Not An Island Podcast
Not An Island Podcast
Ep 17. Empowering Autism Awareness Through Running | Tyler Run For Autism | Leigh Ann Cook
Leanne Cook, a passionate speech-language pathologist and clinical director at Busy Bodies Pediatrics, joins us to share her inspiring journey with the Tyler Run for Autism. Discover the heartwarming story behind this remarkable nonprofit, founded 14 years ago by three determined mothers seeking local ABA services for their children in Tyler, Texas. Leanne reveals how this volunteer-driven initiative has grown, turning a small community run into a significant event that directly supports families across East Texas with essential therapies and treatments.
Listen as we explore how professional connections in children's services have blossomed into genuine friendships and advocacy partnerships. Through Leanne's insights, we reflect on the power of community support in creating a nurturing environment for families with children on the autism spectrum. Experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Tyler Run for Autism, where serious runners and supportive families unite to celebrate inclusivity with engaging activities and personal stories that underscore the importance of standing up for children's needs.
We also turn our attention to the broader impact of community involvement, discussing Tyler's emergence as a hub for neurodivergent support and the critical need for resources for autistic individuals transitioning into adulthood. With initiatives like Code Ninjas and partnerships with adult day programs like Achieving Dreams, the community is making strides toward inclusivity and ongoing support. Tune in to learn how you can be part of this movement, ensuring families never feel alone in their journey.
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All right, so welcome to our 17th episode of Not an Island podcast. I'm Todd, I'm Todd, I'm Amanda and we're here with a good friend, new-ish friend Leanne, and she is from Tyler Run for Autism. Did I say that?
Speaker 2:right, yes, you did.
Speaker 1:Okay, I don't want to steal her thunder about what it is. It's got a really awesome story. But we met well earlier this year. We met in person, we talked over the phone a little bit before and we got to visit and see what y'all are about this past April.
Speaker 3:And I've got to say if you live I'm going to say this probably multiple times in this episode but if you live.
Speaker 1:We've been talking about you even when you weren't on the episode, because we were just so impressed, Like seriously. It's such a massive community of people gathering around families with special needs in tyler, texas, and so we want the world to know it. Yes, so um, I guess we'll just start with the first question yeah um, so real quick, just tell us about yourself and kind of your endeavors and then how you got involved with Tyler Run for Autism.
Speaker 2:Okay, my name is Leanne Cook and I am a speech-language pathologist, so I've been practicing in this area for a little over 18 years. I'm currently the clinical director for a company I'm really proud of. It's called Busy Bodies Pediatrics, and so we offer speech OTPT of. It's called Busy Bodies Pediatrics, and so we offer speech OTPT. So that's what I kind of do in my you know my daily life. But I'm also on the board for the Tyler Run for Autism, which is a nonprofit that raises money to help provide kiddos access to medical services, and so we started. This is our 14th run this year.
Speaker 2:I know we're so proud and so we started 14 years ago, and with a heart, I guess, to help other families have access to ABA services which is the US Surgeon General, you know, recommended treatment for autism, and so what we have found over the years where we started trying to provide access to care for ABA once insurances started covering ABA services, because it didn't for a long time, we were able to help with those deductibles and out-of-pocket maxes for families.
Speaker 2:And so it really helped them have access to medications, to doctor's appointments, to neurologists, to psychologists. We had a mom who called one time and said I was able to give my child seizure medications every day this year because they were able, they were, we were able to have that deductible and you know if you live in the world of special needs, you know it's expensive, and so everyone meets their out-of-pocket maxes in March.
Speaker 2:And so we're able to kind of step in help with that and get those families the services they need. And while you know we partner with ABA companies, it definitely reaches out and helps with speech, otpt and anything else.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that that kiddo would need. The other thing that we're super proud of as a board is that we are run 100% by volunteers, and so we have our event, which is awesome, and I'll tell you a little bit about that. But we have our event and so we, with our sponsors, cover the cost of the event. The community really shows out, but anything that's made there's no brick and mortar, everybody's a volunteer, and so literally every cent that's donated goes directly to a family in East.
Speaker 2:Texas to really help with that. So I feel like it's a very pure way to give money to the community and to the actual families in the community who need it.
Speaker 1:Genuinely need it.
