Godspeed

Riding in the car taking Jared to work gives me a daily chance to spend 1:1 time with him.  Most days the ride is spent talking about upcoming football or basketball games - him telling me who is playing who and when (and of course including the name of the coaches and all sorts of information on the team's mascot.)  Of course his talking is VERY fast, as though who know Jared know, and his speech is often choppy and difficult to understand.  You have to know how to read between the lines.

Today the traffic was light, due to schools being closed, and so we arrived at Gold's Gym a little early. I pulled into the back part of the parking lot and we waited for it to be 7:58am, because of course you can't go into work at a different time.  Jared's autism demands routine.

When the clock changed to 7:58am, I pulled up near the door to let Jared out.
He looked over at me and said "Godspeed mom."

My mouth dropped open!!!

I said "What did you say?" and Jared repeated "Godspeed mom."

I asked Jared, "What does Godspeed mean?" and he replied "good luck on your journey."

(MIND BLOWN)

So I asked him where he heard that from.  Jared replied "From Chesterfield County graduations."

A little background here - one of the things that Jared watches over and over again on YouTube is our county's graduation ceremonies.  He watches them ALL.  He looks for kids he knows.  He looks for himself and the year he walked the stage.

But Jared does more than watch.  Now I know that he listens!  Really listens and he understands some of the things he is hearing from the speeches.  Not only did he learn several new words by doing this, but he used them correctly!!!

After Jared walked into the gym, I had to pull back into a parking spot and process this some. 

See, Jared did not talk at all until he was 4 1/2 years old.  He struggles A LOT with anything verbal.  His vocabulary is very limited in general.

Here is the kicker - many medical professionals have told us along that way that Jared
would not ________
or could not ________
(you can fill in the blank with so many things and a large amount of the things would have to do with language and communication.)

But today, at age 20, Jared showed me that the professionals left out one important word... the word YET!

There are always opportunities for growth.  There are always opportunities for good things to happen.

Jared reminded me today that he will continue to learn. 
He reminded me today that I should never go up. 
He reminded me today his journey is no where near over.

I hope that he helped remind you too.
Whatever journey you find yourself on...
Godspeed to you!
Best wishes of success on your journey!
And may you know, that your journey is not over.

FOCUS

Some days tiny blessings just show up where you least expect them.

Saturday mornings typically mean grocery shopping - a task that I don't really enjoy. Today the aisles at Walmart were extra crowded today too.

I pushed my very crooked cart (of course I have one that ends up with a funky wheel) down the row to get bottled water and I see two young men stocking shelves. These two guys happen to have been involved with Cosby football a few years ago. I said hello and they said to me "aren't you Jared's mom?" They told me how they were going to college and working early mornings stocking shelves. One is still playing football and the other is hoping to do that this next year.

One of the young men then said to "Jared really impacted my life. I still remember the first time he went with us on an away game on the bus." He continued to share about the difference it made for him to have had Jared involved with the team at practice and at games. He asked to write his phone number on my grocery list, and said to please call/text if Jared ever needed anything!

We have had some very rough days around the Burns house lately, due to Amber's health issues.

And on different scale all together, but very important in Jared's world, Cosby football has had some rough Friday nights. Last night's game was a heart breaker. There were some tears on the sideline (at least from some of the managers) and that included Jared.  He loves the coaches, the players and the managers and he felt their heartbreak. He knows how hard they have worked and some times the score at the end of the night doesn't go they way you would hope.

 

It is very easy to go down on a road of negativity at times. It is easy to think about the bad things happening.

Today I was reminded that the scoreboard doesn't always show the entire outcome of a game.  Today I was reminded that even the toughest of days can have some rays of sunshine - it is just a matter of what I chose to FOCUS on.

Times like today at Wally World help me readjust my thought process!

"... whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

Dream Big - Work Hard

Nineteen years ago today, on the last Friday in August, our sweet baby that we named Jared was born a little before 2 in the afternoon.  Hard to believe it has been 19 years.

