Hi, my name is Kaitlin Camacho, and thank you so much for your interest in my journey! I'm incredibly grateful that Autism Speaks™ Team Up is giving me the opportunity to raise awareness by running on such a grand stage-the NYC Marathon.
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), refers to a range of conditions characterized by verbal, nonverbal, social, and behavioral challenges. Autism Speaks is a charity organization dedicated to promoting solutions, advocacy, acceptance, and advances in research. They provide a support system for people with Autism and those closest to them. I feel a deep responsibility to act as a source of empowerment, just as Autism Speaks is for so many, which I attribute to my personal connection to ASD.
From an early age, I was told I exhibited patience like no other. I especially gravitated toward my cousin Mia, who was diagnosed with Autism at just two years old. We naturally understood each other and, in turn, became each others safe spaces. Even as a toddler, she helped me realize that the qualities I still carry today are a gift from God-and that working in Special Education is my calling. She truly helped me find my niche. Above all, she showed me how extraordinary the Autism Spectrum is and how it can be harnessed as a superpower!
In the years that followed, I made it my mission to use the gifts Mia helped me recognize. I practiced patience through Best Buddies and by volunteering at all-abilities holiday parties in high school. I practiced empathy during my practicum and student teaching in self-contained classrooms throughout my undergraduate studies. I believed in the potential of all my students while working in South Huntington School Districts summer programs and various leave replacements-and I continue to do so every day. Additionally, I share my passion and joy through Community Habilitation (COMHAB) work and by teaching boxing to individuals with physical and developmental disabilities at New York Fitness and Boxing.
My lived experiences have shaped the Kaitlin Camacho running the New York City Marathon. Each encounter and interaction has taught me about life and myself. Over time, I noticed a troubling trend-the lack of Autism education and general awareness about the ASD community. This realization taught me the greatest lesson of all: even in a world that may not fully understand or accommodate them, people with ASD wake up every morning, get out of bed, and navigate their daily routines. They continue to harness their extraordinary abilities into superpowers, bringing joy into lives like mine. Their resilience is something I hope to channel as I train to complete 26.2 miles.
Although completing one of the hardest marathons in the world (on my 25th birthday! ) and raising $4,000 are both incredible accomplishments, my greatest hope is that my journey inspires others to learn-to ask questions about Autism and to discover how they, too, can raise awareness. All I ask is that you show the same love and support to this incredible community that has given so much to me.
Thank you so much for becoming a part of my story. I look forward to taking you along as a puzzle piece from Staten Island to Central Park.