Stephen's Success Story
Stephen's journey is a testament to determination, resilience, and a mother's unwavering belief in her child's potential. Diagnosed with autism in 2008, his mother sacrificed her career as a Regional Accounting Manager to devote herself entirely to his care. Despite being advised by professionals to abandon hope for expressive speech when Stephen was just nine, she refused to give up, driven by her son's deep desire to communicate. Her relentless research into cutting-edge therapies and tireless commitment led her to travel up to three hours round trip for specialized sessions, attending up to seven appointments weekly. After years of struggle, Stephen began to speak in 2017, sparking the inception of Spectrum Tech—a groundbreaking initiative inspired by his progress. With his passion for photography nurtured, Stephen turned his love for capturing Thomas the Train toys into an award-winning talent. Supported by a visionary team of therapists, his mother transformed her dream of creating a brighter future for all autistics into reality, establishing Spectrum Tech Trade School, Village, and Training Center, where Stephen's story now inspires countless others.
My Story
A Message From Our Founder:
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I firmly believe in a few guiding principles:
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No one’s “music” should die inside them.
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Doing the same thing over and expecting a different result is the true definition of insanity.
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With logic and reasoning, answers can be found—even without being an expert.
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The year I founded this nonprofit; I made a life-changing decision to forgo returning to work which would have included a promotion to Vice President. The sacrifices this decision brought to my family were profound, but I knew deep down that creating meaningful change in the autism services system was more critical than anything else. My son’s experiences within this system left him traumatized, and I couldn’t stand by.
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From planned ignoring tactics imposed on my sobbing two-year-old reaching for me, to a public school system that disregarded my five-year-old's sensory needs and suggested placing a hood over his head during transitions like blinders on a horse, to a private school that restrained him for hours—leaving him injured—all because he rolled on the floor laughing (an admittedly inappropriate response, but hardly dangerous), the injustices kept mounting.
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The final blow came when his behavioral program was changed without my knowledge or consent. The severe anxiety and OCD he developed were blamed on puberty, but I uncovered the truth and pulled him out of the program. My son’s story, sadly, is not unique. A staggering 60% of autistic adults report having PTSD.
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I am determined to create a better system. It hasn’t been easy. My family and I have made countless sacrifices. Stephen has had to reduce therapy from seven sessions a week to just two, because specialized therapists are often out of network and face significant costs for their training and protocols.
But there is a better way.
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Our nonprofit isn’t just about brick-and-mortar services. We aim to create a model that can be implemented in other schools—a win-win solution for everyone. To bring this vision to life, we need your support. Help us lay the groundwork for a statistically significant program.
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Help us secure farmland to begin this transformative journey. Change doesn’t happen by talking—it happens by taking action.
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Be part of the solution. Donate today!
Contact
For more information or to connect with our founder contact Lisa@spectrumtechtradeschool.com
732-618-8470