The day started out a little foggy and crisp as crowds of volunteers made their way to the Dempsey Center located below the University of Washington’s main campus. Many of the walkers arrived at the center around 9am, as the sun began to slowly emerge from the clouds. Individuals were greeted with fresh bagels and bottled water prior to entering the Dempsey Center. Once inside, the walkers and teams registered, received their T-shirts and were free to peruse the resources and enjoy the entertainment. A stage located at the center of the field featured a rock band, a high school cheer and dance squad, and several speakers with their own inspirational words and anecdotes. The indoor track and field at the Dempsey Center was lined with booths from different organizations and companies devoted to autism research, programs, and interventions. Parents traveled up and down the track collecting countless literature, brochures, and even some samples from the different organizations supporting the cause. Not only was the morning insightful and fun for the parents, the kids had a great time as well getting their face painted, sliding down the gigantic blow up slide, bouncing inside the bounce house, blowing bubbles, and enjoying the ARC’s sensory station.
After the opening ceremony, walkers filed out of the center in clusters, while others chose to linger behind and take full advantage of the resources available. A caravan of families, parents with strollers, and individuals besieged the bike riders on the Burke Gilman Trail as they traveled from Dempsey Center to the main campus. The campus proved to be a gorgeous choice for the walk. The participants walked under a canopy of fiery fall leaves and were met halfway through the walk by a mariachi band. In addition to the park-like setting, the walk route was littered with signs filled with information regarding autism and how prevalent it has become within the last few years. With the growing numbers of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the importance to make people aware continues to increase, which is why supporting events such as the Annual Autism Speaks walk is crucial!
Pictures of the event can be found on the Alison Jensen Photography website: Alison Jensen Photography
For more information about the walk, check out the Autism Speaks website: Autism Speaks
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