Levi is our sweet, curious, energetic little boy who experiences the world very differently than most children his age. He was born in June 2023 and, over time, began showing signs of autism, including significant safety concerns and limited awareness of danger.

Like many children on the spectrum, Levi is drawn to movement, exploration, and sensory input, but he does not yet understand boundaries or unsafe situations. One of our biggest daily fears is elopement. Levi will quickly wander toward roads, driveways, neighboring properties, or other unsafe areas without understanding the danger.

Simple moments that many families take for granted, such as unloading groceries, helping one of our other children, or bringing everyone in and out of the house, can become overwhelming because Levi requires constant one-to-one supervision anytime he is outside.

We are currently working with One Sky, our local area agency, and they encouraged us to apply for fencing assistance after learning about the level of supervision and safety concerns Levi requires every day. We previously received a fencing quote of nearly $20,081, which is simply not financially possible for our family right now.

Recently, our family also experienced a significant loss of income after I lost my job. At the same time, we are raising two other young children while managing Levi’s therapies, evaluations, appointments, and growing support needs. We are doing everything we can to create a safe environment for him, but some needs are beyond what we can manage alone financially.

A fence would provide something many families take for granted: a safe place for Levi to play, explore, regulate, and simply be a child. Right now, outdoor time requires complete physical proximity at all times because Levi can disappear in seconds. It often lasts no more than 10 minutes and can end in tears when we cannot allow him to throw and chase his favorite toy, a ball, into the road.

A secure yard would dramatically improve both his safety and our family’s quality of life. It would allow Levi to safely enjoy movement and sensory play while giving us the ability to care for all three of our children more safely and effectively.

Thank you so much for considering Levi and our family. Any support toward creating a safer environment for him would make an enormous impact on our daily lives.