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February 2010 |
OAR News
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“OAR receives tremendous support from military service members and federal employees through the annual Combined Federal Campaign,” explains Mike Maloney, OAR’s executive director. “It only makes sense to turn some of those funds around to deliver this new guide to military families impacted by autism.” . |
Wilson Chua is inspired to run for autism by his son,Wallace, 13. |
The Cash Sweat and Tears Awards recognize inspiring volunteer participants who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to help others. The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council was launched in May 2007 to support the professionals who manage the events that raise in excess of $1 billion a year for American charities.
“I had the honor of presenting the OAR finisher’s medal to Wilson at the Marine Corps Marathon in October,” says Mike Maloney, OAR’s executive director, who has known Chua since his first run in 2006. “Then I had the privilege of watching him take the medal off and, in turn, present it to his son. Wilson epitomizes the OAR runner with a direct connection to autism. He draws inspiration from his son, but he runs to benefit all children and adults with autism.”
Chua became part of the autism community 10 years ago after his three-year-old son Wallace was diagnosed with autism. Wallace, now 13, quickly became the inspiration behind Chua’s support for autism-related causes.
After discovering OAR in 2006, Chuabegan running the Marine Corps Marathon annually to raise money for OAR. To date, Chua has raised over $10,500 for autism research, $3,800 in 2009 alone.
“Wallace may not ever understand what I am trying to do for him. That is who he is and part of his autism,” remarks Chua.For Chua, however, that is not the issue. He believes “the research grants that OAR provides will definitely help other people who have been affected by autism. A few months of training each year and dedication is the least I can do for Wallace and the autism community,” he asserts.
His success lies in both devotion to the cause and consistent training and fundraising efforts. Last July, Chua sent e-mails to thank people who supported him in the past. He continually updates the same group about his current training and fundraising efforts.He reached out to co-workers and organizations with which he is affiliated.
You can read more of Chua’s story in the December 2009 issue of The OARacle (http://researchautism.org/resources/newsletters/2009/December_2009.asp#two).
OAR proudly supports the honor given to Wilson Chua by Run, Walk, Ride. We hope his selfless devotion to our cause serves as an inspiration to all.
News from the RUN FOR AUTISM
RUN Through History at the National Marathon
Run through history in Washington, DC at this year’s Sun Trust National Marathon, Half Marathon, or Team Relay. This March 20 race kicks off OAR’s spring schedule and features spectacular sights such as the Smithsonian Castle, Lincoln Memorial, and the National Archives Building.
Can you think of a better way to spend a March Saturday than running the “fastest looped course in America” and raising money for autism research? OAR’s registration deadline is March 1, so don’t wait to contact RUN Coordinator Julia Hornaday at run@researchautism.org if you want to run.
Join OAR in the City of Bridges, Steel, and Ketchup for an Out-of-Retirement Marathon
In the city of bridges, steel, and Heinz ketchup, an out-of-retirement race is back and better than ever. In expanding its spring race calendar, OAR is excited to participate in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay as an official charity. Now in its second year, Pittsburgh anticipates another sell-out year with participants from all over the country and all over the world for this May 2 marathon.
Lily Matusiak, director, RUN FOR AUTISM, who ran the Pittsburgh Half Marathon last year, notes, “Pittsburgh offers a course with just enough hills, great sights, and fantastic course support from the local community. Sure, I may be a little impartial,” says the Pittsburgh native and proud Steelers fan, “but this is a great race for both veteran runners and people looking to run their first race. With the marathon, half marathon, and marathon relay options, there’s something for everyone.”
Pittsburgh is also a great weekend destination. Even before its recent international attention during the G20 Summit, Pittsburgh had become known for its local charm, history, lively neighborhoods, and family fun. The “Steel City” has a number of attractions, including the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Science Center, and National Aviary, as well as multiple destinations for shopping, entertainment, and dining.
OAR’s participation in the Pittsburgh Marathon includes a booth at the three-day race expo, which is held from Friday through Sunday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. In addition, OAR will also have a team tent at the race start/finish area, where the RUN FOR AUTISM team can take advantage of team gear check, pre- and post-race refreshments and friendly OAR staff and volunteer assistance.
For more information on the Pittsburgh Marathon race or other RUN FOR AUTISM opportunities, please go to our Web site at www.runforautism.org or e-mail run@researchautism.org with any questions.
Bye, Bye, Winter Blues; Hello, Bank of America Chicago Marathon!
