By NATE KING
Salina Post
Did you know that April is National Autism Awareness Month?
On Saturday, approximately 70 people gathered at Campbell Plaza, 126 S. Santa Fe Avenue, to raise awareness and celebrate Autism Awareness Month.
Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is more common than all cases of childhood cancer, congenital heart defects, juvenile diabetes, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined.
Andrea Maag, 35, Salina Central graduate and Salina native, organized the event after witnessing the successes of the walk for autism fundraisers in Wichita. Maag said she was one of the first women diagnosed with autism in Saline County.
Event attendees took selfies in the photo booth, listened to live music and participated in a raffle. All of the proceeds from the raffle went to Heartspring, a Wichita non profit whose mission is, "to be a leader and innovator in providing clinically supported services through education and therapies for children with special needs to empower them to grow and learn on a path to a more independent life."
Heartspring provides services and therapies for children with complex needs, as well as developmental disabilities- including autism.
Even though this was the first time Maag had organized an autism awareness event, the event went well. In total the event raffle raised $384.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone who has donated to the raffle, and thank you to all the bands who came and played," Maag said.
Maag said she is currently in the process of writing a book about her life as an autistic woman. She said she hopes to have it ready in a year or two.
When asked if there was something she would like to share with the community about autism, Maag said, "It [autism] is more common than you think, and sometimes communicating is hard, but I am always trying to improve."
Donations made to the raffle included
Rolling Hills Zoo, children's tickets
BRX and Room 347, band merchandise
Brittany Harvey, Scentsy basket
Temple Live from Wichita, Jo Dee Messina tickets
Tony's Pizza Event Center, Salina Liberty tickets
Stiefel Theatre, Wood Brothers tickets
Lowes, firepit
Great Life, two golf tickets
Jarrod Rathbun, mystery box
Sandy Gonzales, basket of assorted stuff
Salina Municipal Golf Course
Local bands, The Get Downs, Room 347 and BRX performed for event attendees.
More info about Heartspring can be found here.
If you would like to make a donation, contact Andrea Maag at [email protected].