BonnerSprings.com

When it came time to do her senior project, Kaleigh Crider took the opportunity to not only complete a school assignment, but to show support for a cause that is close to her heart.

The Bonner Springs High School senior said deciding to support autism through her senior project was a no-brainer. Kaleigh’s brother, Cody, has autism, and she said she wanted to open people’s eyes to what it was all about.

“I wanted to show people that just because this person could have a disability, don’t judge them,” Kaleigh said. “I wanted to open their eyes, and a lot of people said I did open their eyes, and they’re going to try helping some students with special needs kids.”

On Sept. 13, Kaleigh played host to the first annual Cody’s Characters Volleyball Tournament in the Bonner Springs High School gymnasium. The event brought six volleyball teams together and was able to raise $300 to go toward the Walk Now for Autism event, which will take place Oct. 10 at the Kansas Speedway.

“It actually made me feel pretty good,” Kaleigh said of planning the event in her brother’s honor. “I was shocked we raised that much. I’m proud about what I was able to do.”

Kaleigh said she named the tournament “Cody’s Characters” because her brother loves to act out and draw various movie characters.

In fact, the day of the volleyball tournament, Kaleigh said Cody was a wolf and showed off his imagination with howls and a costume. One team even named themselves the “Wolf Pack” after that day’s character.

Kaleigh’s mother, Paige Crider, said she was also proud of what her daughter accomplished and was in awe of the response the tournament received.

“As a parent,” Paige said, “I was really touched so many people thought so much of Cody to give their time that morning.”

Paige said, like Kaleigh, she hoped the tournament would help build acceptance of people with autism. She said a lot of times, people with autism didn’t have a physical disability, so people often mistakenly think they are being “bratty kids, just acting out.”

“This has brought awareness now,” Paige said. “There are a couple kids in the high school that are autistic, and I was very happy to see all the teenagers coming together doing a good thing for autism.”

Even when Cody, who is now 13 and attends Clark Middle School, was diagnosed, Paige said she and her family didn’t know much about autism. But through events like Kaleigh’s tournament and the Walk Now for Autism, they’ve slowly learned more.

Those lessons also translate to the general public, Paige said. As more and more events about autism are organized, she said she hoped the community learned with her family and became more accepting.

Paige said she found it encouraging the Bonner Springs district allowed the students with autism to not only have special education classes, but also to attend some general education classes. By not segregating the students, Paige said, she hoped her son benefited in the long run.

Paige and Kaleigh both said their goal for Cody was to be able to go to college and get married and have a family, which Paige said was something he talked about wanting all the time.

“With young adults like Cody transitioning into adulthood, everyone will have to understand and be able to think outside the box pertaining to hiring, college and residential care,” Paige said.

She said anyone interested in getting involved with autism or who would like to support Cody was welcome to join the Criders’ team during the Walk Now for Autism event, which starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Kansas Speedway.

To become a team member or to form your own team, e-mail Kaleigh at bshssenior2010@yahoo.com or register the day of the walk.

For more information about the walk, visit walknowforautism.org/kansascity. Funds raised through the walk stay in the Kansas City area to support local autism programs.

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