I immediately gravitated towards the Community Outreach Committee, in equal parts because it was an area of interest and because Deidre Legge, Community Outreach Sub-Committee Chair, was so warm and enthusiastic!  I was well aware of the tremendous progress that Autism Speaks has made towards generating and increasing awareness of autism, but as I explored the website prior to attending my first meeting, I was amazed at all the information, resources, grants, etc. that Autism Speaks provides!  As someone whose primarily knowledge about Autism Speaks was their Walk events, I felt that it was my obligation to tell other parents, and others in my community about everything that Autism Speaks, as an organization, has to offer!

My top 3 reasons for my commitment to Autism Speaks are definitely all self-serving!  Firstly, being involved means an instant community – a community of parents, grandparents, siblings, co-workers, etc of people who are involved because they have a connection to autism.  This shared connection means that no matter what the specifics are, they understand the challenges, they don’t judge your decisions, they empathize with your struggles.  Because I felt understood, accepted and comfortable, it was easy for me to want to spend more time with these people, volunteering for events, etc…

The second reason for my involvement with Autism Speaks is the positive reinforcement I get for every little thing that I do!  The Staff and Committee Chairs are always praising me and making me feel that everything I do is amazing (I even get enthusiastic praise for making a phone call to someone!)  For a mom like me, who has not been in the working world since her kids were diagnosed (and who led, like most moms, a pretty isolated life since getting the diagnosis) this positive reinforcement makes me feel like I am on top of the world!

Lastly, whether I am confirming contact information for Autism Speaks’ records, convincing my local newspaper to write an article on this year’s Walk Now for Autism Speaks or facilitating a meeting between Autism Speaks and my district school, I know that I am making a difference.  I know that through my commitment to Autism Speaks, I am giving back to an organization that is working to ensure that my kids, and all kids with autism, get the support they need from an aware and educated community.  And that makes me feel amazing!

To get more involved in your community, email us at walks@autismspeaks.org.

Not only did the Walk feature kid friendly characters, like Geoffrey the Giraffe, the Chick-Fil-A cow, and Dexter the dinosaur, it also featured a Community Resource Fair with local autism-related service providers enabling a one-stop shopping atmosphere for the local families and parents. We would like to thank your local sponsors, Amerifactors, Massey Services, Landscape Structures, Winter Park Blue, BP AM/PM, and Starwood Vacation Ownership for helping us raise more than $225,000 towards our mission, as well as Uno Chicago Grill for serving free pizza, salad, hot dogs, and baked ziti, Dunkin Donuts for providing all of our coffee, donuts, and bagels, and to Pepsico for providing all of the water and soda for our dedicated walkers!

A very special thank you to our committee and their families led by volunteer co-chairs, Karen Thompson and Paul Ramirez for putting so much time and resources into making this event a success.

The Inaugural Volusia County Walk Now for Autism Speaks will be held on November 19^th, a satellite Walk of Orlando’s event. If you are in the area, stop by the Kenneth W. Parker Amphitheater for more family fun!

For more photos of the Walk, visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/AutismSpeaks.Orlando.

For any further questions, please contact your Walk Events Director, Chelsea Robinson at 407.478.6330 or by emailing her at Chelsea.Robinson@AutismSpeaks.org.

Walk Day morning excitement builds as participants head to the Start line

Wind could not blow away the excitement of Walk Day on Saturday, November 12th.  Nearly 8,500 walkers (3,000 families) came together to join us for the 8th Annual Dallas/Fort Worth Walk Now for Autism Speaksat QuikTrip Park/AirHogs Stadium in Grand Prairie, Texas. This 8th Annual Walk has raised over $400,000 dollars and counting!

Flagged tents recalling visions of the Chronicles of Narnia greeted us as Terry Edwards (Elvis) serenaded and danced with participants who also enjoyed plenty of family-friendly entertainment including:

• Emcees Garry Seith from CBS11 and Shoboy, MEGA 107.5’s award-winning morning DJ
• Grisham Farms Therapy Zoo
• 501st Legion – Star Garrison, North TX Squad
• The Kids on the Block puppets (Thx Garland ISD!)
• Dallas Museum of Art special programs
• Cindi Sanders Balloon Artist
• Bryan Lankford of Spellbinding Entertainment
• Geoffrey the Giraffe
• Chester the Cheetah

The Walk also featured a Community Resource Fair with local autism-related service providers, a Parents Resources Tent sponsored by Therapy 2000 and an Autism Speaks Information area.

We want to thank our national Walk sponsors Toys”R”Us & Babies”R”Us as well as our local sponsors: FelCor Lodging Trust, FedEx, Rothstein Kass, Therapy 2000, Carino’s Italian Restaurants, KidsCare Therapy, 21^st Century Insurance, Partners Resource Network, CBS11/TXA21, Mega 107.5, 103.7 LITE FM, North Texas Child Publications and a special thanks to PepsiCo and FritoLay for great snacks and drinks for all!

A very special thank you to our wonderful committee led by honorary chair, Rick Smith of FelCor Lodging Trust, Joey Barton and Adrienne Bransky and all of the Walk day volunteers and participants that supported Autism Speaks and came out to support our families and friends that live with autism every day.

For more photos of the Walk, visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks.dfw.

The Dallas/Fort Worth Walk is off and running!!!!