Health & Fitness
Spero Vineyards in Temecula Celebrates Autism Awareness Month in the Inland Empire through Special Needs Vocational Training Programs
TEMECULA, CA -- April is National Autism Awareness Month, and together with Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest grassroots autism nonprofit, families and professionals across the region join together to increase awareness, advocacy and research of autism spectrum disorder, a complex neurological disorder affecting 1 in 88 children. Autism Awareness Month is observed locally, both in the Inland Empire and across Southern California where families and organizations like Eva and Mark Woodsmall of Los Angeles, who founded Spero Vineyards in Temecula, have worked diligently in raising autism awareness in the community.
To help raise awareness, Autism Speaks Southern California will host multiple disability-friendly events, including the 12th anniversary Los Angeles Walk Now for Autism Speaks where 50,000 community autism supporters are expected to participate on April 26, 2014 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
The Woodsmalls walk in support of their 13-year-old son, Andrew, who was diagnosed with autism at age 3, and they have raised more than $147,000 for autism.
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In addition to Mark Woodsmall being a special education attorney and the Autism Speaks Southern California Board President, and Eva being a dedicated longtime LA Autism Walk committee member, the Woodsmalls founded Spero Vineyards in Temecula, a winery that provides training programs that help young adults with developmental disabilities secure meaningful vocational outcomes. Nestled in the heart of Riverside County, Spero Vineyards partners with the City of Temecula and has 480 vines with plans to expand another 2,000 more by Spring 2014. To date, Spero Vineyards employs eight young trainees who will earn a vocational certificate in viticulture (the science, production and study of grapes) and food handling at the completion of their program with the Temecula-based winery.
The community is invited to join autism families in celebrating milestones and achievements while raising awareness and funds during Autism Awareness Month at several fun and informative upcoming events in the Los Angeles area where there is something for everyone.
Find out what's happening in Temeculafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
On April 2 Autism Speaks will “Light It Up Blue,” as Southern California participates in an international celebration of Autism Awareness, where institutions including LAX and LA Live light their facilities blue in honor of autism awareness month and World Autism Awareness Day. The biggest event of Autism Awareness Month in Southern California will be the Los Angeles Autism Walk on April 26. Families, professionals, educators and those with autism all gather to celebrate autism awareness. It is a special day for our families as we acknowledge our strengths and challenges and see that we are not alone as we go through our journeys with loved ones with autism.
Walk Now for Autism Speaks Public Information: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/losangeles
https://www.facebook.com/AutismSpeaks.LosAngeles
https://twitter.com/autismspeaksla
For media information contact:
Annie Rivera, LA Autism Walk Communications Co-Chair, 714-365-4170 or annierivera@feltenmedia.com
Matthew Asner, Autism Speaks Executive Director for Southern California, matt.asner@autismspeaks.org.
ABOUT WALK NOW FOR AUTISM SPEAKS: Walk Now for Autism Speaks is North America’s largest grassroots autism walk. The 2013 LA Autism Walk hosted 50,000 people, raised $2.2M, and was the highest fundraising autism walk in the country. http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/losangeles
https://www.facebook.com/AutismSpeaks.LosAngeles
https://twitter.com/autismspeaksla
ABOUT AUTISM SPEAKS: Autism Speaks is the nation’s largest autism advocacy organization, dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. www.autismspeaks.org
ABOUT AUTISM: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), autism now affects about 1 in every 88 American children, including 1 in 54 boys. Autism is a complex condition that affects a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges.
