If You Won $10,000 What Would You Do?

I could pay off my student loans, a few credit cards, take a (much needed) vacation or put it in the bank.

But if I won $10,000 I wouldn't do any of those things. I'd use the money to better my community. Last year, my friend and I decided we were going to start a non profit and open up a school for kids with autism in The Bronx. My Dream School. Because as of now, there are no appropriate schools - public, private, approved non-public - in The Bronx for kids like The Boy. And as a result, The Boy is bused to a school 22 miles away from home.

When it comes to special needs resources and schools, The Bronx is grossly under serviced. Everything seems to be in Manhattan, Queens or Brooklyn. I shouldn't have to move to make sure my son has the services he needs. Every child has a right a free and appropriate education regardless of their zip code. And when it comes to special education and resources - the appropriate, shouldn't be seen as a privilege. That's why building a Dream School in The Bronx means so much to me.

Starting a non profit takes money, time and more money. Money that 2 working moms struggling to make ends meet don't really have. And so our dream of building a school in The Bronx is one that has been deferred (for now).

And then Nicole of Presley's Pantry nominated me for Yahoo's Women Who Shine. And the grand prize is $10,000! Obviously I will need much more than $10,000 to build a school but it would be a really good start. 

In a few days, I'll be celebrating my blog birthday - 2 years old. And when I first started blogging I never really thought that my words would or could make a difference. I was so moved reading why Nicole nominated me and her words really validated why I continue to write and share our story.

Lisa Quinones Fontanez

Category Mother

Lisa has touched my heart time and time again. I read her blog Autism Wonderland as if it's my personal bible. She is a woman warrior fighting for her autistic son's rights on a daily basis. She has been recognized by Babble as one of the top 30 Autism Blogs, and is a regular contributor to Parents magazine. Unlike many bloggers who use blogging as an outlet to escape into their own private internet world, Lisa dives into her reality and brings wisdom and hope to parents who are going through the same diagnosis with their child. If it wasn't for her blog, I would have NEVER known the signs to look for in an Autistic child.... because of her I was able to recognize my son's early signs of autism, and intervene right away. She is a huge inspiration to many parents who are lost in the autism fog trying to find answers and fearful of what the future holds for our vulnerable delicate children. She is not only changing her son Norrin's life, she is helping hundreds of parents take the right steps to help change the lives of their children too. She is a modern day hero who wears her heart and emotions on her sleeve, and in her darkest moments she is still strong enough to share her own fears with the world.

If you would like to help me win so that I can build my Dream School, you can vote for me by clicking HERE.

If you've voted already - THANK YOU! If you're off to vote - THANK YOU! Would love for you to share with your friends and family. 

Whether or not I win the grand prize - a Dream School in The Bronx will be built. It will not be a dream deferred for too long.


And if you'd like to read about why I starting blogging and how it's changed my life, feel free to click HERE.

Baby Steps to Building a Dream School

Ever since writing my post on Building a Dream School I have been amazed by all the support I've gotten.  And when HE sent me an email - that's when I really knew, people are actually reading.  And not only reading but interested in this project.  I mean, I know you all are in support.  We're old friends by now.  But other wonderful folks have sent me emails with encouraging words, asking what they can do to help, telling me about what works in their schools.

And it makes me feel like - okay, we really can do this.

The week after I wrote my post on Building a Dream School there happened to be a webinar - Charter School 101.  Talk about fate!  And other cool stuff like that has been happening.  I've been meeting people in the special education field.  A really close friend is working with some education groups in the City.  And slowly, I'm building this network of people who could help make the Dream School a reality.

Anyway, last night, I went to visit my very good friend, Michelle, who has experience setting up a non profit.  And we started filling out the paperwork!              

some of the paperwork/research materials

the Certificate

We're still not finished.  Just a few more details before the certification can be signed, sealed and delivered.

I realize that I am on a long road, that every step is a baby step.  A school can't be built in a day.  But I'm moving forward, whether this takes 1 year or  10 - I know that this will really happen.  

Another thing I've learned about this process is that it's time consuming and it costs money.  There are filing fees to consider, forms to fill out, a bank account to open, a budget to create...

I would love to be able to bankroll this whole project myself.  But the reality is - I can't.  And I would hate to see this project fall to the waste side because I cannot afford to start the initial process. 

If you would like to contribute to this, please click on the donate button.  

Every dollar makes a difference.              
 

Thank you!  

What Do You Dream?

We all have our own life to pursue,
our own kind of dream to be weaving.
And we all have some power to make wishes come true,
as long as we keep believing.  

~ Louisa May Alcott

Two Supermarket Saturday. Sunday is my Favorite Day.

