TeamUp with Autism Speaks

Happy Halloween: A guide for making the holiday fun for everyone | Autism Speaks For people on spectrum, scary Halloween decorations, loud sounds and tight or scratchy costumes can be a lot to handle. Learn how to help them on Halloween.

What an amazing first day at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Expo! We had the opportunity to connect with so many new people, raise awareness about our mission, and catch up with some of our incredible runners to celebrate their accomplishments.

We are back tomorrow from 9AM to 6PM! TeamUp runners… don’t forget to stop by our booth to celebrate and pick up your participant gift bag!

Autism Speaks

🏃‍♂️💙 Calling All Cheerleaders 💙 🏃‍♀️

Join Autism Speaks TeamUp at the Charity Block Party to support and cheer on the incredible runners of the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

📆 when: October 13th

📍where: Near Mile 15 - Adams Street starting at Loomis St. and extending west.

Let’s bring the energy and cheer loud for every runner passing by- especially our TeamUp participants who are running to make a difference for the autism community! 🎉🎉

Register to join us here: https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/10C0A4FAEA722A2F4C70-51314447-autism

Join TeamUp to make a difference with your magical miles!

We have limited entries available for the Wine & Dine 5K, 10K, and Two-Course Challenge! Register on our website at the link below before its too late!

https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/TR/TeamUp/TeamUp?fr_id=7873&pg=entry

Autism Speaks TeamUp needs YOUR help!

We are in need of volunteers during the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon weekend from Wednesday, October 9th through Sunday, October 13th.

Volunteers are needed to assist at the Expo Wednesday-Saturday and for the cheer squad on Sunday.

To view more details about these opportunities and sign up to volunteer, use this link: https://lnkd.in/g8AyRYgW
You may sign up for more than one shift.

Questions? Contact Heidi Meier at [email protected] or [email protected]

Here is your chance to experience the MAGIC of Disney and support Autism Speaks at the same time!!

Autism Speaks TeamUp has entries available for the following events:
💙 2024 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend (5K and Two-Course Challenge, only)
🩷2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (5K and 10K)
💛2025 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend (All race distances)
💜2025 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (All race distances)
🧡2025 runDisney Springtime Surprise (All race distances).

Register and secure your entry on our website today: https://act.autismspeaks.org/site/SPageNavigator/teamup_home.html?s_src=AutismSpeaks.org&s_subsrc=Redirect

"My parents for example made a significant impact in my journey growing up with autism. They never gave up on me, especially when it came to fighting for services during my early intervention."

https://okt.to/cNf5AT

As an autistic child I was thankful for my parents advocacy | Autism Speaks "I learned more about my strengths and challenges at that time and it made me understand even more about the hours they put in to fight for me."

"Growing up with autism I would befriend bullies because even though I was receiving negative attention it was some form of attention. I also had a challenge understanding sarcasm. Being nonverbal till I was 2.5 and not speaking in complete sentences till I was 7, I was an easy target because I couldn’t stand up for myself." https://okt.to/hnRypP

Please Teach Your Children Kindness When Interacting With Kids With Special Needs | Autism Speaks "Pledge to practice empathy, celebrate differences and educate others to do the same. Thank you."

"That's why accepting your flaws is important. I still haven't dealt with the trauma of the past as I thought. I inadvertently buried it by just getting through it. This summer, I want to encourage all of you to start healing." https://okt.to/EmedZR

Why accepting my flaws was important as an autistic mom | Autism Speaks That's why accepting your flaws is important. I still haven't dealt with the trauma of the past as I thought. I inadvertently buried it by just getting through it. This summer, I want to encourage all of you to start healing.

"Eighteen is a real reckoning, just like twenty-one will be years from now. Your dad and I are in the process of acquiring guardianship over you so we can make important decisions on your behalf, and we are wading through the morass of Social Security, the DDD, and Medicaid to make sure you receive all the benefits you are entitled to." https://okt.to/Pucdo3

Preparing for my son with autism's adult life | Autism Speaks "So in the end I know we simply have to continue to move forward. I know I have to do my best to create a continuation of the good life you’ve had at home and at your school, continue to find things that delight and challenge you in the years to come."

"Stimming. What is it? It is a physical behavior that occurs with many emotions and feelings in autistic individuals. I personally like to call it 'stimmies'. It also can be a quirk. It is beautifully unique as much as you are. Please don't feel bad for it." https://okt.to/7KJaPu

I stim to communicate my feelings | Autism Speaks "People are always going to have something to say about something or someone or a behavior that doesn't fit into their views and expectations about normalcy. SO WHAT!! "

"As a parent it can be unnerving having a special needs child in the adult world. Having to teach them to be as independent and safe as possible. I think it is a process and it is not completed overnight, it’s on a day to day situation." https://okt.to/1KOgVG

I want others to treat adults with autism with the respect they deserve | Autism Speaks "Having to teach them to be as in dependent and safe as possible. I think it is a process and it is not completed overnight, it’s on a day to day situation."

"I would like to begin this blog by introducing myself… but sadly, I do not feel like I can. You see, our community is so conflicted about ABA and I cannot put myself in that position. It saddens me. I wish I could show you my smile as I complete a task in ABA." https://okt.to/JOBsed

ABA: What is it and what it means to me | Autism Speaks ABA is only meant for children, but the therapy can also have huge benefits for adults. One autistic community member shares her experience with ABA.