February can be a tough month. It’s cold; everyone is tired of putting on coats, hats, gloves, and scarves; and the idea of another mind-numbing walk/run on the treadmill is terrifying. But there is a brighter side--lots of exciting things take place in February as well. This month, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV (Sorry, Colts fans!).
And, on February 1, registration opened for the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, scheduled for October 10. That’s right, race registration opened earlier this year than in years past, and OAR has the honor of participating as an Official Charity Partner again this year. Last year’s Chicago Marathon was an amazing event for the RUN FOR AUTISM, with 212 runners raising over $161,000 for autism research.
We can’t wait to see what happens at the event this year—and we want to share it with you! Sign up today with OAR and receive a discount race registration of $120, as well as race weekend perks, including our Runners’ Recognition Dinner at Harry Caray’s Restaurant and a pre-/post-race charity village tent to celebrate your finish.
Don’t wait, join the team today! For more information on the Bank of America Chicago Marathon or other RUN FOR AUTISM opportunities, please go to our Web site at www.runforautism.org or e-mail run@researchautism.org.
A Bewitching Idea: A Halloween RUN FOR AUTISM
If you haven’t got any plans for Halloween yet (and we’re guessing you don’t), we have an invitation that you will find hard to resist. Come run the Marine Corps Marathon or 10K, two world-class running events, with OAR in Washington, DC, on Sunday, October 31. We promise the scariest part will be the other runners’ costumes!
Registration for this world-class event is now open through OAR. Independent registration for the Marathon officially opens on April 7 and the 10K opens on May 5. These races close quickly, so the best way to secure your spot is to visit www.firstgiving.com/oar today and sign up early to RUN FOR AUTISM!
Aside from the event’s popularity, we can add a few more reasons to RUN FOR AUTISM in the Marine Corps Marathon or 10K:
- You’ll be included in a special Runners’ Recognition Dinner the night before the race.
- OAR provides excellent pre-race support from the time you sign up to the time you arrive for the race.
- Along with your family and friends, OAR will celebrate your accomplishment with post-race festivities in the Charity Village.
To request more information about running with OAR in the Marine Corps Marathon or 10K, please go to our Web site at www.runforautism.org or e-mail run@researchautism.org with any questions.
Chevron Houston Marathon Brings Sunny Skies and Running and Fundraising Records
Escaping the frigid mid-Atlantic temperatures, the RUN FOR AUTISM staff looked south to Houston, TX, for warmer weather in January. Launching the 2010 race calendar on the weekend of January 16, the Chevron Houston Marathon featured a record 46 OAR runners who helped raise $36,000 for autism research, topping the previous high of $31,000 raised in 2007.
Clouds hung over the downtown Houston skyscrapers and light rain fell for three days leading up to the race. But, on Sunday morning, the clouds cleared to usher in a clear crisp race day. Weather conditions were just right for OAR runners to have successful races and they did.
Scott Lowrey led OAR’s half marathon runners with a time of 1:41:30, just 32 minutes behind Olympic women’s champion Shalane Flanagan. In the marathon, the first RUN FOR AUTISM team finisher, Jenny Weatter, completed 26.2 miles in 3:28:04 and raised $1,000 for autism research. James and Lee Anne Kaye, Alma and Ricardo Garza, and Irene and Richard Kim coupled up to run the 5K, half marathon, and full marathon, respectively, pushing each other to the finish line. The Garzas finished the half in just over three hours, while the Kims completed the marathon in under five hours. Both couples donated $700 as part of the Houston Heroes Program.
Returning runners Scott Lowrey and Reverend Jimmy Grace led the fundraising efforts in Houston, raising $5,120 and $4,526 respectively. Lowrey, a RUN FOR AUTISM –Houston participant since 2006, made it his personal goal to be OAR’s top Houston fundraiser this year. To learn more about Scott’s mission and how he accomplished his goal, please read his story featured in this month’s Profile.
Reverend Jimmy Grace is no stranger to the “top fundraiser” title. This year marked his third running for OAR and raising thousands of dollars in the process. He surpassed his $3,000 fundraising goal by $1,526 in 2010, dedicating it to his son James, age four. Grace’s inspiration comes from the Book of Samuel in the Hebrew Scriptures, “‘Come what may,’ he said. ‘I will run.’”
OAR kicked off the weekend exhibiting at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute EXPO. “The EXPO is a tremendously valuable piece of race weekend. It offers us a chance to thank our runners and promote our presence in Houston for future years,” commented RUN FOR AUTISM Coordinator Julia Hornaday, who represented OAR at the EXPO.
