All my life, I have been painfully shy and allowed it to stop me from doing a lot of things I wanted to do. I allowed myself to feel like a victim. When I had my son at age 26, I had such big plans for him. I wanted to be certain he never felt he did not belong and know he could accomplish anything.
At age 5, Zachary was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, one of many autism spectrum disorders. I was worried this diagnosis had destined him to the same fears and inadequacies I experienced as a child. I felt like I had some how failed him.
Having a child with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) is difficult, because they have no social skills. Most of us take for granted simple facial expressions, but these children have to be taught happy, sad, grateful, etc. Many times they are also bullied in school because they are different. As a parent of an AS child, it is important to be constantly aware of these situations and treat them as a potential learning experience. These things come naturally to most of us. However, it is easy to feel exhausted by the end of the day.
One day, when Zachary was 11, I was asking him about his day. He said, “Mom, it’s just Asperger’s. I’m fine. I have no big stories to tell you about my day. It was just another day. So I am a little weird. You have always said this family had the cap on that.” I laughed so hard it brought tears to my eyes.
That very moment changed my life. My son’s comments motivated me to pursue a business working with disabled children. Through my son’s disability I have found my life’s passion. I started working with The Sensory Center, a non-invasive therapy for Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, Migraine, PDD, and brain trauma.
When the opportunity to buy The Sensory Center presented itself, I jumped at the chance. We treat children and adults with a 95% success rate. I see a lot of families at the center and many come for their first visit and just cry. I find that it is usually fear-based. They have to work through their fear just as I had to work through mine.
I was forced to face my own fears when I sought help for my son. I could not teach my son if I stayed in the place where I was afraid to try. Every day I think about how Zachary could use his disability as an excuse and every day I see him overcome obstacles in his way. God gave me Zachary to add beauty in my life and help me overcome my fears and be my best.
Leslie Greenwald
The Sensory Center
8509 Westfield Blvd
Indianapolis, IN 46240
317-202-0860
