Tulalip event helps raise awareness for autism

Tulalip parents and community members gathered on April 30 to support local children with autism during an Autism Awareness Walk event.

The walk was held at the Tulalip Youth Center.

“There’s a lot of people in the state of Washington and the country that are affected by this,” said Jared Parks, one of the organizers of the event. “My son, Jared, he’s non-verbal autistic and doesn’t speak."

Autism is a developmental disorder that typically begins in early childhood and lasts throughout a person’s lifetime and can cause difficulties with communication and social skills.

Kristie Fryberg, mother to the younger Jared, said raising a son with autism has been a big shift the last couple of years.

“The last two years have opened our eyes to the world of autism. It changed our family,” she said. “My biggest thing is making people aware that even though he can’t speak, he can hear you."

She said more support is needed for people with autism.

“I’m really hoping that in the years to come when my son is an adult that there will be more services out there,” said Fryberg. “I think if more and more people are talking about this, eventually there will be more clinics, more research and more money put in to help kids with autism."

Children with autism sometimes rely on their parents for social and other needs.

“I’m 41-years-old and I’m not going to be here forever, so I need to know there is going to be more things out there to support my child,” said Fryberg.

Communities came out to help raise awareness and support the cause on April 30.

“It’s going well. It’s going to be an awesome day, I feel,” said Parks.

Amy Sheldon, a parent of a young adult with autism, said she was thankful for everyone who came out.

“I just want to say how much I appreciate everyone being here today,” she said. “To see everyone out here just makes me so happy. It’s hard to feel like you’re alone and doing this all alone."

Community members walked along Totem Beach Road, beginning and ending at the Tulalip Youth Center, for the event, helped along by local Tulalip police.

Tulalip Police Chief Chris Sutter said they were there to be a part of the event.

“We’re just here to support you and proud to stand with you as we create more awareness for autism,” he said.

He also noted that all police officers in the Tulalip Police Department have gone through in-service training on how to interact and communicate with people with autism.

Parks said he wants to bring all parts of the community together to support people with autism.

“We all have the same issues and we’re all dealing with the same things, so it would be good for us to do it together,” he said.

He created the business Jared’s Corner last year which helps sell kettle corn and raises awareness for autism-related issues.

“I just wanted to come out, support and give back to the community,” he said.

This is the second autism walk the Tulalip Tribes have helped put on. The previous event was held the year before the coronavirus pandemic, but no event was held for 2020.

Fryberg said she hopes the community begins to push more for better and expanded support for children with autism.

“There is a lot of fear that if we don’t raise awareness more people will be affected by this and be just as lost as we were,” she said. “I just hope that our tribe does a little more than just a walk. The services that all our children need are very, very important."