News Releases
Marion Jordan Students Walk for Autism
September 11, 2007
Students from Marion Jordan School will “Walk Now for Autism” from 1:45-3 p.m. Friday, September 14, at the school, 100 N. Harrison Ave., Palatine.
Proceeds of the walk will benefit Autism Speaks, a fund-raising effort that generates funds for autism research and helps raise awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to combat the complex disorder.
The walk is a project of the “Kids Helping Kids” committee, which each year organizes a campaign to educate the school’s students on challenges that students in the school may face. Autism was selected as the focus of this year’s event because Marion Jordan School is home to District 15’s Structured for Independence (SIP) program for students who are on the autism spectrum.
At Marion Jordan, SIP students and regular education students regularly interact in a variety of structured activities, including “Reading Buddies,” “Gym Buddies” and “Lunch Buddies.” Students in regular education classrooms are taught about autism, giving them insight into the challenges SIP students face in the areas of communicating, listening, learning and making friends. Principal Dana Petersen has long been a strong advocate for SIP students as well as for teaching the school’s regular education students how to show compassion in dealing with others who have autism or other challenges.
Classrooms which raise the most money for Autism Speaks through walk pledges and contributions will receive special “Walk Now for Autism” t-shirts to wear while leading the walk for the entire school. A special guest will make a surprise appearance to cheer the students on.
Last year’s “Kids Helping Kids” event at Marion Jordan raised more than $14,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Walk participants were thrilled by a visit from Chicago Bears #98, defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek.
Marion Jordan School serves about 600 kindergarten through sixth-grade students living in the communities of Palatine, Inverness, Barrington, and Hoffman Estates.
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