Students raise autism awareness with March 31 walk at Myers

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“EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT…”

 

Teen members of the Life Skills class at Cotulla High School will step forward Friday morning, March 31, to lead a 90-minute community walk at Myers Memorial Stadium as part of a project for autism awareness.

Organized by Randi Martinez at Cotulla ISD, the event will be open to all community members, students and staff. The participating youths are hoping to attract local government representatives, healthcare industry and service providers, local businesses, friends and family to the stadium in order to broaden the community’s understanding of autism and to encourage family-oriented health and fitness.

The walk is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and continue through 10:30, with participants walking or jogging the track, individually or in teams.

Admission to the stadium will be $5; all participants can purchase souvenir bracelet tickets at the Cotulla High School front office, Cotulla ISD administration building on Main Street, from CHS teacher aides, or at the stadium gate on the day of the event.

“We are excited to be hosting this walk in order to raise awareness about Autism,” CHS Life Skills teacher Deanna Ayala said. “Everyone is different, and it is okay to be. We want to normalize autism in our community and educate those who are not aware.

“We are hoping  this walk will bring more resources for special needs children, adults and their parents to our community,” Ayala added.

The students are also offering ‘Autism Awareness’ logo t-shirts for $25, for which all orders must be placed before March 6.

“High school students can be cruel to others who may be different, one way of overcoming this is educating those who are not aware,” CHS Vice Principal Carrie Nance said. “This autism awareness walk will be a way of starting that conversation. We hope we can get as much participation as we can from the students, staff and community members so we can make this an annual event.”

Students in the program reported they are excited that community members will make the walk and show their support.

“We hope by participating in this walk, we will put a smile on those kids faces,” one of the students wrote in a prepared statement this week.

Proceeds from the event will benefit student projects and activities in the CHS Life Skills classes.

Martinez can be reached for more information at CHS, (830) 879-2374, or by email at randi.martinez@cotullaisd.net.