Dear Friend of Lifelong Access,

The only thing more heartbreaking than watching your child struggle is not being able to help in time.

At 9 months old, Leo Egbers was not making eye contact. By age 2, he spoke just five words. Chew toys and a spin chair

calmed him at home, but at daycare, he was too overstimulated to even eat. At swim lessons, Leo was asked to sit out.

Leo’s mom suspected autism spectrum disorder from the very start. At first, she was dismissed – “Let’s see how he develops.” Later, she faced long waiting lists for assessment and treatment, and she found herself driving to three different clinics for speech, motor, and behavior therapies, none of them coordinating with the others. At 2 1/2, Leo still had no official diagnosis, and his parents had no meaningful support.

Like many children with autism, Leo was prone to wandering and drawn to water. On May 17, 2024, one month shy of his 3rd birthday, Leo slipped out of the house and drowned in his neighborhood lake.

What if a diagnosis and therapy had come sooner? What if more information had been provided? What if resources had been easier to navigate? What if…..?

Leo’s family wanted to help other families avoid these haunting questions. After Leo’s death, they discovered Lifelong Access and established the Leo's Library Fund at Lifelong Access to support distribution of resources for families navigating disabilities and developmental delays, including autism spectrum disorder. There are hundreds of kids like Leo in our community right now whose parents need information and support while they await assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. With multiple, coordinated therapies under one roof and 70 years of experience supporting families facing disabilities, Lifelong Access is well positioned to do this potentially life-saving work, and we’re honored to be trusted with it.

Please consider a contribution today to Leo’s Library or other expansion projects at Lifelong Access.

Thank you!

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