Speaker 2:Genuinely need it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that is incredible, just as a family who has fought for every single therapy that our child has had. We fought and clawed and tried to find ways. There's actually his insurance for his work. It excludes ABA specifically, and that's still going on right now.
Speaker 1:I'm sure you've come across. A lot of businesses do this. A lot of businesses do this. I would say no shade. But honestly, businesses don't need to do this. Where they'll self fund which bypasses federal and state regulations, so that they don't have to cover therapies that are so needed, it's detrimental to families.
Speaker 3:And then also, I know our area, in specific in the Texarkana area, is so underserviced and I'm sure when you guys started those years ago you were dealing with something very similar and we've waited three and a half years for our son to be an ABA full-time and he finally is under a grant, and so this is huge what you guys are doing.
Speaker 2:It is, and we are so like access to care.
Speaker 3:And we are so like access to care.
Speaker 2:The kind of origin story of the run was there were these three moms who were all a force and they wanted ABA for their kiddos.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And so they were taking their kids to Austin, houston and Dallas.
Speaker 1:This was 14 years ago too.
Speaker 2:This was 14 years ago this is 14 years ago, Wow and so they were like we should have a center here in Tyler. And so they did the legwork and found someone and contacted the Andrews Center and they started up a program called the Treatment and Learning Center, and it is still one of the gold standard programs here today. And now we actually have had other providers come into the area and so we have a lot of really wonderful quality ABA service providers here in town. And so it's just been so wonderful to see how again, this nonprofit, this run, this event that's kind of morphed into this huge thing, has really paved a way for kids to get access to services, even just with bringing people here.
Speaker 1:So and that's really what it's all about. Is you know these kids getting the access that they? Not only just deserve but need a lot of children like our own. You know, there's so many children out there where services like that could make or break the child literally having a future in general society, in our general population or not, and so that's a huge deal. So how did you get involved and how long ago?
Speaker 2:I was voluntold.
Speaker 2:I would like that to go on the record and told I would like that to go on the record. So the moms and our godmother Allison that were involved at one point in time, so they did not know this, it was kind of a full circle moment. All of their kids had been on my caseload as a speech therapist at one point in time, so when they all met each other, I was over the moon. I was like, yes, this great group of moms, y'all met each other. Well, lo and behold, I had a child with autism, and so we had an old policy that didn't cover ABA services, and so I remember, in the first six months of Collins, collins was diagnosed at six months old with a genetic disorder, and then it went on to get diagnosed as autism, and so within that six month period of us trying to figure out what's going on with her, she had these horrible seizures. We spent $76,000 in six months, and I remember thinking this is not sustainable.
Speaker 2:Like nobody can make enough money to do this, and so, you know, we were just shelling it out. Therapy, ot, pt, speech were not covered. They were coming in three times a week, so we were spending $1,500 a week in therapy and you, just you do it, because what else are you?
Speaker 1:going to do? I mean, what are your options?
Speaker 2:Exactly Like she needed it. Um to to have any type of quality of life, or some of it was life-saving procedures, and so um, anyway, we, like, had $10,000 left in our little bank account after it's all
Speaker 2:over when she turned three and I knew that I wanted her to have some ABA because I had seen such progress with the kiddos that I had worked with in the past, and so I applied for the Tyler Wren for Autism and they gave us a little bit of money to go towards that $10,000 that we had. And she made incredible progress with that little, with those few months of part-time ABA. But at that point they all put together that they all knew me and that I had worked with their kids at different points in my career. Another mom had come on. I had worked with her child too, and so they were like are you good now? Because we got an insurance policy that did help. And they were like, are you okay now? And I said, yes, we're fine. And they were like great, you're on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, Tag you're in.
Speaker 2:Yeah, here you are, you're with us, and I was like I did not consent to this, but here we are nine years later, and so it's a good thing.
Speaker 3:It's amazing that you were there servicing their babies. And now I mean, it's just. That's an amazing story.
Speaker 1:And I'm sure, like the HIPAA laws and things don't allow you to be like, hey, you know all your kids.
Speaker 2:I have permission. I have explicit permission for all of them to tell this story and now they're all just people I do everyday life with Well, they're your friends too.
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:And they were the voices in my head. You know, when you have to go to that place as a parent, that's like oh, I miss being a person that people could like, you know you just have to go into that place of. Okay, I have to be direct with you, because this is what my kid needs. And so this is what we're going to do and this is what the law says you have to do. These were the moms whose voices were in my head, because they were such strong advocates for their kiddos.
