Taking a shot at autism awareness

Battle Creek Enquirer

Maelyn Hodges wanted to try something a little different as a high school junior, so she took up the option at Harper Creek to do independent research with a class of autistic students.

"I really got to see how they don't get a chance to do what everybody else does, and sometimes I feel like that's not fair at all," Hodges said.

This is her second year assisting teacher Hayley Denny, reading to students, helping them with science or getting them through gym class.

It was seeing the five boys shoot hoops that gave her the idea for an autism fundraising event.

"Seeing them excel at basketball — and I knew that they wanted to participate with everyone else — that's where the basketball half-time show came in," Hodges said.

During the break in the Harper Creek varsity boys basketball game Friday night, Hodges gave a short speech asking people to donate whatever change they had on them to Autism Speaks, a national autism advocacy organization. She also raised awareness by selling about 120 T-shirts that read "Until All The Pieces Fit."

Then the boys had a chance to shoot some baskets, cheered on by the crowd.