Our Story

My name is Octavia, and I am the proud mother of a wonderful 11-year-old daughter, Le’ah-Grace,  who is on the moderate end of the autism spectrum, and a 10 year old daughter Elizabeth who has speech apraxia. Those experiences eventually became the foundation for Fruits of the Spirit Autism Awareness, a nonprofit born from my family’s journey and a desire to make the path easier for other families.

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When Le’ah was younger, I didn’t truly understand what autism was or how to recognize it in a child. What I did know was how heartbreaking it felt to watch her cry out of frustration because she couldn’t communicate her needs. I remember the countless times I left family gatherings, church services, or even grocery stores early because the meltdowns were overwhelming—for her and for me. Many days ended with both of us in tears, sitting in the car, exhausted from trying so hard to understand each other.

One of the hardest parts was realizing that most of the time, Le’ah was just trying to tell me something as simple as “I’m hungry.” Those moments broke my heart, but they also lit a fire in me. I knew I had to do more—for her, for other families like ours, and for the community.

That is how Fruits of the Spirit Autism Awareness came to life: a space to educate, advocate, and create understanding, so no parent or child feels alone in their journey. 

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​Lizzy is one of the beautiful reasons behind the heart of Fruits of the Spirit Autism Awareness. Living with childhood apraxia of speech, she has shown us firsthand that communication can look different for every child and that every voice deserves to be heard, supported, and celebrated. Her journey has helped deepen our commitment to creating inclusive spaces for children with speech, developmental, and other special needs, while also supporting the families who advocate for them every day. Through Lizzy, we are reminded that progress does not always follow a straight path, but with patience, understanding, access to the right resources, and a strong community, every child can be given opportunities to thrive.

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Join us in building a world of awareness, acceptance, and inclusion. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply learning more, your support helps us continue this mission—and reminds families like mine that they are not alone.

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Every individual deserves to feel included. Every family deserves support. With your help, we can continue providing resources, events, and safe spaces for families navigating autism and other developmental disabilities.