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GOOD NEWS ABOUT SENSORY-FRIENDLY MOVIES! We have been working with Cinema 10 to bring you and your family sensory friendly movies once a month. In the past the movies have been at the regular scheduled hours. The theatre has made special arrangements for us to have the theatre reserved just for our special needs families. From now on most movies will start between 9:30-10:00 AM. Example: If the 1st regular scheduled movie starts at 12:00, then the sensory friendly movie would start 2 hrs. prior to that. We hope you will be able to take advantage of this great service they are offering. The movies will be the last Saturday of each month. Dates, times, and movie will be sent via e-mail 2 days prior to movie day. We'll look forward to seeing you there!!

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WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, AND WHY WE WALK
Autism Awareness Walkathon, Inc. is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization (#20-5148355) that is headquartered in Mansfield, Ohio. We stage our annual walkathon on the third Saturday of each September in order to raise money for Autism Awareness. The funds that are generated from the walk stay in Richland County to help provide local families with services that pertain to autism.

Our mission is to raise Autism Awareness in our community and educate the general public about this complex condition that affects one out of every 88 children born today. It is our purpose to help provide information, support, education, and resources for families and individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We want to make EVERY day Autism Awareness Day.

Autism is not a mental illness, it is a neurological developmental disorder. For the most part, children with autism appear to be just like other typical children when you see them, and often times are quite talented in arts, music, mathematics, and many other fields. And just like every other child, they are not without feelings or emotions and need love and compassion. Early intervention and treatment is the key to helping children who are diagnosed with autism reach his or her full potential. Many autistic children grow up to become functional and productive adults.

Even if you don't know an autistic person, you can help in a big way by simply being understanding of them should you happen to encounter one in your normal daily routine. Whenever you see an autistic child at the park, at the store, at church, in a restaurant, or anywhere except at home, you might think they are unruly and just need a good spanking to "straighten them up". From the outside, it is easy to confuse an autistic child with one who is spoiled or has disciplinary issues, or assume that the parents lack proper child rearing skills. None of these assumptions are true.

Many autistic children cannot speak or communicate the way typical children do, and often times become highly agitated and frustrated when trying to express themselves. That's when you see them having what is commonly referred to as a "meltdown". It isn't a temper tantrum, it is simply the child's way of trying to ask for what they want, express how they feel about something, or tell someone what's wrong with them. Just trying to ask for a drink of water, complain of a headache, or express displeasure with something can result in an emotional disaster.

It is important to the families and friends of the children and adults who are victims of autism to get the word out so that people who don't know them can better understand them. Whether you walk with us, man a table, donate money, or simply pass out refreshements at the event, thank you for doing your part to help us spread the word about autism!