Showing posts with label ASD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ASD. Show all posts

Monday, April 2, 2018

Autism awareness day

Today marks the beginning of Autism Awareness month. 1 in 68 kids are dignosed with autism every day. but autism is more then just Rain-Man, its a wide spectrum. Some people yes may not like to talk or look at you in the eyes but there are those who will do anything to get a smile out of you , for you to show them you care and love them.

#Autismawareness and # Autismacceptance

#AutisminRugby

Sunday, March 4, 2018

MLR & Autism - update

  Would like to pass along an update from MLR. I sent over a email to the league and pointed them to my recent post. Jessica Kunzer the marketing and communications director responded back that they hear my concerns and are working with everyone involved to make it a high quality experience for all fans.

  Great first step but just one email and one post wont be enough, as we draw closer to April and through out April I will continue to advocate for Autism awareness and acceptance into not just MLR but all the clubs and the Rugby community. thank you all who took the time to read my first post about this issue and ask that you keep up the work and asking for sensory friendly game day experience for those with ASD.

#AutismInRugby
*there will be a T-shirt fundraiser coming soon , all proceeds made will be divided up and donated to local Autism programs in each MLR market .Stay Tuned.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

MLR & Autism

I have in the past written a few write ups on how Rugby and those in the Autism society can and should build bridges to each other. I as a rugby fan, player, coach but most of all a father to someone who is on the spectrum ask and plead with the MLR to please help make it a league that is accepting of those with all disabilities. This league kicks off in April which just so happens to be Autism awareness month, how perfect would it be to see not just the front office of MLR but all clubs contribute in some form of an outreach to their perspective local communities in support of those in that area who are living on the spectrum. I also am asking that each club take the necessary steps to ensure that there home playing locations are equipped with Autism friendly services such as I'm A-OK, Kulturecity and many more national programs to not just make game day experiences easier for those with ASD but also there families as well. 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with some form of autism every year with know known reason as to why but through the powerful sport of rugby we can all help make a difference in every day lives and introduce countless families into this amazing rugby community.

I implore you to reach out to your MLR club, current or future member such as New York, and ask them to help make this league and all of  Major League Rugby Autism friendly. Tweet, Facebook, Instagram MLR and there 7 clubs with the hashtag  #AutismInRugby

Remember to light it up Blue this April!

MLR- www.usmlr.com/connect/

Utah Warriors- www.warriorsrugby.com/contact/
Seattle Seawolves- www.seattleseawolves.com/contact/
NOLA Gold- www.nolagoldrugby.com/contact-us
Austin Elite - N/A
Glendale Raptors- www.glendaleraptors.com/contact/
San Diego Legion- www.sdlegion.com/contact
Houston Sabercats- N/A




* Articles of Rugby impact on peoples lives with Autism.

Rugby changed my son's life

Parents hail 'enormous' benefits of rugby training for autistic children

Rugby, kids and Autism. An amazing story





my daughter and I at the Alumni game a few years ago for San Jose State University.


Saturday, April 2, 2016

Pro Rugby & Autism 4/02/2016

I am absolutely excited for PRORugby to finally kick off, with that said I write this open letter or plea to those in charge to take the opportunity and use the first game in league history and the first month to help bring awareness to Autism and those with loved ones on the Autism Spectrum, ASD. Help shine a light this April and take the time to connect with these amazing people. It's not just kids but adults with ASD who have a hard time in a "normal" setting that we all take for granted.



Since my daughter was identified on the spectrum we have been active and engaging when it comes to activism, we have met other families and individuals with the same qualities or similar and others who are more sever then our daughter. With all the recent education that organizations such as Autism Speaks and The Autism Society and countless others who may not be as poplar in name recognition, like Parents Helping Parents in san Jose , CA , there is still so much that needs to be done to help support and educate countless others about the in's and out's of dealing with someone with ASD and how to provide a equal opportunity in not just a education setting but through out America. Whether that's how to confront a class mate or co worker who is having an issue in focusing with outburst or making sure that the person who has ASD is understanding and equipped with how to handle situations outside of there own home while engaging "normal" people out in the world that we find so easily to do.


