The House With No Steps came to the Kross family's aid when their little boy of four years old was disagnosed with a global developmental delay and severe speech impediment.
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Now the Parkes family would like to give back to the disability service provider who has given them so much.
Jay and Judy Kross own the Parkes Services Squash Centre and this year they are taking part in the House With No Steps's major fundraiser, For Fitness Sake, from March 1-10.
And their son Artie Kross, now five, has been chosen as the campaign's ambassador for 2019.
The idea is for people or teams to sign up to walk or run 25, 50 or 100km over 10 days, raising money that will support children with a disability through services run by House With No Steps.
The family is hosting a family fun colour run this Friday evening, March 1, to raise funds for its squash team which has entered the For Fitness Sake challenge and to help officially kick-start day one of their fundraising efforts.
The Parkes Spacemen Rugby League Club has generously opened the gates at Pioneer Oval for the event, which will take place at 6pm and includes a barbecue and a number of activities.
When Artie was diagnosed 16 months ago, it was a big learning curve for the whole family.
"We've never had to deal with the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) before," Judy said.
"It was all a bit of an eye-opener.
"We might ring House With No Steps 10 times a day and it's never a big deal."
Artie had been attending Parkes Early Childhood Centre (PECC) since he was two and towards the end of 2017, centre director Lindy Farrant noticed he wasn’t keeping up with other kids his age, recommending Judy to contact Forbes Little Learners, which is owned by House With No Steps.
Artie finds it hard to string words into sentences and has trouble understanding what others say to him. It's tough for him to make friends, participate in activites and do everyday tasks, like getting dressed.
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Judy said one of their biggest concerns was that Artie would be unable to make friends and the idea of him starting kindergarten in 2019 seemed near impossible.
House with No Steps assigned a speech and occupational therapist to work closely with Artie and his family to develop his speech and comprehension. They also implemented a School Readiness Program that was put into effect at his preschool and home to prepare him.
Jay and Judy's ultimate goal at the beginning of 2018 was for Artie to start mainstream kindergarten at Parkes East Public School this year - the same school they had both attended as children, and that Artie’s big brother Henry (9) attends.
"He's going really well [in kindy], Parkes East has given us so much by putting on extra hours for him to have a teacher's aid," Judy said.
Artie can now string five to six words together, he is playing and interacting, and has made new friends.
“12 months ago we were afraid of what the future had in store for Artie. Now we are excited and confident for everything he has ahead of him," Judy said.
"Artie has just started playing squash - he uses his racquet more as a guitar than for squash but he likes to run around with the kids," she laughed.
"And kids in his kindy class have just started playing squash so he gets very excited when they get here.
“He's the happiest, funniest little boy and we are so excited to join him and be a part of For Fitness Sake in 2019.
"The support given to Artie has made a huge difference to our family and we are forever grateful."
The family is hoping the town will get behind their cause and attend Friday's colour run.
"All our squash members are on-board and PECC is behind it as well," Judy said.
"Even Artie's teacher's aid from PECC Natalie Kelly is right into the fundraising with us and she's one of our biggest fundraisers."
The Parkes Squash team had already hit their initial goal of $2000 more than a week out from the start of the campaign.
The team is sitting on $2230, with a very happy Judy saying they will need to decide on a new target.
"It's really nice everyone shows Artie so much support," she said.
"Everyone stops and talks to him, people are very kind."
The cost of the colour run $3 per person or $10 for a family of four. Visit the Parkes Squash Centre to register or for more information call 0459 546 742.
