Welcome to the latest in our series of guest post about autism.  Today Gail Field shares her inspiring story.  While many autistic parents look for suitable activities for their children Field went one further and set up a gym as part of a franchise called “We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym”.

The picture illustrating this blog is her flyer.  Please click to enlarge.

Field’s web site can be found at http://www.werockthespectrumbocaraton.com/.

Ms Field shares “My name is Gail Field and when you look at me you would assume that I am a typical Suburban wife, and mother to three beautiful children. However, my life is not typical at all! I have been a West Boca Raton resident for fourteen years raising two children who are now sixteen and eighteen years of age. While raising my children I was on the Parent Teachers Association for 5 years at Waters Edge Elementary, and have been involved with the sports community as well. Four years ago I was blessed with a surprise Pregnancy and had a baby boy at the age of 40, being an older mom made me worry, as most woman would do, yet we embraced what lyed ahead. When my son was six months old I started questioning what and why things he wasn’t doing or was doing, he wasn’t reaching certain milestones that are typical at certain ages. People said I was just being neurotic and the pediatricians kept telling me that there was no cause for concern. Every time I went to the doctor’s office I voiced my opinions with heart-wrenching questions, I knew in my head and my heart something was seriously wrong with my beautiful baby boy. I would lay in my bed and cry because I watched my son deteriorate in front of my eyes. Long story short, my son Jayson was diagnosed at eighteen months with PDD a form of autism. It has been quite a journey the past couple of years, while learning and growing every day, Jayson participates in several different types of therapy, as early intervention can be extremely beneficial to these children who are diagnosed with disorders such as PDD.

One rainy day I wanted to take him somewhere fun, somewhere that wasn’t your typical Monkey Joe’s / Chuckee Cheese, some place where I didn’t have to say I am sorry every five minutes because Jayson was a little different, or not up to par with the other kids, where we felt welcome. With this constant scenario I started googling and couldn’t find anything in South Florida to accommodate my child or any other child with disorders such as this. It disheartened me so I went further and found a place in California. I went on the website and read about We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym for all Kids and thought what an amazing place this is, there motto is A PLACE WHERE YOU NEVER HAVE TO SAY SORRY!!!. My life has centered around my son knowingfully well that I would have be the one to find and seek opportunities to safeguard his future. Every mother of a toddler is tired yet I knew that I could never sit back and accept what limited resources there were. Many phone calls, emails, and texts ensued to WRTS in California. I met an amazing woman named Dian Kimmel, the founder/ owner of WRTS California….after several conversations we decided to bring the gym to Boca Raton, and as of December 26th I bought the franchise. I am not a wealthy woman and we are just a normal family living pay check to paycheck. Deep in my heart, I believe this is what I am suppose to be doing. WRTS/Boca Raton will not just benefit my son Jayson, but all of the children in the South Florida area and for that I am forever grateful!!”