This document provides information about registering and participating in the Autism Speaks Walk being held on March 6th, 2016 in Palm Beach County, Florida. It summarizes what autism is, the mission of Autism Speaks to fund research and support individuals and families affected by autism, and the impact Autism Speaks has had in Palm Beach County through various programs and grants. The walk event aims to both raise awareness and funds for Autism Speaks' efforts.

1. PhotocreditLaurenGalleryPhotography
REGISTER YOUR TEAM TODAY!
WWW.AUTISMSPEAKSWALK.ORG/PALMBEACH
CONTACT US
MELISSA.DINUZZO@AUTISMSPEAKS.ORG
561-456-0054
Palm Beach County
March 6th, 2016 Meyer Amphitheatre

2. Autism is a general term used to describe a group of complex
developmental brain disorders — autism spectrum disorders (ASD) —
caused by a combination of genes and environmental influences.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by:
• Social Challenges
• Communication Difficulties
• Repetitive Behaviors
Facts about Autism:
• Autism now affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys
• Autism prevalence figures are growing
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious
developmental disability in the U.S.
• Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
• Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to
have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure
for autism
WHAT IS AUTISM?
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3. At Autism Speaks, our mission is to change the future for all who
struggle with autism spectrum disorders. We are dedicated to
funding global biomedical research into:
 the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism
 to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on
individuals, families and society
 to advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and their
families
 to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder
We are committed to raising the funds
necessary to support these goals.
Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism
community together, as one strong
voice, to urge the government and
private sector to listen to our concerns;
and take action to
address this urgent global
health crisis. It is our firm
belief that, working together,
we will find the missing
pieces of the puzzle.
OUR MISSION
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4. Your donation to Autism Speaks will go towards funding all aspects of
the Autism Speaks mission.
Autism Speaks commits to attributing more than 71% of our funding
directly to Research, Family Services, Advocacy, and Awareness efforts.
Only about 25% of our funding will go towards covering expenses from
fundraising events, such as Walk Now for Autism Speaks, and
administrative costs.
IMPACT
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6. Grant recipients in PBC
• Renaissance Learning Center
• Florida Atlantic University
Center for Autism & Related Disabilities
• YMCA of South Palm Beach County
• Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School
• Autism After 21
• Project Lifesaver International
• Fully Involved Autism Training LLC
• Mountaineer’s School of Autism
• Grandma’s Place
Autism Cares: 5
Funds provided to individuals affected by unplanned
hardships
iPads - Total provided in PBC: 30
Provided to the under privileged individuals affected
by autism
PALM BEACH COUNTY IMPACT
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7. 2016 Autism Speaks Palm Beach Walk
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Meyer Amphitheatre
104 Datura Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
www.AutismSpeaks.org/PalmBeach
8:30 am Registration, Resource Fair, Children’s
Activities and Entertainment
10:00 am Walk Starts
11:30 am Closing Ceremonies
With 1 in 68 children diagnosed with
autism, we need answers and we need
them now!
Please join us in our mission to change
the future for all who struggle with
autism spectrum disorders by
partnering with us in our 2016 Palm
Beach Walk.
What is the Autism Speaks Walk?
The Autism Speaks Walk is a unique fundraising
event which creates a safe and fun day for families
who are affected by autism. The day includes a two-
mile walk and community resource fair with
educational resources, therapists, schools,
recreational organizations and creative child-friendly
activities. The Autism Speaks Walk is a true “one-
stop-shop” for families affected by autism.
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ABOUT
Autism Speaks
1475 Centrepark Blvd., Ste. 115
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Contact person:
Melissa DiNuzzo
Coordinator- Field Development
Melissa.DiNuzzo@AutismSpeaks.org
Phone: 561-465-0054
Fax: 561-684-1054

8. Palm Beach Walk Impressions 2015
• 8,500+ attendees / 240 Teams
• Over $582,000 raised for Autism Speaks Palm Beach
• Over 15,000 brochures & 3,000 posters distributed
throughout the
Palm Beach area with sponsors’ logos
• Over 2,000 commemorative Walk Day t-shirts with
sponsors’ logos given out to walkers who raised $150+
Television, Radio & Print: donated media
• WPTV NewsChannel 5 aired Walk PSA’s / Impact 5 Autism:
Connecting the Pieces/To the Point
interviews with Autism Speaks co-founders
• Sinclair Broadcasting Group aired Walk PSA’s on
their TV stations: My 15, The CW, Azteca America
and WPEC CBS 12
• WFLX Fox 29-interviews and walk promo
• iHeart Radio aired Walk PSA’s on all their radio stations
• Portada Florida Magazine - a full page Ad every
other month
• Sun-Sentinel interview promoting the Walk
• Semanario Accion promoted Sounding the Alarm
screenings & Walk
• Country Club Living Magazine interview promoting Autism
Awareness
Social Media:
3,778+ Facebook fans
1,094+ Twitter followers
Map of Walkers’ Palm Beach County
Walkers are spread throughout Palm Beach
County, with the majority of walkers in the
cities of: West Palm Beach, Lake Worth,
Boynton Beach, Wellington, Boca Raton, Palm
Beach Gardens, Jupiter and Royal Palm
Beach.
Palm Beach Walk
Corporate Teams
Family Teams
SchoolTeams
Others
IMPRESSIONS
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9. Change is happening all around us!
Palm Beach, Martin and St Lucie counties:
700 Firefighters, Firehouses and Fire engines
supported Autism Speaks LIUB.
Firefighters are now receiving education on
how to help an individual with autism in case
of emergency.
Florida became the 5th
state to enact autism
insurance reform on May
2, 2008
Local
Representatives
supporting our
Advocacy
efforts for
Florida.
Awareness
Royal Park Bridge
Lighting Event to
kickoff our Int’l
Light It Up Blue
Campaign here
In PBC!
Advocacy
Florida passed the Achieving a Better Life
Experience (ABLE) Act that will allow
families the opportunity to set up tax-
exempt 529A savings accounts for disability-
related expenses.
Sounding the
Alarm Screening
Events featured
in Lake Worth,
Jupiter, Belle
Glades and Boca
Raton.
Wayne Akers Ford
Autism Resource Fair
Autism & Anti-Bullying
campaign presentation at
PBC schools
More Media…..!
This year we
have had more
support from
local Media than
ever!
Autism Speaks Autism
Awareness Club at
Spanish River H.S.
Our first PBC Chapter
of Autism Speaks U
at Palm Beach
Atlantic University!
Media
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Autism Speaks, iHeart Media & Wayne Akers
Ford sent over 90 families to Legoland!