The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
SPECIAL EVENT
Mercy Hospital hosts Lorain County Special Needs Resource Day
The third annual Lorain County Special Needs Resource Day was held in the Ross Conference Room at Mercy Regional Medical Center at 3700 Kolbe Road in Lorain on March 14.
About 25 exhibitors ranging from speech and occupational therapists to summer programs and local organizations were on hand to offer support and assistance to families who have children with special needs.
The event was originally organized by Matthew Klein as part of a project with the Leadership Lorain County Class of 2015. As the parent of a child with autism, he saw the need to bring families together to share experiences and resources.
“I’m just a concerned parent that’s trying to make someone else’s path a little easier than mine has been.” — Matthew Klein
“This is really just a giant meet-and-greet session,” Klein said.
“Being the parent of a child with autism, you know when you get a diagnosis like that there is no playbook out there to tell you this is what you are supposed to do and this is where you are supposed to go. So the idea here was to get it all together in one room so parents can come and see what resources are
all here.”
The success of the first year drove Klein to make it an annual event. After being held at Deluca’s Place in the Park at 6075 Middle Ridge Drive for the first year, Mercy Hospital stepped up and offered a space to hold this year’s event.
“After the first one everyone was so moved by the outpouring of support that we said we’ve got to make this an annual event,” Klein said.
A grassroots effort that spawned from one parent’s desire to make a difference
brought together a number of local officials through the Leadership Lorain County program.
“I’m just a concerned parent that’s trying to make someone else’s path a little easier than mine has been,” Klein said.
Klein thanked Mercy Hospital for its ongoing support of the event.
He also thanked main sponsor Avon-based law firm Wickens, Herzer, Panza, Cook and Batista Co., as well as the Help Me Grow Program of Lorain County for its financial support.