Listen to what it means for Jackson and Leland to be together during their ACEing Autism clinic in Lexington, KY. For their parents, finding a place where their children can be themselves, be active and foster friendships has been so important. “𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘁, 𝗶𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹,” Rachel Combs, Jackson’s mother explained.

It has also helped parents find a community and create a network where they talk about resources, activities and socialize themselves. “𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀,” Lella Still, Leland’s mother added.

ACEing Autism has also led the best friends to participate in a tennis camp last summer which they both enjoyed very much. “𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲,” Rachel said.