Autistic children and their families in Canadian County have more resources to help them cope.
Trina Naff-Eaves wants to make sure this is only the beginning.
“We want to inspire, we want to share our good experiences and help parents build a partnership with the schools, give them encouragement and help with inclusion of our kids into the community,” Naff-Eaves said.
The website AutismCanadianValley.org started as a grass-roots effort about six years ago. The organization recently came under the umbrella of AutismOklahoma.org, which is a benefit for about 130 families who use ACV's services, she said.
“This allows us to combine our resources, it gives us a network, and all together we kind of share our information,” Naff-Eaves said. “For example, my combined email list is about 3,000 people.”
A 501(c)(3) non-profit, ACV holds monthly support meetings in Yukon. Families come from throughout Canadian County, as well as Bethany, Kingfisher and Moore, Naff-Eaves said. Other resources for parents include a lending library and informational speakers.
“We try to help with every aspect of their lives, as a positive force to help these families,” she said. “We are also looking at trying to do more during those meetings, such as music lessons for the children.”
That help extends to a four-day summer camp for autistic children, who are aged 8 to 12 years. Started in 2010, Camp Noggin also began as a grass-roots project.
This year, Naff-Eaves partnered to write a grant request, which netted the organization $5,000 to help pay for local teachers and paraprofessionals to staff the camp.
“We also had volunteers, college and high school students and 14-year-old kids, who want this to be their career,” she said. “It was an amazing experience.”
Children took field trips, played sports and had fun “just like normal camp,” Naff-Eaves said.
“In a way, it was a time outside the special needs world — they just had fun,” she said.
Naff-Eaves said she understands first-hand what it's like to have an autistic child. Her son, Jeremy, now 11, is a student at Mustang Trails Elementary School. The Mustang mother has been coordinator for ACV for about a year.
While the road has been rough at times, she said she cherishes the friends she has made along the way. One of those became more than just a friend, but also a mentor Canadian County Youth and Family Services Director Dee Blose.
“She changed my life completely,” Naff-Eaves said. “She showed me a whole new way of looking at things and opened so many new doors for me.”
Blose originally coordinated the Canadian Valley group before handing the reins over to Naff-Eaves.
“It's been a real learning experience,” she said.
The group is a non-profit and is seeking grants and donations to fund its efforts.
A first-time “Stand Up for Autism” brought comedians to entertain and help raise funds. In May, groups from throughout the state will gather for the annual “Piece Walk,” which is the largest gathering in support of autism in Oklahoma, Naff-Eaves said.
“It's a great event and a really important fundraiser for us,” Naff-Eaves said.
One of the group's most important missions is to erase the line between autistic people and the community at large, Naff-Eaves said.
To do that, the group participates in events like Mustang's recent Western Days parade as well as a special needs bowling league held at AMF Yukon Lane every Saturday.
ACV meets from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Church of Christ South Yukon, located at 11700 NW 10th Street in Yukon.
The special needs bowling league meets at 1 p.m. each Saturday at AMF Yukon Lanes. Cost is $8 per person and anyone can attend.
For more information, look online at AutismCanadianValley.org.