Our Shining Stars
2024 was a remarkable year for the Starry Foundation and the word of our organization is spreading along with the need.
22 Approved Applications as of 4/2 0/2 5
Children who learn or behave differently from the parameters of a typical child need an evaluation and the resources to help them thrive in school, home, and other environments. However, getting this evaluation to offer the right help is often delayed or not pursued when there is a financial constraint or not enough evidence to support the need for testing... and so their learning, self-confidence, and well-being are all at risk. Our foundation allows families to have their children evaluated without these burdens so the appropriate support and better understanding of their needs can be given in all aspects of their life.
SCOTTSDALE FAMILIES
BAY AREA FAMILIES
Driving Hope for Families… who we are helping.
Makayla, age 7
Assessed by a learning center, diagnosed with mild dyslexia, depression, and anxiety. Born addicted to heroin, involved with DCS. Her mother is homeless. Makayla currently lives with her father and grandparents.
What information do you hope to gain from this evaluation?
An accurate diagnosis from a doctor of psychology/neuropsychology, as her current assessment doesn’t qualify her for DDD. This will give us the resources and a plan for the future.
Juliette, age 8
Juliette was born with Tetralogy of Fallot and had open-heart surgery at 6 weeks old. She encountered developmental delays in early childhood due to prolonged hospitalization. After surgery, she experienced a seizure and coded a few days later while still inpatient. Once home, she had ongoing issues with pacer wires that needed to be surgically removed a month after discharge. She underwent a second open-heart surgery in the summer of 2022 to replace her pulmonary valve with a donor valve. It’s anticipated she will need the valve replaced again in the future, likely in her early 20s.
Juliette is behind in school. Her teacher is providing materials from 1st grade, even though she’s in 3rd grade. She struggles with learning to read—we are unsure if it’s dyslexia or other contributing factors. We try to support her education at home, but it doesn’t seem to be enough.
What information do you hope to gain from this evaluation?
We are open to other interventions and ways to support her, but we are at a loss for how to move forward. We believe this evaluation will help us go in a supportive direction that benefits Juliette.
Matthew, age 17
Matthew has been diagnosed with ADHD, Apraxia of Speech, and ASD. He has received occupational therapy for years to address large and fine motor delays. Both his father and grandfather are also on the spectrum.
What information do you hope to gain from this evaluation?
Our son is turning 18 soon, and DDD says they need to redetermine his eligibility for continued services. However, Gentry Pediatrics no longer accepts BCBS of AZ or AHCCCS. We cannot afford another evaluation without financial assistance, and without that support, our son will lose access to his DDD services.
Teddy
Teddy is an outgoing, joyful, curious, and creative little boy who is almost always in motion. He loves to build with Legos, laugh, draw, and run.
Teddy struggles with fine motor skills, self-regulation, and sensory processing. He began saying he hated school and was losing recess time for not paying attention or wanting to move or socialize. After a parent-teacher conference, I learned he had difficulty transitioning into classes, especially in the mornings, and often refused to follow directions. He had trouble staying in his seat, would talk or sing to himself, and got very upset if his work didn’t look perfect. The hardest part was hearing Teddy say things like, “I wish I wasn’t alive.” His life felt overwhelming, and I didn’t know how to help him.
Since starting at OT Studio, Teddy has grown tremendously. He no longer says he wishes he wasn’t alive. He enjoys more of his school day, and even says he likes writing and reading practice. He is learning to regulate his emotions and is beginning to do it independently. Teddy loves OT and is starting to feel more confident and at home in his body.
As a single mom and teacher with no financial support from family, I don’t have the resources to meet these needs on my own. Being able to access OT Studio is giving Teddy the happy and confident childhood he deserves—a strong foundation for life.
Ethan, age 9
Ethan struggles with fine motor skills, auditory and visual sensitivities, and regulating his body at appropriate times. He has been attending OT Studio, and I believe it’s helping.
He seems more confident and is using his words more often when feeling dysregulated. OT is helping him filter out sensory input that makes him uncomfortable, and as a result, he’s expressing himself with more self-control. This has helped his social, emotional, and academic development—and significantly reduced our family’s overall stress level.
The results so far have been very positive, and we truly hope to continue this support so that Ethan can keep progressing. This kind of care is expensive, and we are so grateful your grant makes it possible to continue.
Ready to Make an Impact?
Your generosity can help even more families access life-changing evaluations and support. Whether you’re seeking assistance or looking to give back, every step matters.