Speaker 1:Having people like that in your corner is everything, and sometimes you have to be the villain.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:I'll be honest with you To make sure your kid gets what they need I always say you mess with the bull, you get the horns Because he comes through. If I can't, get through. He's coming and I know it's usually the moms. You know if I can't get through he's coming and I know it's usually the moms, you know, but I mean I have the nice demeanor, but it's like, if you mess with me, he is coming for you Because when it comes to your kid, it's huge.
Speaker 1:People don't realize. There's two sides to me. There's Todd with the hat and the blue jean jacket, and then there's Staff Sergeant Johnson, which got out of the military and sometimes he'll poke his head back in every now and then if he has to.
Speaker 3:But I feel like somebody has to stand up for them. Yes, and I'd rather it be us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure, for sure, and you know it does take big shoulders to do what you do, to do what those moms do. And so you said it's morphed. Through the years Y'all have gotten bigger and more sponsors.
Speaker 2:We have, so we started. I think my understanding is I was not at the first run, but the first run was 100 people with just some water stops. It was just maybe a one-mile fun run. If I am telling this story wrong to all of my fellow board members, I am sorry there was some type of run.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there was a run, People were there and it made money and so that money went to. I think, anyway, that money went to help kids get treatment and then since then it has grown. By the time I stepped in, I guess in 2019. It was a fully functioning thing, yes, Life of its own. So when they told me that they needed an additional board member, I was like I don't run.
Speaker 3:If we're running, something is wrong over here, right.
Speaker 2:I'm not exactly the face of a marathon here and they were like no, no, it's not like that. And so, unfortunately, my first year, you know, 2019 was leading up to 2020. And so we had to do the virtual race. But 2021, we got to kind of start making our comeback. We actually did it in September, it was so hot of that year, but I got to see the vendors come together, which I think, that's what sets our day apart. So there's wonderful 5 and 10Ks all around.
Speaker 2:Tyler the Fresh 15. Oh my gosh, you know I mean we have phenomenal, phenomenal runs in Tyler. What is special about ours is that people come like serious runners. We do call you serious runners. Serious runners come and they, they, they do, they run the course every year, but everyone runs our race because they have some form of personal connection with the family.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And so it means something more to them than just setting a PR. Apparently, we have a hill at the very end that like has its own name that I can't say and so anyway, we're kind of known for this hill that I love it because I'm like you know, if there's a challenge in our course, like think of the challenges that our kids go through, and so it's just you know you can do it, and so it's just you know you can do it. But where we are set apart and different is like the vibes of the community coming together. In our vendor area we have face painting, we have Corn Pop the Clown, we have bounce houses and unicorns.
Speaker 1:Unicorns.
Speaker 2:Yes, I mean, it is just.
Speaker 1:Bubble houses yes, but everybody brings their A game, yes, I mean, it is just bubble houses, yes, but everybody brings their A game.
Speaker 2:So this everybody from the community who comes and is a supporter are amazing sponsors. Oh, southside Bank. They set up like a three booth extravaganza with you know, video, you know video games and light, brights and everything so awesome oh, it's so cool, and there's a stage, games and light brights and everything.
Speaker 1:I mean it is just oh, it's so cool and there's a stage I don't remember. Is there a live I can?
Speaker 2:remember there's live music. We do have a cool DJ, though, dj Mike he's yeah.
Speaker 1:Shout out DJ Mike.
Speaker 2:Shout out DJ Mike. So he, he definitely sets the tone for everything, but we do. They just come and they bring this energy of just I don't. It's a protected, amazing day because everyone there is there, because they want to be there and they want to show love and support and acceptance for a community. And it's so weird because it's this big, loud, busy event which is the opposite of what you want.
Speaker 1:A child with autism?
Speaker 2:Yes, but they come and the kids they love it, they love the Kona ice, yes, and they can kind of count. We count on the same people coming back year after year, and so they know what to expect. Their siblings come. They love it. Anyway, there are like definite strategies that kids use where they're like listen, we're going to go to the face painters first, and then we're going to go to the face painters first and then we're going to get the tacos.
Speaker 2:They have it planned out. They do. It's like going to Disney World, but it's here in. Tyler, texas, for one day.
