The
awards program’s State Honorees for 2012 include many remarkable
students whose volunteer service was devoted to Autism. Those students
include:
Rebecca Ackerman,
16, of Westborough, Mass., a junior at Westborough High School, leads a
fundraising team that has generated more than $80,000 for autism
research over the past six years, and works in a variety of other
capacities to raise awareness of autism. “My twin brother has never
spoken to me, or given me a hug,” said Rebecca. “Even when he stands
right beside me, he’s in a different world. David has autism.” When she
was 11, Rebecca realized that, even though one in every 110 children has
this disorder, most people were not familiar with autism and not much
money was being spent on research. “I was determined to change that
reality,” she said. Rebecca organized a team of friends and family
members to participate in an annual fund-raising walk for Autism Speaks,
a national organization, and to work on autism funding and awareness
projects throughout the year. As captain of the “Doing It For Dave”
team, she writes letters asking for donations, conducts bake sales and
yard sales, operates lemonade stands and coordinates car washes.
Rebecca, who also serves on the Boston Autism Speaks Committee, helps
coordinate the organization’s annual city-wide walk, gives inspirational
speeches, leads webinars and mentors new walk teams. In addition, she
started a charitable organization, “Cake Cause,” that provides baked
goods in exchange for donations. “I wish that my brother had his own
voice,” said Rebecca. “Since he cannot talk, I will do my best to honor
him using mine.”
Taytum Jones,
13, of Minot, N.D., an eighth-grader at Erik Ramstad Middle School, has
been volunteering with students with disabilities since she was in
third grade, both in school and beyond. After Taytum discovered that
there was a special classroom for students with autism in her elementary
school, “I kept thinking how cool it would be if I could go down into
their room and interact with them, but I always said to myself, ‘No, I’m
only in third grade!’” she said. Finally, she asked her teacher, and
was given permission to miss an hour of class every other day to work in
the autistic room. “I thought that was the greatest thing,” she said.
Soon Taytum was spending time with the students before and after school,
and during recesses and lunch periods. She helped them with sensory
activities, worked on physical coordination skills including
stair-climbing and exercise ball balancing and assisted with homework.
Taytum also volunteered with an organization called “Dream Catchers”
that teaches children with disabilities to play baseball. She continues
to work with disabled students at her middle school by playing games and
assisting with learning activities. “I think I have made a great impact
on children,” said Taytum, who wants to be a special education teacher
when she grows up. “I can tell just by the smiles on their faces that
they enjoy seeing me. Putting a smile on someone else’s face can bring
me up even on the worst day.”
While in D.C., 10 of the State Honorees will be named National Honorees on May 7th.
These honorees will receive additional $5,000 awards, gold medallions,
crystal trophies and $5,000 grants from The Prudential Foundation for
nonprofit charitable organizations of their choice. This wonderful trip
is designed not only to thank the students for all their hard work, but
also to recognize their efforts and encourage others to follow in their
footsteps.
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AutismWonderland - written by Lisa Quinones-Fontanez - is a personal blog chronicling a NYC family's journey with autism, while also sharing local resources for children/families with special needs.