Racing to understand autism

 

Justin McOmber's Eagle Scout project was designed to teach people about autism, a condition faced by his brother, Gregory. Participants had to decipher 13 different clues, each leading to a station over a three- to four-mile circuit in Sammamish to teach them about autism. Here's how Justin described the day.

By Justin McOmber

I want you to touch a dead cow's eyeball! That was one of the tasks performed by participants in The Adventure Race to Understand Autism that took place in Sammamish on Sept. 13.

Then they actually had to touch it. Reading this, did you squirm? Grimace? Perhaps your shoulders shook and you had to wiggle your fingers to shed the excess stimulation overload at such a thing. Then Nicole Turner, the station manager at this site in my Eagle Project, would explain that the color orange, or a smell, a voice pitch, the rush of a car driving by could overload the neurological system of a person living with autism. We all share the behavior; what triggers it is the difference.

Now that the race is over the businesses of Sammamish who helped support this activity can finally be disclosed.

Other stations in the race were hosted by Rancho Grande Mexican Restaurant where participants learned about the autistic love of carbohydrates, and various dietary concerns. They got to eat yummy chips and salsa.

From G2 sports therapy, people learned about vestibular therapy to help those living with autism center themselves by spinning. This kind of activity helps them feel the boundaries of their own body, focus and utilize balance.

At Safeway, participants were asked to purchase three cans of food for the food bank. Many people with special needs require some assistance to support their life from the agency. Over 150 pounds of food was collected for Northwest Harvest. Dr. Kais's office at Plateau Chiropractic, Pacific Bicycle, Radio Shack, Pine Lake Covenant Church, Iskon Vedic Center and Evergreen Christian Fellowship Church also donated their facilities to help people learn about living with autism.

Heather Miller from Emerald Heights Academy was the station manager located at the Deer Statue in Saffron. She helped runners learn sign language. It's one of the ways my brother, Gregory, uses to communicate since for 17 years he has not been able to speak. Participants met Gregory and four other children living with autism at a station dedicated to ABA therapy (Applied Behavioral Analysis). Runners watched volunteers like Kristin Smith demonstrate and then participated with Gregory or one of the children in the activity themselves.

Almost 80 runners had a chance to warm up to Sammamish's own Dauz Brother's Band. Spectator's enjoyed the bouncy house donated by Fun Rents and other activities manned by Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 509.

Participants rode adaptive bicycles provided by Outdoors For All and were taught an Indian dance by Geetika Mukkamala to help runners understand the difficulty we all can share with people dealing with autism in developing gross motor skills.

Decoding clues to find the locations helped runners understand the challenge of decoding the confusing stimuli received by those living with autism.

The Flindt brothers, Michael and Grant, two cross-country stars from Eastlake High School and Inglewood Junior High, finished first place winning the trip for two to Victoria, British Columbia, donated by Clipper Vacations.

Second place, a whale watching cruise in the San Juan islands also provided by Clipper Vacations, went to Judy Parnell and Leticia Watson. They attend church with Gregory at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where Gregory always wears a blanket to shield out extra sound and light. Their costume was tied on baby blankets to be super Gregory's for the race.

Wearing a costume helped participants understand the isolated feeling and sometimes strange looks a person living with autism deals with in being so different. Third prize of a gift certificate to Ristorante Simone went to Kristine Hall and Tanya Platt dressed as ballerinas.

Best photo went to Derek and Holly Jones. Best costume went to Dave and Suzanne Huey.

My main goal in this project was to raise awareness and empathy for people like my brother, but the race also raised almost 7,000 dollars so far for Autism Speaks. Everything was donated for the event including food from QFC, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Blazin Bagels, Safeway, Albertsons, and Costco. All of the proceeds went to help locally to find a cure and helping those living with autism.

 

A donation to Autism Speaks can be made at www.raceforautism.wordpress.com. A short video of the day is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63PdyAf5D14&feature=player_embedded

 

Justin McOmber, 14, is a freshman at Eastlake High School. He lives in Sammamish.

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