Speaker 2:For one day, yeah, but it is a wonderful three hours that we couldn't do it without the community. The community definitely sets the tone for what that day has become and what it stands for. And then a message we're really trying to push out. You know, people know us as this big event. What we're trying to show people now is the heart behind it, which is, again, every person that runs all of that funding goes to help a family.
Speaker 3:You know what I mean. It doesn't get held up anywhere, it goes directly to help a family More than a run.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's way more than a run. It does weigh more than a run, and so the event is awesome. But what we're able to do with? The love and support that comes from that event is where the real magic happens, so it's just a good thing and we keep doing it over and over and over again. You're like when are we going to stop? If you want to be on the Tyler Run for Autism board, this is the message we're looking.
Speaker 3:You may be voluntold yeah.
Speaker 1:But, uh, so how we, we kind of mentioned and you went into a little bit, how little bit how the community is really drawn to it. Like, has that been a gradual thing? Every year You've seen it grow and grow and grow.
Speaker 2:Yes, so even which I know that I came in. I think they had about 30, 40 vendors, I think, before I came on. Yeah, and we had that. It was a little bit smaller when we came back in um after after 2020, so in 2021, but now we're up to um. We had 62 vendors last year, so awesome.
Speaker 1:Yes, we were there yeah, yeah, they count.
Speaker 3:So I know we should have put that in there, because we've got to experience that I mean, yes, we'll be there again too so if you want to see us show up.
Speaker 2:I have to tell people who are coming for the first time, like, just come and see it, and then you'll be hooked.
Speaker 3:You know, that's so true. Yes, it really is. We love going through all the pictures of us being there, but we came and set up with our podcast, but we brought our kids and Ezra. There's pictures of him petting bunnies. There's pictures of him petting horses, like he was having the time of his life, and all for such an amazing cost.
Speaker 1:So I've been so needed.
Speaker 2:So, it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's incredible, and Todd's like Amanda. I bought breakfast, but there's free food everywhere.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm like, why did I even buy breakfast?
Speaker 2:He's like this is so awesome. Yes, Love it. It is Taco Bell and McDonald's always make sure that we have everything that we need Everything set up.
Speaker 3:Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:And the natural groceries always comes. I mean we really do have the best people and again, I don't know if that's because they're tied to it. I mean we try really hard to treat people well and be good to them and be someone where you want to come back. But I mean it's just when I think of these businesses, I don't think of the businesses, I think of the names of the owners and the managers who make the magic happen, because they are personally involved in making sure that everything goes off without a hitch.
Speaker 1:You know, I want to say I could be wrong, but I want to say I saw a few organizations out there in full running. Yes, like they were, like hey, I'm assuming this is probably how it went. The owner is like you're going, you're going to run, they probably were willing.
Speaker 2:I wish that people had to be voluntold to go, but no, we have these massive groups, like Train always shows out, with like 60 people. You can bet your bottom dollar that the Henry and Peters and the EMA runners Are going to be there. Like every year they're going to come and it just gets bigger and bigger and we're just so thankful and we do just so thankful and we do everyone make sure we have really good swag too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, y'all do have some legit stuff there. Yeah, we try.
Speaker 2:We're always trying to like and Southside takes it like they're really. They want to have the best merch.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So they're always trying to be creative in. You know what they're going to bring to the table.
Speaker 3:And you guys had incredible resources out there. Yes, like we met and talked to people We'd never even heard of such resources, like it was amazing. It was really cool.
Speaker 1:Um, I mean, even talking about swag, we went through, oh, $50 in lays. You know we give out lays because it's not an Island, you know lays, so we give those things out.
Speaker 3:We probably went through $50 in like 30 minutes. Just lays yeah, everybody was just yes, Get a lay yeah.
Speaker 2:And that's a culture that we definitely try to. We always call and invite the people in the community that are serving our kids well, there was a particular dentist office that I was calling for like two or three years I think, and I was like you've got to come because they're so phenomenal, they're so phenomenal and I was like, please come, please come, please come, and so finally we got them out there one year and they were like, why didn't you tell us it was like this?
Speaker 2:We've been telling you but yeah, if there's a local provider that I mean again because we all have, you know, experience our kids being on the spectrum we're in the field, and so if there's a provider that's in town that offers something for the kids, we're like can you come and meet all of our people?
