2013 Ellen Reavis Race for Autism

Yesterday we had the amazing pleasure of attending the 2013 Ellen Reavis Race for Autism, in Albuquerque, NM! Here are some photos from the event:

Over 700 people came to race for autism! Some came in groups, together as families, some even came dressed in super hero capes!!

And....we're off!! The first person to cross the finish line took about 30 minutes, and ran the entire 3 miles!

Many people who did not come to participate in the race, came and watched from the side-lines, cheering people on and holding signs.

There were many booths set up on the sidelines, representing different organizations. All organizations shared a common goal: helping people with disabilities in one way or another.

There were also bouncy castles, face painting, and rock climbing, and pony rides for the children who attended!

For more photos, view our slideshow here: http://www.photosnack.com/my-slideshows/details/p7x9ekjk?jsalbum=1

Questions, comments, etc: thecommunicareproject@gmail.com 

Share your story as part of Autism Awareness Month! More info here: http://thecommunicareproject.blogspot.com/2013/04/april-is-autism-awareness-month.html

Real People. Real Experiences. Real Stories. - Autism Awareness Month

Today we have the pleasure of sharing with you a story sent to us by a speech pathologist/mother of a child with autism!

"Today, I had the pleasure of joining countless other parents and advocates at the University of New Mexico Center for Developmental Disabilities. A ceremony was held outdoors there, where Governor Susana Martinez signed HB.22 into law. She was joined by Bernalillo legislators, Rep. James Smith (R) and Senator Bill O’Neill (D), who sponsored the bill as a measure of bipartisan legislation to expand coverage from the 2009 Health Care Purchasing Act to cover public employees, state workers, municipal employees, and public school teachers.

Governor Martinez spoke to the crowd of families and advocates, after being introduced by the Executive Director Sara Baca, of the New Mexico Autism Society. Ms. Baca presented Governor Martinez with a plaque and a t-shirt from the Ellen Reavis Race for Autism which is occurring tomorrow, April 5, 2013 in Albuquerque. The governor spoke about personal accounts about how family members deal with caring for loved ones with disabilities, referencing her life, caring for her disabled sister for the past 7 years. She spoke about a personal story shared by one of the bill’s sponsor, who as a teacher at an East Mountain school had no coverage for her child with autism. During her speech, Ms. Baca’s own son, who is on the autism spectrum, stood next to the Governor, and passed her pens to her for the signing. Governor Martinez donned the shirt that was presented to her prior to signing the bill into law, and placed a signature puzzle design scarf around the child’s neck.

Following the signing, the Governor was greeted by lines of families wishing to offer their appreciation, and to have their picture taken with her. Many of them had short personal stories to share with her, about how this expansion bill will impact their family. I also had the pleasure of meeting Governor Martinez. I shared with her that as a mother of a child with autism and a speech language pathologist, I realize how much of an important step this is and what a difference this will make in the lives of many.

This is one step toward helping the 1 in 50 children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders. There are many more steps that need to be taken. There are still gaps; there are many families with no insurance at all, still others who have insurance but the deductibles and copays are so high in order to keep the premiums affordable, that the appropriate therapies are still cost prohibitive. Awareness and acceptance are necessary and key to the future of these families."

-Sherri North, MS CCC-SLP

Sherri North, MS CCC-SLP with Governor Susana Martinez

Questions, comments, etc: thecommunicareproject@gmail.com 

Share your story as part of Autism Awareness Month! More info here: http://thecommunicareproject.blogspot.com/2013/04/april-is-autism-awareness-month.html

April is Autism Awareness Month

It is finally April 1st and we can now begin to participate in Autism Awareness Month!

     When searching the web we came across many different definitions of Autism. Many said it was a mental condition which affects people's ability to communicate, understand language, and/or develop social relationships. Some definitions or explanations suggested that all people with Autism experienced the same 'symptoms,' and almost all definitions only talked about Autism in children, and did not mention Autism in adults. 

     Certain parts of different definitions we found were accurate, however quite a few were inaccurate in one way or another. So, if we can't find an accurate definition of Autism, what is it?

      The word Autism can refer to a number of subcategories that fall under the category of ASD, or Autism Spectrum Disorders. Some of these subcategories are Autism, Aspergers, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder[CDD]. 
     
     Still, this doesn't help! We still haven't answered the big question: "What is Autism?" But that's just it, there is no answer, because it is different for every child. You can't define autism because it is not constant, never the same. 

     So, we'd like to ask you to share your story! We will be sharing stories via this blog all through April in honor of Autism Awareness Month. Tell us what Autism is to you, based on your experiences. Share a story about something that has happened to you or a family member, relating to autism - good or bad! Ask questions and give advice!  We're looking for all of the following: stories, questions, comments, advice, and anything else you can think of!


     Please send in any submissions, stories, questions, or comments to thecommunicareproject@gmail.com. Stories and comments will be published, and questions will be published and answered on this blog unless otherwise specified. All submissions will remain anonymous. Even if you do not want your story, question, or comment published we would love to hear from you, and any questions or comments you have will be responded to by a member of the Communicare Project. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you!

     Also, a HUGE apology for our absence. We were unable to access our email account (and therefore our blogspot account) for the past 2 weeks and just had all accounts reset yesterday. We have spent the past day attempting to respond to the many emails we have received during our absence, if you have not yet received a response you can expect one soon! Thank you for your patience!