The two-day EXPO offered Hornaday the opportunity to interact and thank over half of OAR’s Houston runners. It also enabled her to spread the word about the RUN FOR AUTISM with other runners. “Given the response of people who visited our EXPO booth, I feel confident that Houston has tremendous potential to become one of our mainstays in terms of numbers of runners and funds raised,” Hornaday notes.
With a growing team and record-breaking fundraising, the Chevron Houston Marathon marked another success for OAR and the mission of funding autism research. Thank you, runners! The RUN FOR AUTISM team looks forward to building the team in 2011 and surpassing fundraising records once again.
If you are interested in helping OAR recruit for Houston 2011, participating in another race, or just have a general inquiry, please contact the RUN FOR AUTISM staff via e-mail at run@researchautism.org or by phone at 1-866-366-9710. Find us on the Web at www.runforautism.org.Focus on OAR Research
OAR-Funded Research Project Focuses on Autism Screening and the Use of Web-Based Technology
Early detection and screening can make a difference in improved outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Most screening tools rely on parent reports to provide information about symptoms suggestive of the presence of an ASD. Parents are considered ideal informants for completing screening instruments due to their access to children’s behavior observed in naturalistic settings, which often cannot be replicated in pediatric offices.
Working with the Carolina Autism Resource and Evaluation (CARE) Center, Jonathan M. Campbell, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology at the University of Georgia, proposes to compare three parent-report ASD screening instruments for preschoolers and young children to see how well they work in predicting an ASD. The project will compare screeners’ predictions of results with a standardized diagnostic assessment, which includes a gold standard diagnostic measure. In addition, Campbell will examine if the predictive validity of screening measures differs across racial/ethnic groups and socio-economic status.
A secondary aim of the study targets application of a Web-based video analysis tool to confirm results from diagnostic evaluations. Incorporating Web-based video technology to establish the reliability of gold standard diagnostic test results will allow researchers to investigate the utility of a novel Web-based video analysis tool to support ASD diagnostic practice from remote locations.
About this Researcher Jonathan M. Campbell, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology at the University of Georgia. His research interests focus on the early screening, psychological assessment, and treatment of children with ASDs; the attitudes of peers and school professionals towards children with autism in inclusive educational settings; and evidence-based practices for individuals with ASDs. OAR funded his research focused on peers’ attitudes towards students with autism. He serves as an associate editor for School Psychology Quarterly and an editorial board member for the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment and Psychological Assessment. He teaches doctoral-level seminars on autism spectrum disorders, pediatric psychology applied to school settings, intellectual assessment of children, and the social-emotional assessment of children. He is working with several autism researchers at the University of Georgia, Emory Autism Center, and Marcus Autism Center to develop an Autism Spectrum Disorder Research and Training Consortium (see http://www.coe.uga.edu/epit/ASD-RTC/). |
Campbell expects to answer these questions with his project:
- From among three commonly used screening instruments, which instrument, if any, emerges as superior with respect to detecting ASD diagnosis in young children?
- Does screening accuracy improve through the use of combined results from screening instruments as opposed to a single screening instrument?
- Does screening accuracy differ according to race/ethnicity and socio-economic status?
- Is a Web-based video analysis tool capable of evaluating and supporting ASD diagnostic decisions?
How the Project Will Work
Children between the ages of 18 and 48 months old will be recruited from the CARE Center. Located in Columbia, SC, it is one of five regional autism evaluation centers supported by the state of South Carolina’s Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. Based on previous collaboration with the CARE Center, Campbell expects to recruit approximately 130 participants over two years who vary according to racial/ethnic characteristics and socio-economic status. Campbell expects roughly 85 children to be diagnosed with an ASD (65%) and 45 (35%) diagnosed with other disorders.
Investigators will mail caregivers three screening instruments, the M-CHAT, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Screening Test-II (PDDST-II), and Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). CARE Center evaluators will render diagnostic decisions via the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a structured developmental interview currently in use at the CARE Center, and diagnostic checklists keyed to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic definitions of Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, or Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Not Otherwise Specified, currently in use at the CARE Center.
The research team will also evaluate ADOS scoring using a Web-based program, the Video Analysis Tool-2 (VAT-2). VAT-2 is a Web-based tool that stores digitally recorded videos on a secure server for analysis, allowing for remote upload and review. VAT-2 allows users to code events using different “lenses,” which may include diagnostic codes or scoring algorithms, such as those used in the ADOS.
