OTTAWA, Sept. 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autism Speaks Canada invites you to join the autism community at the inaugual Ottawa Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada on September 28 at RA Centre. All of the proceeds from the event support the local and national work of Autism Speaks Canada, which together with Autism Speaks in the U.S.A., is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. Autism spectrum disorder is now diagnosed in 1 in 68 children, a 30% increase in prevalence in the last 2 years. Walk Now events raise over $1.4 million annually and involve over 11,000 participants and volunteers across Canada.
In addition to Autism Speaks Canada's national efforts, the organization has provided funding to many local service providers across Ontario including grants to Autism Ontario - Ottawa Chapter, Lanark Autism Support Group, QuickStart Early Intervention for Autism and Societe Franco-Ontarienne de l'autisme. The Ottawa Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada, is locally sponsored by TSN 1200 Ottawa, Kelly Santini Lawyers Avocats, Oum, Delta Ottawa City Centre, Hatley, Starbucks, Paramount Properties and Desjardins Financial Security. Walk Now is a fun, family-friendly event that includes a 3 km walk, Fun Zone with inflatables, performers, face painting and more. The event will also host a community Resource Fair featuring on site tracking by GPS wandering solution iLOC Technologies in cooperation with Portia Learning Centre. Young adults and adults are encouraged to visit University of Ottawa's research booth and WAVE, Ottawa's job placement and training program.
"Thanks to the support of the ASD community and work of our wonderful volunteers, our Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada event looks forward to a long relationship in the Ottawa area," said Krista Leitham, Autism Speaks Canada's Regional Walk Manager, Eastern Ontario and PQ.
National Presenting Sponsor Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us will host a tented area at The Walk, serving as home base for the company's mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe. For more information about the 2014 Ottawa Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada, please visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.ca. or call 1-888-362-6227.