Flourish ABA Learning Center takes caring to new level

Sue Grossardt

Contributor

March 10, 2025

HOWARD – Since they opened the doors of Flourish ABA Learning Center (2331 Velp Ave. Suite H) in Howard earlier this year, Jenna and Alex Ryczek said the goal has been to support children with autism and other developmental disabilities flourish and grow everyday.

The couple said their separate and unique gifts complement one another.

Jenna said she has worked in both center-based and in-home ABA therapy settings over the course of 10 years, and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis.

Alex, on the other hand, said he brings his real estate and analytics expertise to the business.

“Jenna obviously has a love for kids, and I have that business side,” he said. “We wanted to start a business together, and there is great demand for our services.”

Building a clinic, their way

During her time in both center-based and in-home settings, Jenna said she observed some things that she wanted to change.

“Unless you’re in the driver’s seat, you don’t get to necessarily implement your ideas or implement them on your schedule,” Alex said. “Jenna saw some things that she wanted to change, I began looking at (the center) as a business, and all of those things just came together. We wanted to do it our way.”

Jenna said Flourish works primarily with children – ages one through 12 – with autism and other cognitive disabilities, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

“I’ve worked at four different clinics from college until now, and every single clinic that I’ve worked at, whether it was an in-home or center-based setting – they all had waitlists,” she said. “The most recent one that I worked at had a waitlist of about 50 kiddos.”

Skills developed through ABA therapy, she said, include communication, social awareness and daily living skills.

ABA therapy, Jenna said, also helps improve attention and focus and decrease problem behaviors.

Different from other centers

Alex said not only did Flourish’s open house last month pique community interest, but it also attracted potential new clients and new staff members.

Recognizing the challenging aspects of the job, Jenna said she and Alex go above and beyond to support the team.

“Staff come to me with ideas about our culture,” she said. “(We recognize that) this is a challenging job and there’s a high burnout rate. We want to make sure that our staff feels seen and heard. We believe that the high expectations of staff spills over into providing clients with a high-quality therapy environment.”

Jenna said the goal is to provide a growth-inspired environment for not only clients and their families but also staff – which, in addition to Jenna and Alex, includes a behavior treatment therapist, a registered behavior technician and two behavior treatment technicians.

“We want our space to be welcoming and engaging where clients can learn new skills every day and have fun,” she said. “We also hope to inspire and motivate our employees to be open to learning and strive to be the best for themselves and their learners through ABA.”  

The process

Jenna said children first go through a one-on-one intensive therapy session and then transition into more of a home- or school-consultative practice in order to hone in on some skills.

“Maybe they’re still struggling in the home environment (and need extra help),” she said. “Or if they struggle more in school, then we can kind of focus on that more.”

Jenna said the Flourish team thinks of it as a transition and progression.

“Ultimately, we want them to learn everything that they need to flourish,” she said.

For those clients who want or need even more support, Jenna said Flourish also provides “a more consultative treatment plan.”

“(This could be) for a child who might really only struggle in school,” she said. “They may be generally hitting their education milestones, but maybe there are certain things in the classroom that they’re not tolerating.”

Jenna said the staff dials into the child’s environment and can customize support as needed.

“We draw on our professional backgrounds,” she said. “We can provide ideas for teachers who might need extra hands, (or we can provide support) with the home environment. There may be certain tasks like brushing the teeth or other daily living skills that perhaps parents had not considered. Some clients have challenges tolerating doctors’ appointments. Parents need tools or support strategies for those scenarios. We can also go into a home or be a part of a school consultation plan for that time.”

Since sensory experiences can be a challenge for children with autism, Jenna said some clients and their caregivers need support in navigating “what many see as normal activities.”

“There are a number of tips, tricks and (skill) practicing that we can recommend for everyday activities if clients are hypersensitive,” she said. “Getting extra practice can make a world of difference.”

Jenna said the Flourish team goes the extra mile for clients because that is sometimes what it takes.

“I’ve been to dentist appointments with clients,” she said. “I’ve been to doctor’s appointments. We can accompany clients to haircut appointments as well. But we also like to provide a protocol for parents to do at home so kids can also practice there.”

A lifelong passion

Jenna said she has always believed that “you should treat others how you want to be treated.”

“Be open to others who may not be exactly like you,” she said. “I guess I have always been that person who will talk to anyone and befriend anyone.”

Growing up in a very small town, Jenna said she recognized that there are very few autism programs in the community or schools.

“I could see that these kids needed more support,” she said.

The roots of her passion for helping others, Jenna said, started growing at a young age.

“I probably began leaning toward this passion when I was around 12 and then kind of stumbled upon it in college when a friend said, ‘you would be super great at this job,’” she said. “I believed her, and I never turned back.”

Just the beginning

Though the Ryczeks only recently opened the center in Howard, Alex said they would eventually like to start a smaller satellite center in their hometown of Abrams in the near future.

“There is not really an option for services like ours in the more outlying areas,” he said.

Alex said Flourish intends to grow its footprint and its staff as demand grows.

The goal of Flourish, Jenna said, is to meet clients where they are and provide the treatment they need as they transition.

“A large percentage will go on to lead regular lives,” she said. “That’s what we want, yet the reality is that not everyone will, as there are varying degrees of ability to be independent.”

Even 10-15 years down the road, Jenna said they know some clients may still need some support, and Flourish will be there for them.

Referrals

Jenna said most referrals to the center come from physicians, with the process and timeline from referral to treatment taking about a month.

This process, she said, includes the required paperwork caregivers need to submit to insurance companies for approval, but said patients are not alone in the process.

“We want families to know that we are (here to support them),” she said. “It may feel like, ‘oh, my gosh, a month until we are seen.’ We’ll help guide you through that process. Patients (and families) are not alone.”

For more information on Flourish ABA Center, visit flourish-aba.com.