Our son, Brandon, was diagnosed with Autism at 18 months of age and each day since then has been a blessing and a challenge. Autism is a complex neurological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. Once thought to be very rare, autism spectrum disorders are estimated to occur in as many as 1:150 (one in every 150 people) making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined.  It occurs in all racial, ethnic and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to socialize and communicate effectively and is characterized by repetitive behaviors.  Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe ~ diagnosticians refer autism as a "spectrum" disability.  As soon as autism is diagnosed, early intervention instruction should begin. Effective programs focus on developing communication, social, and functional life skills. We have spent the past 8 years advocating for our son’s program needs and have come to the realization that the programs that are available are very limited, especially given the present economic climate.

 

I have begun to see my role in my family’s life change over the years.   We live in a community where the school district has an excellent Special Education program; therefore his educational needs are being met appropriately.  However, there are deficiencies in programs that offer cultural arts, physical fitness and socialization opportunities. Subsequently, I have decided that where there are lapses in programming, I would provide them; if there were none, I would develop them.  As past PTA and SEPTA (Special Education PTA) President, I collaborated with a team to bring Music and Art Therapy, Yoga, Sibling Support Groups, Social Skills Groups and Creative Dance to all students, including special education students.  I created a special needs soccer club in our community which began 2 years ago with 15 children and now has 60 children on the roster, ages 4-21.  It’s remarkable to watch these children have an opportunity to participate in a sport that is so prevalent in our society.  It is my goal to develop other developmental sports programs for children with disabilities.  I hope to accomplish this through my K.I.D.S. Plus Foundation.

 

• Families of special needs children with developmental sports, music and art therapy, social skills, creative dance, gymnastics, martial arts and yoga classes for a 2-3 hour period after school. 

• A homework club for the older children. 

• Each child the structure to rotate through these multi-level activities according to age and ability. 

• Each component to be taught by a professional and there will be student volunteers to assist the teachers/therapists/social workers. 

• Scheduled classrooms after school within the Northport-East Northport School District. 

• And, at a later date, I would like to extend the program to siblings in the form of a sibling support group.

 

As we move on, I would like the Foundation to extend to other community activities that are not available to special needs children.  Ultimately, I would like to start a group home and a day hab treatment center for adults with developmental disabilities.  As my son with Autism and gets older, his needs will change necessitating development of programs in areas where they are not available for other teens/adults like himself.