Dr. Gwynette: Hello and welcome to the Autism News NetWORK. We are joined today by a whole host of Autism News NetWORK participants and two special guests from the Champion Autism NetWORK. Becky Large and Richard Sexton, we are so excited. This is the joining of two networks today, so you get two for the price of one. We are going to hear all about the incredible work that the Champion Autism NetWORK does. Our first question is coming from Christina. Christina, do you want to kick us off?

Kristina: Can you tell us about the Champion Autism NetWORK?

Becky Large: Absolutely. One of my favorite subjects. I started Champion Autism NetWORK in 2013. We became a non-profit in 2016 and our mission is to spread autism awareness and support people and families with autism and we do this by providing traditional family experiences modified for people with autism and we started a training program for restaurants, resorts, and venues on the needs and accommodations of people with autism to make sure that there’s less sensory input and have just recently made a partnership with Bluegreen Resorts to have all of their resorts around the country trained so now we’re in 46 new markets.

Dr. Gwynette: So our next question is coming from [Kayaday 00:01:32].

Kaede: Do you help make people’s dreams come true?

Becky Large: I would like to think that we do. I know that as a parent of somebody with autism, a dream was to be able to go out of the house and if he were to have a tantrum or a meltdown not to be met with criticism and judgment. So to create environments where people with sensory issues or autism can feel comfortable and their families can come out and have a family experience whether a movie or a meal at a restaurant. To me that was a dream and a dream come true but I don’t know if that would be your dream. Does that sound like a dream to you?

Kaede: Kind of. It depends.

Becky Large: Right.

Dr. Gwynette: You can also see what they’ve done in the past and it’s been so consistent. Like multiple times a month, sometimes multiple times a week, so …

Becky Large: Well the goal is to have something … It would be great every day, do you know what I mean? Just to do more and we use this area, the Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach area as kind of like our proving ground where we develop programs and relationships with corporate entities like Ripley’s Aquarium or Tanger Outlets and this is our test market and then we can roll out to the other locations that they have. So that’s the goal.

Dr. Gwynette: Our next question’s from [Rafaw 00:02:56].

Rafal: What set you up for the fundraiser?

Richard Sexton: The fundraiser involves me running across the state of North Carolina and down through South Carolina for one month, for 30 days, and I’m going to run 25 miles a day or just about a marathon a day. That’s the backpack that I’m going to be wearing for a month. In fact [inaudible 00:03:23] jump on the treadmill for another three hours to do more training but that’s Slappy right there. He’s a black slam ball, he weighs 25 pounds, he’s really bulky and heavy and uncomfortable, but I’m his ride. I’m actually giving Slappy the ride for the next 30 days, starting at the very end of April and going through May and finishing at Surfside Beach where CAN is located.
It’s going to be quite an adventure. We’ve got people supporting us along the way. We’ve got a lot of really good attention from newspapers and radios and we’ve raised $10,000.00 so far and our goal is $50,000.00. So the fundraiser is really … It’s really I think helped with the visibility and Becky and I are thinking of ideas of how we can expand this to other states, nationwide because people really like the concept and who doesn’t love a big black ball, right?

Rafal: [inaudible 00:04:27]

Becky Large: Look at him getting all ready with Slappy on his back.

Richard Sexton: Yeah, I have to start my ruck now. I got three hours ahead of me so I got [inaudible 00:04:36].

Dr. Gwynette: Thanks guys.

Richard Sexton: So I’m going to literally just ruck off the scene right now.

Dr. Gwynette: All right. This has been the Autism News NetWORK’s interview with the Champion Autism NetWORK. You can follow the Champion Autism NetWORK at ChampionAutismNetWORK.com. You can check out the Champion Autism NetWORK on their website and they have a whole list of events that they have coming up like sensory-friendly bowling or adventures to the beach, the boardwalk, all kinds of activities. They are also up on Facebook. Please stay on alert for all the amazing activities that they have, not only in the Myrtle Beach area but also beyond and if you want to join the Champion Autism NetWORK there’s all kinds of great info about how you can become a CAN card member, how you can become a CAN-sponsored business, and all kinds of great resources there. So I want to thank Becky Large for joining us.

Becky Large: Thank you. Thank you.

Dr. Gwynette: Yeah. Thank you.

Dr. Gwynette: Thank you to our Autism News NetWORK audience. Check us out on theAutismNewsNetWORK.com and have a great day.