We are all given the opportunity for new beginnings, some say January 1st, and some say every year on your birthday or even every Monday. Well I say at any given moment… new beginnings are up to you! You can want them all day, but only you can make them happen.
A new beginning was something I desired for months, years even, there were even times when I thought I was getting my new beginning but they didn’t happen because I didn’t make them happen. In 2009, when my son, Matthew John, was diagnosed with Autism my desire for a new beginning was slowly taking place and it has really immerged over the last 2 years and now I am ready. Since then I have learned as much about Autism, the opportunities out there (and not out there) for individuals with disabilities, I have spent countless hours volunteering for organizations that support these individuals and have attended seminars on both Autism and leadership. Kansas Autism Mom was developed out of this learning and desire; first it was a twitter account, then a Facebook page and a logo, and now a website. Who knows exactly where it will lead next – I am open to the endless possibilities.
In November 2015 I was let go from a recruiting position, with my downtime I decided to get a medical issue I had been putting off taken care of, ultimately my recovery time took longer than I expected, it was during this time that I decided “that’s it” I am not going back to recruiting, I am done and ready to do something more to make Kansas better for individuals with Autism and other disabilities. I started networking, getting more involved, and submitting my resume for positions I felt were where I wanted to be. Well… no one would look outside out of my professional work history to see all that I have done and experienced “hands on” with my son to give me the opportunity to prove that I was the right person for the position. In May 2016, I told myself that I would enjoy the summer and that if I didn’t have job by September in this field I would have to go back to recruiting.
Then came August, I was running out of time, at a doctor’s appointment for Matthew the doctor said “Stephanie you really need to be doing what you do for Matthew for others”, I just smiled and said that that is what I have been trying to do for the last 6 months but no one will see outside the box with regards to my resume. He said send me your resume with your entire advocacy listed and I will see what I can do. I was so excited, someone believed in me, someone was going to help me get a foot in the door, this could really be happening!! With his assistance a few short weeks later I was sitting in a classroom, I never thought I would ever be back in college, enrolled in the University of Kansas Medical Center’s “Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and other related Disabilities” program, LEND for short. With this new opportunity came the reality for my new beginning, I will complete the program this month, though I am still not sure exactly where I am going, I know that I am on the right track for my new beginning and working with self advocates and others to make a better life for individuals with developmental disabilities in the state of Kansas!
Don’t give up; if you want a new beginning you can have one too!