Volunteer hopes to make big strides with walk
From the Greenville News, April 8, 2009
Like most moms, Susan Leiby believes her son is perfect. He's just a different kind of perfect.
Michael, 51/2, was diagnosed 16 months ago with an autism spectrum disorder.
"We knew Michael had speech delays. And we had suspected for a while that there could be something more," said Leiby.
The Leibys turned to the Upstate chapter of the South Carolina Autism Society for help. She said they offered educational classes to help her better understand where some of Michael's problem behaviors were coming from.
"There is never any training to be a mom, but much of it comes naturally," said Leiby. "But when you're the parent of a child with autism, that doesn't come naturally to anyone."
Leiby also got involved right before the society's initial Strides for Autism walk last year. She formed a little team from her family, dubbed it "Team Michael," and ended up being the third largest fundraiser in the state.
"I was really surprised, because I'm not a fundraiser," she said.
She is, however, an expert volunteer. Leiby doesn't work for pay outside the home, but she is involved not only with the Autism Society, but with Junior League of Greenville, the family advisory council at Greenville Hospital System, and in children's ministries at Christ Church Episcopal.
The society asked Leiby to co-chair this year's Upstate walk, and she readily agreed.
The goal for this year's walk, scheduled for April 25, is $100,000 statewide. Last year, 350 people turned out for the Greenville walk, and Leiby hopes this year will bring more.
"As a parent, it is really encouraging seeing all these people out there who care about kids like mine," she said.
Last year's walk was partly in the rain, she said, but that didn't discourage the families pushing strollers, pulling wagons and otherwise enjoying the 5K stroll.
As for Team Michael, they will be walking this year in all three walks across the state -- Greenville, Columbia and Myrtle Beach. As of April 2, they were in the lead as far as fundraising.
Michael is very high-functioning and is doing well in a regular kindergarten class at [his] Elementary, Leiby said. She said the teachers and therapists there were knowledgeable about autism. She said she is thankful to have ended up in the Greenville area at this time in her family's life.
"Before we moved here from the Washington, D.C., area, we couldn't even get a doctor to agree he had a speech delay," she said. "Our first doctor's visit in Greenville, we were referred to Baby Net. (Baby Net is a state-sponsored program that seeks to identify children with special needs and get them hooked into services before age 3.)
Leiby said the local coordination between doctors, service coordinators, schools, and support organizations such as the Autism Society, is impressive and makes life easier for families of children with special needs.
"I'm very thankful to be in Greenville. We are definitely where we need to be," she said.
Like most moms, Susan Leiby believes her son is perfect. He's just a different kind of perfect.
Michael, 51/2, was diagnosed 16 months ago with an autism spectrum disorder.
"We knew Michael had speech delays. And we had suspected for a while that there could be something more," said Leiby.
The Leibys turned to the Upstate chapter of the South Carolina Autism Society for help. She said they offered educational classes to help her better understand where some of Michael's problem behaviors were coming from.
"There is never any training to be a mom, but much of it comes naturally," said Leiby. "But when you're the parent of a child with autism, that doesn't come naturally to anyone."
Leiby also got involved right before the society's initial Strides for Autism walk last year. She formed a little team from her family, dubbed it "Team Michael," and ended up being the third largest fundraiser in the state.
"I was really surprised, because I'm not a fundraiser," she said.
She is, however, an expert volunteer. Leiby doesn't work for pay outside the home, but she is involved not only with the Autism Society, but with Junior League of Greenville, the family advisory council at Greenville Hospital System, and in children's ministries at Christ Church Episcopal.
The society asked Leiby to co-chair this year's Upstate walk, and she readily agreed.
The goal for this year's walk, scheduled for April 25, is $100,000 statewide. Last year, 350 people turned out for the Greenville walk, and Leiby hopes this year will bring more.
"As a parent, it is really encouraging seeing all these people out there who care about kids like mine," she said.
Last year's walk was partly in the rain, she said, but that didn't discourage the families pushing strollers, pulling wagons and otherwise enjoying the 5K stroll.
As for Team Michael, they will be walking this year in all three walks across the state -- Greenville, Columbia and Myrtle Beach. As of April 2, they were in the lead as far as fundraising.
Michael is very high-functioning and is doing well in a regular kindergarten class at [his] Elementary, Leiby said. She said the teachers and therapists there were knowledgeable about autism. She said she is thankful to have ended up in the Greenville area at this time in her family's life.
"Before we moved here from the Washington, D.C., area, we couldn't even get a doctor to agree he had a speech delay," she said. "Our first doctor's visit in Greenville, we were referred to Baby Net. (Baby Net is a state-sponsored program that seeks to identify children with special needs and get them hooked into services before age 3.)
Leiby said the local coordination between doctors, service coordinators, schools, and support organizations such as the Autism Society, is impressive and makes life easier for families of children with special needs.
"I'm very thankful to be in Greenville. We are definitely where we need to be," she said.
posted by Susan | 8:04 PM
1 Comments:
Good for you, Susan. You're doing a great job with your kids and with the charities you believe in.
Post a Comment
<< Home