Cooper Blakely used to speak of butterflies, daddy and ABCs. The 3-year-old, blond-haired ball of smiling preschool energy hasn't spoken any of his favorite words since autism took them away.

"We're hopeful he'll talk again one day," said Tammy Blakely, Cooper's mother.

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Northwest Missouri is part of that hope. The United Way-funded organization helps children like Cooper with mild to severe developmental delays learn and function better in their lives.

After Cooper was diagnosed with autism earlier this year, UCP was beneficial in helping him cope with routine, structure and learning. Currently, he is in the school district's preschool program but continues to attend UCP for speech therapy.

"Cooper just immediately liked (UCP)," Mrs. Blakely said. "It's such a warm atmosphere, they're really cautious and it's all about the kids and their special needs."

Mrs. Blakely said she especially likes the integrated program at UCP. It's a program the organization implemented last fall where its preschool serves children with developmental delays and youngsters with no delays in an integrated setting.

Heather Weddle, UCP's children's program director, said the integrated preschool programs benefit both children with and without disabilities in regard to social development.

"National research shows that children with delays learn and pick up developmental skills at a faster pace in an integrated setting," she said. "Children without delays learn just as well. It's a win-win for all children and their families."

Mrs. Blakely's heart broke the day before Valentine's Day this February. That was the day the doctors diagnosed Cooper with autism. She said her life changed after that.

"I cried every day for a week, and then I started to feel peace about it and said: 'You know he's such a joy. He's still Cooper," she said.

Mrs. Blakely said her husband, Kurt, and their oldest son, 10-year-old Callen, are a big help along with UCP in dealing with Cooper's autism.

"UCP was the starting point we really needed," Mrs. Blakely said. "They welcome you in and tell you everything is going to be OK."

Alonzo Weston can be reached at alonzow@npgco.com.