ONE FAMILY’S MISSION TO SHIFT PERSPECTIVES ON AUTISM

You’ve heard the saying, “Be the change you want to be in the world.” One Tampa family is putting those words into action. Sarina Fazan talks with Vicky, Pier, and Gabbi Westra about their family’s journey from an autism diagnosis to the foundation of their nonprofit, Autism Shifts – and their ultimate goal to create a worldwide shift in perspectives on autism.

The Westras’ story starts with their desire to be parents. Vicky says, “We tried to have our own child. It was not for us. And so, we adopted.”

They first laid eyes on Gabbi when she was 9 months old, living in an orphanage in Romania. “And you know, since that point, we just felt like she was our child,” Vicky states.

But it would take well over a year and half before they held their daughter. Vicky describes the adoption process, “I guess the benefits of international adoption is you can be very specific. And at the time we both had careers, you know, we said, you know, we want a child, a little bit older child and actually they go through a lot of screenings. So, you are kind of guaranteed that this is going to be okay.”

But within months of getting Gabbi, Vicky knew her daughter needed help. She explains, “When we got Gabbi at two years and three months, she wasn’t walking, she wasn’t talking. And at the age of four is when we got the diagnosis of autism.”

Like any parent, the diagnosis shook their core. Pier says, “It is hard to put into words the way you feel about your child, let alone your daughter, let alone a daughter who is different.”

The Westras’ put all their focus into building a strong foundation for Gabbi. Vicky recalls, “We went out and started really trying to find the right resources for her. During that period of time, it’s just kind of what I call the Red Zone today, which is living in a place of frustration and just worry. “

It’s at that moment, Vicky made a life altering decision. “I decided to leave my corporate job. I had already felt like I was called to do something else,” she explains.

Determined to make Gabbi’s life better and all those diagnosed with autism, Vicky launched her not-for-profit Autism Shifts in 2007. And her message is clear, empowering the autism community. Vicky states, “That became my mission. I started looking at myself for what is it that can help me to get into a better feeling place about this. Be more hopeful, be more optimistic about our future.”

Vicky also opened Artistas Café, a first of its kind coffee shop employing those with autism. “During that time, what happened is I thought I was going to be teaching them how to understand our world, how to fit into our world and really what happened was a beautiful gift for me, is that I got to be in their world. I got to understand the world of autism in a whole new way. And that is really what started to shift my relationship with Gabbi because instead of seeing it in a lens with its challenges, I was really able to see it from the lens of its beauty,” she recollects.

And, Autism Shifts took on a clearer vision, an organization specializing in education, training, and providing valuable resources at a minimal cost to families - the tools closing the gap and giving those like Gabbi a winning chance at life.

Pier says, “To say that I am proud, it would be the world’s biggest understatement.”

Vicky says, “First we have to shift, we have to be the change we want to see in the world.”

For more information about Autism Shifts, visit their website at AutismShifts.org or follow them on social media @autismshifts.