The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) was founded with the vision that people with autism can live lives that reach their full potential. AAoM strives to raise expectations and expand opportunities for people with autism throughout their lives.
Everyone is invited to participate in the AAoM Autism Hero Walk.
Touted as “Michigan’s largest gathering of the autism community – over 6,000 families and autistic individuals come together to celebrate everyday superheroes,” The Autism Hero Walkpresented by the DTE Foundation, takes place from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. This walk is not your average 5K, but includes visits from costumed superheroes, a stage program, arts and crafts, entertainment and a wide variety of fun activities for autistic children and adults.
“The walk is a really interesting event that you can participate in in a variety of ways,” says Lauren Parrott, event coordinator for Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM), the sponsor of the walk. “We have individuals who join us and we have people who form teams. Ultimately, anyone can join the walk and we welcome everyone.”
Parrott says many families, organizations and businesses form teams to raise funds and participate as a team. More than 230 teams – and more than 6,000 individuals – participated in the 2023 Autism Hero Walk at the Detroit Zoo.
Bennett and Kim Kerwin, center, flanked by other members of Team Bennett.
For Kim Kerwin, this year is the fourth Autism Hero Walk in a row that her team, Team Bennett, is taking part in. A random Instagram post in spring 2020 drew her attention to the walk. The previous fall, her son Bennett was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4.
“I thought, ‘This is so cool. What a great way to support Bennett and come together,’ because it was still COVID,” she says. “I decided to start a team, maybe raise some money, and that would be great.”
Kerwin admits that Team Bennett raised a lot of money in its first year, a sum that caught the attention of AAoM CEO Colleen Allen. The following year, AAoM asked her to join the Autism Hero Walk committee, and now she is a board member of AAoM. Team Bennett members include family and friends, as well as Bennett, his four-year-old sister Shaye, and their classmates. Team members wear Team Bennett T-shirts and baseball caps with the letter B in the style of the Superman logo. Bennett has also participated in all four walks. 
The kids from Team Bennett.
“He’s a veteran. He’s a repeat offender,” Kerwin says. “It’s a fun, family-friendly event. It’s very well executed – the kids have fun at the zoo. It raises money and awareness for autism, for the Alliance and what it does for autistic people in Michigan. What’s not to like?”
Kerwin says her family also enjoys spending the day with the autism community.
“This is the community we’ve been part of since Bennett’s diagnosis,” she says. “It’s just nice to see people sticking together.”
Accommodation in action
The Autism Hero Walk is designed for children and adults with autism. A sensory safe, fully enclosed tent is set up in the shade away from the main stage. It provides a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle of the event where attendees can take a moment to recharge from all the hustle and bustle. A sensory play tent is set up with games, sensory activities and fidget toys. Throughout the event, children can meet and greet superheroes and other costumed characters, do crafts, play games, get face painting or get temporary tattoos.
“There are numerous photo opportunities. Another wonderful feature of this event is that after the event ends – usually around noon – all of our guests are welcome to spend a full day at the zoo,” says Parrott. “Families should be aware that music will be played near the main stage, where most families gather. We know that some autistic individuals actually seek louder sensory stimuli.”
The Autism Hero Walk also serves as an information fair for autism. More than 50 vendors living with autism or serving the autism community offer services, products and information.
“That’s one of our biggest draws,” says Parrott. “There are service providers signing up for vendor booths, sponsors and small businesses owned by autistic people selling artwork, jewelry and other items.”
Children can meet and greet superheroes and other costumed characters.
The funds collected support the “Three Pillars” of the AAoM
Last year’s Autism Hero Walk raised $360,000 to support the three pillars of AAoM’s work: the Navigation Pillar, the Education Pillar, and the Employment Pillar. The goal for this year’s Walk is $370,000.
“All funds raised through the event help us continue our work,” says Erica Rakowicz, AAoM Event Specialist. “When individuals contact our Navigators or make an inquiry, we provide them with a lifelong guide to help them with their questions, whether it’s about insurance, academic challenges, or perhaps a new diagnosis. So many families have no idea where to start on this autism journey.”
The Pillar Education The aim is to create awareness of autism in society, to set high expectations for autistic students and to prepare all autistic people for a safe, successful and inclusive life.
“Our education pillar helps us advance initiatives that address systemic barriers to education,” says Rakowicz.
The AAoM Employment Pillar recently launched a statewide employment advancement coalition to reduce barriers for people with autism and other disabilities to find work. One focus is to educate and advise employers on recruiting, training, hiring and retaining neurodiverse job seekers. In addition, AAoM Employment continues to partner with educational institutions, both secondary and post-secondary, to better support neurodiverse students as they prepare to transition into the workforce.
The Hero Walk raises money and awareness for autism.
Rakowicz and Parrott are very pleased with the Autism Hero Walk, both professionally and personally. They thank the sponsors, the volunteers, the donors and especially the people who take part in the walk.
“It’s incredibly satisfying to see so many people in a community space, all for one reason. We all have the same cause we want to support,” says Parrott. “The people who participate in the walk enable AAoM to serve the population across the state.”
Rackowicz adds, “By raising funds or attending the event, you are supporting AAoM and making the world – and Michigan in particular – a better place for people with autism.”
Anyone can participate in the Autism Hero Walk by registering online. After registering, participants can ask to be included in the 2024 Autism Hero Walk Help Center Facebook group. Participants will receive a ticket that covers parking in the Detroit Zoo parking lot and grants them admission to the zoo for the day. The $10 registration fee is a fully tax-deductible donation, as are donations to AAoM through the walk.
Estelle Slootmaker spends most of her working days as a journalist and book editor. She also writes poetry and is working on two books: her great-great-grandmother’s memories of her childhood on Mackinac Island and a children’s picture book. You can reach her at [email protected].
Photos courtesy of Autism Alliance of Michigan. Photos of Team Bennett courtesy of Kim Kerwin.
The Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAoM) was founded with the vision that people with autism can live lives that reach their full potential. We strive to raise expectations and expand opportunities for people with autism throughout their lives.