Those early days were tough.
Having two young children that are 18 months apart is not easy for anyone.
Add autism into that mix and life gets real interesting...
(You can read more about those early days and Jared's diagnosis starting with this blog post, and then clicking newer post on the bottom left of the screen to continue.)

With the diagnosis of autism... we had to let go of many of our original dreams for Jared.

Dreams like...
college,
playing sports,
driving,
school dances,
and so many others.

And we have grieved all along the way.

Troy and I eventually began to dream new dreams for Jared.

These dreams were centered around:
safety,
employment,
independence,
meaningful relationships,
and community.

And we shared these dreams with others so that they could dream with us.

One of those dreams we began talking about when Jared was about 5 involved employment.

Even then, I knew that MANY adults with autism are under-employed or unemployed.
(Over the years I have come to really know the harsh reality of individuals with disabilities and employment.)

So from age 5 on, we began narrowing down our efforts, the therapists' efforts and the schools' efforts to do all we could do collectively to prepare Jared for meaningful, competitive employment after high school.  Those who know Jared know that his autism creates great difficulties for him in the areas of social skills, communication skills and anxiety -- large scale difficulties.

So since age 5...
very strategic planning...
very strategic efforts...
and always asking the question "will this (activity, skill, lesson, etc.) help prepare Jared for meaningful employment?"

And we ALL worked toward finding opportunities where Jared could have hands-on experiences that would one day lead to possible employment.

There has been an entire village of INCREDIBLE people involved in this dream:
teachers,
instructional assistants,
coaches,
athletic directors,
students,
attendants,
therapists,
family,
friends,
community,
agencies,
and Jared.

Something amazing (and in my eyes miraculous) has happened very recently in Jared's life because of the opportunities and experiences that a village of people have helped provide for him.
Jared has developed a love for football and basketball.
He has learned these sports.
He has teams he follows and watches their games on TV or in person.
He will tell you his 5 teams - in this order -are: Cosby, Virginia Tech, NC State, VCU and now recently added University of Richmond because that was Coach Mutascio's team.
He knows the schedules of all 5 of his teams.
He knows who each team beat last year and who each team lost to.
And he knows the city and state that all teams in those conferences are from and the name of their mascot.
And he will tell you all of that info if you open up the conversation.

All of this has led to Jared taking ownership of this employment dream that Troy and I have for him.  Jared has decided that not only does he want a job but that he wants a job that is in the sports world.
He is very clear about that with anyone who asks.

In April of this year, we started working with several agencies/services for individuals with disabilities - DARS (Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services),  The Choice Group, and his DD Waiver services.  We began actively looking for and applying for part-time jobs.
I knew it was going to be hard - but I didn't know how hard. 

Over and over -
doors were shut,
calls were not returned,
job offers were rescinded when people met Jared or found out he would have a job support person with him on the job.
Over and over the answer was no.

We continued to hold to our dream - but reality was saying that this dream may be way harder to reach than I had ever imagined.
In late July, Jared began once again helping as a manager for the Cosby Football team.
A couple of weeks ago, the weather was not so good and the football team went into the weight room to work out for a while before practicing on the field.
Jared joined the team in the weight room and watched as they lifted, did some cardio, and exercised.

The very next day, which I don't think was a coincidence, his job support person called and said she knew about a job opening at Gold's Gym Westchester that she thought Jared should apply for.
I drove Jared over to Gold's Gym that Thursday.
He went into Gold's Gym with his job support person while I waited outside.
They both came back out a little later and let me know that Jared got the job!
Jared told me it was like the weight room at Cosby - but it was bigger!  He liked it!
He had found a job that in his mind equates to working in the sports world because it was something he saw the Cosby football players doing just a few days earlier!

On Monday, August 21st, Jared began his work at Gold's Gym located in Westchester Commons.
He is there each Monday through Friday from 8am to 11am.
He spends time vacuuming, cleaning equipment, wiping down lockers, removing trash, etc.
The staff at this Gold's Gym location has been fabulous and very welcoming of Jared.
They have shared with me how glad they are to have Jared working with them.

Everything fell into place with this very quickly and it is still hard to believe really.
But I am so thankful.

