What is KAP?

Good question.  What follows isn't necessarily the brochure-crisp overview but a Dad's ground-level view to date.  To tell you what KAP is we first need to know who it is.  KAP is a result of the vision of John & Linda Kelly, Canadian on arrival and Hilltopper community inhabitants three decades running.  Giving an amount of time, effort, and money almost on par with their heart and compassion, they were the catalyst to create a community to provide needed services for their daughter and others.  Many others.  Almost a decade later, KAP serves over 150 elementary, secondary, and higher education students....over 40 alone on the college level.  Considering family members, friends, and fellow students, KAP has touched thousands of lives.  And it's just the start of the Kelly vision of growth and influence that fills a largely recognized need....organizations from spots all over the US map want to know more about how KAP does what it does and how they could do the same.

What do they do?  Well, a lot.  On paper, they offer a college student three main things:  1) a contractual obligation and the resources necessary to participate in organized, scheduled studying four days per week; 2) an assigned (and appraised...and paid...in short, committed and interested) mentor to help ensure not only academic success but a broader integration into the university; and 3) a modified living arrangement, if desired (read: no roommate dynamic).  But, what else do they provide?  Support, growth, accountability, structure, an accepting community, social opportunities, resources, advocacy (both group & self), and fun.  In short, a home away from home.  Often KAP is the difference between a marginal collegiate experience for these young men and women and a positive, fulfilling one.  As Zach, now a junior KAP member who aced the ACT and could have stayed in his hometown to attend an SEC school said as a second semester freshman when we first visited KAP in 2011, "I'm the happiest I've ever been.".

KAP students are full-time university students in every way that other WKU students are.  They apply to and are accepted by WKU in the same manner.  They also apply to, are accepted by, and pay for KAP in addition to WKU.  Which takes us back to why we're raising funds to help create scholarships...to make a difference for those who already find it difficult to address the costs of college and still need and qualify for the services provided by KAP.  Keep checking back...I'll be introducing you to some of the faces of KAP - students and others - so we can hear more from them about this wonderful program.  Thank you for any/all support that you are giving.  And please share the word.

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MADKAP Introduction

Greetings MADKAP blogosphere, and many thanks for joining me in this inaugural adventure...a first for me in terms of organized fund-raising and blogging.

So, what is this about? In short, it’s about helping (“MAD”) young people...a group of young people who are full-time students at Western Kentucky University (WKU) and members of a wonderful community called Kelly Autism Program (“KAP”). KAP provides services to students on the autism spectrum to enhance their ability to thrive in an academic setting and to acquire and grow the executive functioning skills needed to be healthy, independent, productive people. Students like my son.

During the next couple of months I’ll introduce you to Ryan and several others, tell you more about the program, and share how the funds we raise will make a significant impact.

So, how do we help? I plan to run 4 half marathons in 4 consecutive weekends (quasi-double marathon) to literally take the KAP name on the road....Nashville (4/27), Cincinnati (5/5), Paducah (5/11), and Chattanooga (5/18). Through this activity, the goal is to raise $25,000. I’d like to ask for your support of this effort in any way that feels right...$5 per race, or a $1 per mile, or whatever amount seems reasonable. If we can raise $25,000, WKU will match the funds thereby generating $50,000 for an endowment to offer scholarships to KAP students.

Paying for college can be challenging enough for many families, and that's before considering the reasonable fee associated with KAP. To accelerate goal attainment and make a difference that much faster, for each $2,500 raised, I will also contribute $500.

The numbers indicate that 1 in 88 people are on the autism spectrum. Statistically it’s likely that most of us know someone on the spectrum....a family member, a relative, a neighbor, someone meaningful to a friend, a work associate. Given that, it would mean a lot to me if you would also share this blog and fund-raising effort with your circle of friends.

So, let’s have some fun and create opportunity for others – making a difference. I’ll be back soon with more info re: KAP, but until then I sincerely thank you for your support given to this positive, meaningful community.

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