WebFX Support, Author at Stride Autism Centers

Stride Airlines Takes Off Again: A Summer Tradition at Hickory Hills

Posted on July 3, 2025March 11, 2026 by WebFX Support

At Stride Autism Centers, therapy isn’t just effective, it’s joyful, playful, and deeply thoughtful. That spirit is on full display each summer at our Hickory Hills, Illinois clinic, where an imaginative and therapeutic tradition has taken flight (literally!) for three years running. Welcome aboard Stride Airlines, a flight simulation experience designed to help young children with autism feel more comfortable with the idea of flying. What began as a personalized intervention for one client has since blossomed into a beloved annual event, one that brings smiles, snacks, and some serious skill-building to our summer programming.

From One Client’s Needs to a Whole-Clinic Tradition

The tradition started when Emily Rodman, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) at Hickory Hills, was supporting a child who felt anxious about flying. With a summer vacation approaching, Emily worked closely with the family to prepare him for the experience. “We created custom social stories, connected the family with TSA Cares, and introduced role-playing to help him understand what to expect,” she explained. “To bring it to life, we set up a full simulation of a flight, from boarding to snack service.” The impact was so positive that the team decided to make it a yearly event for all Stride clients at Hickory Hills.

A Journey With Therapeutic Purpose

While the flight simulation is packed with fun, it’s rooted in meaningful therapy goals. During the simulation, children practice:

Receptive language skills, like following directions (“Come here,” “Sit down”)
Group participation, such as sitting with peers and engaging in a shared activity
Waiting and transitioning, through lining up to “board” and remaining seated during the “flight”
Requesting and choice-making, like picking between snack options or asking for help

“The kids get to practice real-world behaviors in a setting where they feel safe and supported,” Emily shared. “This makes it easier to carry over those skills to actual experiences outside of Stride.”

Bringing the Magic of Flying to Life

Thanks to a little help from Emily’s fiancé, who works for a major airline, the experience feels extra real. He provides authentic first flight wings, activity books, and airline snacks that make the simulation feel just like the real thing. “We prepare boarding passes, simulate airport lines, and even announce the destination, this year, the kids flew to Hawaii!” said Emily. “They love choosing their snacks, flipping through their activity books, and earning their wings.” Children boarded a pretend aircraft, took their seats in rows, and listened carefully as staff made flight announcements. Some even peeked out imaginary windows as the “plane” took off.

Why It Matters

For many children with autism, new experiences, especially those that involve transitions, crowds, or unexpected sensory input, can feel overwhelming. That’s why Stride prioritizes real-world readiness in our programming. By embedding life-skill preparation into engaging and joyful experiences, our team helps children gain confidence, build tolerance for new environments, and learn how to navigate situations that they’ll likely encounter in their day-to-day lives. “Our approach at Stride is always guided by each child’s clinical goals, but we also know how important it is to make learning fun,” said Emily. “The flight simulation is a perfect example, it’s play-based, highly motivating, and full of learning opportunities.”

The Stride Difference

At Stride, we believe that therapy should feel meaningful and magical. Whether it’s simulating a flight, exploring a pretend grocery store, or participating in seasonal crafts and celebrations, our team is constantly designing activities that balance structure with joy. And while the kids may think they’re just having fun on their way to Hawaii, we know they’re also practicing skills that will serve them for a lifetime. We’re already counting down the days until Stride Airlines takes off again next summer, and we can’t wait to see where our clients venture to next.

From Brad: A Milestone That Means So Much

Posted on June 4, 2025March 9, 2026 by WebFX Support

At Stride Autism Centers, we’ve always believed that quality isn’t a goal, it’s a responsibility. Today, I’m thrilled to share a major milestone that speaks to that belief. Stride is now fully accredited by the Autism Commission on Quality (ACQ) in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Even more exciting, we’re the first ABA provider in the state of Nebraska to earn this prestigious honor.

This accreditation is a big deal. The ACQ holds organizations to some of the highest standards in our field. To meet these standards, our team went through a long and detailed review of our clinical care, business practices, safety systems, and more. Every aspect of what we do was examined. The result? A perfect score. That’s right, Stride passed every single part of the ACQ’s rigorous evaluation.

Why did we do this? Because we want families and communities to know that they can trust us. We want them to feel confident that their children are receiving care that’s thoughtful, evidence-based, and driven by compassion. And we also want current and future team members to know that when you join Stride, you’re joining an organization that sets a high bar, and clears it.

Our journey to accreditation took time, energy, and unwavering dedication. I want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this happen, whether you were part of our clinical team, our central support team, or helping behind the scenes. You played an integral role.

This recognition isn’t just about meeting standards. It’s about exceeding them, for the families we serve, the children we support, and the communities we’re proud to be part of, especially in places where quality autism care hasn’t always been easy to find.

It’s also a moment to reflect on our culture. Stride has been named a Top Workplace for two years in a row, with special recognition for our Professional Development and Employee Wellbeing programs. That’s not a coincidence. High-quality care starts with a team that feels valued and empowered. We’re nothing without our team members.

This is a proud moment for all of us. We are honored to achieve this milestone and are committed to lead with excellence and purpose.

Stride On!

Brad Zelinger

Founder & CEO, Stride Autism Centers

Stride Autism Centers Is Coming to Cedar Rapids—Meet Your New Clinic Leaders!

Posted on April 28, 2025March 11, 2026 by WebFX Support

Kristy and Shelley Welcome You to Stride Autism Centers, Cedar Rapids

We’re thrilled to announce the opening of our new clinic in Cedar Rapids on May 1st! At Stride, we believe every child deserves access to high-quality, compassionate ABA therapy—and we’re proud to expand that mission here. In the spirit of community and connection, Kristy Walker and Shelley Swan from our Cedar Rapids leadership team have written personal letters to introduce themselves and share their passion for supporting children with autism.

