- My (Annie) third and youngest son, Graham, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) when he was two and a half years old at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio on October 10, 2018. I will never forget the specialist telling us that day “Graham is the same child when he walks out of this room today as he was when he entered.” We agree. Our family was also changed forever that day.
- Navigating the process of therapies was often full of waitlists and dead ends. We are forever grateful to the amazing friends, acquaintances, professionals and our intuition that led us in the right directions for us. The process has been challenging and rewarding.
- We want to give Graham everything he needs while also balancing work, life, raising all three of our boys, and nurturing our marriage. We also realize so many other community members are balancing their lives as well along with managing the needs that come with an autism diagnosis.
- My husband, Jim, and I talked about creating a non-profit organization to help ease some of the burden that having a child with autism can have as we all try and do what is best for our children.
- We also realize that siblings of family members on the autism spectrum are impacted along with parents, and it is integral to address whole family health.
- Why are we called the “Red Oak Family Foundation?” We have a red oak tree in our front yard that is almost a hundred years old. This tree symbolizes the Red Oak Family Foundation. The branches connect us to meaningful resources and to individuals in our community. The remnants of an old tree house in this tree symbolize the opportunities for socializing and connections we bring to families through our local educational and social events.