CNBNews

By Tiffany Menderlo

Shawn’s Mother

My son Shawn is 5 years old. At age three, he was diagnosed with Autistic Disorder.

He is the most wonderful child and our family is so blessed to have him in our lives.

Recently, his physical therapist Robin Kanner suggested that a company from Canada called Freedom Concepts do a demonstration of an adaptive bicycle for Shawn to ride.

I agreed but knew that the medical equipment was beyond my price range, to say the least.

On Shawn’s fifth birthday, Freedom Concepts came to his physical therapy session at Weisman Children’s Rehab. Shawn did wonderful on the bike.

Without Robin Kanner I would never have dreamed that my little boy would be able to ride a bike like a big boy, all by himself.

She has been so instrumental in the progress of Shawn’s strength and endurance, and works with our family as a whole to help us help Shawn to reach his full potential.

On April 2, National Autism Awareness Day, Shawn got his bike!

Thanks to the Helping Hands From Heaven (The Lexi Kazian Foundation in Vernon Hills, IL), and the NJ Pediatric Patients Charitable Trust Fund, Inc. (sjkidstrust.org)

These two non-profit organizations funded grants to purchase Shawn’s bike. Thanks for your great generosity. Shawn loves his new bike, now he can ride with big sister, Lynni!

Our family will forever be grateful for the wonderful gift that my son has received!

Autism is an incurable mental illness, but Shawn is doing very well and making progress daily with his school and intensive therapy schedule.

Please remember April is Autism Awareness month help and support the families you may know with children on the spectrum.

  The odds are 1 in 88 children affected, so more than likely you are personally affected by autism. We need to stick together!

  Shawn Mendelero is a resident of Bellmawr. He attends Yale School Southeast, Voorhees Campus.