Two Moms
one amazing program

A personal note from Wendy Dawson, Founder & Executive Director of Social Motion, Inc.

My stepson, Cameron, was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at the age of two. After he came into my life at age four, his Dad and I spent the next decade scouting the Houston area for social skills classes geared towards children on the spectrum and similar special needs. A program that offered 100% social skills concentration... a stable and sustainable program that would grow with him, offering precursory training for the situations he would face and the future he dreamed of. Nothing clinical, nothing temporary. Just pure social skills training focused on personal development, judgement, decision making and the opportunity to practice those skills in a safe environment with peers.

We never found it, so in early 2010, we founded Social Motion Inc., classified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving greater Houston. It is my sincere hope that what was once missing in our son’s own life is now found for you and your child too.

Cameron drives, has graduated from college and is working while pursuing his dreams of working in a church environment and living independently.

A personal note from Denise Hazen, Founder & Creative Director of Aspire Accessories.

When Denise Hazen’s son was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, she was told what he would “never” do. Fueled and challenged by the doctor’s diagnosis, she set off to prove him wrong. After discovering her son’s fine motor skills and attention to detail, she created Aspire Accessories in 2011 as a way to provide meaningful work for Nicholas. She found a leather craftsman who instructed and mentored Nicholas on leather craftsmanship. What began as mother-son endeavor has expanded to a vibrant workshop studio where Artisans with autism create, produce and sell their creations.

In 2016 Hazen joined Social Motion Inc,. Together with Social Motion Inc., Aspire Accessories provides a training program for young adults on the spectrum and with similar special needs. The individuals learn transferable job skills while producing and managing inventory, and participating in sales transactions. Through the process of creating the accessories, the Artisans learn the importance of each step of production, team work, quality control and time management. Through the earning of wages, they see the direct correlation between working and earning money, while the workshop provides a community of peers. You can see Nicholas at work in many of the pictures on the Aspire website.

We both are grateful for these wonderful children, these opportunities and to have met so many wonderful families along our journey.

Warmly,
Wendy and Denise