Blog

I’ve always used running to clear my head. But running the Disney 5K with RUN FOR AUTISM reminded me that sometimes a run can do more than that – it can reconnect you to why you do the work you do in the first place.

If you’ve ever been to a Disney race, you know the vibe. It’s early, it’s loud, and everyone is smiling despite the lack of sleep. There are costumes, music, fireworks, and that unmistakable Disney energy that makes it feel less like a race and more like a celebration. Running with RUN FOR AUTISM added something deeper. Every step felt tied to awareness, advocacy, and a shared belief that individuals with autism deserve communities where they are understood, supported, and included.

What struck me most wasn’t the course or the finish line – it was the people. Runners of all ages and abilities showed up not to chase a personal best, but to be part of something bigger. That kind of collective intention is powerful, and it’s the same thing that drives my work as the Director of the Illinois Autism Partnership (IAP) at Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford.

Through the Illinois Autism Partnership, we focus on strengthening autism supports across the state by bringing people together and turning ideas into action. A big part of that work is professional development—helping educators, service providers, and community professionals build practical skills and confidence they can use right away. Our program also regularly utilizes resources from the Organization for Autism Research, including Kit for Kids, as we work to build inclusive classrooms across Illinois. We also focus on setting up classrooms and programs for kids with autism that are thoughtful, responsive, and grounded in real-world needs.

Some of our work includes supporting broader community understanding, including offering training that helps first responders feel more prepared in their interactions. It’s one piece of our larger effort to make sure autism awareness doesn’t stop at the classroom door.

As I ran the Disney 5K, I kept thinking about how awareness must lead somewhere. Events like RUN FOR AUTISM spark connection and visibility, but what really matters is what happens next. The follow-through. The training sessions. The classroom set ups. The development of new tools to support new needs. The steady, behind-the-scenes work that doesn’t always get a spotlight but makes a real difference over time.

Running a 5K isn’t dramatic. You don’t transform overnight. You just keep putting one foot in front of the other. That’s what this work feels like too. Progress comes from consistency, collaboration, and showing up even when the work feels slow.

The Disney setting made the whole experience feel especially meaningful. Disney is all about joy, imagination, and belonging, things every community should strive to offer. Seeing runners cheer each other on and celebrate together was a simple but powerful reminder that inclusion is built in small, intentional moments.

RUN FOR AUTISM does an incredible job of turning movement into momentum. It brings people together in a way that feels hopeful and energizing. Crossing the finish line didn’t feel like an ending, it felt like a reset. A reminder to keep moving, keep collaborating, keep building, and keep pushing forward.

The race ended, but the work didn’t. And honestly, that’s the best part. Because forward motion – whether it’s on a racecourse or in our schools and communities – is where real change happens.