The 11th annual “Uplifting Celebration for Autism” at Utah Valley University will be Saturday, June 17 on the UCCU Center lawn on the UVU Orem Campus from 10 a.m.-noon. The community is invited, registration is not required, and all activities are free at the event.

The celebration is co-sponsored by the Autism Resources of Utah County and UVU’s Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism, and will include sensory-enriched, carnival-type activities focused on children 3 – 10 years-old. There will also be activities for adults with autism.

Event organizers are expecting more than 1,400 attendees and there will be approximately 35 organized activities including balloon artists, face painting, a reptile show, parachutes, among others, and free t-shirts, hot dogs, snow cones, and cotton candy.

“The celebration brings together so many people and organizations who truly care about supporting autistic individuals and their families,” said Jane Carlson, director of the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism. “The atmosphere is so supportive and positive. It is truly a labor of love.”

According to event organizers, the celebration event and others are designed to create and establish a community of belonging and friendship that counteracts the social isolation, bullying, depression and anxiety, and sometimes suicide that can follow people with autism.

“We know the effects of these events last for more than one day and change lives,” said Laurie Bowen, associate director for the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism. “They have ripple effects that break down borders and address stigmas like nothing else can.”  

The “Uplifting Celebration” is a joint effort between many community organizations and is the largest gathering of its kind in the state of Utah. More than 50 trained volunteers will be on hand to make sure everyone has a great time.

Bowen said that “When people in the community donate their resources and take time for trainings, and experience positive recreational activities with a diverse population like this, everyone walks away improved from the experience and association. We know these experiences last and make a difference.”

Moving Mountains Autism Soccer Camp

The Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism also announced that the “Moving Mountains Autism Soccer Camp” will be June 23-24 on UVU’s Orem Campus for one hour each day.

The camp is scheduled to bring in 120 young people with autism who do not normally have the opportunity to participate in sports. Each person is paired with a youth volunteer and coach to make sure all have a positive experience.

“’The Moving Mountains Soccer Camp’ has such a positive impact in our community,” said Carlson. “It is a positive experience for the kids who get to participate and the high school students who serve as coaches. It benefits all who are involved.”

The soccer camp was started in 2016 by Kylee Wunder and her family from Cedar Hills, Utah, because her twin younger brothers have autism and were not able to participate in organized sports and she did not want them to miss out. The Wunder family raises funds every year by selling authentic Hawaiian food to help offset some of the costs with other donors. Thanks to the donors each child will receive a soccer ball, a drinking bottle along with other items.

“People are truly amazing,” said Bowen. “Our community members donate their time and means to make sure these events occur, and when many hands contribute, the end result is significant. These events remove barriers and create hope in the future. That is what community is all about.”

Autism, a developmental disorder affecting millions of people worldwide, is often misunderstood. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines autism as “a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges.” One in 54 children in Utah is diagnosed with autism.

Autism is also referred to as a spectrum (Autism Spectrum Disorder) because there is a wide variety of presentations. Every autistic person experiences the world differently and may need very different services and support to achieve their individual goals.

For more information, go to https://www.uvu.edu/autism/ or call 801-863-8759.