Kids with autism at Springtide Child Development in Ridgefield are once again getting the direction they need to succeed, one year after the pandemic took a grip on the state.

Jia Jia Ye, the CEO at Springtide, called it a “really difficult year” but is hopeful for the future. Springtide was just getting started when the pandemic forced it to close their doors.

“To be able to come and celebrate after this year of so much difficulty, so much trauma, so much disruption in the children's lives – we couldn't be more happy," she told News 12.

The center is now accepting patients, who can register through its website.

April is National Autism Awareness Month. The center says autism affects one in 54 kids, almost 2% of the population.

"It’s a condition that is typically exhibited by kids with having difficulty communicating, difficulty socializing and oftentimes repetitive behavior," says Ye.

Springtide says because each child is different, it's important to find what motivates them. And finding those breakthroughs make all the hard work worth it.

Springtide Child Development also has a center in Trumbull.