Rallying a Team, Taking the Leap: Rahim’s Story

For Rahim Hough, the decision to participate in the Leap for Autism was not a spur-of-the-moment choice, it was a commitment he made from the very beginning.

Just months into his role as Program Coordinator at Greystone Programs, Rahim already knew he wanted to be part of something bigger. After first hearing about the Leap during orientation, he made a promise to himself, when the time came, he would take the jump.

“It’s always been something on my bucket list,” Rahim shares. “And once I said I was going to do it, I meant it. I’m a man of my word.”

Now, that commitment has grown into something far beyond an individual experience.

Rahim did not take this leap alone. Drawing from the strong sense of community within his residence, he rallied his entire team at Van Kirk IRA to get involved. What started as a conversation quickly turned into collective action, with staff stepping up in different ways, some registering to jump, others offering support from the ground.

“It’s like a big family,” he says. “Everybody wanted to be part of it, in whatever way they could.”

That spirit of unity reflects the heart of Greystone Programs, where collaboration, encouragement, and shared purpose drive meaningful impact.

For Rahim, the Leap is about more than the experience or even the fundraising, it is about shifting perception and creating greater understanding. Through his work and personal connections, he has seen how individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities are often misunderstood.

“There are certain perceptions about people with disabilities,” he explains. “I want to help overcome that and show that we’re all equal. We all have the same rights.”

His message is simple, yet powerful. Individuals with autism are not defined by limitations. They are individuals with strengths, intelligence, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

“I want people to take away that they are human, they are smart, and they are great people,” Rahim shares.

In true grassroots fashion, Rahim’s fundraising approach has been both creative and personal. From leveraging social media to reaching out directly to friends, family, and even connections from past roles, he has built momentum through authenticity and outreach. He even turned his birthday into an opportunity to give back, asking those who wanted to celebrate him to instead support the cause.

And his efforts do not stop there. As a business owner, Rahim is also using his printing company to create and distribute shirts for supporters, offering them as a gesture of appreciation and a way to spread awareness even further.

“It’s all about supporting the cause,” he says.

As the Leap for Autism approaches, Rahim hopes his story encourages others to get involved, not just by participating, but by understanding. Whether someone chooses to skydive, donate, or simply show up in support, every action contributes to a larger movement rooted in equality, inclusion, and respect.

At its core, Rahim’s journey is about showing up, for his team, for the individuals we support, and for the message that every person deserves to be seen, valued, and embraced.

And for him, that starts with one promise, and one leap.

Join Greystone Programs, Saturday, May 2 from 10am-4pm at Skydive the Ranch.

Address: 55 Sand Hill Rd, Gardiner, NY 12525

For more information about Leap for Autism visit: https://www.greystoneprograms.org/leapforautism