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ELKINS -- Officials planning a future facility to serve individuals with autism will offer a fundraiser this Sunday.
The West Virginia Autism Supportive Center 5K will be at Riverbend Park in Elkins on Sunday. The run/walk will begin at 1 p.m. at the main pavilion in the park.
The facility's board is actively working in collaboration with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Resources to complete the project.
Erin Browning, chairperson of the WVASC Board of Directors, is a speech language pathologist who currently serves part time at Davis Medical Center. In addition, Browning has taught seminars to medical professionals on topics regarding caring for non-neurotypical patients, as well as serving as a program director for a school centered around edible schoolyard and makers movements.
"This is a very unique opportunity, first of its kind in our state, where we will be offering programming to support individuals with autism and their families," Browning said.
Browning explained that, as an organization, the West Virginia Autism Supportive Center intends to create a supportive environment where individuals with autism are able to thrive and also gain experience to assist them in life.
"I think the biggest thing to focus on is that we will be providing service even as those with ASD get older. So much of services are focused on little children right now and we want to fill a gap," Browning said.
The facility will serve individuals of all ages with an agricultural focus that the West Virginia Department of Agriculture has helped to make a possibility for the center.
Both Browning and Delegate Denise Campbell, another member of the board that is working to complete this center, said there are specifics that are still to be finalized, but both hope the facility will serve as a center for individuals across their lifespan.
"We are still lining out our vision and all of the ins and outs, but largely we will be focusing on providing service to those with autism throughout the lifespan and hope for it to be very functional," Browning said.
Once the project is complete, a grand opening will be at the Autism Supportive Center at a later date yet to be determined.
Any interested individuals are invited to participate. Participants can register online at eventbrite.com or by contacting Brittany Small at Advanced Hearing Solutions. Also, for additional information about the fundraiser, individuals can contact Small at 304-636-1010.