- S
- H
My name is Jessica, I am starting this GoFundMe page for Imani & Jude.
A little about me and Imani…
I am the mother of a beautiful nine year old girl on the Autism Spectrum.
Through my journey with my daughter, I have found some of the most powerful bonds I have made have been with mother’s of children also on the spectrum.
I have not only found deep solace, but love, support, and true empathy in them.
These relationships can be so fortifying in a path that isn’t always clear, and sometimes, heartbreaking.
My friendship with Imani blossomed through a difficult period in our lives as single mothers to children on the spectrum, trying to navigate life to the best of our ability.
When I think of a mother with grace and resilience, I think of Imani.
To know Imani, is to Love Her.
Imani is a young woman living in Yonkers, New York.
A single mother to Jude.
Jude is a handsome nonverbal seven year old on the Autism Spectrum. He has deep brown eyes, perfect curls on his head and I am quite certain he’s an engineer in the making.
To know Jude, is to Love Him.
Unfortunately, Imani & Jude are currently struggling for support on multiple levels.
From school district, to their city, and even state level.
Imani has exhausted all resources within the state of New York for support to Jude and herself.
She has also pressed Jude’s school district for his basic needs to be met, one of which includes an AAC device, due to the fact that he is nonverbal, and has had absolutely no results.
Jude is not only in need of an AAC device to help him express his needs or thoughts, but he is also in need of therapies outside of school such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis. The state of New York has been nothing short from underwhelming in supporting Jude throughout his seven years of life.
Imani is also in urgent need of respite support and financial assistance in order to remain Jude’s advocate and caretaker during therapies after school.
It is nearly impossible to sustain a full time job, advocate for your child, attend all IEP meetings, review progress reports, keep up to progress on goals, contact therapists, commute your child to and from therapies, keep a household afloat, support your child’s sensory needs, potty training, and development while remaining sane.
Let alone as a single mother.
The state of California provides many supportive programs for a single mother of a child on the spectrum and it has quality school districts that support children with special needs.
- I have been encouraging Imani to make this leap of faith out here for some time now, and as life has decided, her time at her current home in NYC is coming to an end.
She was recently emailed a notice to evacuate the premises by April 30th, as the owner has chosen to sell the property.
Considering how little support she has in the state of New York, we think the best decision for her is to pave a new road in California, where they can thrive together.
And so, I am reaching out from the other side of this screen to humbly request of your help in supporting Imani & Jude’s transition across the country.
As you can imagine, this is a frightening move to make with your child.
But the financial support in doing so will give her the confidence she needs to make it to the other side.
All the funds we raise will support the following:
A little about me and Imani…
I am the mother of a beautiful nine year old girl on the Autism Spectrum.
Through my journey with my daughter, I have found some of the most powerful bonds I have made have been with mother’s of children also on the spectrum.
I have not only found deep solace, but love, support, and true empathy in them.
These relationships can be so fortifying in a path that isn’t always clear, and sometimes, heartbreaking.
My friendship with Imani blossomed through a difficult period in our lives as single mothers to children on the spectrum, trying to navigate life to the best of our ability.
When I think of a mother with grace and resilience, I think of Imani.
To know Imani, is to Love Her.
Imani is a young woman living in Yonkers, New York.
A single mother to Jude.
Jude is a handsome nonverbal seven year old on the Autism Spectrum. He has deep brown eyes, perfect curls on his head and I am quite certain he’s an engineer in the making.
To know Jude, is to Love Him.
Unfortunately, Imani & Jude are currently struggling for support on multiple levels.
From school district, to their city, and even state level.
Imani has exhausted all resources within the state of New York for support to Jude and herself.
She has also pressed Jude’s school district for his basic needs to be met, one of which includes an AAC device, due to the fact that he is nonverbal, and has had absolutely no results.
Jude is not only in need of an AAC device to help him express his needs or thoughts, but he is also in need of therapies outside of school such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis. The state of New York has been nothing short from underwhelming in supporting Jude throughout his seven years of life.
Imani is also in urgent need of respite support and financial assistance in order to remain Jude’s advocate and caretaker during therapies after school.
It is nearly impossible to sustain a full time job, advocate for your child, attend all IEP meetings, review progress reports, keep up to progress on goals, contact therapists, commute your child to and from therapies, keep a household afloat, support your child’s sensory needs, potty training, and development while remaining sane.
Let alone as a single mother.
The state of California provides many supportive programs for a single mother of a child on the spectrum and it has quality school districts that support children with special needs.
- I have been encouraging Imani to make this leap of faith out here for some time now, and as life has decided, her time at her current home in NYC is coming to an end.
She was recently emailed a notice to evacuate the premises by April 30th, as the owner has chosen to sell the property.
Considering how little support she has in the state of New York, we think the best decision for her is to pave a new road in California, where they can thrive together.
And so, I am reaching out from the other side of this screen to humbly request of your help in supporting Imani & Jude’s transition across the country.
As you can imagine, this is a frightening move to make with your child.
But the financial support in doing so will give her the confidence she needs to make it to the other side.
All the funds we raise will support the following:
- One way flight tickets to California in April
- Car shipment to California
- Luggage fees
- Deposit on a new place
- First months rent
- Food, water, bills within the first month
- GoFundMe fees
“Ever seen a small ray of light illuminate a dark place?”
- “Yes”
….”That’s what kindness does.”
Help me make a difference in Imani & Jude’s life, help me make the world a better place— one kind action at a time.
