Beyond the Finish Line: A Strong, Disciplined, and Empathetic Girl is Breaking Boundaries
This interview is special to me because I sat and had coffee with Lisa Morrison who created Integrated Community Solutions. My earlier post on 8/5/2024 titled, “Integrated Community Solutions: Empowering Inclusion, Independence and Accessible Living was to let everyone know what a community treasure Integrated Solutions is. The hyperlink to this earlier post follows:
https://www.speciallessons.com/special-lessons/integrated-community-solutions-empowering-inclusion-independence-and-accessible-living/
Lisa has three kids on the autism spectrum, and she agreed to provide this interview about her daughter, Olivia, and to highlight her wonderful qualities. The three words this dynamic mom used to describe her daughter are strong, disciplined, and empathetic. Those words aptly describe Olivia who has found her love and passion for a great community of runners. Read Lisa’s answers to my questions and discover all the incredible resources she describes. For more information about Integrated Community Solutions, visit www.ics-oh.org
What are some of your child’s favorite activities?
Running, strength training, working, listening to music.
What is something your child is good at doing that is not reflected on tests?
Olivia has wonderful levels of empathy and a strong sense of social justice. And, she is a great runner!
If you could describe your child in three words, what would they be?
Strong, disciplined, empathic
How old was your child when you knew he/she had special needs?
about one year of age
What is one piece of advice you have for someone with a newly diagnosed child?
Become involved in activities where you will meet other parents with children who have special needs. Isolation happens easily. Fight it.
How do you foster self-care? ( either for yourself or your child or both)?
I run social groups for people of all ages who have developmental challenges. These groups have turned out to be very therapeutic for me because I’ve met so many families on a similar journey. As for my daughter, she does not feel isolated, and she feels as if she has many friends – even though she prefers not to socialize as much as other group participants.
What are ways to help promote social skills you have found effective for your child? Avoiding isolation, and spending time with other, caring individuals. Of course, that is easy now because we sponsor so many social enrichment activities. Earlier in her life, this was more difficult to address.
Are there any support groups you recommend for parents or children?
Integrated Community Solutions!! We just started a new Parent Resource Group in October! Also, we have multiple social enrichment opportunities throughout the week. Contact info: Lisa Morrison 216-280-7755 https://www.facebook.com/Integrated.OHIO
What is one meal that everyone in your family likes to eat?
Please share anything else you want people to know. It could be something like the ways your child is awesome, your favorite family activities, or anything else you would like to share about your child.
I don’t know how my daughter grew into such an awesome adult. I feel like her best qualities just came with her – like her empathy, her sense of fairness, her discipline, her joy of work. Honestly, raising 3 kids on the autism spectrum, I don’t feel like I had the time to nurture these wonderful qualities, and thankfully she grew into the adult I would have hoped for her.
Olivia discovered her passion and has many friends who share her love for running and strength training. Her deep empathy and sense of fairness are invaluable traits for navigating life. When Lisa saw a need for social enrichment activities for her children, she created them. Lisa says that isolation happens easily and to fight it. She does that by hosting social groups for people of all ages with developmental challenges. These groups have allowed Olivia to connect with new friends and find many social enrichment opportunities.
Lisa is starting a Parent Resource group in October. An introductory meeting will be held on October 29th at the Medina Hospital at 6:30 pm at Entrance A, Conference Room 3. Join the group and discover all the fantastic social enrichment groups Integrated Community Solutions offers.
Look at the October calendar on the Integrated Community Facebook page and find activities your child will enjoy. Maybe it will be running, art, or playing board games and your child will meet some terrific new people! Olivia and her friends have fun on game night, art group, dinner club, and more! See what new adventures await today!