Please read Elissa's story not as a boo-hoo, poor Elissa. Remember, Elissa hasn’t had the celebrations many of us enjoyed… no B’nai Mitzvah, college graduation, wedding, babies, etc. Now, as a loving family, we get to say congratulations, “You Go Girl!”

This is the story that got her accepted to the OAR team:

“Not to sound like a soap opera, but I’ve had my challenges. Don’t take out
your violin yet, applying for a place to run with your team says I’ve pushed
through many blockades.

Born hypotonic in 1985, I could not raise my head nor gain weight for many
months. I had occupational therapy beginning at one year-old. I am told
I needed a weighted cart and special shoes to help me walk. Since this
was an issue with lack of muscle tone, my vocal cords were also affected,
requiring speech therapy to talk and swallow. I began walking at about two
and speaking some words at four. Just think of not being able to swallow
pizza until almost five.

My parents moved us to a Chicago suburb (Buffalo Grove), when I was four.
There they offered a special-ed preschool. At that time, I am told I was
diagnosed as mildly-mentally impaired; requiring physical, occupational,
and speech therapy. That began my special-ed education which continued
through my graduation in high school.

I wanted to go to a standard high school, but couldn’t keep up academically. All I wanted to be was “normal!” and I was sent to the special-ed high school with all the kids that were disabled in some way. Physically, I was okay. I eventually overcame the need for my therapies, and I learned not feel so sorry for myself. I interacted with other students with many different physical and mental disabilities. On many
occasions, I was asked to help out in other classrooms. I became comfortable
with people’s varied disabilities while others choose to turn away.

As I got older, I began walking with my mother on her walks for charity. One
friend who always served as a role model for me decided to challenge
herself by running in the Chicago Marathon. It became my dream to follow in
her footsteps.

Lately, I’ve done local walks and runs, and now I am ready to show myself
I can achieve what I set out to do.”

Thanks for taking the time to go through this long diatribe. We hope you’ll join us in the fun of sharing Elissa’s journey. We’ll leave the foot calluses to Elissa.


Please help me support by making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance Organization for Autism Research's great cause!


WHY RUN FOR AUTISM?
1 in 31 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism. By joining the RUN FOR AUTISM team, you’re supporting OAR’s mission to fund research and resources that help people with autism and their families today.


Here are some of the ways that OAR uses the funds raised by the RUN FOR AUTISM team:

$10 provides a Curriculum in a Box professional development set to general education teachers.
$25 provides 15 copies of A Guide to Safety to families and first responders.
$100 provides the Kit for Kids peer education resource to an entire elementary or middle school.
$150 provides 100 copies of a Life Journey through Autism guidebook sent to a community support group or military installation.
$1,000 provides a research grant for a graduate student studying autism.
$3,000 provides a scholarship for a student with autism to attend college.
$50,000 fully underwrites an applied research pilot study.