BY CAMI KOONS
The Eudora Autism Community Education and Support Society will host its 10th and final Autism Awareness Walk virtually on April 4 in compliance with the Centers for Disease Control’s group gathering mandates. The group will dissolve after 10 years of work in the community.
Eudora ACES is a nonprofit group committed to supporting parents of children with autism, educating the community and generating awareness about autism, said Stacey Watts, one of the group’s leaders. Watts said the group uses the funds generated from the annual Autism Awareness Walk to purchase materials for special education classes.
Jacqui Folks, a founding member and leader of Eudora ACES, said she is devastated to cancel the walk this year, but hopes people will still join virtually and share pictures of their walks. Folks said participants are encouraged to walk with family or alone while wearing the autism awareness color, blue, and share pictures with Eudora ACES.
“We can still have people walk for ACES and for autism,” Folks said. “Even if it’s on a treadmill.”
Through business sponsorships, Watts said the group has raised over $2,000 this year and hopes to raise more through T-shirt sales leading up to the virtual walk. The funds generated will be dissolved into the Eudora Schools Foundation, which will continue to do the work ACES started.
Watts said when ACES started 10 years ago, the Eudora Schools Foundation was not able to provide the same support to special education. She said the Eudora Schools Foundation is now able to provide many of the special services ACES started.
“It eases my mind knowing other kids are getting help and parents are getting help,” Watts said.
Eudora ACES purchased learning materials for Jennifer Ramirez, a teacher of transitional services for 18- to 21-year-olds with autism, several times. When Eudora ACES filled her entire wishlist of classroom items, she was amazed.
“I couldn’t believe that such a small town like Eudora could gain so much community support,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said Eudora ACES purchased items for her classrooms that an administrator, allocating money for an entire school, would have deemed as nonessential. Ramirez said these materials have helped immensely in her classes.
For example, she said Eudora ACES purchased a bed so she could teach students how to make their beds. This helps develop the skills necessary to get a job in a hotel.
Ramirez said she has also received sensory tools that help her reach some of her nonverbal students.
Folks said Eudora ACES was not only important in generating funds for special education programs but in educating the community about autism.
“Anything you can do to raise awareness and inclusion for children with autism is important,” Folks said.
The virtual Autism Awareness Walk will take place at 1 p.m April 4. Participants are encouraged to post their pictures to the Eudora ACES Facebook page.
Reach reporter Cami Koons at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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