Help Aspie Student Go to Washington
Donation protected
My name is Araceli Avalos. I am the extremely proud mother of Alan, a teen son with Asperger's Syndrome who will be entering 8th grade soon. I must begin by saying that the thought of my son going on a trip on his own fills my heart with so much happiness! I had my doubts that this would ever be possible.
Asperger's is a different experience for all Aspies (an endearing term used for a person with Asperger's) however, some similarities may include:
-a compulsive need for routine & structure
-social awkwardness
-limited eye contact
-obsessive interests
-a lack of understanding of the subtleties of language
-hypersensitivity to sensory stimulation
-trouble making friends
-difficulty starting and/or maintaining a conversation
-anxiety
These are just a few common traits or behaviors exhibited by people with Asperger's. They definitely apply/applied to my son at one time or another.
Soon after my son started to interact as a baby, we noticed that he looked the same as other infants, but behaved differently. We noticed his sensitivity to stimuli around him like to loud noises & crowded/new places, and the lack of interaction with other children his age as he grew, etc. He was diagnosed with Asperger's early on. Not being in denial helped us help him.
We have worked with him tirelessly to help him adapt to the world around him. Although it has not been an easy road, and we still have our ups and downs, our experience has been a rewarding one. We have been happy to see everything that he has accomplished. Thinking of our son traveling on his own to Washington DC for his eight grade field trip would have been something that we thought would not be possible for him to do a few years back. So, we didn’t plan for it. But now, here we are, excited for his upcoming educational trip to Washington DC with his peers. Although he is a little anxious, he is also looking forward to this educational trip too!
Please consider helping us make this possible for our son by donating to help us get him there. We have paid the $550 required so far, but the balance, $2,384, has to be paid by January 2018. This is a big expense for us but we would love to give our Aspie son the educational experience, as well as the experience to travel on his own and prove to himself that he is capable of traveling on his own and more!
Thank you for your support. It means the world to us. Have a blessed day!
P.S. I had to come back and add that we all have so much to learn from Aspies. My son has taught me so much. He's taught me to enjoy every day (I'm still working on it). Every day for him is a brand new day. He has a unique sense of humor. He makes us laugh so much. Most of the time he's happy and I'm often told he's quite a character! Alan holds no grudges, he is quick to forget. Although it has been said that people with Asperger's have no empathy, he has the biggest heart. He doesn't show affection often the way we all do, but when he does, he genuinely shows it...I can go on and on about him. He's been such a blessing! All I can say is that if you happen to know an Aspie, embrace him/her. Although they learn & see the world differently, we could all learn a thing or two from them!
Tax Deductible ID Number: 95-6001871
Asperger's is a different experience for all Aspies (an endearing term used for a person with Asperger's) however, some similarities may include:
-a compulsive need for routine & structure
-social awkwardness
-limited eye contact
-obsessive interests
-a lack of understanding of the subtleties of language
-hypersensitivity to sensory stimulation
-trouble making friends
-difficulty starting and/or maintaining a conversation
-anxiety
These are just a few common traits or behaviors exhibited by people with Asperger's. They definitely apply/applied to my son at one time or another.
Soon after my son started to interact as a baby, we noticed that he looked the same as other infants, but behaved differently. We noticed his sensitivity to stimuli around him like to loud noises & crowded/new places, and the lack of interaction with other children his age as he grew, etc. He was diagnosed with Asperger's early on. Not being in denial helped us help him.
We have worked with him tirelessly to help him adapt to the world around him. Although it has not been an easy road, and we still have our ups and downs, our experience has been a rewarding one. We have been happy to see everything that he has accomplished. Thinking of our son traveling on his own to Washington DC for his eight grade field trip would have been something that we thought would not be possible for him to do a few years back. So, we didn’t plan for it. But now, here we are, excited for his upcoming educational trip to Washington DC with his peers. Although he is a little anxious, he is also looking forward to this educational trip too!
Please consider helping us make this possible for our son by donating to help us get him there. We have paid the $550 required so far, but the balance, $2,384, has to be paid by January 2018. This is a big expense for us but we would love to give our Aspie son the educational experience, as well as the experience to travel on his own and prove to himself that he is capable of traveling on his own and more!
Thank you for your support. It means the world to us. Have a blessed day!
P.S. I had to come back and add that we all have so much to learn from Aspies. My son has taught me so much. He's taught me to enjoy every day (I'm still working on it). Every day for him is a brand new day. He has a unique sense of humor. He makes us laugh so much. Most of the time he's happy and I'm often told he's quite a character! Alan holds no grudges, he is quick to forget. Although it has been said that people with Asperger's have no empathy, he has the biggest heart. He doesn't show affection often the way we all do, but when he does, he genuinely shows it...I can go on and on about him. He's been such a blessing! All I can say is that if you happen to know an Aspie, embrace him/her. Although they learn & see the world differently, we could all learn a thing or two from them!
Tax Deductible ID Number: 95-6001871
Organizer and beneficiary
Antonio Benitez
Organizer
Santa Fe Springs, CA
Sally Avalos
Beneficiary
