POPLAR GROVE — The cheerful honk of Brody Dornink's kazoo filled his home Thursday morning.

The 3-year-old, who turns 4 on Sept. 10, ran around the sensory gym in his basement practicing the skill with his music therapist Dan Bressler.

"I want him to be able to blow out his birthday candles this year," said Brody's mom, Jamie, who eventually gave the kazoo a couple of toots, much to the delight of her son.

Not long after Brody received an autism diagnosis at 21 months, Jamie and her husband, Kirby, transformed their basement into a sensory safe haven for their nonverbal toddler, complete with a climbing wall, hanging net swing, trampoline, djembe drum, and interactive games and books.

"I looked all over the region, even across the country, and couldn't find an autism resource center," Jamie said. "There's nothing for these kiddos."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a 2012 study across its Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, which comprises 11 states, not including Illinois. The study found that about 1 in 68 8-year-olds had been identified with autism spectrum disorder.

"These findings indicate that there continue to be many children living with ASD who need services and support, now and as they grow into adolescence and adulthood," the report said.

The absence spurred Jamie, a former sixth-grade teacher, to action. Using Gigi's Playhouse — a network of achievement centers for children with Down Syndrome — as a model, Jamie came up with the idea for the Superhero Center for Autism — a community resource center for affected children and their families that offers parent support groups, activities and access to safe indoor and outdoor sensory gyms at a low cost. She'd like to rent or build a space near Interstate 90 that's "easy for families to find, not hidden in a strip mall," and hopes to raise $150,000 by the end of 2017, with an opening in spring 2018.

She stressed that children with other sensory disorders will be welcome.

"I have friends with kiddos who have epilepsy, Williams Syndrome — if I have to get certified in whatever, I will figure it out so that they get the help they need," said Jamie, who is certified in Advanced Behavioral Analysis therapy — a form of treatment for those with autism.

Eight people have volunteered to serve on the center's board of directors, four of whom are health professionals at SwedishAmerican Health System. Brody's pediatrician, Dr. Manika Bhateja, is one of them.

"I thought it was a great idea," Bhateja said. "I think there's definitely a need in the community. We don't have a big network of support for kids with autism or other sensory disorders."

The Superhero Center will be not be affiliated with any area health systems and it won't offer clinical therapy, but Jamie is planning a curriculum of various volunteer-taught classes, such as cooking and music.

Bressler said music is a way to help those with sensory disorders accomplish everyday tasks. On Thursday, Brody tapped the button for "Hi" on an electronic communication device as Bressler played an acoustic guitar at his side.

The connection happens through a process called generalization, Bressler said, in which the music triggers neurons to fire together, forming a "neuropathway" that will cause the patient to accomplish the same task without music later in life.

It's simple exercises such as this that Jamie wants to make available to other families of children with disabilities.

"I'm thinking of a place for these kiddos to be themselves and not feel judged," Jamie said. "There are a lot of people who want to try to cure their child's autism, but I think they should be accepted for who they are.

"I don't want to change Brody for the world. I want to change the world for Brody."

To donate, go to gofundme.com/thesuperherocenter.

Sarah Wolf: 815-987-1283; swolf@rrstar.com; @sarahcrieswolf