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Founder of The Homestead Honored by YWCA
June 4, 2009
A founding parent of The Homestead and former Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson has been honored by the YWCA for strides in helping others. The following is from the Des Moines Register (6/3/09)
Sally Pederson's advocacy for the underrepresented started close to home as the mother of an autistic child.
"My husband and I tried to create every opportunity for him to learn and grow. Along the way, I became sensitive to the struggles of people who are marginalized in our society," Said Pederson, 58.
Pederson saw a need to help others and embraced it. She served as the president of the Autism Society of Iowa and in 1990 led the effort to create The Homestead, an agency providing innovative solutions to the challenges facing children and adults with autism.
Her work in the community got the attention of Governor Tom Vilsack, and she served as lieutenant governor for eight years.
About The Homestead
The Homestead is a private, non-profit organization that provides innovative solutions for children and adults with autism, their families and allied professionals. Services are provided in the community, in homes and in a unique agriculture based campus program. Autism is a neurological disorder that severely hinders the way information is gathered and processed causing problems in communication, learning and social skills. It occurs in roughly 1 of every 150 births.
For more information, contact
Steve Muller
Executive Director
1625 Adventureland Dr., Suite B
Altoona, IA 50009
p515.967.4369
f888.228.8476
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