Lake walk for autism acceptance

GET moving for a cause at the Ballarat Autism Network’s Walk for Autism taking place around Lake Wendouree, Sunday 18 April.

Kicking off at the playground area on Windmill Drive at around 11am, the event will include a range of food stalls, a meet and greet with a real-life Elsa princess and a giant bubble display.

With the aim of celebrating autism acceptance, neurodiversity and inclusion, Ballarat Autism Network committee member and event organiser Tricia Murphy said she hopes many community members come along.

“It’s vitally important that people are aware of autism and accepting it and making slight changes to how you do things in order for them to develop,” she said.

“People on the spectrum are absolutely amazing, there’s so many varying levels as well, so they are as individual as anyone else.”

“Events like these mean that the community is connected, there are going to be lots of people in varying degrees who are on the spectrum and parents who have children and may have had a late diagnosis, it’s really good to go and connect as the community as a whole.”

As a mother of two children on the spectrum, Ms Murphy said when her son was first diagnosed years ago there was minimal information and support out there for her and her family.

“There were no services available at the time, no NDIS and I had to learn on my own,” she said.

“I got in contact with the Ballarat Autism Network, found out some information and just had to learn and help my child.”

A group of parents, carers and autism professionals will also be available during the event to provide information and spark discussions about autism.

“We’ve also made up some information bags to give out to people as well as there being coffee vans, ice creams and possibly a sausage sizzle,” Ms Murphy said.

“We aren’t raising money for the network, instead, we want to help other community-based organisations that cater for people on the spectrum.

“We normally get lots of people coming along, so it would be great to see as many people as possible while still being COVID-safe.”

For more information, view the Facebook event at bit.ly/39U5maI.