If you’re considering ABA therapy for your preschooler, we encourage you to read their stories, learn about their dedication, and reach out to us. We would love to welcome you to our Stride family. Call us at (515) 207-5251 or visit our Clinic page.

A Letter from Kristy Walker, Clinic Director

I grew up in Iowa, having moved to Cedar Rapids when I was 9. I stayed in Iowa City for college, then spent a short four-year stint in Illinois for grad school before returning to Cedar Rapids—because there’s just something special about this place. The people, the lifestyle, and the deep focus on family and community are what I love most about Iowa.

I’ve been working with kids ever since I was old enough to take a babysitting class and help out the neighbors. After returning from grad school, I knew I wanted a career that allowed me to support children and help them thrive. That’s when I stumbled upon an ABA clinic—the only one within more than 100 miles. Eleven years later, I earned my BCBA and stayed in the ABA field ever since.

While the number of ABA options has grown in the past decade, so has the need. Cedar Rapids is the second-largest city in Iowa and serves as a central hub for many surrounding rural communities that have historically been underserved. With a strong focus on growing families, the demand for early intervention ABA services here continues to rise.

That’s why I’m so excited about the opening of a Stride clinic in Cedar Rapids. It’s a much-needed resource for a growing population, and it offers an incredible opportunity to provide early, intensive intervention—something that can truly set kids up for future success in school and the broader community.

Stride’s commitment to expanding services in underserved and rural areas is so valuable, especially in states that often get overlooked in favor of bigger, more bustling cities. What’s more, Stride’s values align beautifully with the values of Cedar Rapids: high-quality, individualized care that invests in the long-term well-being of our families.

As the director of Stride’s new Cedar Rapids clinic, I couldn’t be more excited to help open the 10th clinic in Iowa and the 20th in the Midwest. I’m especially looking forward to partnering with the Cedar Rapids community—the families, doctors, speech, physical, and occupational therapists, and school districts that make this city, my home city, such a special place to serve.

A Letter from Shelley Swan, BCBA and Clinical Supervisor

I started my career as a special education teacher in Illinois, working part-time as an RBT doing in-home ABA. When I began my master’s program, I planned to become a school principal. Then, the university launched a BCBA cohort, which felt like a sign. I loved my RBT job and realized this was the path I wanted to take.

After becoming a BCBA, I spent a year working in the schools as an Autism Coordinator before moving to the Quad Cities and shifting into center-based work. Once I had kids of my own, I started to see just how big the need is for strong preschool programs, especially ones that support autistic children. When Stride opened, I was excited to see that need finally being met. I immediately knew I wanted to be part of it.

Stride stands out because of its inclusive and child-centered approach, focus on fostering independence, and commitment to creating a supportive and joyful environment. Since joining Stride, I’ve witnessed the profound impact we make every day. It’s a joyous journey filled with laughter and authenticity, two of my most significant values. Working here allows me to embody these values fully. Seeing the RBTs being silly while they run, play, learn, and grow with the kids is beautiful. Children are empowered to be their authentic selves and supported in ways that help them succeed in school and beyond.

I am thrilled to work with Kristy to bring that same energy to Cedar Rapids. We are in the process of creating something truly special—a place where kids can thrive, families feel supported, and everyone shows up as their authentic selves. I eagerly look forward to the joy, growth, and connection we will foster in this amazing community.

Want to learn more about Stride Autism Centers?

At Stride Autism Centers, we specialize in providing individualized ABA therapy in a full-day center-based program that sets young children up for success—in school and in life. If you’re ready to explore how our Cedar Rapids team can support your family, we’d love to hear from you.

Call us at (515) 207-5251 or visit our Clinic page.

Author: Kristy Walker, BCBA

Kristy Walker is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 10 years of experience in the field. She received a B.S. in psychology from the University of Iowa and then obtained an M.A. in clinical psychology from Northern Illinois University before returning to her home state of Iowa. Back in Iowa, she worked in a PMIC for children with internalizing and externalizing disorders before becoming a behavior tech in an early skill ABA clinic. Over the last 8 years, Kristy spent the majority of her career working in the Day Treatment Clinic at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics specializing in using applied behavior analysis to decrease severe and challenging behavior. During her time in the clinic, Kristy worked to obtain her BCBA and graduated from FIT in 2018. During her years in the clinic, Kristy utilized cutting edge interventions with children and adults to quickly and efficiently decrease behaviors such as aggression, destruction, self-injury, and elopement. Wanting to expand her repertoire of knowledge and prevent challenging behavior before it begins, Kristy joins the Stride team excited to continue working in early intervention. Kristy currently lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband, daughter, and two feline friends. In her free time, Kristy likes to explore new restaurants and cuisines, spend time with family, and catch up on any horror-related movies or TV.

Author: Shelley Swan, BCBA

Shelley Swan is a Licensed and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She received a B.S.Ed. in Special Education from Northern Illinois University in 2011. After graduating, she worked as a special education teacher for 6 years. During that time, she developed a strong interest in ABA and began working as a behavior technician. In 2017, she completed her M.S.Ed. in Advanced Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis from Northern Illinois University.

Shelley has experience in a variety of settings including clinic, school, home, and community with both children and adolescents. Shelley is credentialed in Practical Functional Assessment (PFA) and Skill-Based Treatment (SBT) of severe problem behavior. She is very passionate about neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed care.