• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Walk raises money for Autism

Walk raises money for Autism

June 9, 2008 By admin

Around 2,000 Iowans put on their walking shoes this weekend and raised roughly $175,000 for autism research. Kristine Nirdlinger, with the group Autism Speaks , says the fundraiser in West Des Moines was one of 86 "Walk Now for Autism" events this year in the U.S. or Canada. Autism is a complex brain disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges.

There is no known cure and diagnosis of autism has increased dramatically in the last decade. Nirdlinger says autism affects one in 150 children in the U.S. The disorder affects four times as many boys as girls. The signs or symptoms of autism are wide-ranging and different from child to child.

"They may be not very verbal, they may be withdrawing from other children, they may be showing lack of eye contact," Nirdlinger said. "So, there are a lot of different symptoms and children vary on how they may exhibit them." It can also be difficult for parents to recognize the symptoms, but Nirdlinger says the Autism Speaks website can help. The site includes a "video glossary" that shows children with signs of the disorder.

"It shows a child developing at the normal rate and a child showing specific symptoms of autism, so parents can compare it with what they might be seeing (with their own child) to what we’re showing online," Nirdlinger explained. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis and say there’s no clear cause for the disorder.  

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine

Featured Stories

DOT plow crews struggling against blizzard conditions

Iowa delegation breaks along party lines on Trump impeachment vote

Two northeast Iowa men admit to illegally harvesting ginseng

Do you have to pay tax on your stimulus check?

All six in Iowa’s congressional delegation confirm Electoral College results

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa State-Kansas postponed

Iowa-Michigan State postponed

Fire damage to Riverfront Stadium electrical system will cost Waterloo thousands

Iowa State at Kansas State postponed

Iowa State’s Foster to miss remainder of the season

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC