AUTISM SUPPORT OF ALABAMA ANNOUNCES

WALKS FOR AUTISM HELD ACROSS THE STATE DURING

AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH IN APRIL

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – March 18, 2025 – Autism Support of Alabama (ASA), the leading nonprofit organization for autism advocacy, programs and support in the state, is excited to announce its annual Walks for Autism across Alabama. These community events will take place throughout April, which is Autism Awareness Acceptance Month.

 

The Autism Walks will be held in the following locations:

 

• Huntsville:Saturday, April 5 – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Jaycee’s Community Building (2200 Jaycee Way SC; Huntsville, AL 35801)

 

• Boaz:Saturday, April 5 – 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Old Mill Park (10315 AL-168; Boaz, AL 35957)

 

• Dothan:Saturday, April 5 – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Kiwanis Park (800 Deerpath Rd; Dothan, Al 36303)

 

• Tuscaloosa: Saturday, April 5 – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Willow Shelter (5901 Watermelon Road; Northport, AL 35473)

 

• Fort Payne:Saturday, April 5 – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

VFW Fairground (151 18th Street; Fort Payne, Al 35967)

 

• Birmingham:Saturday, April 12 – 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Funky Fish Fry to follow (See More Info Below)

Avondale Park (4101 5th Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35222)

 

• Enterprise:Saturday, April 19 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bates Memorial Stadium (500 E. Watts St.; Enterprise, AL 36330)

 

• Montgomery:Saturday, April 26 – 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Ida Bell Young Park (5400 Vaughn Rd; Montgomery, Al 36116)

 

 

 

• Mobile:Saturday, April 26 – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Madri Gras Park (109 Government St; Mobile, Al 36602)

 

 

Each Walk for Autism offers a fun and engaging way for families, friends, neighbors and supporters to come together to celebrate individuals with autism. Activities will vary by location but may include:

 

• A scenic walk route
• Family-friendly activities
• Music and entertainment
• Food and refreshments
• Resource Fair

 

The Funky Fish Fry is held every April after the Birmingham Walk for Autism to bring awareness to Autism Awareness Month. This year, the 15th annual event will take place on Saturday, April 12, 2025, following the Birmingham Autism Walk at Avondale Brewing Company (201 41st St S, Birmingham, AL 35222.)

Hosted by the junior boards of Mitchell’s Place and Autism Support of Alabama, the Funky Fish Fry supports individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Birmingham and beyond. The event aims to show that giving back to the community and raising awareness can be accessible and enjoyable. This family-friendly, rain-or-shine event promises fun for all ages. ASA encourages the community to attend, sponsor, or donate to support education and advocacy for individuals with autism and their families.

 

Registration for the Autism Walks is available online at https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/AL/Birmingham/AutismWalk – registration is $30 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. All proceeds from the walks will benefit ASA’s programs and services, which provide statewide support, education and advocacy for individuals and families affected by autism. Autism now affects 1 in every 36 children, up from the previous rate of 1 in 44. In the United States, 4 in 100 boys and 1 in 100 girls have autism.

 

“These events are a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness for autism, celebrate our incredible autism community and raise critical funds to support our programs and services that empower individuals and families living with autism across the state,” said Jenny Morris, Autism Support of Alabama Executive Director. “We are committed to providing meaningful programs which put tangible resources in the hands of those we serve and, in turn, make a lasting positive impact.”

ASA is proud to #CelebrateDifferences in honor of Autism Acceptance Month throughout the month of April in partnership with World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. Autism Acceptance Month emphasizes the need for public awareness to promote acceptance, celebrate the differences and be more inclusive towards autistic individuals around us.

 

“Everyday, ASA works to create connections, empowering everyone in the autism community to live fully,” said Morris. “We believe that acceptance is creating a world where everyone in the autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it.”

 

By supporting ASA, the organization is able to deliver impactful programs, resources and information that empower individuals with autism and their families. ASA is committed to delivering crucial information and resources to all communities across the state through conferences, workshops and coffee chats which focus on a variety of autism-specific topics. ASA offers Post-Secondary Scholarships for individuals with a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a post-secondary program in a university/college, vocational/technical school and/or a day training or job training program.

 

Autism Friendly Alabama is dedicated to fostering inclusive communities by promoting awareness and understanding of autism across the state. Through partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and community leaders, Autism Friendly Alabama works to create safe, accommodating environments where individuals on the autism spectrum and their families feel welcomed and supported. Their initiatives include providing training resources, sensory-friendly event guidance, and certification programs to help businesses become more accessible.

 

ASA helps facilitate Connect Groups, community meet ups to prevent difficulty and loneliness with families who have an autism diagnosis, as well as Comprehensive Autism Resources and Education (CARE) Binders, a tangible tool to help families keep all of their documents together in one place. ASA provides Autism Sensory Kits (A.S.K) to first responder agencies that include items which can assist first responders in their interactions with individuals who have autism or other sensory needs. Family Grant programming has been expanded to include limited reimbursement of funds (up to $250) for ASD-related expenses incurred by families such as ABA therapy, respite, swimming and wandering devices. Additionally, hundreds of families benefit from ASA’s Camp Frog Family Camp weekend, where children and adults care and worries can be put aside. Families have the opportunity to focus on having fun and connecting with other families from across the state as they participate in adaptive camp activities at Camp ASCCA, located on Lake Martin.

 

For more information about ASA, visit https://autism-alabama.org/, call 1-877-4AUTISM or email info@autism-alabama.org.The Walk for Autism media kit with press release, photos, graphics and more can be found here. For media inquiries, please contact Rachel Mayo at rachel@styleadvertising.com or (205) 933-8893.

 

About Autism Support of Alabama  

Autism Support of Alabama is the leading nonprofit providing resources, education, advocacy and support to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families across the state. The organization offers a variety of programs and services, including a family support network, educational workshops, professional development training and legislative advocacy. To stay up to date on all things Autism Support of Alabama follow them on Facebook and Instagram.