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Fairfield Intermediate School students are determined to help solve the mystery of Autism.

A walk for Autism, sponsored by the multiple handicap class, attracted school-wide attention Thursday, April 17, as more than 800 students raised more than $14,300 for autism research. They spent their lunch periods walking around the track while listening to music from the WKRQ radio station.

"It's huge," said teacher aid Carol Fuller. "What amazes me most is the kids. One little girl came up and gave me $30 of her own money."

Two other girls, Fuller said, stood in the cold at local grocery stores to ask for donations.

As chair for the May 3 Walk Now for Autism at the Cincinnati Zoo, Fuller said her goal is to help educate the public on the disorder.

"The numbers are amazingly staggering for our children (who have Autism), and we have kids for one who are growing up and are going to need places to live," she said. "We just need people to be aware of what's going on with our kids and what's going to happen when they grown up."

Intervention specialists Linda Napier and Jim Yates spearheaded the event in their classroom, but Napier said she didn't expect such an outpouring of support.

"It just exploded into this huge thing and I'm overwhelmed by how much support we've gotten for this," she said. "We have a lot of really good and caring kids in this building. Our relationship with the rest of the school is really good and we are seen in a really positive light. We thought we'd raise a couple hundred dollars and we had no idea this would happen."

Sixth-grader Hannah Vaughn, 12, said she has taken up the cause for autistic students, especially when they get made fun of by students.

"I'm proud to stand up for them," she said.

Principal Gayle Niehaus said her students have a heart to serve, and many volunteer their lunch and recess time to help in the multiple handicap classroom.

"It did not take a whole lot to create an interest," she said. "They care so much about each other at this age."

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