• Hats Off To Columbus Area Support Group and Bartholomew Community School Corporation: Partnership
• Hats Off To Hamilton-Boone-Madison Special Services Cooperative: Movie Day
• Hats Off To South LaPorte County Special Education Cooperative and Autism Society of Central Indiana: Start a Walk in Your Community
• Hats Off To M.S.D. of Wayne Township: Creating Building Level Autism Teams
• Hats Off To Johnson County Special Services
• Hats Off To Switzerland County Middle School Autism Team
• Hats Off To MSD of Lawrence Township: Training via District Website
• Hats Off To MSD of Warren Township: S.A.F.E. Supporting Autism for Everyone
• Hats Off To MSD of Martinsville: Camp Discovery: A Place for Kids to Have Fun!
• Hats Off To An Autism Team Working in Indiana: First Responder Training
• Autism Teams: Building Capacity Across Indiana
• Hats Off to Noblesville Schools for Creating Training Classrooms: Using Evidence-Based Practices of Visual Supports and Work Systems
• Hats Off To Asperger Autism Group of Goshen
• Hats Off to East Centeral Indiana Autism Society of America Chapter: Interlock
• Hats Off To Greater Lafayette Area Special Services Autism Team

Hats Off To South LaPorte County Special Education Cooperative and Autism Society of Central Indiana: Start a Walk in Your Community

Contributed by Melissa Dubie

In the spring of 2005, the autism team from South LaPorte County Special Education Cooperative decided their main focus for the year was to raise awareness in the schools and their community about autism spectrum disorders. In addition, the team wanted to create a group for parents to share, collaborate, and provide support to one another. As a result, the school autism team banded together with the parents of individuals with autism in their area to brainstorm ideas to bring autism awareness to their community. Their idea was to sponsor a Walk-A-Thon and 5K run. The group started by posting flyers at schools and community businesses seeking walkers and runners. Everyone gathered donations from individuals and corporations. The initial goal was 50 participants and to maybe raise 1,000 dollars. One of the parents, Don Bayne is a father of a child with autism and the pastor of a church in New Carlisle, Indiana. Through his congregation, support was given in the form of donations and volunteer workers on the day of the Walk-A-Thon. In addition, volunteers were members of the autism school team, their families, and friends. Teachers, a principal, therapists, and paraeducators from the South LaPorte County schools also volunteered.

The Walk-A-Thon was held on the grounds of the Olive Elementary School in New Carlisle. The day of the walk/run, everyone who registered and brought in at least one pledge received a free autism awareness Walk-A-Thon T-shirt and a free hot dog and chips for lunch. In addition, a short run and dash was held for younger children and a three lap run for those children under age 10. The whole family got involved.

The walk exceeded their expectations with a total of 300 participants. After the group paid all of their expenses and created an account to start preparing for the 2006 walk, $17,000 was donated to Autism Society of America. The school autism team and parent group were amazed by the overwhelming support in their community. Autism is not just a word any more in LaPorte County. Autism is a feeling, and the feeling is positive and moving in constructive directions.

After the race, the parent group that was formed became the Autism Society of North Central Indiana (ASNCI) which includes all of LaPorte, Porter, St. Joseph, and Starke counties.

During this year’s Walk-A-Thon, the South LaPorte County Special Education Cooperative autism team and the Autism Society of North Central Indiana are hoping to net over $30,000 and have at least 600 participants. The money will be used to begin a day camp this summer for children on the autism spectrum whose parents belong to ASNCI.

For more information on how to start a walk-a-thon in your area, contact Karen Cooper, autism consultant at South LaPorte County Special Education Cooperative at 1-219-325-0632 or via email at kcooper@lpcsc.k12.in.us. Or contact Don Bayne, parent contact with Autism Society of North Central Indiana (ASNCI) at 1-574-274-1808 (cell) 574-654-7312 or via email at dbayne@csinet.net.

Dubie, M. (2006). Hats off to . . . South LaPorte County Special Education Cooperative and Autism Society of Central Indiana: (Start a walk in your community). The Reporter, 11(3), 4.