Autism walk to be held at SBRHS track

March 07--SOMERSET -- A walk to bring awareness to autism and acceptance of students who have that spectrum disorder, along with a lot of other activities, is being planned for April 7 at Somerset Berkley Regional High School.

The name of the event that is being organized by North Elementary School special education teachers Julie Schoonover and Andrea Reagan is "Walk the Walk, Stepping in the Right Direction for Autism."

"We're trying to really make people more aware of how prevalent it is, increase acceptance and celebrate the wonderful things that it does have," Schoonover said of autism. "People with autism have gifts that directly enhance others and we don't always look at it that way, at first. Children with autism provide so much to our community and to our schools."

Schoonover and Reagan said they want the walk and other activities to be a community-wide event for people in Somerset to participate in. Schoonover said she believes it is the first time that such an event will be held for autism in Somerset.

Schoonover said that one in 68 children have autism and the rate is even higher for boys, with one in 42 boys having autism.

"It's one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the U.S.," Schoonover said.

The walk and activities will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on April 7 at the SBRHS track and area around it. People can register to participate in the fundraiser on eventbrite.com. There is a Facebook page with information about the walk and flyers about the event will be sent home with students in Somerset schools. Cost to register in the two-mile walk around the track is $20 for adults. Children 12 years old and under can participate in the walk for $10 and children who are two years old and under can walk for free. The first 200 entrants in the walk will receive commemorative tee shirts.

With funds raised from the walk, Schoonover said that mini grants will be provided to teachers in the Somerset schools for things that will benefit students, such as equipment, field trips or software.

There will also be a silent auction and raffle at the event.

There will be informational booths at the walk. Schoonover said she wants the walk and activities to be fun for people.

"It will be a great opportunity for the community to come together and families to spend the day together," Reagan said.

Schoonover said they are hoping to have food trucks at the walk.

Schoonover said students will also be involved with the festivities. Somerset Middle School student Bella Manchester will sing the national anthem. Students will announce the beginning of the walk. Schoonover said students will also run interactive activities at the event.

Schoonover said she is hoping that speech pathologists and occupational therapists will have booths to show how their services benefit children. She said she is hoping the Somerset Parents Advisory Council On Education will set up a booth at the event to show the great work that it does. Schoonover said Somerset PACE President Lisa Bancroft has said her organization will be involved with the event.

Schoonover said she is also hoping to get the Unified Sports program and the Best Buddies program at SBRHS involved with the event.

Schoonover said she is hoping for good weather for the walk and activities, but said the event will be held rain or shine.

Those who would like to be sponsors for the event, have an information booth there or donate prizes for the silent auction and raffle, can contact Schoonover at julia.schoonover@somersetschools.org or Reagan at andrea.reagan@somersetschools.org.

Schoonover said that on April 6, they are asking students and staff in schools in Somerset and people in the community to wear blue to celebrate autism and recognize the event the next day. She said other events related to autism will be held that week in the Somerset schools. Schoonover said Somerset author Steven Manchester will be coming to North Elementary School to read his book, "Perfect Chase: One Reflection of Autism," that is a children's book about siblings sharing the invaluable lessons of true friendship, empathy, unconditional love and understanding, as taught to them by their autistic (and perfect) brother, Chase. Schoonover said there will be other lessons in classes that week about how everyone is different and special in their own ways. She said other schools, besides North Elementary School, will be encouraged to participate in these activities.

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. Schoonover said that a lot of activities related to autism have been held that month in past years.

"It is important for the whole community to be aware of what autism is, because people have different ideas of what autism is," Lisa Martiesian, who is the special education director for the Somerset Public Schools, that comprises the elementary schools and middle school in Somerset, and for the Somerset Berkley Regional School District, said of the walk and other activities on April 7. "It will teach people what autism is, what we do here and what families go through, so it will be a good educational experience and it's good for the kids to be involved, too."

Martiesian said students in general education at North Elementary School and students in special education classes interact well together and are kind to one another when they are in classes together. She attributed that success to teachers and staff who work with the students to help foster those relationships. She said it will be nice to see the subject of autism talked about in all schools.

Jeffrey Schoonover, the superintendent of the Somerset Public Schools and Somerset Berkley Regional School District, said that raising awareness of autism is something the school district has been expressing a need for, for several years.

" In recent years, we have created programs in our school district to service students with autism," Schoonover said. "More of our students with autism are now in our schools and classrooms with their peers, as they ought to be. It is important for us to bring more awareness and acceptance for children with autism in our schools and community."

Somerset School Committee member Melissa Terra said that it is a good time for the walk since April is Autism Awareness Month.

"We're not just going to talk the talk, we're going to walk the walk," Terra said. "Hopefully, we can teach the community something and show them how great these kids are."

Keller Williams Realty South Watuppa, which has an office based in Fall River, has signed up to be a platinum sponsor for the walk.

Jamison Souza, the chief executive officer for Keller Williams Realty's south coast Massachusetts marketing office and a former member of the Somerset School Committee, said his office loves being part of the community and especially contributing to education and causes that help children.

Souza said the walk will benefit children with autism by making more people aware of the gifts they have.

"It's a great cause," Souza said. "I think it will be really nice for the community to be educated and get involved."

North Elementary School Principal Paula Manchester said organizers are trying to bring the whole community together for awareness of autism. She said the walk will celebrate the differences of children.

"Every child with autism is very different from the next," Manchester said. "When you've seen one child with autism you've only seen one."

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