milestones
As a Parent Mentor for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Saundra Jordan, our 2017 honoree of the Parent Tribute Award, has served Cleveland parents for 13 years. As a parent of a child (now an adult) with a disability, her daughter’s success is a testament to Saundra’s dedication. She is a proud mother of a college graduate, which has provided fuel in effectively mentoring countless parents over the years.
Along with her years working with Cleveland parents, Saundra has over 20 years of volunteer work around all aspects of the Special Education process. Her many accomplishments include the 2017 Milestones Autism Conference Steering Committee, Parent Leadership Council SST3, Parent Advisory Committee of Cleveland Schools, Co-Founder of Parent Support Groups, Facilitator for the Cleveland/Akron Regional Forum addressing Ohio students with disabilities in the Juvenile Justice System in 2006, receiving the Outstanding Parent Service Award (SST3) in 2000, and serving on ESY Task Force helping to Review and Revise Guideline for Extended School Year in 1999. Saundra has also served as a member of Parent School Improvement Program and volunteered as a Surrogate Parent in the Orange City Schools.
How do you feel your efforts have impacted the autism and special needs community?
I believe every child/student should be given the opportunity to experience all levels of learning. There should not be a ceiling placed on the education of any child/student. While embracing that belief, I would encourage parents and families and community members to work toward expecting the best from our children and also seeing college as an option for their own children/students.
How has helping others shaped your life?
Helping others has proven to me the old adage, “One person can make a difference.” It has given me the courage, the purpose and the confidence that only serving can promote.
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Tyler Aldrich, 22, is a trailblazer – both literally and figuratively.
He had a dream a few years ago while he was on vacation with his family. He wanted to run across the country to the West Coast, kind of like Tom Hanks’ character did in the film Forrest Gump. When the Fremont, Ohio native and Milestones 2017 honoree of the Trailblazer Award told his mentor and former high school cross country coach about this goal, his coach tried talking him out of it. You’re too young, he told Tyler, usually “ultra-runners” don’t do something like that until they are in their 30s. Maybe instead he should start out small, his coach suggested. Tyler’s response: “OK coach, then I’m going to run across the state of Ohio!”
That’s how Tyler’s version of “Run Ohio” was born. What started as a pipe dream became a dream come true. It took him two years to prepare for his June 11, 2016 run. Tyler started in Fremont and ran 225 miles across the state to Cincinnati, along the Ohio River. His “finish line” was at The Great American Ballpark (where the Cincinnati Reds play) during a game against the Chicago Cubs. Wanting to recognize Tyler’s achievement, the Reds organization reached out and invited him to run through the stadium, ending in the ball field and made him the Grand Marshall of their parade.
“I run to prove to myself – and others – that anything is possible,” says Tyler, who was diagnosed with autism at age four. “It’s my passion to bring awareness to autism as well as to set an example for others living on the spectrum and for those that may be living with challenges.”
When Tyler is not attending classes at Tiffin University, or working, he is running. Always running. He runs competitively in 5Ks and ran his first half-marathon in June 2015, placing 67th overall out of 1200 runners and placing 6th in his age group.
How do you feel your efforts have impacted the autism and special needs community?
I feel I have impacted the autism and special needs community by setting an example to those living with challenges, by persevering, by making positive changes, and by living my life with purpose and with the mindset that anything is possible.
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Grace Blatt, Milestones 2017 honoree of the Trailblazer Award, knows from personal experience that music can be both therapeutic and stimulating for persons on the autism spectrum. Her mission is to touch the lives of others who experience challenges due to anxiety or misunderstanding, and through music therapy help them find expression for their thoughts and feelings.
Grace is currently a student at Lakeland Community College with the goal of earning a degree in Music Therapy from Cleveland State University. For the past year Grace has been employed by the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities as a Good Life Ambassador. In this position she enjoys paving the way – advocating for persons with autism and other special needs.
How do you feel your efforts have impacted the autism and special needs community?
One of the most exciting ways I believe my efforts have impacted the autism and special needs community is through my work as a Good Life Ambassador for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities. In this role I get to advocate for all of us in this special community by making presentations to county boards, local community collaboratives, schools, legislators, families, provider agencies, etc. I educate them about the tremendous value persons with all types of special needs bring to the greater community environments, and I provide ideas for them to embrace us with inclusion.
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