Gaining Independence for Tomorrow (GIFT)

Position: Executive Board - Treasurer
Location: Plano, TX

Ronda's career includes 12 years of experience in Commercial Real Estate. As the mother of an autistic son, she served in leadership roles with both her local school PTA and on the PISD council of PTAs where she co-founded the SAGE (Special and Gifted Education) program. Ronda also served as president of the Parent Association for a private school for 4 years, treasurer for 3 years and chaired the annual fundraiser for 8 years, raising in excess of $500,000.

In the section below, Ronda shares a personal experience and heartfelt discussion with her autistic son and often speaks to others about the importance of preparing IDD adults to become independent.

 

“WHO IS GOING TO LOVE ME WHEN YOU ARE GONE?”

A question no parent wants to hear from their special needs child. As parents in the special needs community, we have all heard the phrase, “The first time your child lives alone cannot be when you are dead”. I thought those words were the hardest and most profound words I've had ever known. And then on a sunny December afternoon my 19 year old autistic son, Ryan, asked us, “Who is going to love me when you are gone?” In that heartbreaking moment my world expanded exponentially.

The need for supported housing for special needs adults is slowly (too slowly) being recognized by the world outside the special needs community. It seems that at least once a month I hear about a new effort to provide safe supported housing, but the process is like trying to bail out the Titanic with a teaspoon. I applaud and cheer those brave individuals who are forming group homes and parent supported co-ops, but I want more for my child, for everyone's child.

My dream is for a community where Ryan will be safe, supported, gainfully employed, with opportunities to enjoys sports, the arts, travel, education, to be a volunteer who can give back to his community and mostly importantly, where he is loved. For my child, marriage and children are not a reality so it will be his community that will love and value him when we are gone. At GIFT, we have a vision of a community and a place where our children can live a full life and in the end, grow old together.

Time is unstoppable.  If your child is age 4 or 40, now is the time for you to think about their future and how it will look without in the picture. Our young adults deserve to live in a place where they can contribute, feel valued and be loved long after their parents are gone.