CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Nearly 2,000 people filled Wade Oval Park on Saturday for the annual Autism Speaks Walk and 5K, coming together to fund research, build community and break down the stigma often carried by families navigating a diagnosis.
According to national health estimates, about 1 in 31 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism. While support resources continue to expand, many parents still face hidden emotional hurdles.
A 2025 study published by the National Library of Medicine found that parents of children on the spectrum frequently experience feelings of guilt and shame—often in isolation…