Photo: Chris and Cortney Keene accept their Vermont Small Business Persons of the Year Award in Washington, D.C. They are flanked by Jen Kim, associate administrator for the SBA’s Office of Field Operations (left), and SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. Courtesy photo.

Chris and Cortney Keene, Small Business Persons of the Year

As the prevalence of autism continues to rise dramatically throughout the country and the world, the shortage of trained professionals prepared to treat children with the disorder has reached near-crisis levels.

This pressing need for more providers prompted Vermont couple Chris and Cortney Keene, who have made helping children in need their life’s work, to open their own behavioral health center for children with autism and other neurodiverse profiles. The center, Keene Perspectives, opened in White River Junction in 2017.

“We believed if we had our own center, we could support children and families at an earlier age while building the culture and workplace we imagined — a place where children could thrive and staff could take pride in their work every day,” said Cortney Keene, who also serves as the center’s clinical director.

Photo: he Keenes at Keene Perspectives in Hartford. Courtesy photo.

Six years into their new venture, the Keenes were named the 2023 Vermont Small Business Persons of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. In announcing the award, the SBA cited the center’s employment growth, recent expansion and community-oriented mission.

Prior to starting Kenne Perspectives, Cortney Keene taught special education and consulted with Vermont schools for 13 years, while her husband earned a doctorate in behavioral neuroscience from Dartmouth College and conducted learning and memory research.

As the couple prepared to open Keene Perspectives, they called on Ross Hart at the Vermont Small Business Development Center for assistance.

“We said to Ross, ’You may think this is a crazy idea,’ because it’s not a traditional business model. This is a relatively new service in our state,” Cortney recalled. “But he was really supportive and helped us with projections to get our business off the ground.”

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of children diagnosed with autism increased markedly between 2000 to 2016. Currently, one in 36 children in the United States are thought to be affected by the disorder.

“In business terms,” said Chris Keene, the center’s executive director, “we knew there was going to be a demand for these services. In fact, the model we used for Keene Perspectives has actually been growing across the country. Others are doing what we have done.”

Keene Perspectives primarily treats children ages 2 to 5 through a type of therapy called applied behavior analysis. ABA is the process of systematically applying a set of principles to evidence-based interventions to increase skills that are meaningful and socially relevant to the individual and decrease behaviors that are barriers to learning. The Keenes are both nationally board-certified and Vermont state-licensed behavior analysts.

Photo: Cortney and Chris Keene outside Keene Perspectives in Hartford. Photo by Danny Monahan.

“Early intervention is so important,” Chris explained. “The earlier we can reach children in need, the greater impact we can have. We help children learn how to learn, and we work with their families to give them the tools to support their children’s growth and independence.”

Since 2019, Keene Perspectives revenue has exceeded $1 million annually; they currently have 21 employees. Last winter, the center expanded its clinical services to a building across from the main center, into a space with adaptable classrooms and a playground to best support communication and play opportunities for their learners.

In May, the Keenes traveled to the nation’s capital for an official ceremony in the White House Rose Garden hosted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“It was a thrill to be recognized by the president, vice president and SBA Administrator Guzman,” the Keenes said in a statement. “We returned feeling energized and empowered to continue to do the work we love. We’re so proud of the recognition this brings to our amazing team full of passionate and dedicated professionals and to the larger field of behavior analysis.”

Why you’ll love it: Is a trip to Lubbock a left-field selection as far as cheap family vacations go? It sure is, but Lubbock is a surprisingly fun hub of art, music, theater and mid-century architecture. You’ll love wandering around downtown and looking up at the stunning buildings, as well as popping into stellar restaurants like The Nicolett or sampling the local wineries to visit. Enjoy a show at the glittering new Buddy Holly Performing Arts Center—Lubbock was his home.

Budget tip: This west Texas town is thriving, thanks to one of the most spectacular public art collections found anywhere on earth. Massive sculptures are scattered all over Texas Tech University’s campus. Tours are free and involve riding around in a cute trolley, so even your little ones will be in heaven. To get the kids even more on board, promise them an hour or two at Prairie Dog Town. This public park is every bit as fun (and as literal) as the name suggests. Bring some bread or carrots and feed the little cuties for free.

How to get there: Lubbock can feel like it’s in the middle of nowhere, but the west Texas city is just a five-hour drive from Dallas. If you’d prefer to fly, Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport is just 15 minutes from downtown.

Where to stay: Families will love the Cotton Court Hotel on Broadway. The grassy courtyard is abuzz with activity every night—multiple fire pits, rocking chairs, live music, a bar and a pool.

