(This is from the letter I wrote to the SBSA employees for the 2014 Walk for Autism in Columbus, Oh)
At Step by Step, we began in 2003 as a small organization that served children with Autism. In the summer of 2007, my family and I joined this organization when my son was diagnosed and Step by Step was the only facility in the Columbus area that had an opening at that time. Once he started here, we noticed the improvement almost right away. We were so happy about this improvement that we began to help at here at SBSA to give a little back.
My contribution to this was getting a team to walk at the Inaugural Autism Speaks Walk for Autism that was held in Columbus, OH in October, 2008. Every year since, we have had a team walk to show our support for Autism Speaks, and to raise the awareness of what our kids, and others like them, need to thrive as they grow up.
As we have grown in size and welcomed new employees, the team has grown. Some may not know the reason why the Step by Step team is named Melissa’s Missionaries, so I would like to explain it, as it’s very personal to me.
Melissa is my late wife and she passed away on May 27th, 2011 in Chelmsford, MA from Colorectal Cancer. She was employed here, as I was for about 2 years before she passed. However, she had a passion for SBSA. When Logan first started here, she volunteered here at SBSA, teaching art to the kids. She loved every second of it, and it showed. Shortly after Logan started, SBSA went through a struggle with the state over funding. Her passion showed through when going to hearings, testifying on behalf of our son and SBSA, doing whatever she could. We were even spotlighted on the local news during this time. Due to her passion, as well as other parents at the time, SBSA survived, and even thrived. The Executive Director at the time loved Melissa’s passion, and asked her to come to work for SBSA. She accepted, and worked in a variety of functions before she left due to health concerns. No matter what she was asked, she did it with passion that never subsided. That passion continues in our son, Logan who currently peers here, but was a consumer for about five years.
It was with the blessing of the management team that we re-named our Walk for Autism team Melissa’s Missionaries in her honor. We wear the pink shirts, as that was her favorite color. Also, it helps Step by Step stand out, as we are meant to do. I believe there is no other organization that can touch us. The fact that my son is going into the 6th grade at a main-stream school is a testament to what everyone here strives to do for all our kids.
This year, the Walk for Autism is on Sunday, October 12th, 2014. It is held in downtown Columbus at the beautiful Huntington Park. The first two years there have been simply amazing, and this year looks to be no different. The festivities kick off at 8:30, which includes a children’s area and a Resource Fair, which Step by Step participates in each year as well.
We will wear the same pink shirts as we have in years past. If you plan on coming down, please register at our home page on the Walk for Autism website here. If you haven’t walked in the past, please let me know after you have registered that you need a shirt. If you have a shirt from years past, please bring that with you on the morning of the walk. I would like to ensure we have enough shirts, so the earlier you register, the better, as I have to place the order for additional shirts by the end of September to ensure I get them before the walk.
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