Zumbathon is personal for organizer/instructor | Children Health ...

Gigi Burton is passionate about her children and family, friends, dancing and autism awareness. She and hundreds of other Tucsonans will come together to champion all of the above through Zumba fitness dance at Zumbathon for Autism.

The event will be held April 22 at Hotel Tucson City Center InnSuites, 475 N. Granada Ave.

?As a Zumba instructor and dance instructor, I have participated in Zumbathons to raise money for breast cancer, AIDS and other causes. I realized there are not many events out there to raise money to assist families who have children with autism, but there are more and more families who need help. Autism impacts one in every 110 children and those numbers keep getting bigger and bigger,? said Burton, who is helping stage the fundraiser for the Tucson Alliance for Autism (TAFA) while simultaneously promoting April as Autism Awareness Month.

The cause is personal for the mother of four, whose 13-year-old son, Paolo Marquez-Robinson, has Asperger?s syndrome, one of several developmental disorders classified as an autism spectrum disorder. Autism is defined by the Autism Society of America as a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person?s ability to communicate and interact with others.

It affects people differently and in varying degrees; some attain high levels of functioning while others don?t. Statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 1.5 million American children and adults have autism; and estimates from the U.S. Department of Education and other governmental agencies indicate that the disorder is growing at a rate of 10 to 17 percent each year.

Asperger?s syndrome is generally considered a higher-functioning form of autism; those with the disorder typically have normal to high intelligence and verbal skills, but experience challenges with social interaction and behavior.

?The kids with Asperger?s are high-functioning: many of them are like little Einsteins ? they are the closest thing to savants ? but they lack social skills and their communication skills are not very refined,? Burton said.

She believes the Tucson Alliance for Autism is an invaluable resource for children with autism and their parents. It provides services to more than 500 individuals and their families from Southern Arizona and New Mexico annually, offering autism evaluations and diagnosis; behavioral consultations; individual and group speech/language and communication therapies; and an autism resource library. Additionally, summer camps serve the full spectrum of patients from ages 7 to 25. Social Thinking and Life Skills Groups serve ages 8 through 35, addressing a wide range of topics from healthy relationships to organizational skills (time management, prioritizing, task completion and follow through, etc.) and vocational skills workshops.

TAFA Executive Director Kim Crooks said the classes are intended to help young people with autism integrate into the community and maximize their potential.

?Life skills are important to teach no matter where they are on the spectrum. We know higher functioning people with autism can live independently given the right skills and practice with learning ? and we are giving those who are less functioning the skills to communicate and the basic job skills they need be successful in the community. It doesn?t mean they will be living on their own, but they might live in a group home or with a couple friends with supervision,? she said.

Burton said that TAFA provides a voice for individuals and families dealing with autism in the community while offering understanding and support as well as hope for the future.

?Our main concern is, ?What will happen to our children and who will care for them when we are gone??

?These are our children today, but they will be tomorrow?s adults and if they can?t take care of themselves, what will happen??

If You Go

What: 6th Annual Piece the Puzzle Autism Walk/Run and Resource Fair

When: Sunday

7:30 a.m. Registration and check-in

Where: University of Arizona mall just south of the Student Union; the Second Street Parking Garage offers free parking near the event.

Cost: $17 per person online by Wednesday or $20 the day of the event; $5 for children 12 and under

All proceeds benefit the all-volunteer, nonprofit Autism Society Greater Tucson Chapter to provide local support, advocacy, education, workshops, activities and events for Tucsonans with autism and their families. For more information or to register online, visit www.firstgiving.com/asgt/6th-annual-piece-the-puzzle-walkrun-resource-fair or call 770-1541.

What: Zumbathon for Autism

When: 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. April 22

Where: Hotel Tucson City Center InnSuites, 475 N. Granada Ave.

Cost: $25 per person

Festivities include unlimited Zumba, a goodie bag for the first 300 registrants, healthy snacks and a Zumbatonic demonstration by local children and clients of the Tucson Alliance for Autism.

All proceeds go directly to support local TAFA programs. Registration forms are available on the Tucson Alliance for Autism website www.tucsonallianceforautism.org or by calling 319-5857. Registration forms can be mailed to TAFA at 1002 N. Country Club Road, Tucson, AZ 85716.

Contact freelance writer Loni Nannini at ninch2@comcast.net

Article source: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/a61e4d11-5120-53cf-9a73-5bed8c68a801.html

Source: http://www.childrenhealthwizard.com/zumbathon-is-personal-for-organizerinstructor

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