When COVID-19 shut down schools in 2020, I was teaching a self-contained autism classroom. One of my nonverbal students had worked so hard, and I had bought him a bag of his favorite snack—cheese balls. A few weeks later, I felt prompted to take them to his home. After I left them on his porch, his father called me and told me his son had been showing him pictures of cheese balls for weeks, but they couldn't find any in the stores.
That simple moment changed my life. It reminded me that God is aware of every one of His children—even a young man with autism who just wanted cheese balls during one of the hardest times our world has faced.
Six years later, that same student is graduating high school. Like so many young adults with autism, he is entering adulthood without the support and transition services he deserves. My family couldn't stand by and watch, so in April 2025 we opened Journey Forward Autism, a transition center dedicated to helping young adults gain job skills, independence, and hope for the future.
This dream has come at a tremendous cost. We've invested our savings, retirement, sold personal belongings, and made countless sacrifices to keep our doors open. We don't regret it for a second because these young adults deserve every opportunity to succeed.
Today, we're asking for your help. Your donation will help us continue providing life-changing transition services, vocational training, and independent living skills to young adults with autism who too often fall through the cracks after graduation.
Every gift, no matter the size, helps us change a life. Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us create a brighter future—one young adult at a time.
