Aliyah's Story

The Heart Behind Our Name

Aliyah is more than the name behind Aliyah’s Place.

She is the inspiration behind its purpose.

From infancy, Aliyah's journey has included living with a rare genetic condition known as 1p36 Chromosome Deletion Syndrome. Along the way, she and her family have navigated medical care, therapies, education and the everyday realities that can come with needing additional support.

But Aliyah's story is about much more than challenges.

• It's about family.

• It's about perseverance.

• It's about finding joy.

• It's about belonging.

And it's about recognizing that children with disabilities deserve the same opportunities to connect, participate, learn, build friendships and simply enjoy being children.

Nicole's experiences raising Aliyah inspired her to imagine a place where children would be met with patience and understanding rather than being expected to fit into a program that wasn't designed for them.

“Aliyah is the reason this journey began. Every child who walks through our doors is the reason it continues.”