Each Monday, Ashley Schmidt of Brookings drives her three-year-old son, Rogan, to LifeScape Rehabilitation Center in Sioux Falls. There he gets back-to-back speech, occupational, and physical therapy. “They just ‘get’ him,” says Rogan’s dad, Brad. “LifeScape helps him be his best self.”
Rogan was born with Smith–Lemli–Opitz Syndrome (SLOS), which is an inability to make enough cholesterol for normal development. SLOS occurs in one in 20,000 births, according to the Fargo, ND-based Smith-Lemli-Opitz Foundation. It is more common among people of northern European ancestry. It has several common physical features, as well as slow growth and mild to severe intellectual disability.
Feeding problems are also typical, and Rogan had a feeding tube put directly into his stomach when he was three weeks old. While this delivers nutrition, hydration, and medication, it means he is never hungry and didn’t learn to eat in the stages most babies do. So, Rogan began feeding therapy at LifeScape at 18 months.
“Feeding has been awesome,” says Ashley. “He has lots of sensory issues with food. He didn’t want to be near food before—didn’t really like touching food.” In just a few weeks he became comfortable sitting in his highchair, touching food, and lifting a spoon to his mouth.
He reached a limit on his progress with weekly outpatient therapy, and his parents are considering the Intensive Feeding Program through LifeScape’s Specialty Hospital in the spring. The goal would be daily feeding therapy to wean him from his feeding tube and transition to eating and drinking by mouth.
At age two, Rogan was also diagnosed with autism. It was at this point that he began other therapies at LifeScape. He doesn’t speak, so his speech-language pathologist is teaching him to use a communication device. He also uses a lot of sign language. His occupational therapist is helping him with fine motor development and sensory challenges. “Anything new is hard,” says Ashley. In physical therapy, Rogan is working on balance, stepping over things, and climbing stairs. He gets customized ankle-foot orthotics from LifeScape affiliate RISE Custom Solutions and began walking independently about a year ago.
“He’s improved everywhere, but especially in his gross motor skills,” says Ashley, who worked as a physical therapy assistant at Brookings Hospital before Rogan was born. “LifeScape is amazing,” she says. “I love it because they set goals and ask us what our goals are. They push him – not too hard, but they push him to make progress.”
“We can see his capabilities,” adds Brad. “LifeScape just helps him get there.”
In early November, Rogan started attending Early Childhood Education in Brookings three mornings a week. It was a challenge for the first few weeks, but now that he’s familiar with his surroundings and routine, he’s doing well. Ashley believes his occupational therapy at LifeScape has helped with that.
“Without LifeScape he’d be far behind where he is now, especially with his social skills,” says Brad. “He used to be timid around other kids. Now he’s very outgoing.” Being with other children at school is also increasing his communication and socializing skills.
Brad and Ashley want their son to be happy and fulfill his own goals. “Rogan has made us better people,” says Brad. “We’re more compassionate. It’s fun to see what the capabilities are here for everybody. Kids with special needs are way more capable than people often give them credit for. LifeScape is helping make the world more inclusive.”
The Schmidts are our featured family for MallWalk 2025. You can support Team Rogan (or any team) at LifeScapeMallWalk.org Rogan will lead MallWalk on February 1st at the Empire Mall.
