This month, we’re proud to spotlight James Mundall, a 7-year-old who has been receiving services at Autism ETC in Glendale, Arizona. James lives with his mom and dad, his older brother (9), and his younger sister (2). James’s story is shared by his mother, Crystal. 

“We have an older son who developed typically; however, when James was about a year to a year and a half old, I began noticing differences in his speech development. He would start to say a word and then regress. When I talked to other people about it, they suggested waiting until he was 2 or 3 to see if anything changed. 

I still felt that something wasn’t right, so I scheduled testing for James at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. He was diagnosed with Level 3 Autism when he was about 3 years old. At that time, James was nonverbal. We started him in speech therapy and a special needs preschool program. But when James started first grade in the public school system, we ran into several challenges. We struggled to get the support we needed. My neighbor told me about a new ABA center opening nearby, Autism ETC. I reached out and spoke with Kayla Ziolko, the Clinical Director. I felt like it would be the right place for James, and he began services in February 2025. He attends the Day Therapy Program full-time. 

Crystal continues, “When James first started at Autism ETC, he was nonverbal. He would have tantrums, throw himself onto the couch, and sometimes elope. The change we’ve seen since then has been night and day. He is now potty-trained, he’s beginning to try new foods, and he can communicate using phrases like ‘I love you’ and ‘Can I have a bagel, please?’ He is also starting to initiate conversations. Our whole family has noticed the difference.” 

Crystal meets with the clinical team every two weeks. “I work closely with Kayla. She and the staff show me how they work with James and help me learn strategies so I can support him at home,” she said. 

Crystal offers this advice for other parents who have a child on the spectrum: “When you feel like something might be wrong with your child, trust your gut. There are other families going through the same journey, and support groups are available. Support makes all the difference.” 

Looking ahead, Crystal remains hopeful. “The training James is receiving at Autism ETC is helping set him up for the future. I’m not sure if he will be ready to return to school next year, but our hope is that one day he will be able to attend the same school as his older brother.”