young woman with pet rabbit

Layla C, age 15

Photograph by Mark Sweeney (2026)

Layla is a very smart 9th grader, who is always willing to help. She is a very sweet, forgiving and understanding young lady. Layla loves drawing, Nintendo Switch, school and loving on her pet bunny. She’s a very talented artist.
Layla was first diagnosed with Autism at age two. She participated in speech and occupational therapy, as well as early intervention programs. She beat the odds and now has very proficient speech and is navigating the world wonderfully. She has gone from being non verbal to being very talkative.
When Layla started high school, she insisted on riding the bus and did not want to be a car rider. Her family was so proud of her for wanting to ride the bus!
Her family wants to see her flourish as an adult. They also want people to know that Layla is not her diagnosis, but a very sweet individual who would love to be accepted for who she is.

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Every day, parents of children with disabilities, chronic health conditions, and mental health concerns are faced with the difficulty of trying to understand and access much needed services for their child or loved one. Family Connection of SC is a one stop, parent-led organization designed to meet the individualized needs of families.