Autism Speaks: Community Analysis
I completed my community service for the Autism Speaks U 5K run/3K walk, which was located at Kendrick Park in downtown Amherst. The mission of this organization is to spread awareness and fund research for autism, and there are 4 pillars which are research, awareness, advocate, and family services. This organization serves children with autism who live anywhere in the nation and are the younger demographic, but can be any race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and group identity. I am different from the people served because I do not have autism, but I understand that it is a disorder that is not very well understood, so it is monumental to try to change that by finding causes and treatments for autism to help families of children suffering
…show more content…
from this disorder. From a public health perspective, I recognize that there is a need to provide accurate information to the public about autism, because various misconceptions have arisen over the last few decades that are still prevalent, such as the belief that vaccines cause autism. Autism Speaks needed me to volunteer because they rely on UMass students to organize the event, and it is a nonprofit organization so the money they raise goes directly to the cause rather than to the workers. In addition, volunteers can be part of a team that can raise money for the event, and the team that can raise the most are recognized at the event. They do rely on many volunteers because it helps to save money. The primary source of funding for the event comes from sponsors to help fund the event, and the sponsors can then promote their company in the local and campus community, as well as supporting Autism Speaks’ mission. Volunteers are also sponsors who must pay a $15 registration fee which help pay for the logistical costs of the event and support Autism Speaks.
I was responsible for lining the route for the 3K walk, which made a difference for the walkers by ensuring that they are on the right path and providing them with encouragement by clapping and cheering them on. The impact on my work on the community as a whole was being an advocate for the event and taking time out of my busy day to support a cause that I believe in. My volunteer work was valuable for the community because it allowed the event to occur smoothly without the need to hire workers, and inspires goodwill in doing something greater than yourself. This work could be more valuable to the community if similar events were held all around campuses in the nation, which would greatly increase the amount of funding for autism. I would recommend other students in future classes to volunteer for the service I did because it supports a wonderful cause, the volunteer tasks are easy and laidback, you get free pizza and a T-shirt, and you can be part of a bigger community that are all working towards a common goal.
It is important for an individual’s health to be connected to a community because it offers improved intellectual, spiritual, occupational, social, emotional, and physical wellness.
It improves intellectual wellness because seeking new experiences and challenges is healthy and encourages you to get outside your comfort zone by participating in scholastic, cultural, and community activities that will help you learn about others and yourself. Spiritual wellness results when you find meaning and purpose in your niche in the community; rather than focusing all your efforts on yourself, you realize there is a bigger world out there that needs your talent and skill and you find that working in a community is very meaningful and worthwhile. Being connected to a community also improves occupational wellness, because if you love what you do, then you are more motivated to achieve even greater work every day and not limit yourself. It improves social wellness because you learn to develop encouraging relationships with peers, create a support network, and perform social roles effectively and comfortably. Emotional wellness is also benefited because you begin to realize that your stresses are not unique to you, and there are people who understand what you are going through which can help ease the stress you are currently dealing with. Physical wellness can be impacted as well, since being involved in a community makes you want to stay healthy and be an active participant, and others’ health habits can influence your own decisions. Two things I learned in implementing my community service project that I may be able to use in the future are that volunteers are a significant part of the community, and that it doesn’t take special skills to work as a volunteer, but it is important to bring your enthusiasm and have an open mind. If I could volunteer with any organization in the world and work for any cause, it would be to work for Best Friends Animal Society, which seeks to end the
killing in America’s animal shelters and create a time when there are no more homeless pets. I feel strongly that every pet deserves kindness and compassion from humans, and too many of them are left out in the streets to fend for themselves which is truly devastating and unfair. These animals often are confined in shelters that do not promote their well-being, and are killed when no one is able to adopt them. Being a cat lover, I deplore this inhumane treatment, and want to be part of an organization that supports treating them with dignity. As a volunteer, I would like to share my compassion and knowledge of health and illness to others. These skills might be useful for the organization I just mentioned, or Doctors without Borders which provides medical care for underserved countries. To make this a reality, I could research more about the organization I am interested in, apply, and volunteer. I could talk to others who are already involved in the organization to determine if it best fits my talents and abilities, and if there is any additional training required.