To the people over at Pro Rugby North America and the founding clubs, San Francisco, San Diego , Sacramento , Denver ,Ohio ,Why not have Autism Awareness night. Invite the local Autism organizations in each market where you currently have clubs, offer if not free then half off priced tickets to be sold to anyone involved and seeking help through that organization. Have a booth for those groups to hand out information available for people to stop by and ask question. Have a sensory are set aside during the game day festivities and the game its self.

Wear Blue Autism awareness Night: Encourage your Fans to Wear Blue during the month of April in support of those who have ASD, give local Charites or the non-profits in the area a profile in the game day programs or plugins during the game announcements. Have players wear Autism Awareness warm up T's or shoelaces similar to what the Glendale Raptors did last year. Invite the youth to walk out with the players, and parents if child needs assistance.

This past year the Seattle Seahawks them self's took an amazing step forward to insuring that fans but with ASD can enjoy game days, " But the Seahawks just took steps to make that environment a little more accommodating: The team now offers special toolkits to fans on the autism spectrum, giving them some gear to improve their experience at the game." Special tool kits were created and provided by the non-profit group called I'm A-Okay, "The kits feature both noise cancelling headphones and earplugs, since many children with autism are sensitive to noise. The kids also have a detailed game day schedule to help parents prep for every aspect of the visit to the stadium. A toy is included, as well as stickers and ID wristbands to let other fans know that the child may experience some difficulties at the game." such simple yet effective way to help make attending a rugby match in America that much more enjoyable for the fan who is on the Spectrum and for a parent like my self who wants to take there child to a game.

There is countless other ways that you ProRugby can do your part and USA Rugby for that matter also, you can make a big difference in countless lives. I am just a man sitting at his key board reaching out to you who have the power to  make a difference in so many life's and impact so many others. As much as the general public is a wear of some the underlying issues that associate with someone on the spectrum in society there is still so much that needs to be taught and understood. A mother or father should not have to apologize to the other people in line at the grocery store when there son or daughter break out into a tantrum and they can not get them to calm down, A young man or woman should not feel embarrassed if in the middle of class or work they have to leave and isolate them self's because they cant stop the urge to hit them self's or stop fidgeting. Parents should not be a shamed because there child is different!

Dear PRO Rugby North America this April help #LighItUpBlue at the many games happening next month, bring #AutismAwareness to the rugby community and the rugby community to the Autism community. Get in contact with the people at autism friendly locations or the other organizations through out America about possibly getting the same "Tool Kits" that where provided to the Seattle Seahawks to help make the games that much more enjoyable for that young fan, for that family , individual person. I encourage you to please help make a impact in the many lives of people who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, I promise you that not just Pro Rugby but the over all sport of Rugby will leave a everlasting life changing experience to everyone it touches. Can you imagine the day that a USA rugby player who is representing on the National team or playing his/her first Pro Rugby match is someone who is on the spectrum, that is a day I look forward to see.

And if you are still not convinced that the Sport of Rugby and Autism don't mix, here is a few articles from the UK where the sport of rugby was introduced to kids with ASD and had a very positive effect on there lives and actually helped young people come out of there shell's and begin to interact with other people, sadly these articles are quite old and have not found anything recent just yet but am open to adding them if anyone wish's to inform me. 1) - Parents hail 'enormous' benefits of rugby training for autistic children    2) - Kicking autism into touch


I ask those of you who wish to see some action to please connect with ProRugby through there social media sites and urge them to step up and make a difference in 2016 and to also get in contact with USA Rugby to help make every game Autism Friendly, use #AutismAwerness or #RugbysupportsAutism #AutismInRugby when posting please.

PRO RUGBY-
Twitter: @ProRugbyUSA
Facebook: www.facebook.com/prorugby
Instagram: @PRO_Rugby_USA
Website: www.prorugby.org/

USA RUGBY-
Twitter: @USARugby
Facebook: www.facebook.com/usarugby
Website: www.usarugby.org