Why I Serve: A Personal Journey with Autism and the STAR Center
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
“The STAR Center’s vision, “To help any person with any disability realize their potential. ”, is more than words on a page to me. It is a promise I have seen kept in my son’s life and in the lives of many families across our community.
Our firstborn, William Yates Hazlehurst, came into the world and could light up every room. He hit every milestone in his first year; saying “mama” and “dada,” bringing toys to us, and engaging with the world with bright curiosity. Shortly after his first birthday, though, things changed. His words began to slip away, nights were filled with piercing screams, and for a long time I grieved as if I had lost the child I once knew. Those years were some of the hardest I have ever lived through.
We were not alone. With encouragement from family and friends we built a village to help Yates thrive, and a vital part of that village was the STAR Center. I remember driving him there and dropping him off for art therapy, wondering if anything would break through. Art therapy at the STAR Center did more than fill an afternoon; it helped us see his abilities, not his disabilities. The confidence and expression that blossomed in those sessions were tangible. Some of the very artwork inspired during those classes can still be seen around our community, in local banks and businesses, a beautiful, public reminder of how far he has come.
Today Yates is 26 years old, 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, and we can’t get enough of him. He blesses us daily and has taught me countless life lessons: forgiveness, empathy, joy, and, most of all, love. The bad days are still real, but they no longer define us. What once seemed overwhelming and unmanageable has become a gift of perspective and hope. I thank the STAR Center for being part of Yates’s progress, and I love being a part of the organization as a board member.
I have served on the STAR Center Board for almost eight years and currently serve on the executive committee and as chair of the development committee. That time on the board has deepened my appreciation for how strategic leadership, dedicated staff, and community support turn mission into impact. Assistive technology and services are practical tools that unlock real opportunities: a communication device that gives a child a voice, training that opens the door to employment, and supports that enable independent living. The STAR Center pairs those tools with skilled people who help clients and families translate potential into daily realities.
As development committee chair I see, every day, how philanthropy multiplies outcomes. A modest gift can fund an assessment that identifies the right device for a child. A larger gift can underwrite staff training or program expansion that reaches dozens more families. Donations also signal something essential: that our community believes in investing in the dignity and potential of people with disabilities.
If you’d like to join us in this work, here are a few meaningful ways to help:
• Give: Consider a one-time or recurring gift to the STAR Center. Your donation funds assistive technology, program delivery, and outreach to families who might not otherwise find help.
• Share: Talk about the STAR Center with friends, coworkers, and faith communities. Awareness leads to earlier referrals and more families helped.
• Volunteer: Offer your time or professional expertise. Volunteers help expand programs and bring new energy to events.
• Advocate: Encourage local leaders to support policies and funding that expand access to assistive technology and inclusive services.
I know the decision to give is personal. As a parent, I remember the relief and gratitude we felt when someone’s generosity translated into real opportunity for our child. As a board member, I pledge that gifts are stewarded thoughtfully and prioritized to maximize direct, measurable impact. Your support builds sustainable programs that serve our region for years to come.
Being part of the STAR Center’s mission has been one of the most meaningful parts of my life. Watching children become more independent, seeing adults step into careers they love, and witnessing families find the supports they need is a daily reminder that progress happens when we invest together. If you want to learn more about how your involvement can make a difference, please visit star-center.org or contact the STAR Center marketing team at marketing@star-center.com.
Thank you for standing with families like mine and for believing that everyone deserves the chance to reach their potential.
