Welcome to Our Autism Speaks Event!

We are delighted to host this special event dedicated to Autism Speaks, an organization devoted to supporting individuals with autism and their families. We are thrilled to have you participate, whether by joining our team or donating to the cause. Today, we have the honor of hearing from two of our team members who are part of the autism community.

Cody Jans and April Engelke will share their personal stories, offering insights into their experiences and the importance of inclusion and support. Their courage and openness help us all to become more empathetic and supportive colleagues and inspire us to do more. 

The Jans Family Story:

Our family is blessed with three children, ranging from 18 months to 9 years old. Our oldest, Tatum, was officially diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at the age of 5, but long before the diagnosis, we always knew he was a very special little boy.

Tatum did not start speaking until he was nearly 4 but has never stopped since! My dad often finds it funny to remind me about how concerned I used to be that Tatum wouldn’t ever speak, especially when Tatum calls him on our way home from speech therapy every week with never-ending stories and rapid-fire questions. Aside from having the gift of gab, Tatum is the most loving older brother to his two younger siblings, even when they go into his room to steal his toys and take over his TV to watch Blippi. His caring nature is complemented by his witty sarcasm, which can catch some off guard – his speech therapist affectionately calls this side of him "Spicy Tatum" and has said she’s unsure what she’ll do when he moves and is no longer keeping her in line during sessions.

It’s hard to find the right words to capture how incredibly kind, humorous, and intelligent Tatum is, but his 18 classmates recently did just that. His 3rd grade class created a Goodbye Book of memories and drawings for him as we get ready to move back to South Dakota from Montana. The stories from his peers brought my husband and I both to tears. When Tatum was 5, I was so worried about what his new diagnosis meant and if he’d be accepted – I never dreamed of how large of an impact he would make on everyone he encounters. Tatum embodies resilience and perseverance, serving as constant inspiration to our entire family. If more people were like Tatum, the world would undoubtedly be a much more compassionate place.

The Engelke Family Story

Our amazing Shane will be 4 years old in June.  He came into our world 3 weeks early with the gentlest soul.  It was like he could look at you and you felt peace.  Every newborn starts the same, a sponge to the outside world taking things in with all senses.  We knew right away that something was different with Shane.  As he developed through infancy, he never once responded to his name and was not able to make direct eye contact.  Originally thinking he had lost his hearing, we started doing numerous tests, for all the results to show that Shane was hearing everything we were saying.  Shortly after he turned one, I remember the day I came to my husband and said, “I think Shane may be autistic.”  We locked hearts with our Shaney-Bop, vowed we would do all we could to be his voice and never looked back. 

Shane was diagnosed with Level 3 Autism before he turned 2.  It is extremely rare to be diagnosed this early and was only possible with the magical support of his amazing pediatrician.  He was put into speech therapy and occupational therapy so we could provide him with as many resources as possible to make him feel comfortable and safe.  He has the most amazing team of therapists at his school.  His world is FULL of joy.  He loves all things Toy Story, Mickey Mouse, and Bluey.  He could live in a swing at the park or in the water.  His laugh shows you how happy he is.  Shane truly proves that any day can be the BEST day.  While up until this point Shane has been non-verbal, just recently he has started saying his first words.  Autistic individuals are the most happy, loving, and genuine people you will ever meet.  They see and process the world differently than we do but it is beautiful and full of joy.  We can’t wait to see what Shane is here to teach us.  There is nothing he can’t do.  It’s his world; we are all just lucky enough to live in it. 

Thank you for being part of this important event.