Autism
During National Autism Acceptance Month, Kent State University will hold a film screening of “Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic” at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, in the Kent Student Center Kiva. “Loving Lampposts” is a documentary by Todd Drezner, a father of a now 13-year-old boy with autism, that explores the changing world of autism and learns the truth of the saying “if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many disruptions and changes to people’s lives. The Kent State University men’s basketball team has been affected, too, with schedule changes, games played in nearly empty arenas and extra safety protocols in place. However, one of the things that has not changed is the team’s steadfast commitment to autism awareness.
Fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes looking to follow their favorite players on the court will have to look for their jersey numbers and not their names at a special men’s basketball game later this week. Players will be wearing student-designed uniforms with the space on the back that is usually designated for their names instead displaying the phrase “1 in 59” to promote autism awareness and education.
Fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes looking to follow their favorite players on the court will have to look for their jersey numbers and not their names at a special men’s basketball game later this week. Players will be wearing student-designed uniforms with the space on the back that is usually designated for their names instead displaying the phrase “1 in 59” to promote autism awareness and education.
Kent State University is working with area autism-focused organizations as well as KultureCity®, a nonprofit dedicated to providing accessibility and inclusion for those with special needs, to create a sensory-friendly gameday experience that can be enjoyed by all. Fans attending Kent State’s Dec. 21 mens basketball game versus Hampton University will feel an expression of the university’s ongoing commitment to its core values of kindness, mutual respect and inclusion.
