Early to Rise

Parents expect their children to answer when they are called. But when Debbie Anday could not get a response from her two-year-old son Enrique, it was not a case of the silent treatment.

“I knew his hearing was okay; he could recognize his favorite songs,” Anday says. “But he was not responsive when I called his name.”

After four months of seeking answers, Enrique was diagnosed with autism. With the diagnosis came the realization that Enrique’s current day care was unaccommodating to the disability that accompanies autism, including his heightened sensitivity to sensory inputs. A speech therapist suggested that Anday enroll her child in the Penn Medicine Early Childhood Program (ECP) at Hall Mercer.

“It’s been a real help, not only for Enrique, but for me as a parent,” Anday says. “We learned of many tools, like using visual cues, assistive technology like augmentative and alternative communication devices, and scheduling things so he is prepared and comfortable. The chance to socialize with other children and get acclimated to new therapists has been vital to his development.”

The ECP serves two classes of nine children, from ages 3 to 5, per year, but has a waiting list and has observed a substantial need for similar programs in Philadelphia. As Enrique and other ECP graduates prepare to enter kindergarten, Penn Medicine plans to expand the program into an inclusive preschool called the Ability Academy.

When fully operational, the Ability Academy will expand the ECP’s reach to meet the needs of 225 children, including a day-care center for infants and half- and full-day preschool options. The day care will prioritize younger siblings of autistic children, who have a one in five chance of being autistic themselves. Caregivers and researchers at the Academy, most of whom will be affiliated with the Perelman School of Medicine, will provide early diagnosis and specialized treatment to ease the path to kindergarten and beyond.

Every minute counts, and Enrique’s experience has shown us that early intervention is a proven path to better outcomes.”Debbie Anday

The Ability Academy also will prepare future generations of educators, clinicians, and researchers, drawing from Penn’s undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. The long-term goal is to train and support Philadelphia School District staff and community-based preschool and day-care providers in effective, inclusive practices, creating a wider network of educators and care providers who are better prepared to serve children with autism.

“We have been providing professional development for teachers in the Philadelphia School District—the nation’s 8th largest—for over 15 years,” says David Mandell, the Kenneth E. Appel Professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine, who has been tapped to lead efforts to start the Ability Academy. “With this expansion of our partnership and the model of success we can create, just imagine the impact we will make locally, regionally, and nationwide.”

Generous support from early-stage partners—including Marc, C’94, WG’94, and Marjorie McMorris and Independence Blue Cross—has provided the first steps to bringing the Ability Academy into being. Penn Medicine is targeting a space that will be customized for the vision behind the Academy, including a playground, STEM education room, and teaching kitchen.

The University’s Health System will match gifts up to $10 million to realize this transformative initiative. Visionary donors who believe in the project’s mission and its potentially expansive impact are needed to secure this space and make the promise of the Ability Academy a reality—just as the Academy will unlock the promise of the children it will serve.

The Ability Academy’s commitment to working with the community and bringing evidence-based care to children with autism represents the very best of our institution. For that reason, the University of Pennsylvania Health System is proudly matching donations to help lay the groundwork for this incredible program to thrive for generations to come.”Kevin Mahoney, CEO, University of Pennsylvania Health System

“I’m thrilled to know that Penn Medicine is embarking on this initiative,” says Anday. “Every parent wants to provide the best foundation for their children’s lives, and it is especially important for parents of children with autism. Having this preschool will mean the world to families facing the same challenges as ours.”

To learn more about supporting the Ability Academy, contact Paige O’Malley, Associate Director of Development, Penn Medicine Development and Alumni Relations, at pomalley@upenn.edu or (267) 838-0660.