Sorority sponsors autism walk

With the number of diagnosed cases of autism on the rise, the sisters of the Southeast Missouri State University chapter of Alpha Xi Delta sorority are sponsoring a walk to raise money and awareness for the developmental disorder.

The first Autism Speaks Walk will be Saturday on Southeast's campus. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the walk kickoff is at 9 a.m. The kickoff will feature state Sen. Jason Crowell and Barb Goode with Autism Speaks, a national organization that helps fund biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism. The walk will last until 10:30 a.m.

The walk course will begin at the Show Me Center and travel about a half-mile across the Southeast campus, taking about 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Rowdy the Redhawk and Southeast cheerleaders will be along the route to cheer on participants.

Walk organizer and sorority adviser Stacy Elfrink said this is the first year the sorority has partnered with Autism Speaks as their national philanthropy.

"Alpha Xi chapters across the country will be having walks to benefit Autism Speaks, but ours will be the first to take place. There is no cost to walk, but we will accept donations and walkers can get people to sponsor them," Elfrink said.

"It is amazing how many people know someone who has autism. One of our alums has a son with autism, and we have dedicated our walk to him. After the walk, we plan to present him with a medal," Elfrink said.

In addition to the walk, there will be resource booths sponsored by autism advocacy and community groups, face painting, temporary tattooing, inflatable activity houses, raffles and snacks. Autism Speaks T-shirts will also be available for purchase.

According to the Autism Speaks website, autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder. An estimated 1 in 150 children have some form of autism.

Deena Ring, director of special services for the Cape Girardeau School District, said 40 to 50 students in her school district have some form of autism.

"These students do have very specific needs. The needs are not prescriptive. They vary with the individual," Ring said.

The children can require services such as speech therapy, classroom support, transition services, social support and occupational services.

Ring said keeping teachers and staff members current with the latest trends in autism treatment and education is important to helping those students. The district sends staff to training, and an autism coach visits all of the schools and works with teachers and autistic students. Not only do special education teachers receive training, but the autism coach also works with regular education teachers.

"Many of these students are in regular classrooms, and those teachers need training, too. We mainstream whenever possible," Ring said.

Ring said events like the Autism Speaks Walk are important in raising awareness about the disorder and finding potential treatments.

"You can't do anything until you understand the situation," Ring said.

She said if parents have concerns their child may be autistic they can contact their doctor for a medical diagnosis.

Individuals interested in registering for the walk or donating money can visit www.walknowforautism.org/stlouis/alpha_xi_ delta.