If you don't know a young child with autism, you soon will. One in 110 children in our country are diagnosed with autism. It is the fastest growing disability in the United States. One of these children is my younger brother Alex.
When he was 22 months old we were told that Alex would never talk and function like a typical child, but like the determined kid he is, Alex found his voice and hasn't stopped talking and functioning since. I have seen through a sister's eye what the affects of autism are on children and their families.
There is a great organization in our Valley that helps these children and their families. It's called Families for Effective Autism Treatment. This non-profit organization helps families of children with autism. This group offers a support group where families can meet and discuss issues surrounding autism and treatment options. They are also very active in raising autism awareness in our community.
Even though there is no cure for Autism, the therapies and treatments that the organization helps pay for makes a big difference in the lives of these children.
The group is having a 5K charity walk called Walk for FEAT 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 7. This walk will benefit children with autism. Please come and walk. If you can't walk, please consider making a donation to this wonderful organization. For only $25, you will get a warm up exercise by some of the best instructors in the Valley, a T-shirt, autism wristband, food from Chili's and lots of other goodies. Please come to support families with children with autism. It's a great cause.
Call 782-4138 for information and tickets or go to www.featofthecarsonvalley.org to register.
Minden resident Bailey Gumm is Miss Douglas County's Outstanding Teen 2010.
