“Walk for Autism” Supports Local Students

Erin Smith, Adrienne Caulfield, McKinley Weaver, Paige Whitling, Ella Say, Amy Goldthwaite, and Sarah Say.

The Walk for Autism held on Sunday, April 27th at Keystone High School turned in another great show of support. Sponsored by the Autism Tough Foundation, the Walk now in its 3rd year helps support the Autism Awareness campaign held nationally each year in April.

The community engagement helps raise awareness about Autism by providing educational resources and helps integrate students with adult peers.

A student gets a chance to say hello to the Therapy dogs.

On hand were various support groups to answer questions for both parents and the community.

The Keystone “Life Skills” high school classroom participates each year by providing food to those in attendance. The food is donated by the Autism Tough Foundation. The event gives the students a chance to apply every day skills needed in today’s society through interaction and learning.

All the money raised goes go back into their classroom fund to purchase items needed for running their Snack Shack, trips and other activities they do throughout the year.

The Keystone Life Skills classroom provides a great opportunity for students to prepare for real world experiences.

At Keystone, students in the Life Skills classroom begin learning essential living skills at the junior high level. At this age students are able to complete one day of job shadowing experiences which gives each student an idea of what job or career choices are available in the area.

Older students are able to complete four weeks of job shadowing at six different job placements throughout the year with the assistance of the employer.

While in school, The Life Skills classroom offers a once a month “Snack Shack” where you can go into the room and purchase lunch. The students prepare all the food, interact with people, take orders and make change, etc. Once a month they take their snack cart to the Elementary school for teachers the chance to purchase items.

Unique to the program is an economy class which teaches the students about managing their money and paying their bills. Students get “paid” for the number of hours they are at school each week completing their daily housekeeping jobs within the classroom. They then cash their paychecks and are required to pay monthly bills each week in order to learn how to budget their money before making other purchases from the classroom store for themselves.

The students also participate in community based instruction outings a few times per year in order for them to learn how to use some of their community resources such as the ATM, post office, public library, public transportation, laundry mat, grocery stores, and restaurants.

Holly McKinley Weaver who organizes the walk, like to thank everyone who showed up this year to make the event a success.

A Chinese auction was held with the proceeds going back into the Austism Foundation which helps support programs throughout the year.