Access Services - Creating Better Ways To Serve People With Special Needs

Turning Adversity Into An Asset

A 15-year-old girl was referred to Access Services for help. Because of a severely strained relationship with her parents, who were also caring for her severely autistic brother, she was living with her aunt. She felt as if she was constantly overlooked, taking a back seat to her brother, and was depressed as a result. For years, she struggled with suicidal thoughts, anger and aggressive behavior towards others. The young girl felt hopeless and alone and would act out by cutting herself. Access Services went to work in conjunction with her school support staff to offer her the guidance and support she needed. Today, she journals, attends weekly counseling sessions and reaches out for help when life becomes too much. Incredibly, she has now combined her strong academic skills with her passion for educating the community about autism. She even employed her skills and newfound confidence to organize a benefit dinner to raise autism awareness and plans to donate all the funds to the Autism Society of America. Access Services is proud to announce that Montgomery County honored this young person for her incredible success story at the annual Mental Health Luncheon. Her ability to make something positive from her difficult circumstances is an inspiration for us all.