The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week that one in 100 children is diagnosed as autistic. That statistic shows the need exists for services, and the Rivendale Center for Autism is just trying to keep up.

One year ago, Chase Obrey could hardly speak.

"He made a lot of noise, a lot of screaming,” said his mother, Elizabeth Obrey.

That makes his progress all the more amazing to his mom.

"He's excelling well beyond all expectations,” she said.

Chase has autism.

"It's regular kids to the extreme."

Where he used to communicate primarily with tantrums, he now uses words. His mom credits his progress with early intervention, something it seems more and more children require.

"I have the privilege of hearing children say, ‘Mommy,’ for the first time,” said Kerri Duncan, director of Rivendale.

When Duncan started with Rivendale not quite a decade ago, about 1 in 300 children received the diagnosis. Now, that's up to 1 in 300.

"That increase means we have more children we need to serve,” she said.

This year, they made a move in that direction.

"We've doubled in size,” said Duncan.

With a new building, the center now accommodates four classrooms with four kids each, meaning 16 students now receive specialized attention year-round with a focus on verbal communication -- as long as it's required.

"If we can catch them early, we can move them back to public school,” sand Duncan.

That's the goal for all of these kids. By the numbers, it's attainable for about half. Chase's teachers and his mom think he'll be part of that group.

"He's now practically a typical 4-year-old boy,” said Obrey.

Chase also has an older brother and sister who have been diagnosed with autism. His sister is 17, and Obrey says she is in every way a typical teen, enrolled in regular classes.

Even with more space, Duncan says Rivendale always has a waiting list. As of now, the new building has room for another classroom, so they still have room to grow in the next few years.