OUR FOUNDER
Sherry Singh
“If you light a lamp for someone else, it will also brighten your path.” ~ Buddha
MY STORY:
My son Ravi is 39 years old and has severe autism. Unfortunately, he has long since aged out of the system to receive help. And while we have made incredible strides to create better programs for children and young adults with autism, there is a silent segment of the population that has scarce resources, if any, and a forgotten voice. For families with adult children with moderate to severe autism, help does not exist. For every adult who is higher functioning on the autism spectrum, and who can speak for themselves and lead productive lives, there is an adult with autism who cannot. Who cannot work, speak, make friends, or engage with the outside world because there are no safe environments for them and because people do not understand their needs. Because as a society, we have failed at inclusivity in the most basic form: psychological and physical safety for all.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SHERRY…
My son is the light of my life and my reason for being. But, denying that we often face what seem like insurmountable challenges only keeps us out of the spotlight and out of the thoughts of our community members and leaders. For parents like me, it becomes an emotionally unsustainable responsibility to care for our loved ones while trying to be productive and active members of society because there is no support. There is nowhere to go for our adult loved ones with autism.
MY MISSION
For me, Whole Spectrum Autism is not just an organization. It’s my lifelong mission. We raise autism acceptance by hosting family-friendly, inclusive events throughout the year because autism isn’t just one day or one month – it is everyday-living for so many of us. Advocacy and education are the core of our work; this is how we begin building inclusive communities and how we encourage one another to have conversations about what true inclusivity means. This is also how we begin changing the system so that families can have the support they need with their aged-out adult children with autism.
I envision a world where I can walk outside – in peace – with Ravi; a world where his behaviors don’t scare people, where people are welcoming and loving, and where we all take care of one another so that it becomes the mission of the community – as a whole – to include every single family and individual in community life. It doesn’t have to be so lonely and isolating when you have a child with a disability. But it does take an entire community to make this happen.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sherry Singh
Board President
Amanda Handy
Board Member
Kenneth Caulfield
Board MemberOur Team
Rachel Sieg
Executive Director
Maria Pimenidis
Assistant
Jas Singh
Chief Operating Officer
