Photo Courtesy of Google
Participants will meet at the corner of 95th Avenue and 125th Street where they will proceed to walk around the perimeter of Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto Park/Smokey Oval four times.
By Forum Staff
Community Board 9 and State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Woodhaven) are set to help close out April—Autism Awareness Month—by hosting a community walk event in South Richmond Hill to support those with autism and other developmental disabilities, the senator announced on Friday.
All are invited to participate in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Walk on Saturday, April 29, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. During the event, participants will meet at the corner of 95th Avenue and 125th Street where they will proceed to walk around the perimeter of Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto Park/Smokey Oval four times. The walk will take place rain or shine.
Along the route River Fund will have snacks and juice to give out; Heart of Gems will also be handing out snacks; and the Trinidadian and Tobagonian USA group will pass out small slices of pizza and mini cheese sandwiches for the walkers. Bena Homecare Agency will provide an autism backdrop for photos, and EmblemHealth will have a table set up to help sign up families that might need health insurance.
File Photo
Senator Addabbo called events like the walk “vitally important.”
“Autism can come in many different forms and affects each person with it differently, so because of that, each person with autism—and the families and loved ones that care for them—require different levels and types of care,” Addabbo said. “That is why it is vitally important that we are out here raising awareness for Autism Awareness Month. However, we are also walking to raise awareness of other developmental disabilities that impacts so many lives right here in Queens, let alone across the country and the world.”
Autism is a complex brain disorder that often inhibits a person’s ability to communicate, respond to their surroundings, and form relationships with others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020 more than 5.4 million adults across the country—or 2.2 percent of the population—are on the autism spectrum; and, using data from 2020, the CDC estimates that 1 in 36 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with autism in 2023.
“As the mother of a son with autism, I am personally excited to have Sen. Addabbo sponsor this walk with Community Board 9,” said CB 9 Chairwoman Sherry Algredo. “This is not just a walk, but being able to also engage and speak with participating families and hearing about their struggles and need for more equitable and fair services for people with special needs. We are also very excited for the participation of other elected officials and their support. We encourage folks to come out and join us in support of this great cause and keep this awareness going.”
