Unseasonably cool weather and a little snow did not deter dozens of people from attending the second annual Autism Walk at Keystone High School on Sunday.
“Our goal was to raise awareness for people with intellectual disabilities,” Autism Tough Foundation Vice President Holly McKinley Weaver said, and that a constant flow of information is vital “because needs change as the children grow older. This is our second year and we had a lot of people pulling together.”
For people who are unaware of what autism is, Kayla Simpson, who serves as secretary for the nonprofit, explained it’s a neurological disorder that “affects many brain processes,” and “it can affect how individuals speak.”
According to Simpson, there were about 60 volunteers on hand and many children signed up in school to help. Visitors, volunteers and vendors totaled about 250 people at the event according to Weaver.
In addition, she said, “We have monthly sensory-free meetings and we also take (the children) to the trampolene park, swimming, a fall festival at our camp and bowling. We have to keep the lights and music down, of course.”
Although Sunday’s event was to raise awareness, Weaver said Autism Tough sold T-shirts for the cause and that donations are accepted year-round.
“We have been very blessed because our local area has given us so many donations,” she said. “That is how we fund what Autism Tough does. We do monthly activities with the kids.”