HappyChucks   For Families Navigating the Autism Waters

KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) is a non-profit organization which offers children of all ages, and with all disabilities (including autism), the chance to participate in various sports in a fun and encouraging environment. And best of all, it's FREE to the participants & their families. KEEN has several programs in the Washington DC area, and have recently added branches in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and a few other cities. Beginning next month, they'll add Phoenix to their list.

8:43 KEEN video

If you're interested in learning more about KEEN in Phoenix, you can visit their website, or you can attend a Town Hall meeting next week:

What:	A town hall meeting to learn more about KEEN and how this unique program will soon be available to kids with disabilities in the Phoenix area.
Who:	Parents, volunteers, agencies, organizations, and other interested parties.
Where:	Sonnenshein Nath & Rosenthal, LLP 2398 E Camelback Rd, Suite 1100 Phoenix, AZ 85016
When:	Tuesday, February 26, 2008 6:00 – 7:30 pm
RSVP:	If you plan to attend, or would like more information, please call by Friday, February 22 at 602-508-3939, or email at info@keenphoenix.org

We've had some mixed success with programs like these in the past, but I'm looking forward to meeting the KEEN folks and giving this a try. I'm amazed that they've been able to do all this without charging for services.. We've met a few people and organizations over the years who have great intentions and want very badly to make a difference, but funding, volunteers, and resources often becomes too big an obstacle to overcome, and they eventually either change to a pay-for-service model or their services and energy deteriorate over time. The fact that KEEN has some history and has been successful in other locations is giving me reason to hope.

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I know a lot of people who like to complain about Starbucks (or any big company) taking over the world, but I also know a lot of people who drink Starbucks coffee!

A couple of days ago our friend paused to read "The Way I See It" quoted on her cup, and was pleasantly surprised to see they were quoting Bob Wright (former CEO of NBC) promoting autism awareness and early intervention.

The Way I See It #264: Every 20 mintues – less time than it will take you to drink your coffee – another child is diagnosed with autism. It's much more common than people think, with one out of every 150 children diagnosed. Learn the early warning signs of autism, and if you're concerned about your child's development, talk to your doctor. Early intervention could make a big difference in your child's future.

We talk about awareness a lot, and as much as we like to think that every individual counts – some people count more than others. People with high profile lives or influential positions have the ability to generate more awareness than the average person or family. Bob Wright probably didn't know much about autism before his grandchild was diagnosed (just my guess), but shortly thereafter we saw Autism Awareness Week on NBC! Then he founded Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org), which has become one of the major players in the autism world and funds millions of dollars worth of research and other charities.

It's nice to see support where you didn't expect it, so Kudos to Starbucks. Could they do more? Of course – we all could. But they're doing something, and not every company out there can say that.

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