Jared's Incredible Journey
Donation protected
This is a little story about a boy I love and what the future holds for him. Jared is a bright, funny, kind and caring young man....who just happens to also have autism. As his mom (along with his father) we have pushed Jared to the limits on what he can do and we are so proud of the great strides he has made.
Our 1st need is our main priority right now. Jared is about to reach the age of 18 and we have to accept the inevitable that we need to legally remain his guardians . After trying every resource available in acquiring guardianship with little money out of pocket, we have come back to needing to obtain an attorney to get us through this process. We've been quoted at $500-700 for just the attorney and legal filings to proceed and his 18th birthday is this month. This is not something we can postpone for very long, having guardianship will ensure that we can continue to provide for all of his needs. Jared is not quite capable of making life decisions on his own and will still need his parents help to navigate the world.
On to our 2nd need: Jared is a high school senior and has put in 6 long years in the middle school and high school band. This alone has probably been the best thing we could have pushed Jared into. Being in band has taught him to read and play music, cooperate with a full band (150+, whoa!) and how to march with pride for his school. As a child with sensory issues, it really tested his boundaries and he has achieved so much more than we ever thought possible. He now has an opportunity to go to Walt Disney World with his high school band over Spring Break 2019. The band will have the opportunity to march in one of their parades and play music in one of the animation studios! Jared has never been to Disney and is beyond excited to go on such a huge adventure. The cost of the trip is $1,100. Now he does need me to go as his chaperone and we have already paid for 1 trip, we are just looking for help with the 2nd trip so I can be with him and be assured of his safety on a long excursion. In essence, this would be like Jared's senior trip. He is not college bound so after he "graduates" with a certificate of completion he will continue school by joining a young adult program for a few more years, hopefully get job training and skills that he will need to be successful in life, just like we know he will be.
Any help would be greatly appreciated in helping to ensure a safe and wonderful future for our son. Your support means the world to us. Thank you for taking the time to read, share and to those that donate. We're glad to have you in our corner!
Our 1st need is our main priority right now. Jared is about to reach the age of 18 and we have to accept the inevitable that we need to legally remain his guardians . After trying every resource available in acquiring guardianship with little money out of pocket, we have come back to needing to obtain an attorney to get us through this process. We've been quoted at $500-700 for just the attorney and legal filings to proceed and his 18th birthday is this month. This is not something we can postpone for very long, having guardianship will ensure that we can continue to provide for all of his needs. Jared is not quite capable of making life decisions on his own and will still need his parents help to navigate the world.
On to our 2nd need: Jared is a high school senior and has put in 6 long years in the middle school and high school band. This alone has probably been the best thing we could have pushed Jared into. Being in band has taught him to read and play music, cooperate with a full band (150+, whoa!) and how to march with pride for his school. As a child with sensory issues, it really tested his boundaries and he has achieved so much more than we ever thought possible. He now has an opportunity to go to Walt Disney World with his high school band over Spring Break 2019. The band will have the opportunity to march in one of their parades and play music in one of the animation studios! Jared has never been to Disney and is beyond excited to go on such a huge adventure. The cost of the trip is $1,100. Now he does need me to go as his chaperone and we have already paid for 1 trip, we are just looking for help with the 2nd trip so I can be with him and be assured of his safety on a long excursion. In essence, this would be like Jared's senior trip. He is not college bound so after he "graduates" with a certificate of completion he will continue school by joining a young adult program for a few more years, hopefully get job training and skills that he will need to be successful in life, just like we know he will be.
Any help would be greatly appreciated in helping to ensure a safe and wonderful future for our son. Your support means the world to us. Thank you for taking the time to read, share and to those that donate. We're glad to have you in our corner!
Organizer
Mellissa Kiefer-Johnson
Organizer
Mishawaka, IN
