Special Needs Mom Sparks Tinley Fire's Autism Awareness Effort, Raises Funds For 2 Advocacy Groups

TINLEY PARK, IL — A Tinley Park special needs mom and fire department employee seeking to raise autism awareness in her community spearheaded a T-shirt sales fundraiser, bringing in thousands to benefit two advocacy groups led by moms like her.

Tinley Fire Office Michelle Boone, office coordinator for the fire department, helped design an autism awareness t-shirt for sale—an effort backed by Tinley Park Fire Chief Steve Klotz and the Tinley Park Fire Department Firefighter's Association.

Boone's idea was a hit, raising $4,000 for donation to local charities that provide support and resources for special needs families.

It was all inspired by Boone's son.

"My son Maddux is my inspiration, plain and simple," Boone told Patch. "Maddux was diagnosed (with autism) at age 3. Earlier this year I had the idea for a fundraiser and went to my boss, Fire Chief Steve Klotz, and he was very supportive! I started working on design ideas, but the most important part for me was making sure the money raised went somewhere that supported special needs locally."

Boone contacted Jenna Maziur, founder of Super Celtics Special Needs Basketball Camp at Providence Catholic High School and a fellow autism mom for help in selecting a charity. The two women met through Boone's son's participation in the camp.

"Maddux has participated in the Super Celtics Basketball Camp for four years and has been afforded an opportunity to experience the sport in an inclusive environment," Boone said. "The idea was Autism Awareness, but my goal was to support a special part of our communities, people of all different abilities."

Maziur suggested New Lenox-based Advocates for Acceptance, a nonprofit founded by moms focused on helping other local special needs families access sports programs, recreational activities, and adapted playground equipment so children of all abilities have the opportunity to play with peers.

"Both organizations do such wonderful work, I couldn’t decide between them," Boone said. "So, I just made the decision to donate to both!"

The shirt sales raised just more than $1,200 for each organization, with the firefighter's association rounding each amount up to $2,000.

"Both Jenna and Jeanine are such amazing advocates for children with special needs," Boone said. "Any parent that has a child with a disability knows the heartache of trying to expose your little one to the world all while protecting your child from being judged or looked at differently."

Advocates for Acceptance founder Jeanine Kozlowski said she is touched that the organization was chosen. Kozlowski's son Austin has schizencapahaly, a rare congenital brain malformation that causes abnormal clefts to form in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. Austin is non-verbal, and wheelchair-bound. Also diagnosed with septo-optic dysplasia, his vision is impaired.

Finding herself stepping up as his biggest advocate, Kozlowski felt an empathy for other moms in similar battles.

"We are a nonprofit for special needs’ family, for their kids," she previously told Patch. "It doesn’t matter their age, how much money they make.

"If this family needs help, they need help."

She created the organization to promote inclusivity for children with special needs by funding sports programs, recreation activities and adaptive playground equipment.

"I love meeting other fierce moms, special needs moms," Kozlowski said. "I love meeting these women who have the same look in their eyes, that I’m not going to stop until my child gets what they need. Both of these moms are definitely like that. Not afraid to voice their opinions, not afraid to be called 'difficult.'

"… whatever they have to do to get people to listen to get their child to thrive. Not all parents have the knowledge, the ability to know how to go about advocating the way that we have to."

Maziur, who is also an assistant varsity coach for the Providence girls basketball program, is grateful for the funds and inspired to find the best use.

"Being selected as a recipient of these funds from Tinley Park Fire Department, truly means the world to me and our whole program," she said. "Having started the Super Celtics Special Needs Basketball Camp at Providence Catholic High School four years ago, I would have never imagined being on the receiving end of a donation like this. One of our campers, Maddux, has been with us every year and knowing that his mom felt so strongly about what we are doing at camp that she wanted to raise money and give us these funds is indescribable. We are so incredibly lucky to know the generous people at Tinley Park Fire Department and are forever grateful for their giving hearts."

Maziur said enrollment for the camp grows each year, raising the bar for them to find ways to make it special for all campers. The camp is in January each year, with registration opening in October.

"... making it very memorable for our campers is something we pride ourselves on," Maziur said. "Our coaching staff is brainstorming ways to use the funds appropriately to ensure that each and every camper has the best two days with us. Whether it is new equipment solely used for our camp, or something special for the campers, the funds will be used in the best way possible."

Maziur's passion for supporting families of children with special needs also has fueled her "This Autism Mama" Facebook group. The group offers support, ideas, meetups and blog posts about our journey navigating the nonverbal autism world with her oldest son Alan, 10.

"I started this group three years ago at a time when I was struggling with processing what I was feeling on this journey," Maziur said. "It is not an easy path to be on and I just wanted to create a space for parents like me to feel a sense of belonging and being understood by people just like them going through the same ups and downs that we endure as special needs parents. This group has also grown over the years, and I am so grateful for this little community we have built throughout this process."

The firefighter's association praised the women for their work within the special needs community.

"We would like to recognize Jeanine Kozlowski and Jenna Maziur for their tireless efforts within the special needs community to promote inclusion, acceptance, and equity," they wrote. "To take a line from our friends at Advocates for Acceptance, INCLUSION IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE. Thank you to everyone who supported the fundraiser!"

Boone was grateful for the public's support.

"This fundraiser was so very near and dear to my heart and it was my pleasure to be able to do my small part," she said. "I’m very thankful for the support of my work family, the Tinley Park Fire Department is an amazing group of men and women with big hearts!"