Spectrum Designs
Kings Park resident Kathleen Lanese is well versed on Autism as she has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from St. John’s University in special education. She spent a decade teaching in the New York City School System. However, she says most of her expertise came from raising her two boys Kevin and Brendan who were both diagnosed with Autism. The now seventeen-year old and thirteen-year old were in attendance last summer at the North Hempstead Country Club where their mother was honored as Woman of the Year by Spectrum Designs.
They were happy to provide a comment regarding their mother’s tireless efforts as an advocate. “You are strong and kind and you never take no for an answer and you haven’t killed anyone yet,” Brendan told his mother. His comments as well as Kevin’s were met with laughter and applause. “Mamma loves Kevin, don’t say the naughty word,” said Kevin. Lanese, a gifted storyteller, is also an enormously humorous individual. She shares her Autism experiences through FB posts and in conversations with her many friends. This month she will be sharing them with Smithtown Today readers. The throngs of friends in attendance know that Kevin, non-verbal until just a few years ago, now asks permission to use ‘the naughty word’.
Both Brendan and Kevin Lanese have made enormous strides in their development and language over the years. Lenses’ husband Rick, who she met while at St. Johns, gives all the credit to his wife. “When our boys were diagnosed with Autism, she rose to the occasion,” he shared. He said it was his wife who oversaw their diets, their activities, the introduction of new modalities of treatment and she did the research all while networking and becoming of the most well known names in the Autism Movement on Long Island. “She is the most courageous Warrior Autism mom I know.”
Autism is classified as a developmental disorder that impacts a person’s ability to communicate and socialize. Individuals with autism often have repetitive behaviors and debilitating medical issues and the. The latest statistics say that Autism affects 1 in 68 children; 1 in 42 boys. However, Lanese and other advocates say that number is based on twelve-years olds and the numbers are far greater with the under twelve population.
SPECTRUM DESIGNS
The Fourth Annual Night in White was attended by hundreds of people from Long Island including parents, advocates, special education teachers from the Kings Park School District and young people on the spectrum. Spectrum Designs is a Port Washington based company that was started by Stella Spanakos who has a son with Autism. Spectrum is a design and apparel company that hires young adults on the Spectrum (with Autism). Spanakos says that due t the support of clients, families, friends and grants in 2013, Spectrum Designs Foundation moved to a larger location and purchased more machinery. “This allowed us to almost triple the amount of young adults we could offer services (jobs) to,” she explained.
More jobs are a critical issue for many families as their children age out of services at the age of twenty-one. Chairman of the Spectrum Night in White Event Danny Ryan said that in the very near future about five-hundred thousand young adults with Autism will age out of services. He calls this a National Crisis. “They will need a place to live and work,” said Ryan. Ryan, Lanese and the team at Spectrum are all dedicated to creating greater awareness about this need and fulfilling this need.
The Honoree Go Big or Go Strong
A video montage of Kathleen Lanese rolled early in the evening as the crowd adorned in all white watched on. Her proud parents were in attendance as well as her brother Brian and dozens and dozens of her close friends including three tables of women from Kings Park.
Cory DeGori met Lanese through the Kings Park S.E.P.T.A. (special education parent teacher association). “She has the best sense of humor ever, she is definitely like the sister I never had,” said DeGori. She says the two clicked right away and Lanese has been enormously helpful to her when she had questions about her own son with special needs.
Kateri Lucarelli has worked closely with Lanese throughout the years with S.E.P.T.A. “She is quick to offer her services and knowledge of special needs for every parent and child,” said Lucarelli. She says Kathleen and her husband Rick are blessed with two beautiful boys who she says are undoubtedly Lanese’s driving force. “She will continue to educate, change laws and do whatever it take to make a better world for her boys,” she ended.
Lanese said the whole evening was surreal especially when people took the podium to speak about her life. “I feel like I’m at my own funeral only we are all in white and I’m alive,” she laughed. Lanese’s mantra is Go Big or Go Strong and the light-hearted advocate does both. She co-Chairs the Long Island Autism Speaks Walk, she has been President of her school district’s S.E.P.T.A. and she has lobbied for legislation in both Washington and Albany. Lanese has also served on the Board of the Nassau-Suffolk chapter of the Autism Society of America and is a former parent organization Board Member at Building Blocks Preschool.
A powerhouse, a superhero, a woman to be reckoned with, a devoted mother – are all sayings that are used when describing Kathleen Lanese. Friends say the most remarkable thing of all is that she does it all with a smile. If you find yourself at an Autism fundraiser or event; listen for the laughter, because that is where you will find this year’s Spectrum Designs Woman of the Year.
To Order Apparel or to tour the Spectrum Designs Foundation’s Plant, Call: 516.767.7187 or Email: sales@spectrumdesigns.org or visit Online: SpectrumDesigns.org