The Reason Behind It All

 My passion

for working with youth started at the early age of 14, volunteering as an assistant in my brother’s kindergarten class after school.  I graduated from Cleveland Metropolitan School District in 1996, finished my training as a Dental Assistant in July of 2002 and worked as a Pediatric Dental Assistant for MetroHealth Hospitals.  In August of 2004, I got the news that my then 2 year old son was Autistic.  I decided, for the best interest and special needs of my son, to resign from my position and return full time to school to obtain higher education.  I started going to Cuyahoga Community College for Dental Hygiene, but found out about the Occupational Therapy Assistant program and pursued that.  I graduated in 2012 with my Associates of Applied Science degree and was licensed shortly after that.  I enjoyed working as an OTA in skilled nursing facilities, however my passion for working with youth remained.  I returned to college and graduated with my Bachelor’s of Psychology in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2016 to be used as a Substitute teacher for CMSD, a Community Youth Mental Health Worker, and as a Summer Youth Employment Program Case Manager.  I completed my Master’s of Science in Human Services with a concentration in Family & Community Organizations in November of 2021.  

While raising my son (and later 2 daughters) as a single mother, student and employee, I found much difficulty finding child care that adequately cared for his needs while providing opportunities for continued use of very important skills learned during his day at school.  Once he got too old to attend day care centers, I found myself making sacrifices to accommodate his continued need for supervision and instruction after school.  Not only to my career, but also to my personal and social life.  And, heartbreakingly enough, I watched as my son grew into his teenage years, his friends were limited to those in school and in his classroom.  He wouldn’t receive invites to parties or gatherings, and he spent every weekend, and even birthdays alone.  

Club W.O.W., Inc. was created in his honor because we believe that no one deserves this kind of life.  Autistic teens and young adults deserve to experience and create age appropriate memories like their peers.  They deserve to feel included in activities that they enjoy.  Their parents and families deserve to feel comfortable enjoying their individuality and freedom without the worry of who will be caring for their loved ones.  Club W.O.W., Inc.’s goal is to provide an environment where Autistic teens and young adults can continue build skills for an independent life and interact socially with their peers, to relieve some of the caregivers’ burden so they may return to their jobs and hobbies, and to educate the community about the needs and similarities of people with disabilities to reduce the stigma and share the love.