Cass-Mind Autism Learning Center honors Autism Awareness Month

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- A local learning center held their annual 5k in honor of Autism Awareness Month.

Saturday the students and staff of Cass-Mind Autism Learning Center blazed the trail of Zane State College in celebration of Autism Awareness.

“April is autism awareness month and in support of that we have an annual 5k It’s just a time where we can bring the community together and get everyone involved, they can come meet the students and we do something healthy and fun. It’s just a great event for friends, family and supporters,” said Co- Director, Nathan McDonald.

Although there are several goals for this event, McDonald says their main goal is to take care of the children.

“It’s really about the community and it’s about the children because you know the children are very special and I kind of call them call them my kids even though I’m suppose to say their my students and just being new to this, you know you warm up to them and they warm up to you. They’re not so much different than we are, I’m not so much different from them. Probably truth is we’re all a little bit on the spectrum in the areas of our lives so that’s what this awareness is about,” said McDonald.

The Cass-Mind School was founded in 2012 by the late Cassandra McDonald. Events like these serve as an honor to her memory.