I am thankful for everyone who helped us get to this place.
I am thankful for teachers and instructional assistants who worked alongside Jared every step of this journey teaching him so much.
I am thankful for a rainy day that put the football team in the Cosby weight room.
I am thankful for the Cosby coaches and staff who helped instill a love of sports in Jared and were always open to possibilities.
I am thankful for the staff at Gold's Gym Westchester who saw ability and not disability.
I am thankful for the job support offered through The Choice Group and Jared's DD Waiver.
I am thankful for dreams and I am thankful for constant effort.

We have our fingers crossed tightly and continue to pray that all will work out.
I know that autism can always make even the best things difficult.
I know that any situation, where autism is involved, can quickly change.
I find myself being cautiously optimistic - but more cautious than optimistic - as it seems to good to be true.
But even if this takes a wrong turn - we made it this far.
And we will continue taking steps forward.

So today -
as we celebrate Jared's 19th birthday,
we will also celebrate the fact that a long time dream has come into focus.

Happy Birthday sweet Jared!
Keep dreaming sweet boy!

"Dream big, work hard and surround yourself with good people."

Today was one of those days....

Today was one of those days.
A day that I have imagined since Jared was a toddler and first diagnosed with autism.
A day that I have thought about and wondered exactly how it would play out.
Today was graduation day for Jared and his peers at Cosby High School - the Class of 2017!

Long ago, when Jared was 5, we pushed for Jared to be in classes in his neighborhood school - the school where all of the kids in our neighborhood go to school.  It was important to our family that Jared be seen as a part of his community and not someone who just comes into the community once in a while.

So today Jared stood among the students at Cosby High to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Many of these students have known him since he was in Kindergarten.  They have grown up together through elementary, middle and high school.  He has a community.  And that has made a HUGE difference in Jared's life.

As I sat and took it all in today, I could not keep the tears away.
These tears were from way down deep. 
These tears were ones that represented every emotion possible.

Today I felt Gratitude....

So many people have played a part in Jared's many accomplishments.  Jared is a young man with pretty significant autism. It has truly taken a village of teachers, aides, therapists, family members and friends to help us get to the place where he is today.  I am forever grateful for our village.
I am grateful for the skills that Jared works so hard to obtain - skills that others may not think twice about - but skills that he had to work on for so many years in order do what he did today. He walked in with the group. He sat in a chair through a very long ceremony. He took off his cap when appropriate. He stood when he was supposed to. He walked across the stage and shook hands with some people he didn't even really know.  All of these are skills that required much work on his part, and represent just a few of the small things that I am so grateful for.
I am also so grateful for a community that surrounds my son - a community that accepts and includes him.  He has FRIENDS and that is what we have wished for him for so very long.  You see, we can provide so many things in life that my son needs, but we cannot give him friends.  And as I watch him today as he participated in this culminating event, I knew that he truly has friends.

Today I felt Fear....

So many fears encompassed today as well.  I fear my son's future.  I fear that he will lose the community that he has built around him.  Kids grow up and go their own ways - college, jobs, marriage, kids of their own.  But that is not the path Jared's life will most likely take.  Jared is not going to college next year.  Instead he will be back doing more high school classes and continuing to work on learning employment skills, social skills, reading skills, math skills and independent living skills.  His peer group will go a different way.  And his adult world will not offer the same opportunities and support that his many years in school have offered.  I know that I will continue to tirelessly work to help him connect to the world around him, but I am afraid that will be more difficult as he ages.  I know we will continue to look for ways for him to be employed in his community, as we fear him being at home all day everyday with nothing to do.  I fear him growing older because that means I also grow older - which reminds me that I will not always be around - and I fear what will happen to him when I am not.  In fact that is my biggest fear of all.  And today brought me to that place once again.

Today I felt Grief....

Yes, grief.  Each time when Jared reaches a milestone age/event there is a little grief that I must deal with.  This is just part of our life.  When a child is born we begin to dream about their future.  That was no different for Jared.  When he was born, we envisioned him as a young adult, and thought of what his life might look like. Today I had no choice but to come to face to face with the reality that Jared will never receive a high school diploma.  A reality that was not a part of my dream for my infant son.  But it is our reality.  Today that reality (like so many others over the years) caused my heart to grieve.

