Late last Fall, when my Early Intervention private practice suddenly took on a life of its own, I found myself in need of a website. Having worked for the state for almost 20 years for the NYS Early Intervention Program, it is especially gratifying getting hired privately by families and schools who have seen my work and the progress of the students I’ve worked with. As my list of private clients grew, I realized that having a website to further promote these successes was going to be vital to me being able to help others. After making several inquiries regarding website design, I was led to Cassidy Harrison, a talented woman who happens to be living with Autism.
As Cassidy and I started collaborating, I was reminded that the little children I teach eventually grow up; often with abilities and talents that can enrich or contribute to others in some way. I felt that being led to Cassidy was an opportunity to walk the walk and make a difference in someone’ s life; to give a person that might otherwise not be given a chance an opportunity to expand her skills, experience pride from her work and earn her fee.
What I didn’t expect was a new friendship with Cass and her family that has really touched my life and some life lessons as well. I have become a mentor of sorts and cheerleader and hope to inspire Cassidy to put herself out there, show her that she possesses gifts that can really help others and that she has what it takes to make a living doing work that she loves. She reminds me of something that most of us take for granted: that we all live with hope that we will be acknowledged accepted and experience a sense of belonging in the world. It’s only through others acceptance that we are given opportunities to shine and make lives for ourselves that fulfill us. We must be grateful for all our opportunities and in turn provide others who are deserving of the same.
If you should ever need a web designer, don’t forget Cassidy. Please check out her website at http://www.spectruminternetdesign.com. Also, check out the great work she did on my website: http://www.earlyinterventionandbeyond.com.
Cassidy’s thoughts on working with Lisa:
I felt great when Lisa hired me. I was really happy that she liked my other websites and believed that I could build a site for her. I was really excited to work on a website about Early Intervention. I like little kids and want to be able to help them. Lisa was really easy to work with so I think she’s probably a great therapist.
I feel like Lisa is not just someone that I worked with but I also think of her as a good friend.