Imagine Autism. Tessa's Struggles.
Imagine...
Touching sand, and it hurts your hands...
Climbing stairs, and each time you lift your foot, you're not sure how close it is to the ground...
Someone hands you something you want, but your hands are full, and you don't know how to empty them...
Someone next to you is talking, but their voice is in the background, just like the television in a neighboring room, or maybe like they are talking through a pillow...
You try to run, and your body feels like streamers...
Your brain sends a message to your feet, but the message hits road blocks along the way...
Stepping off a sidewalk feels like climbing off an unsteady ladder...
Imagine you can't stand on one foot without falling...
You feel uneasy, unsteady, insecure about physical things moving around you because you don't know how they will affect you...
Imagine not being able to THINK and look at people at the same time...
Imagine that someone saying, "Come here!" in a stern voice pointing down means the SAME thing as a loving "come here" with open arms and a smile...
Think of what calms you the MOST when you're really upset, and imagine not having that, not having anything... not being able to calm yourself when you want to...
Close your eyes and raise your arm up in the air. If you can't see it, how do you know it's up there? Imagine NOT being able to SENSE where your body is...
Imagine not being able to formulate the words for what you desperately want to say...
Imagine overcoming ALL of these things AND MORE little by little each day...
And you look up at your mommy, and she says, "Don't worry baby. We're gonna fix this." ♥
I wrote this for my daughters. April 2011. Kristy Leon
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Our story...
Our daughter was diagnosed with autism at two years old. She was delayed in speech and social communication. Her behavior appeared strange and others did not understand. Her cognitive abilities barely fell into the “normal” range. After two years of prayer, medical interventions, and support from places like TACA, our daughter is now able to enjoy life without many of these struggles.
We’re here to share our story, give back, and give hope to families facing the same challenges. I wrote “Imagine Autism” about our daughter, Tessa. She’s our little shining star. I wrote to help others understand and relate to my daughter. My hope in sharing this with you is not only to seek support for TACA, but also to share our insights about this disease.
So much can be done to improve the life of a child with autism! Our children are capable of learning anything that WE are able to teach them! Please help us bring hope and healing to families like ours. Our children are our future!
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About our charity...
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) is a national organization dedicated to providing information, resources, and support to families affected by autism.
TACA provides the following services to families in need:
• Local chapter support group meetings
• Lending libraries
• Website, E-Newsletters, Printed Newsletter, live chat, and Autism Events Listing
• Parent mentor program
• Autism education events and seminars
• Autism Journey Guide books
• Family Scholarship Program
• Holiday Adopt-A-Family Program
• AutismCares (helping autism families who are victims of natural disasters)
• Legal advocacy
• Spanish outreach and services
Today, over 25,000 families across the country turn to TACA for help and support! At TACA, they are working hard to bring hope to children currently being diagnosed.
With your help, they can continue to provide 95% of their programs and services at no cost to the growing number of children and families affected by autism.
1 in 91 Children
1 in 58 Boys
1 child every 20 Minutes
is diagnosed with autism
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How can YOU help?
• PLEASE, donate at least $1 to our fundraising page! It adds up
quickly, and amounts to help for our children!
• “LIKE” our fundraising page on Facebook!
• Share our page with others who may wish to help! Forward our page on Facebook or
email to friends who might wish to help!
• Business owners! Make a tax deductible donation from your business for a GREAT
cause! [EIN: 27-0048002]
• Have a skill or own a business? Donate goods or services for TACA to use as grand
prizes or door prizes at charity events, such as charity bowling tournaments! If you’re a
personal trainer, donate 6 free training sessions. If you own a gym, donate a one-
year membership! Own a furniture store? Donate a recliner! Have a venue? Host an event! Are you famous? Sign something for charity! The possibilities are endless!
• Want to do something big? Consider matching donations raised on our page!
Contact kristyandallyn@gmail.com to help!
Your support helps TACA provide hope to the thousands of families who are receiving an autism diagnosis. Won't you help them on this journey?
Help us reach our goal of raising $1,000
for our TACA chapter!
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"Never assume a ceiling on a child's abilities. Always assume you can get to one more level, and after that, one more level." - Stanley Greenspan