Why am I doing the Walk Across Iowa?

I have always had an adventurous spirit. As I plan my hikes, I want to make it larger than myself. Autism has touched my family and the family of some of my friends. I want to do something that could help everyone that has been touched by Autism.

Why the Flutie Foundation?

I chose the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism because they were strongly recommended by those whose family members have been touched by Autism. The Flutie Foundation was very responsive to my Hike Across Iowa idea and have been very supportive. Their outreach is phenomenal and I am proud to be a partner.

My nephew Mitchell's Story

My name is Mitchell, and I was born in May 1998. I was a very happy baby and hit all my developmental milestones in the first two years of my life. At my two-year-old checkup, my parents shared concerns with my pediatrician. They knew something was different. My mom, who is a teacher, felt this was not the case. In fact, they tried to have my hearing tested because they wondered if I was partially deaf. It was shortly after this that I went to a developmental pediatrician, and I was identified as being on the autism spectrum.  My parents then moved from Des Moines to Norwalk because my mom knew they had outstanding special education programming.

 I attended Norwalk Schools for seventeen years and was a beloved member of that community.  As I got older and went to secondary school, I was able to have duties and jobs on the campus. Having these jobs really helped me communicate. Communication is something that is incredibly challenging for me.  I became somewhat of a “celebrity” within the secondary campus and when I was in my last year, I was Norwalk High School’s Homecoming King! While I was attending Norwalk Schools, my family made sure that I was thriving at home. Along with my loving parents, Eric and Teri, I have an amazing younger brother, Jackson. He is a very talented musician and I LOVE music! Jackson and I have always bonded over music. He even discovered that I have perfect pitch! Even though life has thrown me challenges, I continue to be the light of my family.

The Flutie Foundation was established in 1998 by former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, whose personal experience of raising a son on the autism spectrum inspired their passion to help other families. Autism is a neurological disorder that impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.The Flutie Foundation assists many families with these challenges by providing programs that address TODAY’s critical needs faced by people with autism and their families. This includes multiple annual grant cycles that help schools and autism-serving organizations, financial assistance to families, adaptive camp scholarships, community safety support, employment opportunities, and more. They also work directly with teens and young adults with autism to help them achieve their individulal life and career goals.