MARYSVILLE – Sisters Deanna and Amy Sheldon both have children who are autistic.
They want the best for their daughters and others who have autism, so last year they formed a nonprofit called Leah’s Dream Foundation.
The foundation raised $12,000 at its initial fund-raiser golf tournament last year. On April 18, they presented the Marysville School District with a check for $5,000.
The district will use the money to train five preschool special education teachers in the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System, or PECS.
Deanna’s daughter, Leah, 6, uses PECS to communicate at home. But until recently it wasn’t used in schools.
“Once she got to school the teachers didn’t understand” and it was frustrating for Leah, her mom said.
“It was very hard to get it into the school system. It will help a lot of kids,” Deanna said.
PECS is a communication system that is used for children who have limited functional speech. Implementing PECS to preschool students is important because an exchange of a picture gives the student the ability to request for an item or object and is even used for commenting or responding to questions.
Kelli Marble of Marshall Elementary, who will get the training, said the training will give the students the skills needed to be inclusive members of society.
“Together we can use these tools to develop communication and social engagement opportunities for a population that research has shown time and time again benefits from early, intense interventions.”
Leah talking
Working with speech therapists, Leah finally has been able to use her voice within the past six months.
“We had to wait a very, very, very long time to hear it,” her mom said.
While Leah struggles with words, she has a full, clear sound when she sings.
“I will never get tired of hearing her voice,” Deanna said. “It’s always been inside her; she just didn’t know how to use it yet.”
She said she and her husband, Alex Stacy, raised money for autism for years, but the money did not help local families. So they did the paperwork to start their own nonprofit.
Leah, who is in kindergarten at Kellogg Marsh Elementary’s self-contained class, has inspired her mom.
“I want to say Leah is my inspiration that great things can happen to those who wait,” she said.
Amy’s fight
Amy Sheldon has a 19-year-old daughter who is in the Life Skills program at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
“I have had to fight for everything for her education,” Amy said. “A proper education is giving all kids the best education they can.”
In many ways, Amy and people like her helped break down the barriers so organizations like Leah’s Dream Foundation can be successful and effective.
“I believe all kids are teachable of so much more,” Amy said.
She said her daughter is quiet and often ignored. She said therapy is so much better now; she wishes her daughter could have had that at a young age.
“She’s set in her ways,” Amy said of her daughter. “Getting her out the door is a struggle.”
Amy makes sure her daughter goes to school, even if she has to go with her. “If she could stay home and watch You Tube she’d be happy.”
Amy wants to help others advocate for their autistic children. She loves seeing the kids be successful.
“That brings the most joy to my life,” she said.
Golf Tournament
The 2nd annual tournament will be at 1 p.m. July 16 at Battle Creek Golf Course.
The two-man scramble format is $130 per person. Register at www.leahsdreamfoundation.net.
Corporate and individual sponsors are being sought.
The auction afterward will feature gift certificates for: Disneyland tickets, golf courses, Seattle hotels, Seattle Storm tickets, Sunnyside Nursery, Stevens Pass, Family Fun Center, and more.
Leah’s Dream Foundation
Its mission is to conduct activities and programs that will expand the educational, medical, rehabilitative and other opportunities available to children and adults with autism. It will also provide grants to help relieve the financial strain associated with autism treatments, equipment and services.
