Originally scheduled for April, this Jory's Journey event will be the first Autism Walk to be held in Birmingham that is focused on the underserved families in the Birmingham area who are impacted by autism.
Published: April 27, 2018
By: Courtesy of Jory's Journey Foundation
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The event will be held from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham. “Walking for Possibilities and Resources” is the theme of the event.
A forecast of inclement weather on Saturday, April 14, the originally scheduled day of the walk, prompted the delay. “It’s unreasonable to expect people to participate when you’ve got thunderstorms and a 90 percent chance of rain,” said Jarrod Sims, a cofounder of Jory’s Journey Foundation. “They’re saying we’re going to have about an inch of rain.”
The weather delay has taken the walk beyond April, which is designated as Autism Awareness Month. Jarrod Sims, a cofounder of Jory’s Journey Foundation, said that this is not a problem. “Autism Awareness Month is every month for us,” he said. “We still are responsible for increasing autism awareness in the African American community. That’s our responsibility.”
Arlicia Sims, cofounder and program director of Jory’s Journey Foundation, said this is the first Autism Awareness Walk within the city of Birmingham that focuses on the underserved families in Birmingham who are impacted by autism. “Early diagnosis and consistent, proactive therapies can ensure that each child has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential,” she said.
About Jory’s Journey Foundation
Jory’s Journey is a non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, empower and inspire underserved families impacted by autism. The goal of the organization is to increase autism awareness in the African American community. It is committed to promoting and helping families understand the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention.
Autism affects children of every ethnic group and socio-economic status. However, African American children are often misdiagnosed or diagnosed much later than others, causing a lack of access to much needed resources used to effectively combat the many challenges of this developmental disorder. Jory’s Journey Foundation has a single focus on” Bridging the Gap” while ensuring many underserved families gain access to proactive therapies and services.