from this disorder. From a public health perspective, I recognize that there is a need to provide accurate information to the public about autism, because various misconceptions have arisen over the last few decades that are still prevalent, such as the belief that vaccines cause autism. Autism Speaks needed me to volunteer because they rely on UMass students to organize the event, and it is a nonprofit organization so the money they raise goes directly to the cause rather than to the workers. In addition, volunteers can be part of a team that can raise money for the event, and the team that can raise the most are recognized at the event. They do rely on many volunteers because it helps to save money. The primary source of funding for the event comes from sponsors to help fund the event, and the sponsors can then promote their company in the local and campus community, as well as supporting Autism Speaks’ mission. Volunteers are also sponsors who must pay a $15 registration fee which help pay for the logistical costs of the event and support Autism Speaks.
I was responsible for lining the route for the 3K walk, which made a difference for the walkers by ensuring that they are on the right path and providing them with encouragement by clapping and cheering them on. The impact on my work on the community as a whole was being an advocate for the event and taking time out of my busy day to support a cause that I believe in. My volunteer work was valuable for the community because it allowed the event to occur smoothly without the need to hire workers, and inspires goodwill in doing something greater than yourself. This work could be more valuable to the community if similar events were held all around campuses in the nation, which would greatly increase the amount of funding for autism. I would recommend other students in future classes to volunteer for the service I did because it supports a wonderful cause, the volunteer tasks are easy and laidback, you get free pizza and a T-shirt, and you can be part of a bigger community that are all working towards a common goal.
It is important for an individual’s health to be connected to a community because it offers improved intellectual, spiritual, occupational, social, emotional, and physical wellness.
It improves intellectual wellness because seeking new experiences and challenges is healthy and encourages you to get outside your comfort zone by participating in scholastic, cultural, and community activities that will help you learn about others and yourself. Spiritual wellness results when you find meaning and purpose in your niche in the community; rather than focusing all your efforts on yourself, you realize there is a bigger world out there that needs your talent and skill and you find that working in a community is very meaningful and worthwhile. Being connected to a community also improves occupational wellness, because if you love what you do, then you are more motivated to achieve even greater work every day and not limit yourself. It improves social wellness because you learn to develop encouraging relationships with peers, create a support network, and perform social roles effectively and comfortably. Emotional wellness is also benefited because you begin to realize that your stresses are not unique to you, and there are people who understand what you are going through which can help ease the stress you are currently dealing with. Physical wellness can be impacted as well, since being involved in a community makes you want to stay healthy and be an active participant, and others’ health habits can influence your own decisions. Two things I learned in implementing my community service project that I may be able to use in the future are that volunteers are a significant part of the community, and that it doesn’t take special skills to work as a volunteer, but it is important to bring your enthusiasm and have an open mind. If I could volunteer with any organization in the world and work for any cause, it would be to work for Best Friends Animal Society, which seeks to end the
killing in America’s animal shelters and create a time when there are no more homeless pets. I feel strongly that every pet deserves kindness and compassion from humans, and too many of them are left out in the streets to fend for themselves which is truly devastating and unfair. These animals often are confined in shelters that do not promote their well-being, and are killed when no one is able to adopt them. Being a cat lover, I deplore this inhumane treatment, and want to be part of an organization that supports treating them with dignity. As a volunteer, I would like to share my compassion and knowledge of health and illness to others. These skills might be useful for the organization I just mentioned, or Doctors without Borders which provides medical care for underserved countries. To make this a reality, I could research more about the organization I am interested in, apply, and volunteer. I could talk to others who are already involved in the organization to determine if it best fits my talents and abilities, and if there is any additional training required.