Caring for others can be complex, especially when dealing with the intricate nature of learning differences. Thankfully, Alaira Ashford and her daughter Kalila can make an even greater impact in their community with help from Promise Project.
For Alaira Ashford, caring for others has always been a way of life. She developed a deep commitment to helping those around her, partly inspired by her mother, who has lived with blindness throughout Alaira’s life. Alaira passed those values on to her own family, including to her youngest daughter, Kalila. From leading the local Girl Scout troop and other community organizations to frequently helping people experiencing homelessness and reminding others to never give up, the Ashford family is dedicated to caring for others.
When Kalila began struggling in school, Alaira knew something was wrong. Despite repeated assurances that her daughter simply needed more support, Alaira persisted in seeking answers.
“It was a battle of trying to understand her diagnosis and get help,” she recalls. “I knew there was something she wasn’t getting.”
Balancing a career serving foster and at-risk youth while raising four children, Alaira continued advocating for her daughter. Through colleagues in the social services field, she learned about Promise Project; Kalila was accepted, and their lives were transformed.
Promise Project is a nonprofit organization that helps underserved children with learning disabilities get the necessary support they deserve. In partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian, Promise at Columbia provides children with state-of-the-art neuropsychological assessments, clinical recommendations, and necessary follow-up to support their success and that of their families. For the Ashford family, the experience was a revelation.
The evaluation not only identified Kalila’s needs but also helped Alaira better understand her own learning experiences. Her daughter’s diagnosis led her to recognize similar challenges she had faced growing up. “Until [this experience], I would’ve never thought I possibly had a learning disability,” Alaira shares.
Armed with new insights and resources, Alaira became even more determined to ensure Kalila had every opportunity to succeed. NewYork-Presbyterian’s multidisciplinary team also helped produce the evaluation that supported Kalila’s admission to The Windward School, a premier school for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
Alaira speaking at Beautiful Promise, the Promise Project's annual gala
“The evaluation was everything for me,” Alaira says. “It explained so much and showed me what we needed to do.”
Kalila’s journey also inspired Alaira to get a bachelor's degree, and now Alaira is considering getting a master’s degree as well. By advocating for her daughter, she found the confidence to challenge her own fears and model perseverance.
Today, strengthened by Promise Project and grounded in a family tradition of service, Alaira and Kalila continue to support their community and encourage others to keep moving forward. Their story is a testament to the power of advocacy, compassion, and commitment to ensuring that every child receives the support they need to thrive.