Brien Alyward of Southwick participates in a horseshoe tournament to benefit Autism Speaks at the SOuthwick VFW June 21. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Jennifer Barkyoumb and her son Jacob, of Westfield, are part of Team Jacob, a fundraising team for the Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks. Team Jacob held a fundraiser last weekend at the Southwick VFW. Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
SOUTHWICK – Ten teams vied for first place in the first-ever horseshoe tournament to benefit Autism Speaks at the Southwick VFW Saturday.
Organized by Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks Team Jacob, the event included the tournament, food and raffles.
Jennifer Barkyoumb and her father Raymond, both of Westfield, formed the team three years ago following the diagnosis of Jennifer’s son Jacob. Mildly affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Jacob just finished kindergarten and is ready for first grade.
Jennifer said last year Team Jacob raised about $3,800 and she planned to exceed that amount this year. She walks to raise awareness more than anything else.
“I want people to be more aware of autism,” said Barkyoumb. “More and more kids have it – it’s become so common.”
Despite the numbers, there are still people unaware of – or misinformed about – ASD. The Centers For Diease Control and Prevention released the latest statistics on autism prevalence this spring and announced that one in 68 people – and one in 42 boys – under age 21 has ASD.
For many families, an autism diagnosis can be a path. For Jennifer, it was an opportunity to learn more about the disorder, and her child.
“After his diagnosis, I went to the Internet and I read books and educated myself,” Jennifer said. “Now I’m trying to educate others.”
To try to raise funds for Autism Speaks along with awareness, Raymond approached his Savage Arms co-worker Kristin Olbrys of West Suffield, who organizes the VFW’s horseshoe league. Olbrys agreed to organize the event.
“We have 10 teams, double elimination, and a payout for the top tree teams,” she said. “But everyone we spoke to said they planned to turn their winnings into raffle tickets so it goes back to Team Jacob.”
ASD and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.
With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome.
ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art.
Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. The most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between two and three years of age. Autism Speaks continues to fund research on effective methods for earlier diagnosis, as early intervention with proven behavioral therapies can improve outcomes. Increasing autism awareness is a key aspect of this work and one in which our families and volunteers play an invaluable role.
Since its inception in 2005, Autism Speaks has grown into the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks is Sept. 20 at Stanley Park. Teams are forming now and registering at www.walknowforautsimspeakr.org/wne. A free kick-off event for teams and those interested in learning more about the walk and ASD is set for July 24 at the Children’s Museum at Holyoke. To RSVP to the kick-off, visit http://events.autismspeaks.org/WNEKO2014.