Study Goals
Results from the project will provide empirically derived evidence to guide a selection of ASD screening instruments designed for young children. In particular, the project may identify one screening measure that performs significantly better than the others in detecting ASDs in young children or discover that a combination of screeners produces significantly improved accuracy for detecting ASDs. Although a potentially valuable screening practice, simultaneous screening is not typically used in clinical practice despite little additional cost or time required to administer and score a screener.
Another goal is to provide guidance regarding the comparability of screening results across different race/ethnicity groups and socio-economic status. As proposed, the current research project has the potential to inform service providers regarding the relative benefits of using various ASD screening instruments for young children with varied racial/ethnic backgrounds.
The second major goal is to investigate the potential utility of a Web-based tool to support professional screening and diagnostic practice. The VAT-2 system will allow remote access to securely stored video data and, as such, holds promise as a tool to provide access to diagnostic expertise that is often inaccessible to children with suspected ASDs residing in poor and/or rural communities.
Although Campbell and his team will use the VAT-2 system as a research instrument, using the system “in the field” will provide valuable information regarding its capacity to support screening and diagnostic practice. For example, the research team will learn what unique barriers may arise for using VAT-2 with young children due to their mobility and, in the case of the present population, language delays. A long-term goal of the research group is to examine the potential utility of VAT-2 technology to support ASD screening during routine pediatric visits. The VAT-2 has capacity to receive video input from permanently mounted and Internet-accessible cameras that may be remotely scheduled to record office visits.
RUN Profile
From Lemons to Lemonade
Sarah Schuyler Found the Bright Side in Her Work With OAR
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Sarah Schuyler first joined OAR as an intern working on the military families project. She recently took a position as RUN Coordinator. |
Sarah Schuyler did not know that 2009 would be one of the worst times in years to be job hunting. The economy was in a slump and recent college graduates were among the hardest hit. “It wasn’t the best time to be looking for a job,” she recalls ruefully. “I was looking for anything I could find—a job, an internship, anything.”
Having graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the spring of 2008, Schuyler had taken an Americorps position as a teacher in Durham, NC in the fall. “I taught and coordinated family and teacher communications for an after-school program at Lowe's Grove middle school.” After her volunteer stint, Schuyler moved back to her family home in Northern Virginia and began her job hunt.
When OAR Executive Director Mike Maloney offered Schuyler an OAR internship, she was happy to say yes, though it was not the permanent position she had been hoping for when she applied for a job as a RUN FOR AUTISM coordinator.
Her assignment was to help finish the Operation Autism Web site and Life Journey through Autism: A Guide for Military Families. “A lot of the work had already been done so my role was to compile resources from every state and integrate all that research for the Web site and to work with OmniStudio, the Web site developer, to make the Web site come to life. For the guide, in addition to adapting content from the Web site, I integrated content from a few writers in the autism community, edited all of the content, and created an initial layout.” Schuyler also worked with consultants on the final edit and layout design.
It turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for an idealistic college graduate who enjoys helping others. “To step back and see the Web site and guide completed, knowing that it is going to be very useful to a lot of people who need that help is very gratifying,” she explains. Better yet, she had the chance to learn a lot about autism research and to talk with “so many amazing people in the autism community.”
The position only fed her interest in OAR and its work. “I've always been interested in human development, from both scientific and humanitarian perspectives,” Schuyler explains. “But my personal interest in autism has grown more recently because of a wonderful family friend living with Asperger Syndrome.As we have become closer, it has become more apparent to me that while people on the spectrum can live full, independent lives, it is absolutely vital to support these people and their loved ones with resources they can really use.Providing a person with adequate, helpful resources can make all the difference in the way his or her life unfolds.”
“Sarah made a very positive impression when she interviewed with us in August,” recalls Maloney. “When the Military Families project extended into the fall and I needed someone dedicated to the project, I offered her an internship to become the project lead. Her excellent work on that project made hiring her a ‘no-brainer’ when a RUN coordinator’s position opened last month.”
“Little did I know that the internship would grow into a permanent job,” Schuyler notes, smiling. With a degree in exercise and sports science, her new position fits like a winter glove fits a cold hand. Perfectly. “I was looking to work with a nonprofit organization that focused on healthcare, and I loved OAR's mission of providing families with innovative, applicable research that genuinely helps people live better lives. The position of RUN coordinator caught my attention originally because of my interest in athletic performance. Not only did I major in exercise physiology, I have been an athlete my entire life.”
