Diona Segura

Milestones are woven into the story of growing up. We celebrate first words, first days of school, birthdays, graduations, proms, and the transition into adulthood. For many families, these events come with shared excitement and familiar expectations of what the “next chapter” should look like. But for children with autism and developmental delays, milestones may unfold on a different timeline — or take on a completely different shape. Some experiences that society calls “universal” may never...

The holidays are painted as a picture-perfect time of year: laughter around the dinner table, matching pajamas, perfectly lit trees, and...