Autism and the Gift of Friendship
Posted by mcrabb | Filed under Uncategorized
Earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending my dear friend’s fundraiser event: The Holes for Hope 2011 Golf Classic. Holes for Hope is a foundation that raises money to fund local organizations and awareness for autism (www.holesforhopefoundation.org). It was truly a fabulous night!!
The keynote speaker was Tyler Lagasse, a 24 year old young man living with autism. He is a national speaker for Special Olympics and an avid golfer. Among other accomplishments, Tyler has been featured on the Golf Channel and on CNN.
Tyler gave a wonderful speech and is clearly an amazing person! I don’t think there was a dry eye in the crowd by the time he was finished. He spoke about how within the world of autism there really are no limits– that the possibility of someone’s potential! He talked about how he tries to live his life with no boundaries and always pushes himself to do his personal best.
Tyler spoke of two special friendships that helped shape him into the man he is today: his school’s custodian that taught him about character and a former babysitter who taught him how to golf. He talked about how they never just saw “his autism”- they saw who he was as a person and they did not view him as a person with limits.
I sat listening to him as tears streamed down my face. Anyone who knows me well knows I have a passion for autism. They have probably heard me on more than one occasion talk about how relationships are the key in working with children with autism. A child can work with the most highly esteemed “expert” in the field, but if that person does not have a meaningful relationship with the child, they will see little success. A child with autism has a very good “intuition” or sense of people that truly care about them. They need to feel deeply respected, safe and understood in order to achieve. When a child feels a deeper bond with the person working with them, they will succeed and accomplish most anything they want to.
I was so thankful to be part of a community of like-minded individuals in a room where each person there was trying to make a difference for someone living with autism. I hope anyone reading this does what they can in their community to help. Please remember that sometimes the greatest gift you can give to an individual living with autism is the wonderful gift of friendship!
~Hope abounds~
Love,
Melanie
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Thank you for all the wonderful things you do to help children with autism. You have made such an impact on so many! You certainly have the gift of touching the soul of these children to create the special bond needed to help them succeed. I have always known God had special plans for your life. I am so proud you have used those incredible talents to make a difference in the lives of the autistic child and also in their families. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much! Love you!!
You are an incredible person, advocate, friend and SLP – I am so thankful that you are in my life and I’m so glad that you were able to come and hear Tyler first hand. You said it all in your post above – what an amazing young man. Thank you for all that you are doing to help children on the spectrum and for helping to educate the community. xoxo
Thank you, Stacy! I feel the same about you! Thank you for putting on such an amazing event! Love you!