Spending multiple weeks away from home for outpatient treatment can be challenging. Luckily, Alisha Moffett and her son Dallas learned that the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City was just minutes away from the Center for Disabilities and Development. Alisha, a single mother traveling over 80 miles from their home in Waterloo, Iowa, was grateful to find a place to stay.
Dallas is 12 years old and on the autism spectrum. He is non-verbal, so he becomes frustrated when he can’t communicate his needs, especially at school. To help gain the skills to better express his needs, Alisha brought Dallas to Iowa City for specialized outpatient treatment specifically tailored to Dallas’ needs. This treatment occurs in two weeks blocks, bringing them back and forth from Waterloo to Iowa City on multiple occasions.
Finding the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City brought a great deal of comfort to Alisha. Two weeks away from home can be expensive, so she was relieved to learn that all the services were free. The House provided all the necessities and is a quiet, clean, and friendly place that they could come to after a long day in treatment.
The Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City started to feel like home to them. “Dallas doesn’t like new places or situations, so I was shocked that he absolutely loved the House,” Alisha explained, “He clearly felt at home at the Ronald McDonald House. It also helped that the staff and volunteers worked hard to make it a safe and welcoming space for us.” Not only was Alisha relieved to see that Dallas was comfortable in their new home-away-from-home, but it made it easier for her to relax as well. Alisha shared, “You don’t always expect that you will need to be away from home like we were for these treatments but having support from the Ronald McDonald House helped us make it through.”