Our Saturday routine is Sensory Gym, School and Supermarkets.

Sensory Gym for The Boy.

School for The Husband. 

And Supermarkets for me.  

Watching The Boy work with the OT, I can't even worry about the financial burden.  I mean, I do because it's EXPENSIVE but the OT is amazing.  And The Boy NEEDS it.  Especially because The Boy's school still does not have an assigned OT.  Please don't even get me started on this.  Tomorrow is October 3rd and I'm getting a little annoyed.  Because the Board of Ed folks will tell you "If it's mandated on the IEP then the services need to be provided..." blah blah blah.  But what the Board of Ed says and what they actually do are two completely different things.  Like I said, don't get me started...

After Sensory Gym, it's off to Westchester for food shopping.  Why do we drive from The Bronx twenty minutes away to Westchester for groceries.  Well, a certain supermarket chain has a pretty great selection of healthy foods and snacks at reasonable prices.  The Boy gets to push his own cart too and pick his own snacks.  Too bad he can't pay for it...

But after we get home and I unpack the groceries, I wheel my shopping cart back out with The Boy to go to the neighborhood supermarket.  Because the organic supermarket doesn't carry the essentials of a Puerto Rican kitchen: pillow sacks of rice (I prefer Canilla) and Goya beans.When we're finished, I make The Boy push our shopping cart the three blocks back to our building.  I ignore the looks from other mother's, shaking their heads at me for making a 5 year old push a cart filled with groceries - they don't know about "heavy work."

This morning, we woke up at 6:45.  It's a crisp Sunday morning, I wrapped in soft blankets, I can smell the chill in the air.  It's what I love best about Fall.  The Boy must like it too because he bounced into our bed after turning on the light and said "Rise and Shine.  It's my favorite day!"  I asked The Boy what day is today.  To which he replied, "Monday!"

Yeah...not so sure about that one.  I told him it was Sunday.  And that Sunday was my favorite day.  Especially a Sunday like today.  My laundry is almost finished.  I ran all my errands yesterday so if I don't want to leave the apartment, I don't have to.  And I get to spend today doing only the things I want to do.

What's your favorite day of the week?

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Have you voted for AutismWonderland for Parents Magazine Best Special Needs Blogs?  Voting ends on October 15th.  Please vote and help me continue sharing our stories, providing information and creating awareness.  Just click on the pink box on the right side.  Or click here.    

Building a Dream School

I've been thinking about this for while.  Especially once the Turning 5 process began and all the schools I was considering were in the City, Westchester, Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island. 

Aside from the District 75 schools and the ASD Horizon/Nest programs, there is not a single school dedicated to children with autism in The Bronx.

Let me be more specific.  There is not a single school dedicated in The Bronx for children with autism like The Boy.

The Boy is somewhere in the middle.  And so many children fall into that category. Bright kids.  Sensory seeking kids.  Kids who don't how to make a friend.  Or carry on a conversation.     

What I discovered last year while touring, applying and talking to directors of these special needs programs is that while they accept the autism classification, they do not accept children with behaviors.

Think about that for a second.  A child with autism.  With no behaviors.     

After being rejected from so many schools, I had a candid conversation with the director of my dream school.  She pretty much said, if The Boy didn't have any of his behaviors, if he didn't need the constant redirection - he would have been accepted.

Last night I recieved a call from my friend Gen.  She also happens to be The Boy's former ABA therapist. (She is also pursuing BCBA certification.)  She knows everything we've gone through in the last year.  And she said, "It's great that you write your blog, but we need to really do something."

Gen wants us to start a school in The Bronx for kids like The Boy.               

The Boy needs a school where they follow a combination of ABA and TEACCH.  The Boy needs a school with a sensory room, with an OT who is on staff not contracted.  The Boy needs a school with speech pathologists and Behaviorists and Special Education teachers and assistants who have a true understanding of autism.  The Boy needs a nurturing environment.  The Boy needs a school with sensory friendly classrooms.  The Boy needs a school that involves the entire family. 

Does this sound like the kind of school your child needs?  
Well...Let's create one.  WE need to "be the change that [we] wish to see in the world."

Yeah, I know this seems like a pretty lofty idea.  But every dream starts somewhere.

If you live in The Bronx, if you're a parent of a child like The Boy, if you're a service provider, teacher, therapist and social worker and are interested in our "Building a Dream School" project, email me at autismwonderland@gmail.com


*This post was inspired by many events that have happened over the course of the year and by a Kick in the Blog.   
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 At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable, and eventually inevitable.
~  Christopher Reeve

Any dream worth dreaming, is worth the effort to make it some true.~ Evan Gourley


Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.
The time will pass anyway.
~  Unknown