Editor's Note: This story has been adjusted to clarify Jenny Knoderer's role at the Tailor Institute.

The loss of a leader can destroy a group, leaving members struggling to continue without their uniting visionary.

But sometimes it strengthens a group. For some, including staff and supporters of the Tailor Institute, such a loss means working harder and doing more.

The institute's founder, David Crowe, died in March after battling brain cancer. Since 2003, Crowe and other supporters helped build the institute, teaching the world about the gifts of people on the autism spectrum.

Before his death, Crowe made clear his simple vision for the Tailor Institute.

David Crowe

"The goal and vision is to keep moving forward," said Jenny Knoderer. "Like every other nonprofit, every year we work to make sure next year is stable. ... It's a year-to-year process, but we feel great about it."

Knoderer previously served as the Tailor Institute's executive director and continues to work with the group. Carrie Tracy is the new ED. She considered Crowe a mentor and said losing him was difficult for everyone involved with the institute.

But progress has only continued as staff and volunteers keep Crowe's vision alive. This year has been a busy one for the Tailor Institute, as it has expanded its reach to help more children, teenagers and young adults than ever before.

Its Project Life Experience is continuing with success. The program offers an opportunity for 10 high school juniors and seniors on the autism spectrum to briefly participate in the college experience and live independently. It includes a tour of Southeast Missouri State University and its student support services, plus tours of various city services such as transit, business and employment innovation centers and health care. Participants stay overnight in a Southeast residence hall.

A similar project that helps individuals with autism seek employment and prepare for interviews also is wrapping up a successful year. Knoderer said the institute expanded the employment project, and a lot of its success could be attributed to local businesses. The institute offers presentations where businesses are invited to learn more about autism, the Tailor Institute and what individuals with autism can offer in the workplace. These educational opportunities mean more clients of the Tailor Institute are being employed, Knoderer said.

"Autism awareness as a whole is expanding," she said. "We try not to get overexcited, but we have an attitude, really, of gratefulness that we're in a community that is so supportive, because we're a small organization with a really big vision."

Services for young adults have been the institute's primary focus, but Knoderer said exciting steps have been taken in its children's program. That program has been going through a pilot phase, and she said staff have high expectations for a full launch.

About eight children went through this year's program, which begins with an interview with the parents and an assessment of the child to determine his or her interests and strengths. The children go through six to eight sessions, each focusing on topics such as math, science, architecture and music. Each session features a group of children, some of whom are on the autism spectrum and some who are not, working together. These interactions are studied and used to help children.

"We had one child, for instance, his skill was reading. He could read a book cover to cover faster than any other adult I know and remember the entire thing," Knoderer said. "In the architecture session, he was fairly bored, so we just let him be there and the way he taught himself in all the sessions was to find a book on each [topic] and read it. Then, he became engaged with all the other children because he was using his skill. That's what we're all about. We're about building confidence and abilities through skill sets that already exist within these children."

The children's program is donor-driven, she added. The institute relies on fundraisers and donations to continue the program, and Knoderer said many in the community have been more than willing to support it.

The Tailor Institute's primary fundraiser, Diamond in the Rough, netted $33,700 this year. The goal was $30,000. Knoderer attributes that success to community members who have forged relationships with the institute and the original vision of Crowe.

"This concept of being beyond the Tailor Institute, that came from David and it stands very firm with our board of directors," she said. "We're not just for Tailor Institute. This is about raising awareness in our community."

As the institute continues to forge more relationships in the area, it's working to serve more children and young adults in the St. Louis region. Knoderer said there's no formal office and no plans so far to create one, but the institute is trying to provide some services to those in that area. Meetings have been held with parents, teachers and other advocates in St. Louis to discuss the institute and its services. Clinicians also have performed a few preliminary assessments and invited potential clients and their families to the institute to learn more about its services.

"We've been able to expand those relationships so people have better access to us," Knoderer said. "The need [for autism services] is huge everywhere."

It's been a strong year for the Tailor Institute: one of action, expansion and planning for bigger things. Knoderer said she believes the momentum generated will carry the institute through the rest of the year and well into next year.

"We don't plan to slow down," she said. "I don't think slowing down -- that's not in our vocabulary."

srinehart@semissourian.com

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