autism speaks u duke year in review 2013-14

Year in Review

Autism Speaks U Duke Year in Review

 Community Outreach 

On-campus Advocacy

Research/Faculty Opportunities 

Community Outreach

Blue Devil Buddies ProgramSocial skills opportunities for teens and young adults with autism to interact with peer

Duke students

November 17th, 2013

Thanksgiving-themed cookie decorating and

card making

Community Outreach

Blue Devil Buddies ProgramSocial skills opportunities for teens and young adults with autism to interact with peer

Duke students

February 23rd, 2014

Fun and sunny day exploring plants and animals at the Sarah

Duke Gardens

Community Outreach

Blue Devil Buddies ProgramSocial skills opportunities for teens and young adults with autism to interact with peer

Duke studentsApril 13th, 2014

Blue Devil Buddies Awareness BBQ for Autism Awareness

Month

Community Outreach

Autism Speaks WalkAutism Speaks U Duke students volunteered and helped run the

registration table for the Autism Speaks walk on Duke’s East Campus

April 26th, 2014

Community Outreach

Durham First in FamiliesAutism Speaks U Duke students volunteered

throughout the year at Durham First in Families events, supporting their mission to aid people with developmental disabilities in

the local communitySeptember 19th, 2013

December 16th 2013

On Campus Advocacy

Autism Awareness DayAutism Speaks U Duke members hosted a table on the Bryan

Center plaza and handed out free donuts along with information on autism spectrum disorders

April 2nd, 2014

On Campus Advocacy

College Basketball Autism Awareness DayDukeToday published an article on Coach K wearing a lapel pin supporting autism awareness for this year’s Duke vs. Syracuse

basketball game and what Autism Speaks U Duke did to support it.

Check out the article at http://today.duke.edu/2014/01/coachkautism

On Campus Advocacy

Special Olympics College and Best BuddiesAutism Speaks U Duke collaborated with Special Olympics College and Best Buddies to host several events this year

supporting our joint mission to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

March 3rd – 7th, 2014

Campaign to reduce insensitive usage of the word ‘retarded’

On Campus Advocacy

Special Olympics College and Best BuddiesAutism Speaks U Duke collaborated with Special Olympics College and Best Buddies to host several events this year

supporting our joint mission to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

October 2013

Field day for youth with

physical and mental

disabilities. Autism Speaks U Duke members

served as referees for the various

games. 

Research Opportunities

Social Skills Research ProjectAutism Speaks U Duke served as research assistants in Dr. Laura

Hans study on social skills and behaviors of youth with ASD throughout the months of January and February

• Members gained the opportunity to interact with youth with ASD and had hands-on experience with research related to autism

• Members were compensated for their time per hour

• Members were also invited to learn more about the project through the Bass Connections program

ASU Duke aims to continue building its research opportunities

program next year to offer undergraduates as much exposure

to potential career pathways related to autism as possible

For more information, please contact Dr. Laura Hans

Research Opportunities

No Sidekick Gets Left Behind

Autism Speaks U Duke members attended a talk by Pulitzer Prize Winner Ron Suskind and learned about his experiences raising a son with autism

April 21, 2014

We hope to continue building our capacity in community outreach, on-campus advocacy, and research

opportunities

Please contact autismspeaksuduke@gmail.com for more information on how to get involved