The Beginning of OASIS
Angel Thompson is the wife of Pastor Matt Thompson in Geneva, Ohio. She has her BS is Psychology, MA in Missions and MA in Counseling from Grace College, Grace Theological Seminary and Grace College Graduate School in Counseling & Interpersonal Relations. Matt is the Senior Minister at Geneva Church of Christ (www.genevachurchofchrist.org). They have two children, Joshua and Faith. In October, 2004 they founded OASIS (Organization for Autism Spectrum Information & Support, Inc.) after their son was diagnosed with Autism.
"I can't imagine the life sentence you have been dealt…"
I read those lines from a friend's e-mail as she
responded to the news of Joshua being diagnosed with autism.
Matt and I were given the news of Joshua's autism in April 2004.
We were relieved to finally know the answer to our son's
frustration and at the same time filled with sorrow.
I remember Matt standing outside of the van weeping,
and I, numbly and mechanically, put our children in their car seats.
My weeping came later.
The day following his initial diagnosis began our search for help. Joshua
immediately began increased speech therapy, behavior modification and
occupational therapy. Needless to say our lives were turned upside down and
inside out. I wish I could say that the hurricane has passed. We find ourselves in the "eye" of the hurricane at days and reveal in the quietness and sunshine. Then, there are days when we enter the storm again.
Isaiah 43:2 states, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze."
Some days the waters are high. We realize this is not a "phase" in our son's life. He has autism, but we have hope as we see what God has been doing in his life since he was diagnosed. As far as the statement my friend made about a life sentence…we can think of no greater life sentence than being Joshua's mommy and daddy.
I remember talking with Joshua’s EI counselor, asking if there were any other parents in this area. She was unsure and quoted a number of maybe 2 or 3. Her response to me when I shared my thoughts of what I wanted to do to help our son was one that made me step back in shock. She told me that she knew a woman who became “obsessed” with helping her child, that she lived and breathed Autism.” My thought after she left was, “Yeah, when I close my eyes, or turn around my son’s Autism does not mysteriously go away as if an infant placing her hands over her eyes and believing you can no longer see her. Autism is still there. We do live and breathe it, as our children live and breathe it. It was at that moment that I realized, one, there were other families out there needing to know they were not alone and two, our community desperately needs to be educated about Autism, what our children go through, and what the family faces. The week our son’s EI counselor made that “interesting and naive statement”, God began to place on my heart a vision and in October, 2004, we founded PAC, which later we changed our name to OASIS (Organization for Autism Spectrum Information & Support) to reflect our mission. The first OASIS Chapter began and continues to reach families and professionals in Wooster, Ohio and its surrounding counties. Our second OASIS Chapter, located in Geneva, Ohio will begin ASD Workshops beginning Spring/Summer 2009
Our Purpose:
To be a voice and to spread awareness in this community and surrounding areas for Autism Spectrum Disorders. To provide support, information, resources and training for parents, families, friends, professionals and individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, and to provide this no matter race, creed, religion or financial status
Our Mission:
To network together, to encourage one another, to provide information, resources and training about Autism and it other related spectrum disorders, and to be a united front for our children.
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER OF OASIS
We want to welcome you to OASIS, the Organization for Autism Spectrum Information and Support, Inc. Our Chapters are located in Wooster, Ohio and Geneva, Ohio. We are a group dedicated to bringing awareness to our community, surrounding counties and beyond. We are a group that reaches and provides support, resources, information, to families who are effected daily by this hidden epidemic as well as anyone who has contact with an individual with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). We provide conferences and consultations for teachers, educators and paraprofessionals on how to handle autism in their classroom as well as provide that same support through our website and internet access. OASIS is a FREE group. There is NO fee to be a member. When a family is referred to us we do not send information stating that they need to pay us for membership. We are here to help, support, give resources, and provide training. We are here to be a voice for you and help you find yours. If you come to our meetings you will gain insight and support. If you visit our website (which you are doing right now) you will find a place where you can find support, a calendar of events, resources, links to helpful books, as well as a group BLOG to find out more information about upcoming events, a place for refreshment, humor, networking and more from others walking this journey. Please know that we are here for you. Even though our children are individuals, we are walking this journey together. I know as a parent it is hard to know who you can trust. You may have had some really painful experiences in public and within your own family which keeps you from seeking support. If that is the case, know that you do not have to walk this alone any longer. We are truly here to walk with you through the valleys and the triumphs. We will cry with you and we will celebrate every moment. There is hope, even in the darkest times...trust me, there is hope.
Angel Thompson
President/Co-Founder
Future Phases for OASIS Outreach
The rate of autism has grown over ten-fold since the late 1990's, from 1 in 2,500 to 1 in every 150 births (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004).
When OASIS began in 2004 our goal at that time was to be a support group for parents. However, after hearing all of the needs we realized it stretched beyond just parent outreach. Our kids needed our community and beyond to become aware of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Schools are in desperate need of having an understanding of the kids who are in their classes and how to help them unleash their potential and have a successful and positive experience in school. Extended family members need support and education and siblings need support. The expense of therapy can run over $30,000 a year just for the basic therapy and it is taxing on the family.
Below is a list of phases that OASIS is striving for to reach our community and beyond.
Beginning and current outreach:
Support group, coordinating and hosting seminars/workshops, informal counseling on the phone and internet, moderation of group forum via internet. Provide resources and information. Beginning stages of Liaison work.
Extenstion to Phase 1: We will be starting a second OASIS Chapter in Geneva, Ohio with a tenative date to begin with Workshops in Spring/Summer 2009.
Phase 2 vision outreach:
Beginning a lending resource library: books, tapes, videos, DVD’s. Also, providing special need resources. Tangible items such as: weighted blankets, vests, flash cards, tapes, videos, PEC boards, v-tech boards.
(We have been privileged in the year of 2007 to provide weighted blankets. This is an ever working and shifting phase.) Also a work in progress to find a facility in both Chapter locations that would be willing to host an Autism Resource Center for families and professionals.
Phase 3 vision outreach:
To have an OASIS Book Store.
Phase 4 vision outreach:
To provide and publish our own magazine with inspirational stories, breaking news about autism, etc that will meet the needs of those living with ASD. (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Currently we do this through our OASISTALK BLOG
OASIS Mission & Purpose