Today I felt Hope...

As I watched my son, I was reminded to never lose hope.  I was reminded of a time, when Jared was three and I was asking about skill that Jared was struggling to learn,  and a doctor told me "stop working on that, he will never do that, you just need to accept that he will not."  I was reminded that I chose not to listen to that advice, but instead chose to have hope.  I remembered the great strides my son has made and how many of those are because we chose to have HOPE.  I watched him smile and clap and cheer for his classmates.  I watched students cheer for my son as he took his turn walking.  My heart repeated the words "Never give up.  Don't ever give up!"

Today was a day that reminded me of
where we have been,
where we are,
and where we hope to be in the future.

I continue to be full of emotions, and will be processing them for days to come.

As for Jared ....
well....
He can't stop talking about today and his seniors and being a Cosby Titan!!  No one loves Cosby more than he does.

He also has reminded me - many, many, many times - that he will be starting football season in July with the Cosby Titan football team.  "That's my team and they need me!" he says.  And yes, thanks to some of the most incredible people I have ever met, Jared will be back on the Cosby sidelines for football and girls' basketball next year, and he will be happy!

Whereas I felt so many emotions today, I can tell you that Jared felt just one...

Jared felt HAPPY!
If you ask him about today he will tell you "It was GREAT!"

And he is right!!

 

Never Give Up

Reality for our family is that Jared will not leave high school with an official high school diploma.

Years ago we came to the realization that Jared's autism was going to make it next to impossible for him to earn a diploma.
That piece of paper means quite a lot.  Many people take it for granted and just assume that everyone will leave high school with a diploma.  Many people don't realize how much has to actually be done to receive that diploma.  The academic requirements that must be met to get the diploma are things that are out of Jared's reach.
Jared's difficulties with communication and language cause him to not be able to take the required academic classes and not be able to score a passing grade on the required end of course tests.

So we decided, back when Jared was in middle school, that in addition to continue to work with him on language, communication and functional math skills, we were going to need to really focus his learning on social skills and employment skills.

Our family's goal for Jared was that when he leaves high school (at age 22 by the way) that he will have a job - and a job where he would be paid the same pay that someone without a disability would be paid.

We have worked on this since early middle school, and will continue to work on it for years.

The percentage of adults with disabilities that sit at home all day, every day after high school is staggering.  We work so hard for Jared what is called "A Life Like Yours."  This simply means, a regular life, like any person his age would be leading.  Not a special life - just a normal, everyday, regular life.  A life where you have friends.  A life where you work.  A life where you are a part of the everyday community.

Some days it seems like we are not getting very far, or that we are taking steps backward.

And then there are days like today.

Today I am able to share...
Jared has a part time JOB!!!

A real part time job.  One where he gets paid actual minimum wage.  One that he will receive a paycheck for the work that he does.

Jared is now an official crew member at First Flight Creations (a division of Kaldy Services, Inc.)!!

First Flight Creations is lead by John and Christine Kaldy.  The Kaldy's hold the belief that all people have talent and can contribute. That shows in everything they do.

First Flight has these four tenets, much like their logo with four points of a compass:
Never give up!
Steady progress to create ongoing value added work and learning opportunities while having fun!
Engage the community to support real individuals with special abilities!
Work with key stakeholders to become a for profit venture donating a percentage of sale to support related organizations!

How awesome is that!  

These words ring so true in our life with Jared ----
Never give up,
Steady progress,
Engaging within our community.

Never give up!

Jared still has autism.
Jared still needs a lot of support.
Jared still struggles with many things.

BUT....

Jared went to work today, and worked alongside his co-workers to make some beautiful wooden creations that will be sold at vendor fairs, farmer's markets, and at local stores that house what First Flight calls "Pop-Up Shops" (like at Maglio's Pizza.)

Tonight we celebrate all of the little steps forward that have landed us at this place today.

Tonight we are reminded to always believe in POSSIBILITIES!

