I just want to share a personal story with everyone on what Leah's Dream Foundation means to me, when I first found out I was going to have a baby girl I was beyond grateful she was something that I couldn't wait for and when she arrived her name Leah fit her to the tee! Having Leah was one of the greatest gifts from God, I loved her from the very moment, I would hold my newborn for hours imagining all the great things that this little girl was going to accomplish, I envision...ed a softball player just like I was, soccer player, a golfer just like her dad. I could just imagine what her voice would be like and would be friendly, full of energy.. I dreamt of all the things that most of all parents do when they have their little babies. Well my dreams slowly came to a end when I found out my little two year old was diagnosed with autism and was developmentally delayed. I was the mother that would take her to all these doctors searching for a answer because I was tired of constantly hearing well "let's wait and see!" Finally we were blessed to find the right team of therapist that have been devoted to us since Leah's diagnosis, they have been by our sides since the beginning.
We started this nonprofit for numerous reasons because Leah's story is not like everyone else's, each kid has a unique story or their own, as parents we had to sacrifice a lot to get Leah into the proper therapies and to pay for things that were not covered by insurance. Leah still has a lot to overcome in her life but seeing who she is completely a different child to when she was when she was first diagnosed.
So finally, there is so much that goes behind Leah's Dream Foundation it doesn't represent Leah it represents all children on the autism spectrum because each child deserves equality and to be seen as an individual and not as someone with a disability. Leah Dream represents the Dreams we have for our children to be socially accepted into this world and not be given looks when our children have a hard time responding to questions and or if they are nonverbal and or having a meltdown from being overstimulating. This past year Leah's Dream Foundation's Dream became a reality when we started creating Events that were for individuals with special needs because were we live that rarely happens! And now working with the Marysville School District to create an adaptive / inclusive playgrounds that can be used years round for families and individuals of all ages and disabilities or something that we have been Dreamed of.
Thank you for taking this time to read this post I just wanted to let everyone know the story of why we are called Leah's Dream Foundation it's because Leah is so young and she just makes us all Dream for a better future than many other kids who didn't feel supported like my niece Kelsey! Our goal is to make it better in years come for individuals with autism!
With much appreciation,
Deanna Sheldon