Engaging the Autism Community in a National Research Program

MUSC SPARK Team

By: Claudie Benjamin, Guest Writer

On Sunday, April 29th from 11 am – 1 pm, the SPARK team from MUSC will be hosting SPARK in the Park, an Autism Resource Festival, at Central Creek Park in Goose Creek. The event will feature food trucks, information from local autism service providers, activities for all ages and a free raffle. 

There will also be musical performances by Palmetto Music Therapy and musical guest Vell Baria, a 30-year old self-advocate from MUSC’s Autism News Network. For a full list of vendors, visit the event website. 

The Central Creek Park recreational facility, which opened in December 2022, was specifically designed to accommodate people of all ages with all abilities.

MUSC SPARK Lead Coordinator Jessie Montezuma

Hannah Miller, Therapeutic Coordinator for the City of Goose Creek, explained some of the adaptive features of the park. “We have three different types of swings for varying abilities. We have an adaptive zipline, sensory friendly equipment and a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round. Our bathrooms are equipped with an adult changing table. Our sidewalks are regulated space for two wheelchairs to roll side by side. Our splash pad is sensory-friendly, and the touch screen buttons are at a level that individuals in wheelchairs can access them,” Miller said. “Most equipment that is not accessible for wheelchairs to go on is at a transferable height. We also have an adaptive trike that is able to be taken out on the path on sight and a water friendly wheelchair that can go out to the splash pad.”

MUSC Psychologist Catherine Bradley

This is the third resource festival the MUSC SPARK team has hosted. MUSC SPARK Lead Coordinator Jessie Montezuma said that beyond connecting individuals and families to resources, one of the underlying goals of these events is to build community. SPARK in the Park provides a space for people to connect with one another and have fun in an inclusive, judgement-free zone.

SPARK is a nationwide autism research program that is open to anyone, of any age, with a diagnosis of autism and their family. Participation includes completing surveys online and, for those interested in the genetic portion of the study, submitting a saliva sample. SPARK at MUSC launched in 2017. So far, there are more than 310,000 participants nationwide, nearly 10,000 of whom are associated with MUSC.

“To understand the complexity of autism, we need large numbers of people to participate,” MUSC Psychologist Catherine Bradley explained. “SPARK is already the largest study of autism ever. By learning more about the genetics, as well as the lived experience of those with autism and their families, we can inform more effective therapies, treatments, service and supports in the future.”

Check out the SPARK 5 year report and SPARK snapshots to see what SPARK has learned so far!

For questions about SPARK, please contact sparkautism@musc.edu or 843-714-1352.

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