I have been an employee of Easter Seals for seven years. My daughter was enrolled in therapy through Early Intervention and I was caring for my father who was terminally ill. My father passed away and my daughter was diagnosed with Autism within a month of each other. I was overcome with depression, anxiety, and stress. I did not know how I would survive. I began to volunteer at Easter Seals to keep busy while my children were in school. I was offered a position and was hired in September of 2002.

Most of my friends and family do not know that this job saved my sanity, and gave me strength. I was so depressed with the passing of my father and trying to understand a child who was non verbal, hyper, and aggressive. I felt like I did not have that mother/child bond like I had with my son. I felt like I was doing something wrong to cause her to cry all the time. I immediately learned the feeling that helping someone else helped the depression subside just a tiny bit. I learned that by talking to other people about Autism I was not alone. My daughter’s behaviors were not a result of something that I was doing. My time was filled with something positive instead of filled with grief. The feeling of hope was coming back like a friend that I had not seen for a long time.

As the years have passed, I have had the privilege to meet many parents, providers, and individuals with all sorts of abilities and disabilities. These individuals have taught me the true meaning of understanding, tolerance, and acceptance; not in the way I thought about them, but how I felt about myself and how I interacted with the world. I am a better mother, sister, daughter, wife, and friend because of working at Easter Seals.

My daughter is now ten years old. She is verbal, social, and is a beautiful young lady that is happy. She is well adjusted and volunteers at Easter Seals to give back to everyone who has helped her and our family.

Lori Davie