Team “Rolling for Autism” Rolls Through CSAAC!

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CSAAC hosted a group of special visitors on Monday, July 30, 2007, known as the “Rolling for Autism” Team.  Six college students, led by recent Union College graduate and Founder, Dan Tatar, embarked on a rollerblading journey from Florida to Maine to raise autism awareness in June 2007.  The team rolled into CSAAC’s Twinbrook Parkway Training Center in Rockville, Maryland, and later to the CSAAC offices at the Jane Salzano Center for Autism in Montgomery Village, Maryland, to visit with a few of the adults with autism who are supported at CSAAC. 

Dan, who is originally from upstate New York, has a brother with Asperger's Syndrome.  Some of Dan's college ice hockey teammates and his friends decided they wanted to do something original to raise funds for autism and autism awareness, so with the help of Dan’s father, they formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit known as ADK Charities.  The team now consists of over 160 students on the rollerblading journey, and their numbers are growing, as they have reached the halfway point on the trip.  The goal of ADK Charities’ foundation is to target high school students, college students, and young adults to encourage them to learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorders.  

Upon arriving at CSAAC, the team visited with adults with autism at the Twinbrook Center, and played an educational game of “Survival Signs Bingo” along side six (6) of the 113 adults served by CSAAC.  Afterwards, the team was treated to lunch and a tour of the Jane Salzano Center.  Executive Director, Ian Paregol, noted, “We were impressed with how much the team already knew about autism, and the need for children and adults with autism to receive quality autism services across the lifespan. We are happy they chose to visit CSAAC as part of their autism awareness odyssey.”  CSAAC thanks the Rolling for Autism organizational team, CSAAC Director of Development, Ayda Sanver, Director of Vocational Supports, Gwen Davis, and Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator, Tamekia Ford, for making this visit a day to remember. To learn more about Rolling for Autism and to support their efforts, visit http://www.rollingforautism.com.

Click Here to read the online version of the GAZETTE article about Team Rolling for Autism's visit to CSAAC.

Gazette Article