4th Annual Greater Waterbury Walk Now For Autism Speaks Will
Raise Awareness And Funds For Autism Advocacy, Research
And Services On June 1 At Waterbury Library Park
THEME: WHERE EVERY VOICE IS HEARD
Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, today announced
that the 4th annual Greater Waterbury Walk Now for Autism Speaks fundraising and awareness
event will take place on June 1, 2013 at Waterbury Library Park, 236 Grand Street.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. All event proceeds will support Autism Speaks work, both locally
and nationally, to increase awareness about the growing autism health crisis, fund innovative
autism research and family services, and advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and
their families in Waterbury and beyond.
Autism spectrum disorder is now diagnosed in 1 in every 88 children, including 1 in 54 boys,
making it the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
The Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are the signature fundraising events for Autism Speaks,
drawing hundreds of thousands of participants in 103 cities across the U.S. and Canada to support autism research, awareness and advocacy. Join the teams from New Haven, Litchfield, Fairfield counties and Massachusetts on this family fun day.
Each Walk Now for Autism Speaks event is unique, offering a safe and fun day for families impacted by autism. The day includes a 1.5 mile Walk and Community Resource fair with educational sources, therapists, schools, recreational organizations, and creative child-friendly activities a true one-stop-shop for families affected by autism. The Walk theme is Where Every Voice is Heard. Amanda Raus of NBC Connecticut is the emcee of the event. Autism Speaks president, Liz Feld, will be attending the walk. There will be great entertainment until noon including Anthem singer Crystal Ortiz (friend of autism), a Gilmartin student, Waterbury Arts Magnet School Chorus (sibling of autism), singer Linda Hernandez (mom of autism), special song for the Walk, “Every Voice is Heard" written and performed by Joe Masulli, and a special recording artist will be performing. Bounce Houses provided by KENecticut Hardware, children activities, Louise Klasin Music Therapy, Tony the Magic Man, Butterfly Affects and WAMS artists face painting, Waterbury Fire Truck, CL&P truck, The Superheroes and Friends, Gabe the Balloon Guy, double-dutch, and Zumba by Anelmy Cruz. Many volunteers including students, Waterbury Police Explorers, and Americorps will be present.
Tickets will be provided for the first 300 registered walkers at Library Park for a free Frankie’s hot dog; pizza provided by Park Pizza, Mario’s Pizza, and Giovanni’s Restaurant. Snacks will be available for walkers from Frito Lay, LesserEvil, Udi gluten free snacks and Deep River. Please be advised we will not have any food accommodations for special diets. We ask that if someone in your party has a dietary restriction, please bring something for them from home. Food is not sold at this event. There will have police officers on hand and the roads will be closed off during the walk to car traffic for everyone’s safety.
For more information about the 2013 Greater Waterbury Walk Now for Autism Speaks, please visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/gww, or contact Lauren Amendola, Autism Speaks Connecticut Director, at 203.200.8450, email: lauren.amendola@autismspeaks.org.
About Autism
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime.
It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines.
Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe. Autism is a public health crisis, the Centers
for Disease Control estimates that 1 in every 88 children, and 1 in 54 boys, in the United States has autism. The diagnosis rate is increasing 10-17 percent annually, making autism more common than pediatric AIDS, juvenile diabetes and childhood cancer combined.
About Autism Speaks
Our mission is to discover through scientific research the causes of autism and how to prevent it,
to build public awareness of the autism epidemic, to support families and community organizations, and to advocate for public policy change. In just five years, we have committed more than $145 million to innovative research, and become the catalyst for change and greater awareness around the globe.
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