More than 1,500 people came together in Putnam County today for the 2nd Annual Autism Awareness Walk, a powerful show of community support for individuals living with autism. The event took place at the Tilly Foster Farm in Southeast, where the skies cleared just in time, allowing the walk to proceed without rain.
The walk was organized by the Community Engagement and Police Advisory Board (CEPAB) in partnership with the Putnam County Department of Mental Health’s Office for Individuals with Disabilities, and coordinated by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. Sara Servadio, Putnam County commissioner overseeing Mental Health, Social Services, and Youth Bureau, called the turnout “a wonderful example of community being inclusive for those individuals living with autism.”
“Inclusion is everyone’s right, and I’m proud of our participants and vendors for their support,” said Servadio.
Dana Touponse, coordinator for the Office for Individuals with Disabilities, emphasized the event’s critical role in connecting families with vital county resources. “Putnam County is home to a plethora of resources for individuals with autism and this walk is the opportunity to bring them all together for our community,” she said.
The urgency for awareness and services is clear. Autism diagnoses have increased by 75 percent over the past decade, now affecting approximately one in every 36 children and one in 45 adults nationwide. This rise—and the fact that autism is diagnosed nearly four times more frequently in boys than girls—highlights the ongoing demand for accessible interventions.
Experts warn many young adults may have gone undiagnosed in childhood, only receiving a diagnosis when challenges in daily life intensify. This trend underlines the need for expanded supports tailored across a person’s lifetime.
Community events like Putnam’s autism walk not only raise crucial public awareness but also serve as a tangible reminder that support and inclusion must be sustained and expanded. Hosting over 1,500 participants, the walk demonstrated the strength of local engagement and the evolving national dialogue on autism.
As the event wrapped, organizers pledged to continue working closely with families and county agencies to improve services and ensure everyone has equal access to support in Putnam County and beyond.