Speaker 2:And so our 3,000 people get to meet all of the vendors and yes, and the service providers, and so if there's any type of related service, you can bet you know that has a good reputation in town. You can bet that I'm on the phone going. Will you please come Will? You please come, I'll buy you breakfast. So we definitely try and network everyone together and we love for those providers to get to meet one another.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:That's important. Yes, building that community, yeah yeah, the Kendra Gives Back comes every year. And so they a lot of times will use that as an opportunity to meet some of the other nonprofits. I mean it just I feel like I'm just name dropping, but I'm not intentionally doing it, I'm just saying that it's really helpful.
Speaker 3:It was a huge networking. We met so many people, like I said, and so many resources, and it was huge. I mean we could have interviewed probably 30 people. We probably still could. We got all those contacts just being there and just seeing all the support in the Tyler area was just it's intense.
Speaker 2:And the heart of being there is not to promote themselves. The heart of being there is there. Was a particular pharmacy that we it was. They are there because they want to show.
Speaker 3:Here are all the different things that we can do to make your life easier, you know what I mean and that's a huge thing. Medicine's a hard thing to get. We have to. We have a local pharmacy like a compounding pharmacy and things that we've had to go through, and that's a big deal.
Speaker 1:I think it's. It's what. What I noticed is it's a it's less about. Hey, we're quoting, you know whoever out here is showing support. It's not like that.
Speaker 3:It's a full blown like solidarity thing.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's really cool.
Speaker 2:It's really cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It is my. It is my favorite day of the year.
Speaker 1:Yeah One, it is my favorite day of the year, one of the more stressful days of the year.
Speaker 2:No, not at all. It's too good, and by the time you get there you're just walking around saying hi to friends.
Speaker 1:Okay, gotcha, the legwork's already done. Yeah, the legwork's done.
Speaker 2:and you just get to go enjoy the party.
Speaker 3:Again that.
Speaker 2:Thank you to our vendors who show up on time and do what they're supposed to do. And yes.
Speaker 1:So how? I guess kind of answers its own question. But you've seen the community change. Like you've seen, like you said you've seen services come into Tyler, texas, which those of you who don't know much about Tyler maybe because we have an audience from all over the world Tyler, texas, has a lot of opportunities for people to come and learn as college students in the health fields.
Speaker 1:So it's really, really cool for them to be able to not only learn about this, these uh, you know autism and things like that but they can also get to practice it and then give back, because I will promise you, if you get into the field of autism or if you get into advocating, you don't want to stop, Like it becomes so important to you, and so Tyler really has it going on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do, it's a good. Tyler is a large town but it functions a lot like a small community and so. But it has been neat to see places like APEC or like Code Ninjas or this variety. They open up classes that are tailored to neurodivergent or autistic individuals, and so that's been really neat to see. As they come in, they meet one another.
Speaker 2:They're also learning how to open a program or include kids in a program or hey, we may have something like we've had some children with autism or autistic people who have come and they really enjoy this. Can we come and show you guys what we got?
Speaker 1:Yeah, Come on, come on out yeah.
Speaker 2:So that's where we've seen it grow as far as acceptance and changing the community. Like people are looking for ways, trampoline parks Well, how can we? That's where we've seen it grow as far as acceptance and changing the community. Yes, People are looking for ways. Trampoline parks Well, how can we have sensory hours? Yeah, that's amazing when people can come and what do we need to know about it? Who can we connect with?
Speaker 1:Yeah for sure. That is so awesome.
Speaker 3:I know this is a little off the cuff, but it just popped into my mind. I was just curious if there's any services or things that are involved with this for older kids and going into adulthood, because that is such a massive need in this community.
Speaker 2:Yes, so that has been on my heart, and especially as autistic individuals have been talking to us about things that they want to see. We're moms who are representing a community, but we're not diagnosed autistic and so but we, you know, like that is something that they have talked to us, Repeat that question.
Speaker 1:I just lost it Actually just a second Before we do. I'm going to reset the time.
Speaker 2:Okay, You're going to reset it and then I'm going to ask it yeah, I. Okay reset the time.
Speaker 3:Okay, reset it and then I'll re-ask it. Yeah, I was like I lost it, just about transition and adults. Yes, yeah, I got it. I'll ask it again, that's okay. Thank you, sweet.