Filling in the nail holes with putty.

Using the nail gun with Mr. Kaldy.

Using the nail gun some more.

Finished bunny boxes that are ready to sell.

Check out these cool items from my new tool kit!

 

Christmas Spirit.... Virginia Tech Style

Loving it!

"It is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one's fellow many that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit." - Isabel Currier

Autism makes for some difficult times around the holidays.
Very difficult.
But .....
Sometimes...
It helps us see things in a completely different way.
A way that maybe, just maybe, might be a lesson for us all.


Jared typically doesn't ask for anything..... ever.
He doesn't ask for toys.
He doesn't ask for candy.
He doesn't ask for shoes or clothes.

The only time we can get him to tell us something he wants us to buy him is when we start talking about Christmas.
We will start asking him in early November, what he would like Santa to bring him.
(Yes, Jared still 100% believes that Santa brings a Christmas present to those people who are on the NICE list.)

So this year, just like year's past, we begin trying to get Jared to tell us something he wants for Christmas.

Usually he tells us some sort of video game or movie... but this year that didn't happen!
This year he says, "I want a Hokie Stone Uniform."

Since being the manager of the Cosby football team, Jared has really started to LOVE football!
His two favorite football teams are Cosby (that's his favorite) and Virginia Tech.
Of course he is on the sideline of the Cosby games on Friday nights, and then on Saturday's he is in front of the TV watching his other team - the Virginia Tech Hokies!
During the week, he watches clips of past VT football games on YouTube.

This season, his favorite game was the Battle of Bristol - when VT played Tennessee.  Unfortunately the Hokies didn't win that game, but that didn't change how much Jared loved that game.  He absolutely LOVED the special Hokie Stone jerseys that VT wore at that game.

And so when we asked Jared what he wanted for Christmas, we knew what he was talking about when he said "I want a Hokie Stone Uniform."
He wanted a jersey/shirt like the Hokies wore at the Battle of Bristol.

However, when I began searching for this jersey in November, it was no where to be found.
I searched the Internet and found that they used to sell them at Nike.com but they no longer had them.  I found one 3XL for sale on eBay but I knew my sewing skills were not good enough to turn a 3XL into a size Large.

I tried to talk to Jared and see if there was anything he thought he might want Santa to bring him.
But his answer never changed.
A Hokie Stone Uniform was all he wanted.

Finally, I contacted Nike and after several tries, got a live person on the phone, who informed me that they had no more, and didn't think they would ever have anymore.
One and gone.

Once again I went back to Jared, and tried to convince him that he might want something else from Santa.
I shared that Santa may not have any Hokie Stone Uniforms left and may not be able to make any new ones.

Jared would just say, "Santa will do it", or "I am on the nice list and Santa will get it for me."
His belief never wavered.

As a last ditch effort, I decided to contact Justin Fuentes' office at Virginia Tech.
I emailed and asked if they knew anywhere that might have a Hokie Stone Jersey.
I explained how much Jared loves VT football
and how this item is the one thing
the only thing
that he wanted for Christmas.

Within a few hours, I got an email back, with the name and phone number of someone to call.
I called and was then connected with a wonderful gentleman who contacted his buyer and long story short...
within 24 hours
a Hokie Stone Jersey
size Large
was on its way to our home.
I am incredibly thankful for the people that helped make this possible - as it was out of my reach to make it happen.

So this morning, the first thing Jared went to when he woke up was his stocking.
He pulled out the candy and quickly laid it aside.
He dug down deep into the stocking and pulled out his Hokie Stone Jersey.
He immediately put it on and his face lit up as he shared, "Santa brought me my special gift!"
That smile...
That faith...
You could see it all over his face.

In Jared's world, he sees things as very matter-of-fact.
His faith in the things he believes to be true never falters.

Oh, if I could live my life more like that.
To live a life where you trust beyond trust that good will always overcome evil...
That people will always do what they say they will do...
And to always assume the very best in people.
Simple....
But so difficult at the same time.

