athletes | The Autism Research Foundation

Walking Across America for Autism

October 15, 2014

Would you believe it if your grandparents promised to walk across America to bring awareness to autism?

For Jackson, Elijah, Quinn, Grace, Nola, Addie and even baby Max, thinking Mema and Pappy were going to walk all that way — 2437.7 miles to be exact — seemed crazy. But it’s true!

Dan and Mary Beth Reardon, fondly known as Mema and Pappy, are taking off on a great adventure to meet families, therapists, doctors, teachers, mentors, and, most importantly, the individuals who experience autism in all its forms everyday.

Their goal is to document their journey — backed by the idea that “you don’t know someone until you walk a mile in their shoes” — and share it with the rest of the “typical” population that needs to understand the growing and changing needs of the autism community so that they can be positive changemakers not just for people with autism, but with people with autism.

Their secondary goal is to promote inclusion programs, such as Athletes 4 Autism, by raising $50,000 along the way. These funds will be used to open up more free, seasonal sports clinics across the United States. How awesome!

You have to check this out for yourself. See the video and share their fundraising page here: www.gofundme.org/thewalk

An Open Letter to Kelly Landrigan, Communications Executive

April 17, 2014

Kelly —

You emailed us 3 years ago asking to do a journalism class writing assignment on our Athletes 4 Autism (A4A) program. We bet you never expected that you would be sitting where you are today as Communications Executive for that same charity. Time has flown… (and, at so many times, so has our sanity).

Out of pure gratitude, we want to take a minute to jog down memory lane:

You wrote your assignment and you could have been on your merry way, but you chose to stay. You connected to our mission so strongly, that you gave Athletes 4 Autism a permanent place in your busy schedule and full heart.

We went to that assignment interview expecting to get a few others to look at our grassroots effort, but your interview went beyond that. You gave A4A a tool to share its vision with that assignment and you elected to be the lens through which others see that vision full-time. That was the greatest, most selfless gift we could have ever received and we know that we do not thank you enough for it.

Throughout these 3 years, you’ve worked for us in an internship capacity. That means you work for free: filling in to help wherever is needed, which usually ends up way beyond the scope of writing a press release. You are not incentivized by a paycheck, yet you donate every free minute of your time to us. You haul carts of basketballs, sing and dance at exhibit tables to get us attention, and hug and high-five every single kid that walks through our gym doors because their day isn’t complete until they’ve said bye to you.

Like a family member, you loved us and what we stood for, you defended us against all of the naysayers who called us dumb for not monetizing the program (capitalizing on the disgusting odds that 1 in every 68 kids will now have an autism diagnosis) and giving free lessons to everyone. And then you showed up to help us do just that — to help hundreds of kids in whatever capacity was needed with the hope of raising enough donations to just cover our overhead costs — no questions asked.

You are the definition of loyalty.

You see, the thing about internships is that you are supposed to learn from us, and in so many ways, we know that you have. But, due to your modesty, we are not so sure that you understand how much you have actually taught us.

For one, you have taught us about communications: that all of it — journalism, social media, public relations, etc. — is an exchange of information facilitated by listening and replying.

Listening can be done two ways. The way we understand it: you can either listen to hear, or you can listen to reply. Outstanding journalists — and people — listen to hear. You had no intention of replying with an opinion; you came to walk in our shoes — to understand as best as you could — by first listening to what we had to say and then translating it into an approachable medium for the public so that they could hear, too.

We believe you became a true journalist in that interview moment because you heard our mission and understood its value to the core: so much so, that you begged us until we took you on as an intern. We might have thought you were crazy then, but now we know you’re just crazy in love. (Beyonce would be so proud.)

Kelly, you are one of the most major parts of our program. Instead of coming in with opinions, you came in with work ethic. You showed up, shut up, and worked. With that silence, you have become the loudest voice for the charity. You are the reason people know who we are, you are the reason people know what we do, and you are the reason people know why we do what we do. That is the beginning and end to every charity and you complete us.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for giving so much of yourself to our autism cause. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been so worth it. We know we have found a forever friend in you and we hope you know you have found a forever home at Athletes 4 Autism.

We love you!

Kevin & Courtney

Moving Forward by Looking Back

January 27, 2014

As our inclusion program Athletes 4 Autism gears up for an exciting 2014, I decided to take a look back at one of the first A4A events that I myself experienced firsthand. I will never forget the feeling of overwhelming pride I had not only for my school, but also for this organization. As you will read, the power of a smile really does go a long way.

– Kelly

Looking Back: How the Power of a Smile Transformed “Spectators” to “Athletes”

On Sunday, April 15, 2012, the basketball court in Boston University’s Case Athletic Center buzzed with excitement, as smiles danced across the faces of student-athletes and children alike. Athletes 4 Autism (A4A), the flagship inclusion program of TARF, had teamed up with Boston University to participate in a school-wide community service initiative. This Global Day of service event was designed with multiple goals in mind: to introduce families to the organization and to give Boston University athletes a chance to participate in a fun-filled charitable event. At this family-friendly day, A4A was out to prove that “life isn’t a spectator sport.”

The afternoon featured skill stations run by volunteers and athletes from various Terrier teams. Families and volunteers witnessed what some people would consider a “disabled” child succeed at what a “neurotypical” child can struggle with on a daily basis: conquering uncomfortable social situations. With the goal of bringing everyone together in friendship through sport, areas including “soccer shots” and “ fastest pitch” allowed participants to meet potential “mentors” while learning about what sports were offered through the program. Participants could play at a challenge course with members of the women’s lacrosse team, shoot some hoops with the basketball team, or even score a few goals on the nationally ranked men’s ice hockey team.

Perhaps the most rewarding part of the afternoon was witnessing student-athletes connect with the children and their families. It was easy to find volunteers striving to make sure everyone felt comfortable at the event. I watched as Sydney Godett, a member of the women’s lacrosse team, reached out to an uneasy little boy named John who was desperately clinging to his father. Unlike the rest of the happy attendees, John was not smiling. In a matter of minutes, Sydney made him feel comfortable in this strange environment by offering a warm smile and a helping hand.

Soon enough, they were facing off in the challenge course, not a shred of anxiety apparent on John’s exuberant face. Suddenly John beat Sydney to the finish line, a moment so pure and so full of joy that it brought a smile to everyone watching the race. “We were told not to be alarmed or offended if the children didn’t respond right away,” said Godett. Luckily for both Sydney and John, a lack of connection did not exist; in fact, they seemed to be quite a team.

Because A4A is open to children both on and off the autistic spectrum, there was a strong mix of families with children both on and off the spectrum, showing that children of every capability can successfully coexist when it comes to athletics. Cathy Mealey, the mother of both a child with autism (Liam) and a child without autism (Grace), was thrilled when she learned about A4A’s open event. “We make an effort to take Liam into the community as much as possible, and we try to find ways to get both him and Grace involved together.” Mealey believes that the key to Liam’s success is “all about finding the right partnerships and the right niche.” She notes that her son “has always been drawn to sports,” so this event was a perfect match for Liam.

As A4A’s Global Day of Service event came to a close, John stood at half court, asking members of the Men’s Ice Hockey team to play some basketball with him. In his eyes, these boys were not the star athletes of the Boston University community. He simply saw Wade Megan, Sean Escobedo, and Ryan Ruikka as big friends for him to play with. In one afternoon, John transformed from a “spectator” to an “athlete.” Little did he know, he was not the only one smiling now.

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