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 Mt. Everest 2005: Everest for Autism Expedition hello from Sunny Mendoza! Why accept what is? | |||||||||
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Hello from sunny Mendoza! It is 75 degrees and sunny- a far cry from our weather in Cincinnati. My flight was uneventful except for the two year old that sat next to me and cried half the time. I was due for something like that to happen. Getting geared up for tomorrow when I leave for Los Penitentes. Los Penitentes is an old ski area about one mile from the Horcones route trailhead. It is a 3 hour drive through this winding canyon but a beautiful drive. I will spend the night in Los Penitentes and hit the trail (running) on Saturday morning. I have fielded a lot of questions from people who ask why I am going solo. It is a difficult response and my only explanation is that I want to stretch the limits of what I can achieve. In some way, by pushing myself, by challenging the very core that we as human beings have grown to rely on, I think I can then have the basis to push farther. The same goes for autism. Why accept what is? Let's accept what can be. We will never know what can be without pushing ourselves. Without trying harder, asking the tough questions. This means pushing for changes in health care practices to provide funding for treatments. This means pushing your local schools to provide better services for developmentally disabled children. This means saying no, taking a stand, and getting involved. It doesn't take money, it takes will, perseverance, and the knowledge of knowing have far you can go. Onward and upward. More later!!! Matt
Background Everest for Autism Expedition. Matt Brennan will depart March 18, 2005 to conquer Mount Everest. The expedition is made possible by Everest for Autism sponsors; Columbus Equipment, ground multi-sport clothing, EverestNews.com, Softrends, and the Child Wellness Community Fund, the expedition will raise needed funds for children who suffer with Autism in the Greater Cincinnati Area. Matt is the CEO of Loveland Excavating and the father of four. His youngest son Blake was diagnosed with Autism at 16 months old. In 2003 Matt founded the Cincinnati Center for Autism. The nonprofit center provides treatment to children with Autism and serves as a resource for families dealing with Autism. In preparation for his Everest expedition Matt will climb Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina alone in January. Mt. Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the western hemisphere and one of the coveted "seven summits." The Argentina climb will prepare Matt physically and mentally for Everest while serving as a test run for his technology. Thanks to corporate support, the Everest expedition team will send updates to media partners via satellite phone, e-mail and digital imaging thus providing a way for supporters to track his progress and share the excitement of the Summit. On the summit of Mt Everest a strip of prayer flags (Puja Flags) will be raised, each bearing a child's name to honor those - past and present - who suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorder. Those wishing to sponsor a flag in the name of a child may do so with a donation of $10 or more to the Everest for Autism Campaign. Autism: The Growing Epidemic Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the fastest growing mental disorder in the world, with growth of more than 800 percent in the last 15 years. Today, more than 1.5 million people are afflicted with the disorder. In the next decade, an estimated 4.5 million people will be diagnosed with ASD. ASD is a complex developmental disability that typically appears within the first three years of life. A result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism affects the normal development of the brain in the areas of communication and social interaction. Children and adults with autism usually have difficulties in the areas of social interaction; verbal and non-verbal communication; and leisure and play activities. No single cause is responsible for its onset, and no single behavior characterizing autism exists. Currently, there is no cure. Autism is one of five Pervasive Development Disorders, a category of neurological disorders categorized by the severe and pervasive impairment of several areas of development including social interaction and communication skills. Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, affecting an estimated 2-6 out of 1,000 individuals. The overall incident of autism is consistent around the globe, but autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. Autism knows no racial or ethnic boundaries, nor do education levels or socioeconomic factors affect the chance of autism’s occurrence. While there is no cure for autism, there are treatment and education approaches that may reduce some of the challenges associated with the disability. Intervention may help lessen disruptive behaviors, and education can teach self-help skills that allow greater independence. But just as one there is no one symptom or behavior that identifies autistic children, there is also no single treatment. Currently, mental health experts endorse no single treatment; for this reason, very little funding is available to families fighting autism, leaving most treatments privately funded. Consequently, under-funded families must wait for school-based treatment programs or conduct home-based programs staffed by family members. Cincinnati Center for Autism
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