Local family shares journey to raise autism awareness

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - April is autism awareness and acceptance month, a time when individuals and organizations across the world come together to foster greater understanding and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder.

1 in 31 children and 1 in 45 adults in the United States are diagnosed with autism.

One local family has a mission to bring more awareness.

For Kim Creswell, these moments at the park mean everything, as she watches her son Jaxson find joy in the little things.

“He is so smart, his memory is amazing, he picks up on things so easily,” said Creswell.

At just two and a half years old Jaxson was diagnosed non-verbal autistic.

For Kim that diagnosis brought fear and questions.

“I cried and I’m just looking at him because now our world changed even more for us,” she said.

But Kim didn’t let worry take control. She found strength through Jaxson’s therapy, a system and educators that want to see Jaxson thrive.

“It’s important that we all work together so this little one prospers,” she said. “He is growing so much and to watch him everyday and to watch him develop everyday is amazing.”

Through their journey, the Creswell’s wanted to do more.

“Everyone knows someone who knows someone with autism. It’s just, so we need to foster that understanding and bring about more inclusion,” she said.

And that’s her mission, with ‘J Steppin 4 Autsim.’

“For me its now reaching the understanding and the acceptance piece because with those two things helps foster inclusion and that’s what is most important,” Kim said.

They host a fun run and a toy giveaway during the holidays with the main goal as understanding.

“All of our kids are different, but just because they have a diagnosis of autism doesn’t make them that much more different than your little one,” she said.

So for Kim, every laugh, every hug, every step forward is a reminder that inclusion starts not with fixing differences, but with embracing them.

“They just have a special little piece to them, that makes them a little extra special,” she said.

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