Baby Rhodes's Story
Early Intervention
How Early Intervention Shaped One Mississippi Family
When you meet Dr. Dorothy Nassar, a dentist from Laurel, her warmth and strength immediately stand out. She’s a mother of three—each with their own bright personality and unique needs. Her oldest, now five, “loves to be the center of attention” and has a sweet, tender heart. Her middle child, almost three, keeps everyone laughing with his chatter and curiosity. And her youngest, Rhodes, isn’t even a year old yet but already fills every room with smiles.
But behind that joy has been a journey of concern, patience, and perseverance—one that showed Dorothy the life-changing power of early intervention.
When Dorothy’s oldest son, Hugh, turned one, she began to notice something. He wasn’t speaking yet. He was expressive in his own way, making sounds and gestures that his parents learned to interpret—but words just weren’t coming.
It was her son’s daycare director who finally said the words Dorothy needed to hear: “I’m concerned that he’s not speaking.” The center offered to do a developmental evaluation, and when Hugh didn’t meet the milestones, Dorothy finally had direction.
That evaluation opened the door to a connection to First Steps- the state’s Early Intervention program that provides free services to children birth to 3 years old with developmental delays- and access to early intervention specialists from the University of Southern Mississippi’s Children’s Center for Communication and Development. These specialists began working with Hugh and showing Dorothy what to do at home. “As a first-time parent, I wouldn’t have known where to start,” she said.
The Gift of Guidance
Speech therapy became the key to unlocking her oldest son’s world. “He fully understood what we said to him, but he couldn’t express himself,” Dorothy explained. “Once he began therapy, there was exponential growth with his speech.”
Baby Rhodes
When Dorothy’s youngest, Rhodes, was born, she knew early on that he would need support too. A viral infection had crossed the placenta during pregnancy, and doctors soon discovered it had affected him developmentally.
Rhodes was born with a rash and later diagnosed with both physical and developmental delays. He spent his early weeks in the NICU at Forrest General Hospital, and doctors were worried about how the infection would impact his mobility and brain development.
Yet, thanks to First Steps and early intervention and the specialists and therapists it provided, Rhodes’s progress has been remarkable. “We use so many different services,” Dorothy said. “Physical therapy, audiology, feeding therapy, speech and hearing specialists; they all come to our home.” He now wears a hearing aid in his left ear and continues to be monitored for potential hearing loss.
For a working mother, that home-based early intervention model has been a lifeline. “I can’t always take off work to travel to Hattiesburg for appointments,” she explained. “Having therapists come to us means I can meet them on my lunch break or after hours. It’s an incredible support system.”
Each specialist not only helps Rhodes; they train the family, too. The First Steps therapists teach Dorothy and her husband how to help Rhodes strengthen his muscles, feed safely, and communicate in ways that help his brain connect sounds with meaning. As Dorothy explained, the specialists aren’t just supporting the children, they’re also training the parents. “They’re teaching us the actions to take to help our children every day.”
Dorothy credits the program’s coordinated team approach for making all the difference. “There’s a director who oversees every part of Rhodes’s care. If he’s not meeting a milestone, she increases visits or brings in another specialist. It’s constant communication, and it works.”
Changing the Way Families Thrive
Rhodes continues to grow stronger each week. “Every session, I see him do something new,” Dorothy said. “I can see how – without this guided direction of what we need to do to support him – Rhodes would probably just be along for the ride. Instead, we are constantly teaching, pushing him, using what we’ve learned. The way we communicate with him is different. It’s really changed everything about the way we parent him, which is really what is changing him day-to-day . He’s getting stronger and bigger. Making huge strides and closing that developmental gap.”
That transformation, Dorothy believes, is what makes early intervention so essential, not just for her family, but for Mississippi’s future.
“Children are the future. What happens in childhood affects them for the rest of their life,” she said. “We don’t just need more services. We need more parents to know these services exist. Someone had to show me the door before I could walk through it.”
She also understands the barriers parents face. “It’s exhausting being a parent. You’re juggling so much already. But when someone comes alongside you – when there are resources and people advocating for your child – it makes all the difference.”
A Stronger Start for Mississippi’s Children
Unfortunately, First Steps only serves 4% of eligible children. An estimated 13% of Mississippi’s children need therapies and support like the ones Hugh and Rhodes have received. That’s why increasing access to and funding for Mississippi’s early intervention program is critical to our children’s long term success.
By a conservatively low estimate, helping young children in MS through screening & intervention services could save between $177 million and $590 million in savings on special education, healthcare and social services costs depending on how many children younger than 3 years old are reached and how thoroughly the program is designed. For example, if Mississippi had the same percent of infants and toddlers receiving early intervention services as the rest of the country, we could save over $3.5 million in special education costs per year. In 5 years, this could add up to almost $17.7 million in savings.
And currently, Mississippi contributes a far lower share of state funding towards our early intervention program than most other states. For our children to thrive in the long run, and for our state to save healthcare costs in the future, Mississippi needs to invest more funding in the First Steps program.
Dorothy’s story is one of determination, love, and hope. It’s also a call to action.
“Early childhood intervention is key to the success of our state as a whole,” she said. “It gives parents a voice, gives children the support they need, and builds stronger communities. Every child who’s cared for and invested in will strengthen Mississippi’s future.”
Watch Dorothy Nassar's full interview!
Dr. Dorothy Nassar’s children have benefited tremendously from Mississippi’s First Steps Early Intervention program. From speech delays to physical and developmental challenges, the home-based services and parent training helped her children thrive and strengthened their whole family. Her story highlights the life-changing impact of early intervention and the need for greater access and funding for all Mississippi children.
Built for babies - early Intervention
Key Message
Increasing access to and funding for Mississippi’s Early Intervention (EI) program is critical to our children’s long-term success.
When we speak with one voice, our advocacy becomes more effective. Policymakers, business leaders, and community members are more likely to take notice and engage with us when we present a consistent, compelling message. The message wheel helps ensure that every conversation, whether it’ s with a legislator, a business owner, or a parent, reinforces our core priorities: that Mississippi infants and toddlers need access to high quality early intervention programs and services.
OUR ASK
Increase access to early intervention services. We support increasing funding to the First Steps Program so that Mississippi can serve all the infants and toddlers who are eligible
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MississippiFuture.org/BuiltForBabies
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