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on cheap family vacations, writer Jeff Bogle tapped his experience as a travel journalist and past contributor for Travel + Leisure. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

I Asked Our AI-Travel Planner For a Weekend Adventure in Charleston – Here’s What It Created

Serving Up Soft Serve: This Tropical Pineapple Hut in South Carolina Won Me Over

Get ready South Carolina to step back in time to the end of the Medieval Age at the annual Upstate Renaissance Faire in Greer, South Carolina. Spend the whole day among folks dressed in period attire, shop the Medieval Market, banter with the beasts of the day, and eat, drink, and be merry in a venue that’s worthy of a visit any day of the year – but especially during the Renaissance Faire. This is one Ren Faire in South Carolina that is worth attending every year!

Set your sights on discovering one of the prettiest city parks in all of South Carolina and plan to spend all day enjoying the festivities here at Greer City Park.

It’s a fantastically fun time for the whole family! The kids will love pretending that they’ve gone back in time and dressing up in costume. Get ready to have your house turn into an exciting adventure from the olden days when they get home!

The Upstate Renaissance Faire is a production of The Round Table, an organization dedicated to supporting artists in the Southeast.

Browse the vendors and artisans found in the Medieval Market. The Renaissance was perhaps best known for being the beginning of a new era for artists. You’ll get a chance to celebrate both local and regional artists during the festival.

Blacksmiths, leather working, candle makers, weavers, and more will be showcasing the traditions of their trades as have been passed down through the centuries.

It’s so much fun to learn all about the work that everyone did way back in the Renaissance days.

Wander the 12-acre park enjoying all of the activity and marking places in your mind that you’ll want to return to on quieter days.

Greer City Park is one of the most attractive parks in South Carolina!

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Come dressed for the occasion – if you’d like. Or, just enjoy watching others. But whatever you do…

Do not miss your chance to see a real, live unicorn from Hidden Pasture Unicorn Farm! Take a photo and even put the fairies in your family on a unicorn for a ride!

Last, but certainly not least, one of the best parts of the Renaissance Faire: giant, grilled, crispy-skinned turkey legs. (Now you have to go!)

The Upstate Renaissance Faire in SC at Greer City Park is free! However, VIP Tickets can be purchased if you’re interested in a package that includes many of the things you’ll probably buy at the Faire anyway.

What are the dates for the Upstate Renaissance Faire 2024 you might ask? If you are looking for the Upstate Renaissance Faire in South Carolina, the answer is normally the first weekend in September.

Wondering how far it is to Greer from where you are in South Carolina? Greer is 12 miles from Greenville, 80 miles from Rock Hill, 107 miles from Columbia, 186 miles from Florence, and 217 miles from Charleston. Be sure you don’t make the mistake of coming here if you are actually looking for a Renaissance fair in Charleston, South Carolina, or a Renaissance fair in Columbia, South Carolina. It’s a pretty significant distance away from those towns, but it just might be worth making the drive. This fair is really something special! Make a reservation and spend the night in Greer through Hotels.com – or head just 10 miles west to Paris Mountain State Park’s campground.

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Another unique event that happens every year in South Carolina is the arrival of the pelicans at Bird Key Stono Heritage Preserve along the Kiawah River – learn about the fun pelican cruise in this quick video:

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Take a Hike to an Alabama Waterfall That’s Like a Miniature Niagara Falls

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We Did the Research, This Is Officially the Strangest Hiking Trail Name in Alabama

Many unique events are held each year in Alabama. One of these is the Alabama Renaissance Faire, and people travel from near and far to attend it. For information about the Alabama Renaissance Faire, including what make this year’s event extra special, take a look below.

The Alabama Renaissance Faire is an annual event that’s located at Wilson Park in downtown Florence, Alabama – The Renaissance City.

This year, the event will take place October 23-24. It’ll also be celebrating its 35th year.

Ever since 1987, the Alabama Renaissance Faire has educated countless attendees about the Medieval and Renaissance Eras through different styles of entertainment.

Over the years, this award-winning faire has become one of Alabama’s top tourist destinations. In fact, the Medieval era is celebrated all month long in Florence, which is why October has been designated as Renaissance Month.

The best part of the Alabama Renaissance Faire is getting dressed in costumes or watching others stroll through the park in theirs. Even though the theme of the faire usually changes from year to year, everyone is welcome, including fairies, wizards, trolls, and more.

Other activities enjoyed by the Alabama Renaissance Faire attendees include dancing, musical acts, magic tricks, and more.

The Alabama Renaissance Faire’s most popular event is the Feast. This will be held at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum on October 16. Tickets will be $25 per seat (non-refundable). For more information, click here.

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For something unique and unforgettable to do, consider attending this year’s Alabama Renaissance Faire. It’s an event unlike any other!

For more information about the Alabama Renaissance Faire, including future updates, you can view the faire’s website here and its Facebook page here.

Have you ever attended the Alabama Renaissance Faire? If so, please share your experience with us in the comments below.

While in Florence, consider giving 360 Grille a try. For information about this restaurant, be sure to take a look at the following article: Enjoy A Breathtaking Panoramic View While Dining At 360 Grille, Alabama’s Only Revolving Restaurant.