ACT Today! Highlights Need for Worldwide Autism Awareness

United States Marine Forces, Korea 5k Run and 1k Kids Fun Run in Seoul, South Korea and ACT Today!'s (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) 2nd Annual 5k/10k Run/Walk and ONEHOPE Family Festival in San Diego, California on April 7, 2012 help encourage worldwide autism awareness for the military child. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) April 04, 2012 - ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!), a national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide care and treatment to children with autism, applauds the Good Neighbor Program and the U.S. Marine Forces, Korea for their efforts to spread autism awareness and support for military families affected by autism with a 5k Run and 1k Kids Fun Run. The 5k Run begins at 8:30 am and the 1k Kids Fun Run starts at 9:00 am. Both runs will take place on board US Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul, Korea on April 7, 2012. The community event is a free "open run."

Expected participants include United States Marines, Marine families, and representatives from the other US Military Services in Seoul, Korea as well as members of the Korean Marine Corps, and local Korean supporters and runners. Autism resources will be made available to participants.

"April is an opportunity to educate the public about autism and issues that face the military family with children with autism," says ACT Today! Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson. "The US recognizes April as the Month of the Military Child and National Autism Awareness Month. We see this as a chance to not only continue our efforts of spreading autism awareness throughout the United States, but join hands with our good neighbors overseas. This event brings military families together with the Korean community supporters in support of autism awareness."

On the same day, ACT Today! will host its 2nd Annual ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF) 5k/10k Run/Walk and ONEHOPE Family Festival from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mission Bay Park in San Diego, California. Registration for the run is required and available online at www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.kintera.org. Proceeds from the run will benefit military children with autism.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDP), 1 out of 88 children in America is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making ASD more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer and pediatric AIDS combined. It is estimated 1 in every 88 military children has ASD. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal/nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include Autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), Pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger's syndrome.

About ACT Today!:
ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and funding to families of children with autism who cannot afford or access the necessary tools their children need to reach their full potential. For more information about ACT Today!, visit: www.act-today.org.

About ACT Today! for Military Families:
ACT Today! for Military Families (ATMF), is a national program of ACT Today!. It was launched in July 2010. ATMF works to improve awareness and delivery of effective autism services, and provides financial assistance to military families to help defray out-of-pocket costs associated with autism treatments, services, and other quality of life programs. For more information about ACT Today! for Military Families, visit: www.acttodayformilitaryfamilies.org.

###

space

Other Related Press Releases