By James Feichtner
This September the Behavior Analysis Center for Autism will host its first BACA Bolt for Autism, a USA Track and Field sanctioned 5K run.
The event will benefit Zionsville’s Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Center, which aims to improve the lives of individuals with cognitive, physical or behavioral challenges through the use of equine therapy.
Starting in 2009, BACA’s primary goal is to help children and young adults with Autism through the use of Applied Behavior Analysis. It is a for-profit organization based here in Indiana with several locations throughout the state, including one in Zionsville.
“We have two centers in Fishers, we have one center in Zionsville, and then we have one center in Elkhart,” Director of Marketing Sarah Cox said.
The facility uses many different programs to teach language, social, self-help, academic and employment skills. Some programs use real-world scenarios as a basis for education, such as grocery shopping.
“We’ll have a mock store here in the center and we’ll work off a list of items making sure they can pick the right item off the shelf. So we can work on those skills in here and then maybe once or twice a week we can go to Kroger and apply those skills,” Cox said.
BACA decided to host the Bolt to raise awareness about their cause. Their past connections with Morning Dove, a nonprofit organization, pushed them to collate the event together.
“The goal is to raise awareness for BACA, Morning Dove and individuals with Autism,” Cox said.
The event will take place Sept. 7, 9 a.m. at Fort Harrison State Park. It will include a 5K run, a 2.5K walk and a youth run. Registration for the 5K is $35 and $30 for the 2.5K walk and youth race. Donations will be accepted and games will be available for non-participants.
