Blog

Janel Miles’s motivation for taking on the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon this fall with the RUN FOR AUTISM team was crystal clear. “I’m running to raise awareness and funds for everyone like my son, Maxton, who deserves to live in a world filled with acceptance, inclusion, and kindness.” Maxton, now a middle schooler, was diagnosed with autism in late elementary school. “He’s the easiest, most friendly, happy kid in the world.”

Maxton’s journey to an autism diagnosis played out over the course of several years. He contracted meningitis soon after he was born and spent some of the first weeks of his life in the hospital. This resulted in developmental delays, and Maxton received support from special education programs throughout preschool and elementary school. Janel wondered if Maxton could be autistic, but as he was getting quality support through special education programs, she put her questions on the back burner for several years before applying to Seattle Children’s Hospital for an official diagnosis for him. As Maxton had other developmental delays, she wanted to make sure that the diagnosis process was robust and could disentangle any other challenges from autism. “They were wonderful and walked us through everything,” she said of Seattle Children’s Hospital. Though the COVID pandemic slowed the diagnosis process, Maxton officially got an autism diagnosis. “It doesn’t change who he is,” Janel said. However, the diagnosis provided an opportunity for autism education, teaching those around Maxton about autism. Thinking around stimming was also reframed. Instead of trying to keep Maxton from stimming, Janel focused on teaching others that stimming is part of who Maxton is, and that, while “socially unacceptable”, this behavior is very normal and helpful for regulation. Maxton’s diagnosis also opened new avenues for exploring communication styles to encourage him to give more robust answers, not just binary yes or no responses. Now a middle schooler, Maxton loves school and is quite popular with his teachers and classmates.

Janel also supports inclusion through her work at the Columbia Ability Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals with unique abilities and life barriers through employment services, a community center, and other programs. The organization works with both job seekers and employers, helping job seekers navigate the interview and job search process while showing employers the strengths that individuals with disabilities bring to employment to encourage inclusive hiring. The community center at Columbia Ability Alliance hosts social programs, including a youth program that Maxton is a part of. This after-school program for youths aged twelve to eighteen provides a space to build social skills and work on interacting with others while having fun.

Janel discovered Columbia Ability Alliance a few years ago when she was considering her next step in her career. “The stars aligned,” she said. “I’m making an impact on a community I’m also connected to through my son. It’s been so special.” As a CPA, Janel sought ways to make an impact while utilizing her skills, and the Columbia Ability Alliance was a perfect fit. It’s been rewarding: “Whenever you have a bad day, you walk over to the community center and get fifteen hugs from the most wonderful individuals in the world.”

Around the time she joined Columbia Ability Alliance, Janel began running. “Running has proven to myself that I can do hard things,” she said. “Running has taught me that I’m capable of so much more than I ever imagined. It’s helped me discover my determination, grit, resourcefulness, and discipline — and most importantly, how to be proud of myself.” As she’s gotten to know the running community, she’s found herself drawn to the camaraderie and uplifting spirit. In the last two years, Janel Miles has run nine half marathons and two full marathons, including the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon with the RUN FOR AUTISM team. “The energy in New York was like no other. It was magical.”