Burkhart Walk for Autism Awareness Goes Virtual

April 12, 2021

This year, the annual event held during Autism Awareness Month will span two days with a virtual walk kit pick-up party on April 24 and the virtual walk on April 25.

Texas Tech University's Burkhart Center for Autism Education & Research will host the 2021 Burkhart Virtual Walk for Autism Awareness on April 24-25. Students, faculty, staff and the Lubbock community are invited to show their support for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) awareness by participating in the walk. The event is free and open to the public. Those interested in participating should register online before the event.

The two-day event will begin with a drive-thru, kit pick-up party from 1-3 p.m. April 24 at the Burkhart Center. The event will include music, special guests and one virtual walk kit per family. There also will be free T-shirts, one per person in the vehicle (up to five total), while supplies last. Attendees are asked to stay in their vehicles and wear a mask at all times. Click here for directions to the kit pick-up event.

"This past year has been devastating for so many; not being able to hold the walk for our families and community in 2020 saddened us all, and we wanted to find a way to be able to see our families and friends from the autism community," said Jennifer Hamrick, assistant professor and interim co-director of the Burkhart Center. "We are hoping the pick-up party here at the Burkhart Center will be an exciting event that can provide families with some much-needed resources and also allow us to see some familiar faces we have not had a chance to see in a while."

The kits will include information on local ASD resources, ideas on how to participate in the virtual walk, and activities for children. Participants are encouraged to wear their team shirts, decorate their vehicles or display signs honoring someone with ASD.

The virtual walk, held on April 25, serves to raise awareness of ASD while celebrating the lives of individuals living with ASD, their families and the professionals who work with them. Participants are encouraged to follow the Burkhart Center's Facebook page for updates before and during the event.

Click here for more information, a full list of sponsors and to register for the virtual walk.

tags: College of Education, Stories, events, texas tech in the community

Texas Tech University

A new era of excellence is dawning at Texas Tech University as it stands on the cusp of being one of the nation's premier research institutions.

Research and enrollment numbers are at record levels, which cement Texas Tech's commitment to attracting and retaining quality students. In fall 2020, the university achieved a goal more than a decade in the making, reaching a total student population of more than 40,000. In 2018, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education again placed Texas Tech among its top doctoral universities in the nation in the “Very High Research Activity” category. Texas Tech is one of 94 public institutions nationally and 131 overall to achieve this prestigious recognition.

Quality students need top-notch faculty. Texas Tech is home to a diverse, highly revered pool of educators who excel in teaching, research and service. The university strives to foster an environment that celebrates student accomplishment above all else. Texas Tech is large enough to provide the best in facilities and academics but prides itself on being able to focus on each student individually.

The momentum for excellence at Texas Tech has never been greater.

X (formerly known as Twitter)
Facebook
Instagram
Linked In
YouTube
Spotify
TTU Mobile

College of Education

The College of Education at Texas Tech University offers a full range of programs, including 9 doctoral degrees, 10 master's degrees, two bachelor's degrees and numerous specializations which can lead to careers in public or private education as teachers, professors, administrators, counselors and diagnosticians.

Programs in the college are housed in three departments.

The Department of Curriculum & Instruction offers advanced degrees that prepare leaders, researchers, and professors with the knowledge, skills, and practical application experience needed to analyze, construct, and evaluate curricula in ways that create optimal learning conditions for all learners. Language and literacy, bilingual education and STEM education are just a few of the specializations offered by C&I.

The Department of Educational Psychology & Leadership consists of a diverse group of academic programs that equip students with a comprehensive knowledge of learning, motivation, development, and educational foundations. The disciplines of counseling and school psychology are housed within the EP&L department as are programs to prepare future college administrators, primary and secondary school and district leaders, as well as practical and academic educational psychologists.

The Department of Teacher Education focuses solely on teacher preparation, ensuring that teacher candidates are ready for the classroom on day one. The Teacher Education Department is home to TechTeach, an innovative teacher preparation program that puts teacher candidates into public school classrooms for a full year and requires that students pass teacher certification tests prior to entering the classroom. Various paths to teaching careers, including fast-track distance programs statewide and alternative certification options, are also housed in this department.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram

The Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research

The Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research is a comprehensive, life span center with a three-fold mission:

Providing services and support to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families across West Texas and the surrounding area

Offering cutting-edge training to teachers, families and other professionals to provide effective and evidence-based services and support to individuals with ASD

Conducting significant, sponsored interdisciplinary research to better understand and overcome the lifelong causes and effects of ASD in ways that improve functionality and quality of life for people with ASD and their families

The Burkhart Center is part of the Texas Tech University College of Education.

Facebook - Burkhart Center for Autism Education and Research
Twitter

BurkTech Players Use Theatre to Help Those with Autism