Tori's Fundraiser

Let me start by saying that this will seem like a diary-oops! I have much to share about on why the Center means so much to me.

I'm Victoria "Tori" Menken, the Center's Social Media Manager and Family Events Coordinator. I am also Lisa's niece. It's crazy to me to have to share this because of HOW MUCH we have grown, but for those who don't know Lisa, she is the CEO/Founder of the Center. We don't share it often because we try to separate the work and family relationships. I also do not like being in the spotlight.

I was 13 when the Center started in 2009. From the early morning wake-ups to help at the Softball Tournaments, being a peer buddy at Summer Camp, to helping my grandparents and mom with the concession stand at our "Stepping Up for Autism" fun runs- my journey at the Center started early on.

After High School, I was stuck. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do, so I attempted prerequisites for nursing school and became a Med-Tech for a local nursing home. Found out rather quickly I suck at A&P 2 🤦‍♀️ , and being in the nursing home wasn't my calling. I loved the friendships I formed there, but it wasn't the field I was meant to be in. 

I don't know which field THAT was exactly. In June 2017, while I was trying to figure out life, Lisa mentioned that they needed help at Thrive and Summer Camp. I said, why not! At this point, it had been almost two years since I had helped at the Center.

Well, summer camp came and went. XCEL was just starting (when it was for ALL ages), and they needed a float. The work hours were perfect so I could finish my associates. The following year, we grew and needed an XCEL middle school teacher. Denise passed the baton for me to teach the elementary group, and I was SUPER excited! It was then that I knew what I wanted to be. ✨ 

In May 2019, I finished my Associate of Teaching Special Needs EC-12. During my last semester, I had to observe classrooms in the public school. After observation, it made it easy for me to say that I do not want to work for an ISD. I loved seeing the techniques and personalities the teachers gave. Yet, knowing the main focus and expectation is state-regulated documentation, I do not want to push a student to try to meet an expectation when their max potential is their max- if that made sense?

One of the many things I love about the Center is that we have done things differently, even more so, since starting our programs.

Having low teacher-student ratios that benefit the participants, is something I'm always excited to share others. We are different this way (and in many other ways) on purpose! We are not state-funded, which means we can structure XCEL accordingly!

I am proud to say I was a teacher for XCEL from 2018-2022. Seeing their individual growth over the years absolutely makes me cry thinking about it. One participant in particular was with me every day throughout the years. Watching him struggle to communicate his needs, to saying "Good Morning, Ms. Too-ie!" as he walked into the classroom or even reading a complete sentence out of nowhere!

It's moments like those where I miss being in the classroom. In 2021, I started to help with the back end of social media. My family moved to the Austin area for a bit due to my husband's work. It was different from being away from the Center, but I'm glad I could be part of it. Since then, my favorite has been being creative and trying to keep everyone informed of what is going on at the Center and activities in the community. 

My favorite thing to do, as of recently, is planning out the Family Thrives! Oct 2023 was my first one to coordinate. Since then, I've learned what works and what doesn't, lol (and still am so be kind to me! 😅) I'm really excited for next Friday! It's always good to see everyone feel safe and be in a safe place to be themselves. 

If you've made it this far, thanks! ❤️ 

If you’d like to learn more about the programs and resources offered at the Center, please visit our website http://www.centerforasd.org