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Sending my son, Leland, off to kindergarten was one of the most stressful times of my life. Leland has profound autism. He is nonverbal and exclusively tube fed. Leland is medically fragile. Leland is also so much more. He is curious and kind and has a great sense of humor. He has a magnetic personality. He loves to interact with people on his own terms. He has a very strong sense of what he likes and dislikes.

I feared that, at school, his medical needs would be handled, but his emotional and social needs would fall to the wayside. Then he started in the Lakewood City Schools’ CHAMPS program and I’ve never been so happy to be wrong!

The CHAMPS program is the best thing that has happened for our family. Leland is absolutely thriving. His medical needs are handled quickly and with precision. He is also learning so much. He comes home with new signs to use and is able to follow directions much better.

He’s also gotten to attend the Book Fair, Grandparents Day, a glow dance party and even went on his first field trip. I love going to school events and seeing him surrounded by his peers. I also greatly appreciate that the CHAMPS kids are included in everything at Horace Mann.

I will forever be grateful to Lakewood City Schools for giving us the CHAMPS program and giving Leland the chance to grow in so many ways. That is why I urge Lakewood residents to vote FOR Issue 2. Our District excels in many ways. Some of them are obvious, but many - like CHAMPS - are not because these essential and exceptional programs are used only by the families that need them. But if you want to know the kind of educational experience Lakewood provides to ALL students then you really need to know about CHAMPS. You need to know about Leland.

Recently, Leland was invited to attend a friend’s birthday party for the first time. Seeing that invitation in his backpack was a proud moment for us. All I’ve ever wanted for Leland is to know he is happy. He can’t tell me he is, but I can feel it. I can feel it when we pull up to Horace Mann and he claps. I can feel it when he takes his teacher’s hand and walks into school. And I can feel it when I see him with his new friends.