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Walkers pound the pavement for autism
Photo
Pam Wells, right, of Kinsman walks with her granddaughter, MacKenzie Collins, 8, during the “Pound the Pavement for Autism” walk Sunday in Howland Township Park. Wells was walking for her grandson, J.J. Juhasz, 7, a student at the Rich Center for Autism.
By Jordan Cohen
HOWLAND
The words and a photo button on Pam Wells’ orange T-shirt explained why she drove all the way from her Kinsman home to walk in Howland Township Park in a cold Sunday afternoon rain.
The photo button contained a picture of her grandson, J.J. Juhasz, 7, who has been a student at the Rich Center for Autism since age 2.
“He’s just started speaking, and he understands everything that is said to him,” the child’s grandmother said. “He is definitely making progress there.”
More than 120 people joined Wells to “Pound the Pavement for Autism,” a one-mile walk around the park, to promote autistic awareness. Leah Wilson, Rich Center events coordinator, said the Howland High School National Honor Society originated and promoted the walk.
“They organized the whole thing and mobilized the community,” Wilson said.
Many of the walkers were parents and relatives of autistic children who are educated at the center at no charge to the families.
Beverly and Mauro DiVieste of Howland walked with their daughter, Madalena, 5, and their son, Michael, 10. The boy has been a Rich Center student for six years.
“He’s an inspiration to us along with all of the Rich Center students and families,” said Beverly DiVieste. She and her husband, both employees of Trumbull County, have authored and illustrated two books about adult autism and said they donated 10 percent of the profits from their first book to the center. They also have initiated the “Mikeyfied Fund for Adult Autism” website and created a Facebook page to elicit support.
“We refer to it as ‘adult autism’ because autism is lifelong,” Beverly DiVieste said.
Wilson said the nonprofit Rich Center for Autism at Youngstown State University works with 68 students from preschool to age 16.
“It costs around $35,000 to educate each child and most get $20,000 scholarships from the state, but we still have to raise money to cover the rest of the costs,” Wilson said.
Some of that financial help came in the form of a $12,000 check from Covelli Enterprises in a presentation before the walk. The company’s Panera Bread outlets raised the funds through sales of cookies representing pieces of a puzzle.
“The puzzle is our symbol because autism is a puzzle and a mystery,” Wilson said, noting that the Rich Center logo consists of multicolored puzzle pieces. Walker wore ribbons with similar puzzle designs.
Each walker paid $10 to participate. Wilson said all proceeds are going to the center.