Chippewa Senior Establishes College Scholarship for Students with Autism

Editor's note: This story was originally posted on Macomb Patch on March 20. On March 21, it was chosen for Huffington Post's "Greatest Person of the Day" feature. We hope William's story inspires others in Michigan and across the country to continue to raise awareness of autism, while lending their support to the school, community and government programs that assist those with autism.

At 2 ½ years old, William Dash was diagnosed with autism. Doctors told his parents that school would be an ongoing struggle and college likely impossible.

This spring, William, now 18, will graduate from before attending Macomb Community College and later Oakland University or Wayne State University to complete his degree in psychology.

“It was and is through the help of (my family and teachers) that I am about to graduate with the rest of my class,” the Clinton Township resident said, in an address to the Chippewa Valley school board Monday. “I may not be as developed socially as the others in my class, but I am still able to walk up and receive my diploma.”

Having worked so hard to achieve what was once thought impossible, William was disheartened to learn earlier this year that his efforts would not be rewarded with a scholarship.

But this was not for lack of trying.

“In our quest to find scholarships for him, we looked around in the autism community and we were unable to find any,” said Christa Dash, William’s mother. “At that point William looked at me and I looked at William and said, ‘Why not start a scholarship for kids on the (autism) spectrum who are able to go to college or a vocational school, so there is some money there to help them.'"

Bringing this issue to his high school Key Club, William helped plan the first-ever CVHS 5K Walk for Autism.

Set to take place from 1-3 p.m. April 29 at the CVHS track, all proceeds collected for the event will fund a newly created college scholarship administered through the Macomb-St. Clair Autism Society of America.

“William wanted people to become aware that just because kids are given a diagnosis of autism, it doesn’t mean they can’t go to college,” Christa Dash said. “The fact that we’ve been so, so blessed and he is able to graduate with his peers and get that diploma on June 10 is phenomenal. This is our way of giving back.”

Although donations will be accepted at any time, a special fund-raising night will take place from 4-8 p.m. April 2 at in Macomb Township. During this time, the restaurant will donate half of all its sales to the walk.

The dates of the walk and fund-raiser hold special significance for the Dash family, as April is National Autism Awareness Month and April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day.

“As a parent of a child with autism, when you’re given that diagnosis, it is sort of like a death sentence at that particular moment and you don’t know what your child may or may not do (in their life),” Christa Dash said. “You look at your child and hope, hope, hope that they’ll be able to go to college, but you really don’t know.”

“When William was younger, we didn’t put aside a lot of money, so this money that the walk will earn will help a parent who might not have had that hope, but will later see potential and (their child will be) able to go post-secondary school.”

For William, he hopes this event and the scholarship it funds will not only benefit other students with autism, but raise awareness of autism itself.

“Autism is a mental disorder that is on the rise … I hope this (walk) will become an annual event at Chippewa Valley High School,” he added.

For more information on how to make your pledge to the walk, email Jim Murphy at jmurphy@cvs.k12.mi.us.