Chelsea Lord has learned to deal with her disadvantages in life and her enthusiasm and spirit of the season will be front and centre this weekend when she hosts the first ever Chelsea’s Christmas Extravaganza.
Lord is a 27-year-old woman with Asperger syndrome, a condition that falls within the classification of autism spectrum disorder. Because of this, she has some special challenges functioning in social situations but they haven’t stopped her from already being very successful.
She lives in her own home and recently graduated from NorQuest Community College where she studied to be an aboriginal community support worker. She clearly faces her obstacles with a smile and a ‘glass is half full’ attitude. Bright and happy, looking ahead to this weekend’s event, she attributes her enthusiasm to genetics.
“Everybody in my family has young facial features,” she laughs. “It makes me look younger than I am.”
She admits that she couldn’t get to where she is now without the great programs at Transitions and the support workers that it has provided to her over the last 10 years. Because she believes in making sure that one good turn deserves another, she decided a month ago to get the ball rolling on a fundraiser for both that agency and another one that she has experience with – the Autism Society of Edmonton.
Transitions is a non-profit organization that works to bridge the gaps so people with disabilities can enjoy the same quality of life as everyone else. Chelsea is living proof that the system works and she hopes that the extravaganza brings in some fundraising and helps make more people aware of equality issues for those with disabilities.
She also wants this event to become the first in an annual series.
Chelsea’s Christmas Extravaganza takes place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering homemade crafts and baked goods along with a silent auction, door prizes and entertainment including face painting.
Chelsea herself will have a table where she will be selling her own crafts, baked goods (including a batch of reduced sugar cookies), pottery, T-shirts and poems.
All proceeds will be split between Transitions and the Autism Society of Edmonton.
Organizers are still hoping to acquire more auction items and there are still some tables available for interested vendors as well. Please call Julie at 780-218-5857 to book your spot.
Transitions is located at #100, 365 Carleton Drive. For more information, email [email protected].
To learn more about the organization, call 780-458-7371 or visit www.transitions-ab.org.
