** Updated February 25th, 2015 for the 10th anniversary of Autism Speaks
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| Running with my boy in tow. |
It matters. Empowered by the great success of Walk Now for Autism Speaks around the country, 2 years ago, Team Up! Autism Speaks was born. “Run, Ride or Tri” with Team Up! for a myriad of athletic challenges throughout the year. As an official charity at these events, Autism Speaks reaps the benefits of participants’ fundraising efforts while the runner, cyclist, triathlete, mountain climber, etc. receives so much more.
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| Inaugural Disney Tinker Bell Half Marathon |
Training programs. A uniform. Discounted hotel rooms. Race entry. Camaraderie. Personal stories. Team dinners. Disney. Cheering fans along the course. Accomplishment. Hope.
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| Speaking at the Team Up! Dinner |
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| The Fairy Finish Line |
I run! At 53, I felt compelled to run my first half marathon with Team Up! Autism Speaks. When my boy was given the label of autism 16 years ago, there was no established system of advocates in place to shepherd us through. How my husband and I would have cherished the lifeline that is Autism Speaks. I have discovered that there is a special bond amongst runners who achieve a common goal; how much more poignant is the kinship that exists in a like-minded community that understands and sponsors the long journey of every autistic family. Next up, Disney’s The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler Weekend. Like Autism Speaks, we’ve only just begun…
Since then:
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| Happy Haunted 5K |
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| Volunteering at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-Miler. FUN. |
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| Walt Disney World 10K |
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| Autism Speaks 4 Miles of Hope in Central Park |
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| My son became the very first Team Up! summer intern!! |
You might want to follow my family’s autism story:
A Tale of March Madness- How Basketball Rescued My Autistic Son
I Won’t Grow Up… 53, Tinker Bell and Me
My Family’s April Awareness (World Autism Awareness Day)
THINK (My son’s video for National Anti-Bullying Month!!)
Defining Myself (My son’s post on the Autism Speaks Blog | In My Own Words)
What a wonderful experience for you! As a former teacher, I agree that with the number of children being diagnosed everyday, there are few out there who haven't been touched by this in one way or another. Autism Speaks is an amazing organization!
Thanks Beth- Autism Speaks is a true gift to so many!
I'm so proud of you for doing this. I want to help in any way that I can. I know donations help, but if there's anything else I can do, let me know.
Randy, you are a saint! Knowing you are doing some virtual cheering will help!! Thanks friend…
Back in 1994 my autism website was just being born. At one point it was the largest out there. Sorry you never found it, you'd have likely found the support you were looking for, the links to books, to mail lists, other parents & autistics, information & more information….. You're dates for AS is wrong, it wasn't 1995, it was 2005. I'm so very grateful that my children's childhoods predated Autism Speaks (though sadly not CAN, DAN etc etc) Alex ran Disney – without discounted rooms, free entry etc etc. He ran, as he always does "For autism, NOT against it", for Acceptance, Inclusion & Awareness – not for a cure, to be "kicked to the curb" because he's "broken" a "burden" the cause of divorce (we've been married over 30 years), bankruptcy or anything else Autism Speaks wanted the world to believe autism was all about. He's training now for Boston, having qualified with a 2:53:47. Not a charity racer, a very autistic guy who was given opportunity, inclusion & acceptance. An honours graduate from high school and a well adjusted, employed, young man. As his mother I did my best to shelter him from Autism Speaks' fear mongering message. I was among the people who successfully fought to have their "I Am Autism" PSA removed from their website. I am truly sorry you didn't find us 16 years ago. We were certainly here. So many of us were out here….
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your stories and views in such a respectful way. How fortunate we are that our children are thriving and committed members of their community. As a physical therapist and board member of an autistic school, I service the many, many thousands of families that will never say that. Mothers agonize over the placement of their young adults that will never be independent. Families are torn apart over children that, despite the best treatment options possible, are fully loved but completely unmanageable. The angst in the autistic community is perhaps because we do not have a full appreciation of this SPECTRUM disorder; the Wrights' grandson continues to be nonverbal and completely dependent. He will never see the inside of Georgetown University or Capitol Hill or many of the wonderful places our sons will. These differences MUST be recognized, and our varied voices respected for that very reason. Thank you for your intelligent dialogue- we are part of a very special sorority!
Your son and mine are worlds apart. While your son was telling you before his 5th birthday what he wanted to be when he grew up, Alex was still considered non-verbal at that age. Aside from "no", "oh no" and "bye", he did not speak until months after his 6th birthday. Many of his fellow runners have never heard him speak. Will he be independent? Time will tell as it will also tell for Christian and others. You seem to be making incorrect assumptions about my son, perhaps about the children of others as well? In my own family, where 50% of us have a formal ASD Dx we certainly appreciate the breadth and depth of the spectrum. What we don't appreciate is what AS has said about autism – no autistic child or adult should ever have to hear such horrific, sensationalized things said about them. That kind of rhetoric helps no one and, in my opinion, is morally & ethically way out of line. It's also totally unnecessary. But sadly, it is part of Autism Speaks legacy. Thank you for your dialogue.
Autism Speaks does not listen to autistic people. Go to autistic-run organizations if you want to support autistic people.