Midlands Residents to take Strides for Autism
April 19, 2013
COLUMBIA, SC – May 4, 2013
May 4 Event Will Benefit SC Families Affected By Autism
Midlands residents will walk in support of South Carolina families affected by autism on Saturday, May 4, in the Strides for Autism event to benefit the South Carolina Autism Society (SCAS).
Strides for Autism is SCAS’s signature fund-raising and awareness walk. This Midlands family event takes place at Riverwalk Amphitheater in West Columbia. The walks are among various activities that benefit the organization and the families it serves.
Our Honorary Chair is local radio personality, Kelly Nash. Since 2005, Mr. Nash and his partner Jonathon Rush have been a team on Columbia radio. First heard on Top 40 WNOK, they currently host 5:30-9 in the morning on Country 97.5 WCOS, and 3-6 in the afternoon on News Talk 100.1 WVOC. Mr. Nash is the parent of a young-adult with autism, who was not diagnosed until he was in his teens. He strives to encourage early diagnosis and intervention for autism spectrum disorders, so that all affected individuals can have the best future possible.
Joe Pinner of WIS-TV will return as our Emcee.
Supporters unable to participate in an actual walk can participate virtually through the event’s Web site, http://scautism.org/strides/, by forming a team, joining a team, or simply making a donation to the virtual event.
Susan Leiby, Communications and Events for the South Carolina Autism Society and a parent of a child with autism, first participated with her family in Strides for Autism in 2008. Participating in these walks lets us help increase awareness, education, and advocacy state-wide she said. It is also an opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to those with autism, and give back to an organization that has provided so much to us as we’ve faced this diagnosis.
There are two main goals with our Strides event.
1) To raise the awareness of autism spectrum disorders. With the occurrence rate of autism at 1 in 88, everyone is or will soon be affected in one way or another by autism. It may be a family member or it may be coworker’s child or a friend’s child. So the better understanding our society has, the better the quality of life for those on the spectrum will be.
2) To raise funds for the South Carolina Autism Society. This fundraiser is to help ensure SCAS can meet the needs of families through information and referral, trainings and workshops and advocacy.
SCAS is the premiere advocating for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders and their families, while also providing assistance and resources. SCAS promotes, educates and raises awareness that one in every 88 births in the U.S. is a child with autism, and provides support for South Carolina-based research and development. Most importantly, SCAS works to ensure that the estimated 50,000 individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) living in South Carolina have opportunities to achieve a quality of life comparable to their peers.
Monies raised for South Carolina Autism Society stay in South Carolina and go towards family supports, education, advocacy, and South Carolina-based research.
Autism is a complex neurological disorder that interferes with the development of the brain in reasoning, social interaction and communication skills. Its prevalence rate now places it as one of the three most common developmental disabilities. Autism is three to five times more common in males and occurs in all social and ethnic groups. Family income, lifestyle and education do not affect the chance of occurrence.
Yet the majority of the public, including some professionals in the medical, educational and vocational fields, are still unaware of how autism affects behavior. Progress is being made in developing more effective teaching methods and other interventions for individuals with autism.
Additional sponsorships are available, as are spaces at the Exhibit Fair. To participate, please contact Susan Leiby at [email protected] or 864-241-8669.
Registration and other information for Strides for Autism, along with information about autism and SCAS, is available at the event Web site, http://scautism.org/strides/, or by calling the Columbia SCAS office at 1-800-438-4790.
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