Hundreds of families participated in the South Carolina Autism Society's Strides for Autism event Saturday morning at Finlay Park in downtown Columbia. The goal of the event was to raise awareness and funds for Autism. Autism is a developmental disorder that interferes with the brain in reasoning, social interaction and communication skills.
Dionne Fleshman, a mother of an autistic child, can still remember when her son was first diagnosed with the illness back in 2008. She says, "[my initial reaction was] Shock. Devastation. Why me? There are so many things that go through your mind."
The SCAS has been hosting the walk for the last three years. According to President & CEO, Craig Stoxen, the disease has become increasingly common among newborns. "It occurs in about one in 110, which just 10 years ago, we used to say it was a very rare disorder so the occurrence rate is increasing," he stated.
Autism is a spectrum disorder meaning it can be either mild or severe in each individual's case. Fleshman's son, Joseph, is a high-functioning autistic and is able to attend regular school classes with special assistance. "We've been blessed to have an awesome team. Every year we've worked with Joseph there's always been somebody who's decided I'm going to make this child be the best he can," Fleshman stated.
For a lot of families, Strides for Autism isn't just about gaining an understanding about the disorder, it has also been a great way for them to unite with other parents dealing with similar issues. Fleshman said, "We connect with other families who are going through what we're going through. Moms and Dads who are having experiences."
The walk has also been a way for families to remind the community that autistic people are special and not that much different from everyone else. "It's easy to love a person with Autism. They give much more than you get," Fleshman stated.
To learn more about Autism and the South Carolina Autism Society visit www.scautism.org.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWACH