The LDAG and Kids Enabled Announce the 2009 KIDS Gift Award and Professional Impact Award Winners

Eric Sweet, 18, is a senior at Mill Creek High School and is challenged by motor skill deficits and autism. But he has not allowed these obstacles to stop him from becoming a leader in his school and his community. Eric is involved in Special Olympics as both an athlete and an assistant coach, and he has made appearances to help promote this important sports program. Eric was given a standing ovation by the student body at a Mill Creek football game when he was honored as a state Gold medal champion in Special Olympics.

Eric is a member of the SPECTRUM Teen Group, which provides social opportunities for teens with autism. They meet once a week during the school year and also conduct summer camps. Eric is a counselor in training with this group and has spent two sessions assisting senior counselors and working with younger and more challenged campers. One of Eric’s passions is cooking and he takes the Senior Chef cooking class at the Young Chef’s Academy. His instructor there, Sanona Williams, says, “One of the most unique and wonderful qualities about Eric is his ability to recognize his limitations and ask for help. He also recognizes his strengths and uses these to volunteer and help other students.”

At school Eric is a role model for both typical learners and those that have learning differences. Though it takes him longer to learn many basic tasks, his sense of perseverance and joy of learning eventually prevail. Eric’s positive influence on his peers encourages them to do their best at whatever they attempt.

It is through these attributes of creativity, perseverance, self-advocacy, his approach to challenging situations and being a role model among his peers that we are proud to select Eric Sweet as the recipient of the 2009 KIDS Gift Award. We would also like to recognize the other KIDS Gift Award nominees: Gregory Praver, 15; Trevor Watts, 16; and Rebecca Horowitz, 17.

Sheryl Pruitt, founder and clinical director of Parkaire Consultants, has been selected as the 2009 Professional Impact Award winner! As an author and speaker, Sherry educates children, adolescents and adults about neurological disorders and the coping skills needed to remediate the deficit areas caused by these disorders. She speaks locally, nationally and internationally, and teaches professional seminars and courses for health care professionals and educators. As a writer, Sherry is co-author of the book Teaching the Tiger, which addresses the struggles of neurologically impaired children.

At Parkaire Consultants, a clinic that serves children and adults with neurological disorders, Sherry uses her passion and knowledge from years of clinical experiences, as well as the experiences from raising her own children with neurological disorders, to help her clients. She advises families on the educational impact of these disorders on learning, behavior and socialization. For adolescents and young adults, Sherry co-leads two groups that promote social skills and transitioning into post-secondary placement, as well as into adulthood.

We would also like to recognize the other Professional Impact Award nominees: Sam Baskin, Jr., founder and owner of Teacher Certification Seminars, Inc.; Carol Berger, educational consultant/MS principal of The Amit Program; Dr. Bryon Evans, psychiatrist; Laura Markson, director of The Orion School; Wendy Williams, Kindermusik teacher; and Tamara Winters, teacher.

Eric and Sherry were honored at the 2009 LDAG conference on October 24, 2009 at Sophia Academy.