Advocate, Mother of Son with Autism is Finalist in national contest- voting ends soon!

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Subject: PRESS RELEASE- Advocate, Mother of Son with Autism is Finalist in national contest- voting ends soon!To: " Wharton" Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009, 10:20 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tireless Advocate, Mother of Son with Autism Finalist in Subway’s national contest

TAMPA, FL - September 9, 2009. The dream of going on the road to raise to give people a voice with disabilities is a huge step closer to reality for Wharton and her son , former Buffalonians known for advocacy and creating awareness about autism and disabilities.

In July 2009 she found out an essay she had submitted on a whim for Subway’s “Refresh Your Life†contest was one of the top ten in the nation and she was a finalist. The reality of being selected a finalist didn’t really hit her until a film production crew from Seattle, flew to Tampa, where now lives, to interview her about her dream along with her kids. said, “I was excited that my essay was selected by the independent judging company, but having the film crew here and talking about my dream to go on the road to give people with disabilities a voice again, ignited the flame in me again.â€

has had this dream since 2007 and shared “her†plans with The Buffalo News. But life often doesn’t go the way you want, and the house she had for sale took a year and half to sell. The housing economy was the worst, but she was thankful she was able to sell her home in Clarence but didn’t have enough funds to do much else except move.. She decided to pack up, rented a Budget moving van, and headed to Tampa, Florida, a city she read was young and thriving. Her kids even joined her on their journey to begin a new life here.After settling into a small town along the Gulf called Tarpon Springs, a famous Greek community, and found people and life in Tampa Bay area a wonderful place to live.

Ms. Wharton works full-time at a local college and continues conducting interviews for her online radio show, DisAbility News & Views on the weekends. She began to wonder if that dream she had of going on the road several years ago, was something she should forget. “But being selected as a finalist has renewed the dream again. If I am able to get a used RV or someone would donate one, then I would plan mini trips on long weekends, vacations and in the summer and continue working at the college.†If of Tarpon Springs is the Grand

Prize winner (determined by online votes through September 15th), she receives $20,000 toward the dream along with session with Life Support Coach, another chance to share her story nationally.

She hopes that the radio show will one day be syndicated in other markets, she is happy with the realization that you can make a dream come true…when it’s the right time, with lots of hard work, dedication and the faith to believe!

hopes all the individuals she has advocated for, agencies and schools she has worked with in the WNY area will spread the news, go online and vote for her at www.fittoboom.msnbc.msn.com Only one vote per person and voting ends September 15, 2009. Just look for the story in the right hand corner of the page “How would you like to win $20K toward your dreamâ€. Once you click on this link you will click on “Meet the Finalists†and see the interviews of ten people, all have compelling stories. asks you to vote for her dream, to give children and adults with disabilities a voice. Your

vote will give her the opportunity to fulfill her dream and millions of others waiting to be heard.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

While worked as a Staff Assistant at the University at Buffalo for over 17 years, there is no denying her passion to bring more awareness and education for autism in the community is a personal one. Her 16-year old son, was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when he was six. Because of the early and intensive therapies which received in at Maple West Elementary in ville and at home (speech, occupational therapy, social skills training), he is thought of as a “typical†kid. wanted to make a difference for the thousands diagnosed with autism and initiated plans for the first walk for autism in Buffalo, NY in 2001, called Buffalo Walk FAR for NAAR (now known as Autism Speaks). The inaugural walk for autism was held on

September 29, 2002 raising $100,000 for autism research and NAAR. Over 3,300 people attended the first walk. Honorary Co-chairs included “Baby†Joe Mesi and Sam Hoyt along with Dan Marino, National Honorary Co-Chair. Again in 2003, Moshenko co-chaired the second walk for autism on September 14, 2003. Over 2000 people attended and together with corporate sponsors such as WKBW-TV, Wegmans, Adelphia, Buca di Beppo, Buffalo Bills, Snapple, Mayer Brothers, Future Horizons and others raised $90K for autism research. Ms. Wharton has appeared on local TV and radio shows numerous times during the past few years, along with her son . She has received numerous awards from NYS and nationally. They became the real faces and spokespeople for autism as well as advocates of many .

Disability News & Views Radio Show

Wharton

New Port Richey, FL 34654

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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in the moment of comfort, but where he stands in times of challenge and discovery." - Luther King Jr.