Students apply walking safety lessons to a good cause

What began last September in teacher Dorothy Pesnel’s Comprehensive Development Skills (CDS) class as a lesson for Maywood students on walking safely was celebrated May 20 with a trek around town to raise awareness and funds for autism education.

“Few of the boys in our class get much exercise outside of school,” explained Mary Ruby who, along with fellow teaching assistants Karen Condon and Shirelle Mosher, conceived the idea for daily fitness walks with the class. “Our goal was to promote wellness by helping the boys become more physically active and learn how to ‘stop, look and listen’ when they are walking outdoors.”

The class has been practicing its walking skills and learning how to be safe out in the neighborhood around the Maywood school since September. When the weather wasn’t agreeable, the class marched around the school’s gym to lively music.

The May 20 event raised more than $400 from family, friends and staff and the sale of t-shirts designed by CDS class teaching assistant Eric Reisenger. These funds will be donated to Autism Speaks, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders. Impressive though this homespun fundraiser effort was, Peznel said it was just icing on the cake.

“Our main goal was to help the boys in the class become more active, feel as though they are part of their community and give them a sense that they can make a difference in their own way,” said Pesnel.