Grand Rapids, MI: Autism acceptance walk 'to celebrate the fact that we are all equally human'
The color blue became a banner of acceptance Thursday evening.
Blue skies and a crowd awash in blue shirts set the scene as hundreds of families united for Hope Network’s seventh annual Bridge Walk for Autism in Grand Rapids.
Over 2,500 people attended the free community walk, which organizers say is West Michigan’s largest celebration of Autism Acceptance Month.
The walk was followed by a sensory-friendly experience at the Grand Rapids Public Museum with adjusted lighting, reduced noise levels and interactive activities tailored for individuals with sensory sensitivities.
This year, organizers blocked off additional roads around the bridge to create more space and improve safety for walkers.
“This is absolutely the greatest event of the year,” said Von Kaenel, President and CEO of Hope Network, who has two grandchildren on the autism spectrum. “I can’t think of a better way to get out with family and friends to celebrate the fact that we are all equally human.”
For Sheli Lemieux of Coopersville, the walk has become a family tradition. She attended with her children — three of whom have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and a fourth who is being evaluated. The family participated in the event’s early years around 2016 and found a sense of belonging.
“The first year, it was very exciting. It was very new,” Lemieux said. “Now, it’s just this giant sense of belonging. And it just feels like your community has grown so much and you fit in so many more places.”
Her son Eli, 16, who was diagnosed with autism, said he returns for the sense of community and the opportunity to be around people like him and his siblings.
“I think it could be hard for other people to fit and make a bunch of friends,” Eli said. “So I think it’s a good thing for those people so they can meet with people that are like them and maybe make friends.”
Lemieux said the event provides a judgment-free environment for children.
“It’s a place where the kids are free to stim, free to flap, free to hop, free to hum whatever they want to,” she said. “And nobody looks at them in any odd direction.”
This year’s event drew more than 2,500 people, breaking last year’s record crowd of about 2,000 participants.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism now affects 1 in 31 children, underscoring the importance of accessible care and community support.
Maggie Moore, executive director of the Hope Network Centers for Autism, said the gathering is not designed to be a fundraiser, instead focusing on celebrating community and neurodiversity.
Hope Network’s Centers for Autism provide diagnostic evaluations, evidence-based therapies, and specialized services across Michigan, helping children and families navigate diagnoses and build lifelong skills.
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