Participating in your local Walk Now for Autism is an experience you will not forget.  Your local walk needs volunteers to help put together packets, organize mailings, and help on the day of the walk. 

We encourage you to form a team and fundraise for the walk.  Your efforts will support our national goal of increasing the pace and progress of autism research, assisting families who are struggling with autism today and will be helping to provide family services and better treatments for those affected by autism.

To find a Walk Now for Autism near you, visit www.walknowforautism.org.

If there is not a Walk Now for Autism event in your area, be sure to check out other ways to Host an Event.

Eighth-grader speaks up for autistic brother
By Tamara Girardi, FOR THE VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Friday, April 3, 2009
View the original article here.

Valley Middle School eighth-grader Michael Santucci Jr. wants his classmates to understand what it means that his younger brother, Marco, is autistic.

Autism awareness is important to the 14-year-old Arnold resident, who plays on the school's football team and tutors his peers at Peoples Library in New Kensington.

When the school district hosted an autism awareness week in February, Michael spoke on the morning announcements, telling his classmates and teachers what it was like to have an 9-year-old brother with the disorder.

"The message I was trying to give was that if you can't accept people for who they are, you are selfish, and you don't know how to treat people," Michael said. "(Before that) many of my friends didn't know my brother was autistic. Only my closest friends knew. But my other friends came up to me (after the announcements) and said they felt sorry for me.

"I don't want sympathy," Michael said. "My little brother is awesome. He's cool. I love being with my little brother. I wouldn't change anything about him."

Michael said his close friends who spend time at his house love Marco and play with him just like any little brother.

"In the beginning, my brother would annoy them," he said. "They didn't understand, but I explained to them what was going on."
Michael said one example of how autistic children can behave occurred during the charity basketball game the school district held during autism awareness week. An autistic classmate of Michael's had several tantrums when someone was giving a speech.
Michael says that sometimes, that's just how it is.

But he and his sister, Mia, a 10-year-old student at H.D. Berkey, love Marco for being Marco.

They like to hang out with him, playing games and watching movies.

They understand their brother, but that's not enough for them. They want everyone else to understand, too.

"When some people talk about and think about autism, they think of (the movie) 'Rain Man,' and it's not like that," said Michael's mom, Tammy Santucci. "It's just a sensory overload. Some things trigger it — smells, noises, or tastes."

Santucci said she's blessed to have two children like Michael and Mia who are so protective and loving of Marco.

"Michael's very sensitive to Marco's feelings," she said. "Michael has been a great kid all-around since birth. He is very loving and understanding. Now that he's 14, he's grown up a lot. He's such a big help."

The family decided to get involved with the Autism Speaks organization's Walk Now for Autism four years ago. That first year it was just a handful of family members.

Last year, Team Marco consisted of 35 walkers.

Michael and Mia raise money in their schools. Their mother collects donations from community businesses, and friends and family tailgate around Heinz Field just having a good time in honor of Marco.

She said Team Marco has raised about $10,000 for autism awareness in the last four years.

Santucci said that because of the sour economy, Team Marco is asking supporters to help this year by "the power of 10," which involves a $10 donation and asking 10 friends to help.

"Asking for a $25 donation is a little steep for anybody right now," she said. "That's why we're just focusing on the power of 10.

"The money isn't the most important thing. We just want to raise awareness.

"I'm just happy that people are getting to know what it is," she said. "That word 'autism' isn't so strange anymore."