Showing Gratitude Through Involvement
Member Rosalie Valenti Tocco this year took on the volunteer job of Autism Ball Chairperson. We are very grateful
to her for her many hours of enthusiastic and cheerful hard work to make this year’s Ball a big fundraising success, despite the current economic climate. Rosalie feels that she is simply passing on to others the assistance she has received from the ASSEW members, staff and volunteers before her. In her words:
“ASSEW has given me the gifts of community, acceptance and knowledge. I serve on the Board of Directors to show my gratitude for these gifts that have made a real difference in the quality of my son’s life and my family’s life. I am so thankful for the years of hard work of the founding mothers of our society. They fought to improve the quality of life for their children during a time when knowledge and acceptance were scarce. ASSEW first captured my heart; my mind quickly followed suit.
My involvement began when my family walked in our first Dylan’s Run in 2004 when my son, Nicky was four. We had been on our sad, lonely and confusing autism journey for about two years. And then there we were, in the midst of hundreds of high energy, happy, positive people. There were cheerleaders and food and music — a celebration! I saw parents, children, families, friends and therapists, all part of the powerful community that ASSEW created. I witnessed and felt support and acceptance, comfort, enthusiasm and joy.
The loneliness and confusion of those early years when we searched for the source of Nicky’s differences came, in part, from our own pediatrician. I remember taking my concerns about Nicky’s development to his doctor at his two year well-child exam. She commented that he was very smart and that we should just wait and watch. This is a story that I’ve heard all too often on this journey. This, or the hopeless version: ‘yes, your child has autism and no, there’s nothing that you or we (modern medicine) can do to help.’ I am happy and proud to say that ASSEW is working with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to educate doctors and nurses, both currently practicing and in training, so that they can better guide autism families.
I firmly believe that knowledge is power and that when people know better, they will do better. This has proven true for my family. With each ASSEW conference, parenting presentation and weekly update e-mail, I learn things that result in very real quality of life improvements for my son and my family. ASSEW also has given me the opportunity to learn from parents and individuals with autism at all stages of their journeys. Their experiences give me the energy, motivation and inspiration to do what I do for my own child and for all whose lives are touched by autism.”
Rosalie also volunteered her time at the recent “Get The Scoop On Autism” event. The Autism Society is grateful to Rosalie and to all our members who get involved to help southeastern Wisconsin individuals and families touched by autism.
Thank you, Rosalie!