"'When I contacted ART, they were very nice and so understanding. They told me about the 100 Day Tool Kit and that they would have it printed and bound at my local FedEx Kinkos store,' said Deirdre. 'The Tool Kit helped me through my first 100 days after his diagnosis and beyond. It helped me understand Daylen and his challenges better. It also gave me a wealth of knowledge that I still use today.'"

https://okt.to/OyqLri

Autism Speaks Tool Kits designed to provide crucial resources | Autism Speaks Meet Nathan, 52, and Daylen, 9. Both have different strengths and challenges, need varying levels of support and have navigated different autism journeys to this point in their lives. One commonality they share is that they and their families have relied on Autism Speaks for resources along the way.

"Grace also experiences unique challenges related to her autism. For example, she has difficulties expressing her emotions and often acts out when frustrated or misunderstood. Rachel and her family are working to teach Grace healthy communication skills that reduce some of her challenging behaviors. Here, Rachel shares her experience parenting Grace and helping her learn to express her emotions in a positive way." https://okt.to/5QVens

In-home therapy techniques help 8-year-old Grace K. learn and grow | Autism Speaks Grace was diagnosed with autism at age 2. Click here to see how in-home therapy techniques helped the 8-year-old learn and grow.

"Justin was my sweet, nonverbal, autistic boy until about age 16. At that point, he started getting more and more aggressive as he went through puberty and his body was changing. The aggressiveness slowly turned into violent behavior at times and the episodes became worse and more frequent." https://okt.to/G12Y6H

The difficult decision to place my autistic son in a group home with 24/7 support | Autism Speaks A mother details the difficult decision to place her autistic son in a group home after realizing he needed more support than her family could provide.

"As you sit here today looking at me, you can see that I am a boy, I am a teen, and I am a student, here at The Met Sacramento. But what you don’t see is that I am disabled. I have an invisible disability, from just looking at me you don’t know that I am different." https://okt.to/H8qo5U

Just looking at me you don’t know that I am different | Autism Speaks "But what you don’t see is that I am disabled. I have an invisible disability."

"I love Owen for Owen no matter what. But the love you have means you don’t want your child to suffer. Ever. And I don’t mean suffer like they didn’t get into the college they wanted. I mean truly suffer. And that is why I unapologetically want people to know that autism is hard and not 'The Good Doctor' for most." https://okt.to/Vz1EaM

Many people don't see autism's most difficult challenges | Autism Speaks A mom opens up about the impact of COVID on her autistic son and her family, sharing the good times and the hard times.

"As my son turns 13, I reflect upon the years passed by. Those who have been a part of our journey would agree that our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. As compared to most, our joys and our challenges have been different in so many ways and surprisingly similar in just as many. Growing with my son has been heuristic." https://okt.to/aZRhKi

Seven lessons I learned as my son with autism transitioned to his teen years | Autism Speaks As my son turns 13, I reflect upon the years passed by.

"I was unloading the dishwasher and I pulled out a butter knife I didn’t recognize. I wondered where it came from, but thought nothing of it due to my slovenly housekeeping ways, until moments later when I found a second one and that’s when I felt the lump in my throat form. These two knives were part of the cutlery, that my autistic son Ryan bought at college to make his cheese sandwiches."

https://okt.to/eyBznC

The moment I realized my son's progress towards independence | Autism Speaks "Yeah, it’s two butter knives, so what right? But for those of you who get it, you know these aren’t just any two knives from just any cutlery set. They represent so much more than a mayonnaise spreader."

Wishing everyone a happy New Year!

"Holidays can be challenging for children with autism. Time away from school, disruptions in schedule, celebrations and time spent with many people can be overwhelming, says Martha C., a member of our Autism Response Team and mom of an autistic son. Here she shares her tips for helping her son adjust to the change in routine, enjoy the decorations, make the most out of holiday gatherings, and prepare him for present time."

https://okt.to/NxPLQg

Home for the holidays: Ways to make sure your autistic child enjoys their break | Autism Speaks Autism Response Team member Martha C. shares tips she uses to help her autistic son adjust to the change in schedule during his break from school.

"I am confident that in the new year I will find a part-time job that I can be proud of and enjoy. I am most thankful for my parents, they help take care of me and I can always count on them whenever I need them." https://okt.to/fO9Uts

What I am Thankful for this Year | Autism Speaks My name is Allyson, I am 23 years old and I am autistic. This year I am thankful for many things.

"Perhaps two of the greatest gifts autism has given me are the ability to communicate with or without words and responding to behaviors. Jonathan’s limited verbal skills taught me other ways to communicate, both in giving and receiving." https://okt.to/8mKJBS

What autism has taught me, as a mom | Autism Speaks Perhaps two of the greatest gifts autism has given me are the ability to communicate with or without words and responding to behaviors. Jonathan’s limited verbal skills taught me other ways to communicate, both in giving and receiving.

A fundamental part of Autism Speaks mission is to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, including in the workplace. One way we are doing that is through our Workplace Inclusion NowTM program which helps bring autistic job seekers and employers together to create a more inclusive workforce. https://okt.to/2hbVMN

Tips for autistic job seekers to find the right job | Autism Speaks Autism Speaks Human Resources shares tips with autistic job seekers to help them land a job.