International photojournalist places spotlight on Autism

DETROIT - Looking at a snapshot in the life of LaKingna Simmons, mother of two: Timmy is 9 years old, he is like other boys his age - he enjoys math, loves to text and is fascinated by cars. At 4 years old, Summer loves the color pink and can’t spend enough time with her Dora the Explorer doll. Both Timmy and Summer have Autism.

LaKingna Simmons candidly shares, "I didn’t have the kind of resources available to get the treatment they needed and there just aren’t many options for families residing in Wayne County. I am so thankful I heard about The Children’s Center (TCC). The Children’s Center has been there for my family, from early diagnosis to ongoing treatment. TCC therapists immediately went to work with Timmy to address the sensory issues he was experiencing. They came to our home to help problem solve issues and practice techniques to help him learn."

"When I was pregnant with Summer, I was relieved to learn she was a girl. You see, boys are 4 times more likely to suffer from Autism. I knew when Summer was an infant that she had defied the odds and she too was Autistic. It wasn’t so frightening though. I understood there was hope and The Children’s Center would be there for Summer, just as they had been there for Timmy and my entire family."

Ms. Morgan feels it is important the community is aware that one in every 110 children born today share Timmy and Summer’s diagnosis. Knowing that living with Autism creates lifelong challenges and early diagnosis and intervention is critical, expanding that message is imperative. Treatment comes with a price tag that can stress the most comfortable budgets as much as $50,000 per year and is rarely covered by insurance.

Your support and donation can help to make sure that no family is left without options based on their economic circumstances, that no child is without the help and support that is so critical to growing up to be the best they can be.

To support The Children's Center donate today! click here:

About Monica Morgan:
Monica’s work has appeared internationally via Associated Press Worldwide, Newsweek-Japan and Wireimage.com. With credits including, The New York Daily News, Vogue Nippon (Japan), Variety, Vanity Fair, Saturday Night Live, Tell Us USA News Network, TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, America Online, Scholastic, MTV Networks, The Disney Channel, CBS News, Entertainment Weekly Online, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Sports Illustrated.Com, New York Post, The Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Fortune, ESPN.Com, The Hollywood Reporter, Ebony, Jet, O (Oprah) Magazine, Black Enterprise, Essence, The National Newspaper Publishers(over 200 newspapers), The Michigan Chronicle and many other publications.