The Mission

Lehigh Valley Autism Guide's mission is to be a central place for families and professionals to come together to foster an inclusive, accepting community for people diagnosed with Autism including those who have also been diagnosed with other disabilities within Lehigh and Northampton Counties.

 

Just imagine the Lehigh Valley embodying the microcosm of an Autism friendly town like Newfoundland, Canada. Seeing this video makes me realize that everyone benefits from encouraging independence in people with Autism within an accepting, friendly community.

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How LVAG was started:  Just like many other parents, I also struggled to get a timely diagnosis for my children, trying to get access to therapies that weren't available locally, faced long wait lists only to endure constant staff changes, watched my child regress, forced to step into the therapist's role and be trained in ABA from the Lovaas Institute, advocated on her behalf in stressful IEP meetings, waded through hundreds of pages of confusing paperwork/evaluations and sacrificed so much of my own life. I have been exhausted from endless sleepless nights. I have been frustrated. I worry about my child's future and what happens when I am not here. I have cried many tears. I have listened to similar stories and even worse experiences from other parents. It's heartbreaking to see good people go through so much.

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But I also cheered and celebrated the smallest wins that added to big changes! As a parent, I dug deep and found massive strength I didn't know I had. For every setback, we made a stronger comeback. I became relentless in leaving no stone unturned. I became resilient in finding ways to uncover her strengths and this beautiful person emerged. To be a more effective advocate, I had to learn new ways of communicating her needs and navigating how to work with people different from myself. When I become a better advocate, I was able to encourage her to advocate her own needs. It is only when we step out of our comfort zone and think out of the box that we become unstoppable. And that's where we see amazing things happen! These are the lessons I've  learned so far in this journey.

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Realizing that I wasn't the only parent going through these challenges and frustrated that we don't have same state resources to help us navigate the system like other states do, I decided that parents would benefit from easily accessible roadmaps to help them find resources and to build their confidence as an informed advocate for their children. Transparency and education are keys to helping families gain higher quality services so their children can reach their fullest potential.

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At any point in your journey, Lehigh Valley Autism Guide is here as a comprehensive resource to to save you time so you can conserve your energy and focus on your loved one. The Guide is a great tool for professionals to position their services to better meet the needs of families in the Lehigh Valley.

 

It's encouraging to see new programs emerge, improved collaboration and increased community awareness blooming here in the Lehigh Valley but there is still more work to do. Let us learn together and collaborate so our children have a brighter future.