Ella Krysteena has been defying fate since before she was born. The doctors told me she wouldn't make it to 20 weeks' gestation. She was born at 37 weeks and 2 days and today is 18 years old. She is diagnoised with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), autism, sensory processing disorder, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), a wandering diagnosis, expressive speech delay, and the list goes on.
Due to her diagnoses, traditional school wasn't a good fit for her, so she attended a developmental preschool progam before transitioning to an alternative learning school. She remained at that school until her junior year of high school before attending the special needs program at Sylvan Hills High School and graduated with her class in May of 2025. While change is difficult for Ella Krysteena, she handled it well and thrived. She became ServSafe certified, was able to work as a janitor at the school and earn money and learned of the Easterseals ACCE program.
She now attends the two semester ACCE program housed at the University of Arkansas - Little Rock, where she is learning vital lessons about daily living. Ella Krysteena has completed an internship which helped her learn how to act on a job site and what is expected of her when employed, how to fill out an application, how to do an interview, and other important life lessons. One of the things that excites her the most about the ACCE program is the happiness she feels about being able to attend college like her older siblings, and the friendships she's developed in her class.
Ella Krysteena is a natural born comedienne with a hear the size of Alaska! We are so thankful to have found Easterseals because it allows her to grow and gain independence as an adult in a safe space.