Five Seconds, Ten Calls, One Conversation: A Story of Advocacy, Identity, and Becoming

How Autism Diagnoses and ABA Family Guidance Sessions Inspired This Mom to Become a BCBA at Hopebridge

Five seconds.

That’s how long it takes to create a connection. A look. A pause. A kind word. Five seconds can plant a seed that grows into a lifelong purpose.

Ten.

Ten is the number of calls I made. Not out of panic, but with intention, seeking the most affirming, appropriate support to help my children live meaningful lives in the ways they define. Ten moments where I wasn’t asking what needed to be fixed. I was asking: Who will see them? Who will honor who they are?

One.

One conversation. One evaluation. One gentle push forward. That’s all it took to set the path that led to where I am today.

Advocating for My Children Through Autism Evaluation

I’m a mother of three incredible autistic children, Thomas, Ayden, and Mason. In 2022, Thomas was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in March and Ayden in August. At the time, our youngest had just been born. Those early days were filled with curiosity and care. We wanted to learn more, understand our children more deeply, and access the kinds of supports that could honor who they are while opening up opportunities for their futures.

During Thomas’s autism evaluation, Hopebridge’s Dr. Fengkan Zhu, offered more than a diagnosis, he offered presence, perspective, and belief. He sat with us, not rushed, and created space for compassion and clarity. He said words that would shape the course of my journey as a parent and professional: “You are your child’s best advocate. You can do this.”

In that moment, I felt acknowledged, not only as a mother, but as someone capable of guiding and championing my child’s unique needs. Dr. Zhu’s affirmation wasn’t just encouraging; it was transformative. It reminded me that informed, compassionate advocacy could be a powerful force for meaningful change.

That experience helped me reimagine what was possible not just for my children, but for every child whose journey may look a little different. It was a turning point that deepened my commitment to honoring each child’s strengths, supporting their growth, and building collaborative partnerships with families, educators, and clinicians.

 

Strengthening Skills, Relationships and Dreams Through ABA Therapy

Shortly after, our journey with Hopebridge began. Both Thomas and Ayden started services at the therapy center in Douglasville, GA, and it was there I met someone who shaped my path in a profound way, Hopebridge Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Victoria Ladrondeguevara. From the moment we met, I saw what it meant to practice with purpose.

Victoria wasn’t just implementing programs. She was building trust, strengthening relationships, and walking alongside families with care and intention. Through family guidance she invited us in, not just to participate, but to understand. She equipped us with strategies that were evidence-based and family-centered. She celebrated our boys as whole people. She consistently communicated, advocated, and created space for growth, not only for our children, but for us as parents too. She embodied what it means to partner with families, not just to teach skills, but to co-create meaningful, values-driven goals.

During that time, I had the privilege of witnessing my sons grow in ways I will forever treasure. I watched them begin to connect with peers, communicate their wants and needs, and engage in daily routines with growing independence. These moments, seeing them self-advocate, form friendships, and master self-help skills were not just developmental milestones. They were reflections of the support they received along the way. I will always be grateful to Victoria and the incredible team of Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) who stood beside my boys with compassion, patience, and unwavering care. Their presence made a lasting difference in our lives.

How Parenting Children in ABA at Hopebridge Shaped My Own Path

After months of listening, learning, and reflecting on what truly matters, I felt something shift. In January 2023, I made a decision rooted in both personal experience and a deep desire to serve: I enrolled in a master’s program in behavior analysis. While continuing to support my children through their therapies, I also began accruing fieldwork hours immersing myself in the science, the practice, and the values that guide compassionate, person-centered care

Every assignment, every observation, and every moment in the field was guided by purpose, grounded in my experiences as a parent and my growing commitment to ethical, affirming care. I wasn’t simply pursuing a title; I was working to deepen my understanding and build a foundation that would allow me to support individuals and families in meaningful ways. In March 2025, I passed my board exam on my first attempt. The first thing I did was hold all three of my children and say, “Mommy did it.” My son looked up at me and said, “Proud of you, Mommy.”

That moment wasn’t the end of a chapter, it was the beginning. The beginning of a journey where I blend lived experience with professional training to advocate for meaningful and affirming support. It’s my honor to now walk alongside other families, learning and growing with them.

Because now, I get to be that person for other families.

Today, I work as a BCBA at the same Hopebridge center where my children first received care. I walk the same halls, but in a new role, one defined by humility, gratitude, and lived experience. I bring with me the voice of a parent, the lens of a clinician, and a heart anchored in quality service. I know firsthand the importance of aligning goals with what truly matters: meaningful outcomes that support children in being autonomous. I know what it means for a family to feel empowered. And I know what’s possible when collaboration is formed and when care is grounded in respect for neurodivergent identity.

Now, I get to be part of a family’s “you helped us feel seen.” A teacher’s “you helped me understand.” A speech-language pathologist’s (SLP) or occupational therapist’s (OT) “tell me more about that strategy.” An RBT’s “you inspired me.” A child’s “I feel proud of myself.”

My story is not a story of hardship. It is a story of hope, of values, of becoming. It’s a story about investing in early supports that help children grow into the fullest version of themselves, not who the world expects them to be, but who they already are. It’s about the power of connection, social validity, and person-centered care.

Throughout my journey advocating for my children, I’ve been incredibly thankful for the many interdisciplinary relationships I’ve formed, collaborating with teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, neurologists, advocates, and other BCBAs. These partnerships have broadened my perspective, deepened my practice, and reminded me of the importance of a united, team-centered approach. While I remain firmly rooted within my scope as a behavior analyst, I remain humbly open to learning from those around me, because every discipline has something valuable to offer, and every child deserves a circle of support that speaks to their whole personhood.

It is my pride and joy to walk alongside my clients as they grow, to celebrate their progress, and to stand beside their families as they leave their mark, quite literally, on our center’s graduation wall. Being part of that moment is a privilege I never take for granted.

Thank you, Dr. Zhu, for believing in me. Thank you, Victoria, for showing me what compassionate practice looks like. And thank you, Hopebridge for being my one, and for allowing me to come full circle, from a parent walking through your doors with questions, to a clinician walking with families toward possibility.

Together, we are making room for every handprint.

With appreciation,

Franchesca Salmonsen, MA, BCBA

 

Find Your Place at Hopebridge

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*Informed consent was obtained from the participants in this article. This information should not be captured and reused without express permission from Hopebridge, LLC. Testimonials are solicited as part of an open casting call process for testimonials from former client caregivers. Hopebridge does not permit clinical employees to solicit or use testimonials about therapeutic services received from current clients (Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts 5.07-5.08; BACB, 2020). Hopebridge does not provide any incentives, compensation, or renumeration for testimonials provided by a former client or client caregiver.