Hello and Welcome,

My name is Erica Matthews, and I’m the founder and lead instructor of the Autism and Movement Project (AAMP) in Pana, IL. The young man in the photo is the heart behind everything I do — his name is Connor.

Connor was diagnosed with autism at just 2 ½ years old. I first met him when my mother was his aide in Early Childhood. At that time, Connor had little to no speech, struggled with intense sensory issues, and often seemed locked in his own world. And yet — he was solving 25- to 50-piece puzzles with ease, identifying sight words on command, and showing a brilliance that took my breath away. How could a child this intelligent not be able to form a single sentence? That question stayed with me, and from that moment on, I was determined to understand autism more deeply.

Each summer, I volunteered at school programs and spent more time with Connor. We built a unique bond — one where I could be his favorite person in private, and yet invisible to him in public. It was beautifully complicated, but deeply meaningful.

As time passed, his speech developed into echoing and more repetitive behaviors emerged. Searching for answers, we found a program in Charleston, IL called Dragonflies. I encouraged his mom to take him every Saturday, and soon we noticed something powerful: he was calmer, more grounded, and more engaged. That led me to the Aut-erobics DVD by Joanne Lara. We began practicing the movements together every day after school.

The first two weeks were tough — filled with resistance and trial and error — but then something extraordinary happened. I walked into their home one day, asked “Where’s Mom?” expecting only an echoed response. Instead, Connor looked at me, pointed upstairs, and said:

“She’s upstairs.”

It was his first sentence — after eight years of silence. I stood there, stunned and overwhelmed. That single moment changed everything.

Today, Connor attends regular education classes with resource support. He has shattered every limit that was placed on him. He is proof that with the right support, belief, and movement-based interventions, the impossible becomes possible.

Connor is the reason I started AAMP. He is my “why.”

And this is why I believe so deeply in the power of autism movement therapy.

This is why I do what I do — and why I will never stop.

Thank you for your support and we are forever grateful

Aamp Amt Learning Center Inc

AAMPing up hope funds