Speaker 1:Okay, we'll try that again.
Speaker 3:So I was just asking, with adults or teenagers who are becoming adults, those transitional years, if there's resources that come out to this.
Speaker 2:Yes, and so that's been something that we focused on heavily, especially, as you know, autistic individuals have, you know, spoken to us and kind of told us what they need ongoing support and inclusion and jobs, and you know just places to hang out, like those are things that have come up. And then also caregivers maybe kiddos who are not fully functional or indistinguishable from their peers or don't have their own voice, are like okay, so what do I do with my kiddos? So you don't experience complete caregiver fatigue. So we have reached out to adult day habs in town.
Speaker 2:Awesome Achieving Dreams. Actually, we get to partner with them and they stuff our swag bags, so they're one of the adult rehabs. They're the coolest people ever, and so we get to like wine and dine them, and they help us stuff, the swag bags, and we always send them home with a bunch of stuff. That's cool.
Speaker 3:These day haves and places like that are blessing families so hugely. That is awesome.
Speaker 2:And then there are other little day programs that are popping up, but it is. It is trying to find resources where they can plug in, and if we find that someone's doing you know something well, then we definitely want to tell our families about it. And we've had, you know, as we've kind of asked around, we've had more and more people reaching out to us and it creates awareness that that's a need. Yes that there's, a need for kids over the age of 10.
Speaker 3:Yes, what are they?
Speaker 2:going to do and how are they going to be involved when they have specific things that they like that maybe seem juvenile but it's their. You know how do you?
Speaker 3:create acceptance for that, for sure.
Speaker 2:So I think that we're on a roll to helping with that, and that's definitely important. Behind the mission, I guess, is to expand that. That's awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, and you know that's something that's still like y'all are on the forefront of that.
Speaker 3:Very much so, really, you are.
Speaker 1:We don't find that a lot outside of bigger cities and even bigger cities I haven't seen. Really, we're all trying to figure this thing out. And it seems like a very hard thing to really put your thumb on the pulse of and say, okay, this is how we're going to approach you know, and of course, there's many approaches, but that's really cool. That's cool to hear y'all are partnering with transitioning services, day habs, things like that. So how can people sign up?
Speaker 2:How can people sign up? You can go to TylerRuddForAutismcom.
Speaker 1:Link below.
Speaker 2:And there is, uh, it'll say, register. There's like 13 different places that you can register. They all lead it's it's it's misleading. They all lead to the same link, um, but it's right there. Prices are pretty low right now, um, and so it it definitely. They go up as it gets closer to race day. So if you plan ahead, the prices are pretty good right now.
Speaker 1:Early bird special.
Speaker 2:Yeah, early bird special, so we definitely hope to see everyone. Or if you just want to come and check us out you know you don't want to do if you want a t-shirt, you should do the one mile. It's a great idea, just here for the t-shirt.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just here for the t-shirt.
Speaker 2:I think we actually have someone that says that.
Speaker 3:That's awesome.
Speaker 2:Yes, so, but it is. It is a really good day and it's somewhere you can bring your kids, bring your family, um, and I promise you will be amazed and blown away at just how the community comes together to love on love on kids and love on families.
Speaker 1:Yep, the community comes together to live on, live on kids and live on families. Yeah, and and uh, something you even mentioned to me, uh, when we haven't gone yet at that point, you told me that you were like hey, you know, there's so many people here volunteering who are pros, like you know RBTs, bcbas, speech paths, people who do these things for a living, uh, or, or or, are around these children for a living.
Speaker 1:So to the family who may have a child who elopes to the family who may have a child who exactly bring them on, because not only is it the pros who are there, but you have other families like us who are there, who you know we're looking out for everything. We know how to look out the corner of our eye for that kid who's eloping, or maybe we understand what's going on when that child is having a meltdown.
Speaker 3:Yes, having a hard time, so it's a beautiful thing to have that.
Speaker 1:With that being said, how can people who do have those skills volunteer?
Speaker 2:Oh, that's a great. So that is also on our website under volunteers.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Um, and so you can, you can go, you can let us know and Allie will reach out to you and get you plugged in where you need to be. So we always need people cheering on the runners. That's really important, um, but I always have my vendor area stacked. Yeah, yeah, I do. I tell people bring your kids. I don't think we've had a scene, but if there ever was a scene, it would be fine, it would be fine. We all live there.