To be able to combine her passions for nonprofit work, healthcare, and human performance in a setting that is focused on helping others in tangible ways is a dream come true for this dedicated young woman. “I’m very excited about contributing to the RUN program's growth. It is an awesome program with so much potential for development! Finally, I will be able to continue learning about the things I'm most interested in on a daily basis, which will help me grow too. I couldn't ask for anything more in a job.”Profile
Why Not? Asks Scott Lowrey
Top Houston Fundraiser Pushes Himself for a Good Reason
Houston resident and OAR supporter Scott Lowrey had a mission: to be the top fundraiser for OAR at the 2010 Chevron Houston Marathon. He called OAR’s RUN FOR AUTISM staff almost daily to make sure his totals were updated, his donors acknowledged, and that he was still in the lead.
Mission accomplished: By the time the marathon was over, Lowrey had raised $5,120, putting him in the top spot. And he had contributed to a record-breaking year in Houston, with over $36,000 raised, topping the previous record of $31,000 raised in 2007.
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Zach, Scott Lowrey's 6-year-old son, is Lowrey's biggest motivator in his fundraising for OAR. |
Why was Lowrey so determined to be the top fundraiser? There’s a one-word answer: Zach, a cute, energetic 6 year old who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2 ½. He is also Lowrey’s son and clearly the biggest motivator in Lowrey’s fundraising efforts. He notes that since Zach was diagnosed, “it has been his family’s hope and goal to help those with autism and constantly encourage other people to pay attention and get involved.”
Lowrey isn’t planning on slowing his efforts on behalf of his son and all those with autism and their families any time soon. “I plan to shatter that $5,000 amount next year.” This record-breaking fundraiser and runner offers these tips to those who are gearing up for their own fundraising efforts:
- Be connected – being tied to the cause helps explain why you are running.
- Reach out to as many people as possible.
- Let people know no donation is too small.
- Use matching gifts programs. It turns a $50 gift into $100 effortlessly.
Running for a Reason
Lowrey first got involved with OAR in 2006 as part of the “Run for a Reason” Charity Program with the Chevron Houston Marathon. Since then, he has run two full marathons and two half marathons for OAR, and raised just over $9,000.
Given the fact that Lowrey ran a 1:41:30 half marathon in 2010, one might assume he has been running and training for races his entire life. But he’s been at it for less than a decade, having started just nine years ago when his wife was pregnant with their first child, Madison. Lowrey recalls, “I was putting on a little ‘sympathy weight.’ One day, I stepped on the scale and was shocked. I had always been fit. Things had gotten a little out of hand, so I started running.”
When he started running, he faced the dilemma most runners do: How to do it without being overwhelmed. In Lowrey’s case, he started small. He ran one mile every day for a month. The next month, he ran two miles every day, and then continued increasing his mileage to a point where he was typically running five to six miles a day.
His first race came in 2002, when he participated in Colorado’s classic Memorial Day race, the BolderBoulder. Not exactly an easy starter race, the BolderBoulder 10K navigates throughout the mountain town of Boulder, CO, starting just under the Front Range on the Pearl Street pedestrian mall, climbing to 5,391 feet just after the four-mile mark, and finishing, just before the peaks go vertical, on University of Colorado’s Folsom Field.
It was at the BolderBoulder, Lowrey recalls, that he truly fell in love with running, particularly the social aspect. “There is nothing better than being able to tie in running with being social,” he asserts, an assertion that isn’t too surprising coming from a Texan with Midwestern roots.
The running bug had bitten. Once he had completed a 10K, why not a half marathon? And after a half, why not a full? Soon enough he had completed multiple half marathons and a couple of full marathons as well.
After Zach was born and later diagnosed with autism, Lowrey had even more reason to push himself: improving the lives of individuals with autism. Of course, like everyone else, Lowrey says there are days when he feels less motivated but those are the days he pushes himself the most, as a runner, as a parent, and as a person.
He is already looking forward to Houston 2011, aiming to break his personal bests in both running and fundraising, and helping build the RUN FOR AUTISM - Houston Team to a record number of participants. “What better way to help others run and be social?” would be a typical Lowrey question.
OAR agrees, wholeheartedly and we thank Scott Lowrey and his teammates on the 2010 RUN FOR AUTISM Chevron Houston Marathon team! |