Message from the Executive Director

Carlene I. Leaper

April is Autism Acceptance Month!

In this article, I will discuss a few resources and introduce you to a few people living with autism. Meet Courtney, Dionte, and Michael – “living their best life”.

During the month of April, we are raising awareness and highlighting the issues affecting people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. Through this issue we are educating the public on support services, while celebrating and destigmatizing the perspectives of those living with ASD.

Did you know that autism is considered a developmental disorder with different levels of severity?

My goal is to continue bringing awareness to people with various abilities and focus on inclusion within our community.

How do you know if your child has autism? Now that I know, what do I do?

The first thing to do when your child has an official autism diagnosis is to get help. Depending on your child's age, therapy options will vary. For toddlers, early intervention services can create an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

Of course, we at The Arc Mid-South always stand ready to assist, as well. Give us a call at any time, and we will do everything we can to ensure your child gets everything they need.

Resources to help you:

Signs & Characteristics

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html

Frequently Asked Questions

Resources and FAQs - Autism Clinic - The University of Memphis`

100 Things to Know About Autism

https://www.angelsense.com/blog/100-things-to-know-about-autism

What do I do after my child is diagnosed with autism?

Get support – click on your state and find resources - https://autismsociety.org/contact-us

Autism Resources of the Mid-South | Providing Support, Advocacy, and Education for All Affected by Autism (autismresourcesmidsouth.org)

Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month

"Living Their Best Life"

Courtney

Courtney has been a client of The Arc Mid-South since 2004. He is a member of the Kroc Center of Memphis and of 4 different churches. He is also part of the day program at Friends of Faith.

Courtney likes to stay active in his community. He attends Vacation Bible School and the Breakfast Club, and recently attended the Memphis Joy Prom, an event for individuals ages 16+ with disabilities. He had lots of fun interacting with other attendees. He also enjoys bowling and skating.

Joy Prom

Dionte

Dionte has been a student of our L.E.T.S. program for approximately 9 years. He is a bright student who loves to learn. He also likes people and cares about others around him.

Dionte enjoys watching TV and playing tennis. He also wants to get into playing basketball.

Michael

Michael's sister, Lara, describes him as "an overall just typical guy that likes rock music. He likes to interact with people. He loves the ladies.”

One of his biggest challenges is engaging with others. But don’t think Michael isn’t paying attention. “He doesn’t talk but he hears everything we say, and he completely understands,” Lara explained.

“[People with autism] can be active members of society, and they have feelings, and they have a right to be able to express themselves. To be able to help do that is such an honor,” Lara said.

Welcome Aboard, New Staff!

Lamaria Williams was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She came to Memphis in 2004 because of Hurricane Katrina. With help from HopeWorks, Lamaria completed her GED. She then graduated from Southwest Community College with a certification as a Pharmacy Techician. She worked in hotel management for 4 years, then was introduced to The Arc Mid-South, where she now works as an Administrator & Program Assistant. She feels this is the right position for her purpose and goals to help others succeed. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family and travel.

Ranae Hawkins is a native Memphian who acquired her B.S. in Food & Nutritional Science from Tuskegee University and a Teacher Certification from the University of Memphis. She is a Retired SCS CTE Culinary Arts Educator who, post-retirement, joined her former school adoptees, Families Matter Memphis, Inc., as an Educational Facilitator, helping to share in their mission while fulfilling her passion for serving others. She is currently working as a School Liaison mentoring students in the same organization.

Ms. Hawkins is very much excited for this new opportunity to become a member of The Arc Mid-South team as a Consumer Advocacy and Education Navigator, aiding in our mission utilizing her acquired skills and God-given compassion to serve our clients! In her leisure time, she enjoys other aspects of the hospitality industry through cooking, entertainment, and traveling with family and friends.

Other Ways to Get Involved

Did you know you can help The Arc Mid-South without donating cash?

Kroger will donate part of your purchases directly to The Arc Mid-South. All you need to do is tell them you'd like to support The Arc Mid-South, and they will take care of all the details!

You can also contact Charitable Adult Rides & Services to donate an old car. They will resell it and donate the proceeds to help The Arc Mid-South's mission.

Instructions:

Log in to your Kroger account here.
Click on the link to search for your organization.
Under "Find an Organization", enter IH504
Click the blue "Enroll" button.

Instructions:

Click here.
Scroll down to the Online Vehicle Donation Form.
Change "National" to "Tennessee".
Select chapter "The Arc of Mid-South".
Complete the form.

Wheelchair Basketball Tournament

Congratulations to the champions: Shelby County Sheriff's Office!!

In observance of Autism Acceptance Month, The Arc Mid-South held their annual “Hoops from the Heart” Wheelchair Basketball Tournament on Saturday, April 6, 2024. The champions for this year are the team from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, who defeated The Troubleshooters from Terumo Medical 11-8 in the championship game. Many thanks to Sheriff Floyd Bonner. He and several of his deputies were in attendance to support their team.

Also featured were the Delta Sigma Theta Step Team, Memphis Alumnae Chapter, who performed their step routine for us. Other teams competing were the Blue Magic Ballerz from J. Strickland & Co., The Munstars from Terumo Medical, the Ambassadors from Healthy Life Global, and the Best in Green Machine from the Memphis Parks Athletic Department.

Everyone gathered to have fun and to raise awareness of individuals with different abilities. Some players said it was harder than they thought it would be, and many found it difficult to resist using their feet, but everybody had fun all the same.

We also wish to show our appreciation to our volunteers: the referees and other officials, the registration crew, the concession stand workers, and the Ambassadors from Healthy Life Global, who also fielded a team at the last minute. This event would not have been possible without all of you!

Be sure to join us next year to see if anyone can take the trophy away from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office!

Memphis Alumnae DST Step Team

Great shot!! The crowd went wild!

Sheriff Floyd Bonner with the Executive Director Leaper

Championship Game!

Rezelle Foster, Jr. & Anthony Johnson

L.E.T.S. students enjoying the day

Community News

Free event tonight at 6:30pm!

Grab your favorite beverage and join us online for an opportunity to

connect with other dads and father figures.

Date: 3rd Tuesday of each month — See Autism TN event calendar for all dates.

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM CT

Location: Online on Zoom

Get Legal Help to Protect Your Rights

Disability Rights Tennessee is a non-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the rights of Tennesseans with disabilities. DRT provides support, resources, advocacy, and legal representation, all for FREE.

Contact DRT Today!