Awesome Autistic Ogden
Stacy Bernal is a mom of two boys, and her 14-year-old son, Haiden, has Autism Spectrum Disorder. In March of 2018, she saw there were Autism Walks planned in Logan and Provo, but there was nothing happening in Ogden. She took matters into her own hands. She put together an autism walk in downtown Ogden, and that is how Awesome Autistic Ogden got its start. Bernal said one of their goals at AAO is to teach others to love and appreciate people with neuro diversity. Sometimes, ASD manifests itself when a person doesn’t act the way people expect in social situations. They can look like anyone else, but they act and learn differently. Underneath the differences that might be obvious, they are still people who have a sense of humor, quirks, and personality. It’s just a matter of getting to know them. Bernal said there is a pretty good awareness of autism in the community, but what we need are more people who care and get to know the people who have it. “If you see the kids who are a little different, if you see someone who could use a friend, be that friend. Stand up for the person if you see someone getting made fun of.”
“If you see the kids who are a little different, if you see someone who could use a friend, be that friend."
Today, Bernal and her committee are also working to connect resources with the people in and around Ogden who need them. Making the drive to Haiden’s multiple appointments each week in Salt Lake was tough, and she is hoping to coax more organizations to serve the Ogden area closer to home. AAO held their first annual event last year that brought organizations from all over Northern Utah to Weber State for a screening of Extraordinary People. This year, Bernal hopes to bring more resources and people who would benefit from them to their event on April 11th, at the Ogden school district Special education building. It will be an open house with sensory activities geared for kids with ASD, and booths will be set up for the parents to get information about the various organizations. Anyone interested in volunteering at the event can connect with Bernal via the Awesome Autistic Ogden Facebook page. Two people can be diagnosed with autism, but how it affects their day-to-day life can be very different. There isn’t a “one size fits all” solution, and Bernal emphasized that what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. She said that’s one reason why it’s so important for parents to have access to resources so they can find what works for their child. The love and passion behind Awesome Autistic Ogden comes from knowing what it’s like to be a special needs parent, and she hopes AAO can help bridge the gap for other parents.
United Way
Historically, United Way has dispersed funding to various charities, but now that’s just a part of what they do. Tim Jackson, the President CEO of United Way in the Ogden and North Ogden area, explained they have programs that focus on education, income, and health. Jackson said the volunteers find it very rewarding, especially when they see the difference their work is making. The people who tutor children reading in schools can see the improvement over time. Some volunteers are trained through an organization to do taxes for free for low income families. They walk away knowing they’ve saved families a lot of money where every little bit makes a big difference. 20
northogdenconnection.com | February 2020
JOIN US: April 11, 2020 11 am- 2pm They Shiny Gym @ Ogden School District 1950 Monroe Blvd. ASD information, resources, vendors, products, kids' activities and food trucks
“People face crisis and run into situations that are out of their control,” said Jackson. He emphasized the importance of giving people a hand up instead of a hand out. United Way oversees the 211 resource and referral hotline. Anyone can call this number and get help for whatever type of service they need. Are you about to be evicted? There is help for that. Need a counselor? They’ll connect you to one. The number isn’t only for people in need. Anyone can call, tell the operator what city they’re in, and ask for opportunities to volunteer as well.
HELP NOW: You can also find opportunities
online at 211utah.org/index.php/volunteer or at Justserve.org