Son's Diagnosis Led To First Annual Community Walk For Autism Awareness

Jerry Frulio and his wife Jo-Dee already knew something wasn't right with their son Dayton even before they took him to specialists to be evaluated.

The little boy didn't speak. He didn't like to be touched. But they were stunned when they got they official diagnosis that three-year-old was autistic.

"The scariest thing for us was the Internet," said Frulio, who teaches special education U.S. History at Central Regional High School. "We didn't know anything. Were we every going to know what his voice sounded like?"

But the Bayville couple didn't waste any time feeling sorry for themselves or for their son. Shortly after they walked out of the doctor's office, Jo-Dee suggested holding an autism walk fund-raiser.

Jerry Frulio - who teaches special education U.S. History at - followed through on his wife's idea. He is coordinating the school's first Annual Community Walk for Autism Awareness slated for April 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Veterans Park in Bayville.

He does double duty as the Autism Awareness Club advisor at Central Regional High School. The Autism club is sponsoring the walk, along with the Central Regional Key Club.

The actual walk itself will begin at 11 a.m. There is no pre-registration needed. Donations are welcome, but aren't required to participate in the event, he said.

"We've really hustled to try to make this event a memorable one," Frulio said. "Our ultimate goal is awareness of a developmental disorder that affects so many families in our community."
 
The event will feature three live music acts, two D.J.s, bounce houses, pony rides, face painting, trackless train rides, a petting zoo, the Central Regional Golden Eagle mascot and mascots from the Berkeley school district. Buster from the Lakewood Blue Claws might also make an appearance, he said.

Local businesses and vendors will also be participating, selling food and other items to raise funds for their organizations and to help raise autism awareness, Frulio said.
 
And how is four-year-old Dayton doing?

"Great," Frulio said. "He was almost non-verbal. Now he's just exploding verbally. We are no seeing nearly as many meltdowns. Now when he does have an issue, we think maybe it's just being four. It's tough to tell."

But the boy who couldn't talk can now speak in complete sentences. Dayton's speech almost matches that of his two-year-old twin sisters Alex and Addison. Frulio credits the teachers at the Clara B. Worth Elementary School and the Berkeley Township school district's special education teachers for much of his progress.

"We feel we are lucky," Frulio said. "But there are a lot of people out there that aren't."

He's hoping for a stellar turnout for the walk.

"The only disappointment will be if we don't break even," he said. "We don't want to be in the hole. We've gotten some pretty good donations so far."

Frulio has designed a flyer for the walk that can be found here: http://prezi.com/py_ehomzmxyq/community-walk-for-autism-awareness/.  

For more information, check out the group's Facebook page at 1st Annual Community Walk for Autism A.