Mothers are superheroes

Here's proof

Everyone experiences life changing moments. For me, my world came crumbling down the day my beautiful boys were diagnosed with Autism 12 years ago. My head was spinning from being told my beautiful boys were broken. My dreams for them were shattered. I was told they would not amount to much. When I asked for help I was pointed to a service provider who said my boys were at the back of a two year waiting list and help would cost a few thousand dollars. When I asked is there anyone else who can help, I was referred to another of their programs which had a waiting  list just as long and just as expensive.

After a waiting room conversation with the mother of a child with cerebral palsy, I found out about other free or inexpensive service providers who could assist my children straight away. It occurred to me that if the situation was this difficult for me to deal with, what about families who did not have English as their first language, who were not able to advocate for their child? Where did they go?

I thought I could start a small telephone and internet-based information service to assist families in a similar situation to me. I called a wonderful lady from my local council, who suggested it would be easier and less expensive to form a committee of like-minded parents and perhaps contact a local not for profit service to auspice our group. The group of mothers I found were excited to be making a difference in other families' lives. Meetings were held around my kitchen table. We found a small community organisation who was happy to auspice us. Like a whirlwind, Autism Advisory and Support Service (AASS) was born in March 2007.

Our service quickly took off, organising parent support groups and a huge official opening at Fairfield City Farm. I had never seen so many families in need like mine; parents needing support or just a friendly ear to listen to them in a non-judgmental way.

It soon became apparent that we needed to become an incorporated association in our own right. It wasn't easy. I had no idea how to set up a charity but with the help of Google, a little common sense, asking lots of questions and learning to follow my instincts, we successfully became a fully incorporated association with deductible gift recipient status in June 2009.

This was huge! Whilst all this was taking place, I had two beautiful little boys who both had Autism, both were still non-verbal at this stage, my little one was still having violent and aggressive meltdowns and I was receiving calls all times of the day and night from families in need.

But I was on a mission. I found my passion. I found my life's purpose and I ran with it. Not only was I helping my boys gain skills they lost in their regression, I was able to use my experiences to support and encourage others. No one needed to feel alone, isolated or helpless any more.

However, I could not have come this far without the help of organisations like Mounties Group providing funding to support the operations of this service.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mounties Group and to wish our mothers a happy Mother's Day.  

Grace Fava, Founder/CEO - Autism Advisory and Support Service

(Story: courtesy of Mounties Group)

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