As we end 2016 and enter 2017...
may we each not waiver in the things that we know to be true,
may we  be people who choose to believe the best about those around us,
may we be willing to step outside of ourselves and lend a hand to those in our lives each day.
may we each take with us some of the Christmas Spirit that was present today and carry it with us throughout the year.


And of course.... Let's Go.... Hokies!

Jared turned on the YouTube clip of the Battle of Bristol game,
so he could stand next to his Hokies and of course Justin Fuentes.

Magical Moments - Forever Grateful

Last night was magical!

It was "Senior Night" at the Cosby home football game.
Since this is Jared's 4th year at Cosby, he is considering himself a Senior as well. 
And he is very proud of his senior standing. 
He will tell you very quickly "I am an senior" - (which he pronounces as sing-ner by the way.)

For the past several years, Jared has been a manager for the Cosby Varsity football team. 
Starting at the end of July, he joins the team for daily practices and is always on the sideline for the Friday night games once they begin.
It has been a huge opportunity for Jared to grow and learn.
Jared is anxious about most things in life, and quick to avoid conversations of any kind.
He struggles with verbal communication and social situations.
When he first started with the football team, Jared would not attend practices without me or his hired attendant being there.
He would ONLY go to home football games.
He would have to leave at halftime.

So much has changed over these years.
He even rides the bus with the team to away games, and he is never going to leave a game even a second before the game ends.

But you would never have guessed where he started if you saw him last night!

He chatted with everyone around him as we waited in line with the rest of the seniors to be introduced to the crowd.
His smile COVERED his face. 
Autism took a back seat.
He walked down the track to claps and cheers from his peers as his name was called. 

Then one of the senior football players ran over and said come on Jared, we need you. 
He took off and joined up with all of the other senior football players in a group photo.
Right in the middle of the group!
It was simply amazing to see.
There he was ---
loving life,
participating in his community,
and being accepted for exactly who he is.

It was completely magical!
You could feel it.

And Jared's face showed that he felt it too!

And it didn't stop there!

Jared was asked to be a Team Captain at last night's game. 
I don't even know what all goes into someone being chosen to be a Team Captain for the game, but I do know it is a HUGE honor to be chosen.
I watched the other Captains walk with Jared to the center of the football field and saw Jared participate in the coin toss before the game. 
I saw him shake hands with the other team's captains.
I watched him look around from the center of the field and take it all in.
I could see his JOY!

What was even more powerful in that moment, was that I could see the JOY of his teammates, the coaches, the other managers, and the crowd. 
I could see it on their faces.
The magic of that moment affected everyone.
Everyone that saw it, knew this was one of those moments to not forget!

Throughout the night Jared hung out by the water table.
He cheered.
He danced.
He chatted with and encouraged players.
He gave fist bumps and high fives.
And he danced some more!

First thing Jared said when he got in the car last night after the game was
"Coach Mutascio told me I AM a Captain tonight!  I was a Captain for my Cosby Titans!"

A football coach does many things for his team, many of which I will never understand completely since it involves the mechanics of being a football player.
A coach teaches things like
different plays,
how to run routes,
tackling,
improving all sorts of skills.

But in watching football these past few years through Jared's eyes, I can absolutely tell you that the coaches at Cosby do so much more. 
They change lives! 
They change communities!

They teach...
the true meaning of team,
keeping the game and life in perspective,
character,
and integrity.

It was evident that whether Cosby won or lost the game last night (they did win by the way),
that there was so much more that had already been won by everyone.

My son is a different person today than he was three years ago.
He has a confidence about him that was not there before.
He believes in himself and knows that he can contribute to his community!
Life changing.... and certainly.... magical!
And not just life changing for Jared, but for everyone involved.
Even opposing teams and their coaches have approached me and shared Jared's impact on them, and the impact that the Cosby community's inclusion of Jared has had on them and their team!
Far reaching impact!

Cosby, we can't thank you enough.

You look past autism and value Jared as a person.

Our family is forever grateful.

"To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”

 Taking the Senior walk with dad!  Look at that smile!

 Coin toss with the Captains.

 Jared with his friend Hannah!

 Just a little dancing and celebrating!