Speaker 3:Everybody knows.
Speaker 2:It's fine. It's just the norm there.
Speaker 1:As far as organizations, maybe businesses wink, wink who want to pour into this, how can they get involved? Like, how can they?
Speaker 2:So our website but that will give you a direct link to me and so that is something that I get to coordinate and I will definitely pitch you on. You know the heart of how you're helping children, but we also have some really great marketing opportunities. I mean it's a large crowd of really great people, and so we definitely have some great marketing packages too, where you can come and be a part of the day and also get some good exposure.
Speaker 3:Yes, it helps to know that places exist. Yes, and when these families see you guys out there supporting them, of course they want to support you back.
Speaker 2:yes yeah, yeah, and that you know that bubba's 33 is a place where I can take my kid in and if she grabs french fries off of somebody else's plate, I'm just gonna pay for that plate and bubba's is gonna be like it's fine, we'll get you over here it's, we'll get the private
Speaker 1:room.
Speaker 2:It's fine yeah yeah, let's go out here, where are you gonna be the most comfortable? Um, so we really have learned that people like these are the people who want to be accommodating and who want you in their building, and for me as a parent, even as a professional like, I feel so vulnerable every time I take call in somewhere um, I'm just like don't make eye contact with people, like please don't drop on the floor, you know um don't make a scene.
Speaker 3:It's good to know about bubba's 33. We just got one in our area and our child tried to use number one on a tree outside when everyone was eating and we're like, not the tree so we get the vulnerability, we get it, we get it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you never know but these are the people who are like we're're going to make it work. That's awesome.
Speaker 1:Don't lick that tree.
Speaker 2:Don't do it.
Speaker 1:So we talked about how people can volunteer, people can join the run Organizations. Businesses wink wink once again to pour into this and I know you said it serves families in East Texas.
Speaker 2:Is it?
Speaker 1:just mainly the Tyler area that you serve.
Speaker 2:It is, we're still small. I mean, you know, we're growing but we're still small, and so that's what we have, services that we've contracted with here in Tyler. So, but I mean, wouldn't that be the dream to?
Speaker 2:have you like to be able to to do that um, the families fill out um a fax form, um, and it is with our partnering organizations. I mean, again, still small, still having to keep things up, but, um, you know, and we've had, we've had a lot of interest in how to recreate um, and we, we are always so open with our formula. But what it really comes down to is, well, dedicated parents who want something that you know, stubborn parents who want something to happen.
Speaker 2:And then a community who will show up. Yeah, that's important. Yeah, the community showing up. And so this is the way that our community loves our families well, and we are always looking for ways to grow and expand that it was super, super inspiring for us to witness it was.
Speaker 1:We left there like we're going to do our own thing.
Speaker 3:I was just like we need this in our town and to know that you guys had a humble, small beginning and I know you still say it's small, but it's had a massive impact on this place and on the families here, so you guys are doing an incredible thing for sure.
Speaker 1:And a couple more things. Your run. If I'm not mistaken, you hire a service to come in and time your runs.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:So it's a qualifier right, yes Like it's a legitimate qualifier for those racers out there. You want to find a spot to go, that your money goes to something that's important. It's important. Come to this 5K, come visit Texas. Yeah, come to Texas.
Speaker 2:Meticulously organized on the run front. I will tell you that. I've never walked the course. I've never run the hill. The vendor area is my baby, but my fellow board members tell me it's superb.
Speaker 3:So I know that they have it.
Speaker 2:Someone asked me the other day like oh, where does it go? And I was like that't. Someone asked me the other day like oh, where?
Speaker 1:does it go? And I was like that way yeah, around here, turn left a bunch.
Speaker 2:We call me the chief begging officer. Love it, yes.
Speaker 3:Somebody has to be yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So a couple more things. What is something that you want people to know the most?
Speaker 2:about, about us, tyler yeah, tyler Run for Autism. I want them to know that it is a community event. What I want people to know is just the fact that we do help. It's a loaded question. I want them to know that 90% of families who have a child with special needs, the parents divorce, and a lot of that is stress. A lot of it is dad having to or somebody, a person having to go to work and work really hard, because you have $76,000 in medical bills and $1,500 a week in therapy and the other person is pouring all in at home and you just feel so disconnected. But finances are such a stress when it comes to families and so if we can relieve that financial burden, Even just a little bit.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's helping the kid get services Again medications, doctor's appointments but in its purest form it's supporting a family and it is trying to take that burden off of a primary, you know, financial person. Yeah, and trying to support the family and a mom knowing that she's going to be able to take her kids to therapy, to get the service they need so that they can have just a mom-kid relationship at home you know and have just a mom-kid relationship at home, you know?
Speaker 2:I mean, like, how often are we asked to be advocates and nurses and teachers? And all the things the therapist and so I feel like this helps kids get what they need and families can. Just when they gifted that money to us, when we received that grant, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Oh, I can imagine.
Speaker 2:And now you know, my husband owns a construction company. We're able to give back to the run, yeah, in all the different ways, but we weren't in that place at that time and we did well you know, we were doing well and thankfully we had the money that was there. But it was just terrifying because it was like oh, that's everything that we just worked two jobs for six years to save up for what we thought was going to be financial stability, and it was just gone.
Speaker 2:No, not there, so that I feel like is what the run did for me and it's what we hear from our families. We're really protective of our families and so I know if we would show how cute these kids are and like all the fun things that they're. You know people would be like throwing, you know like you gotta do that more um yeah oh, something I haven't shared.
Speaker 2:The run also provides community outings and activities. Really, yeah, for the, for the monarch and the treatment and learning center, the places that we partner with. We've brought in Creature Teacher for them, bubble Day, foam Day, that's cool yeah.
Speaker 3:Outings to the library yeah.
Speaker 2:So we do those kinds of things in addition too, so we do set aside a little bit of money for them to get to live normal, normal things go to the zoo, yeah, stuff like that. That will take that off of parents too, and then they also get to go with someone who can help with their child. So that's really important to us as well. Anyway so that's what I want them to know about. The run is just the day, super awesome, but the other 364 days is this is.
Speaker 2:This is what people's money is doing, and, uh, they don't get to see it, but I want them to know, like if I could tell you the joy that these kids have on their faces. Yes, I believe it and that the parents experience and, um, you know when they get that you know deductible, you know, you know granted and you know it goes out the door just like that. But they can breathe.
Speaker 3:Because it's not just something that they extra, that they want, it's something that they genuinely need. And it is going to make a difference in their future.
Speaker 1:And so yeah, for sure so what's on the horizon, what's what's around the corner for y'all.
Speaker 2:I don't know. Yeah, we're gonna keep doing what we're doing. Yeah, we are. Southside Bank is definitely helping us kind of spread the message of, again the heart of what we're about yeah, love that and so we never know, we never, we never put limits on it, we just that's good pray about it really hard and hope you know, try to listen to people when they talk to us or have ideas. Um but we also, you know, we have our formula down, we know.
Speaker 1:So you got your rails in between?
Speaker 2:Yeah, we do, and then we just kind of see what see what is brought to us in between.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Well, you know, I say, y'all are doing really good. You're doing really well. You know and know and just keep doing what you're doing.
Speaker 3:And if you're from a different town or city that has limited resources and you're watching this, take some pointers, because this is a huge impact and I know you guys have a greater population than some of our cities, but we can all make a difference.
Speaker 1:And this is proof of that. And that's the premise behind our whole podcast.
Speaker 3:You're not an island. You are not alone.
Speaker 1:And if you want to go somewhere physically where you can tell tangibly in the air that you're not alone, you need to come to Tyler Run for Autism. With that being said, we're going to put a post to, or we're going to post a link down below with the website so people can know when the next one is. You don't happen to know off the top of your head do you April 5th.
Speaker 2:April 5th there you go April 5th, always the first weekend in April. There you go.
Speaker 1:April 5th. Be there or be sad, because you're going to miss out.
Speaker 2:I'm telling you right now Check the gallery.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah it yeah. It's a really great time. We really want to see you there. We will be there.
Speaker 3:Yes, we'll have a crew of people coming to run with us, so yeah, and they're bringing the kids.
Speaker 2:Of course we're bringing the kiddos.
Speaker 1:So, without further ado, we want to thank you for coming out.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me. This is such an honor. Yes, thank you for traveling.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but without further ado as well. I'm Todd, I'm Amanda and this is Leanne, and we're Not an Island podcast. Until next time. Peace, peace. Thanks for watching.
