By Andrew Thai Vu
BRAIN Big and Little Buddy Program, a Los Alamitos nonprofit created by Dr. Vicky Vu, an occupational therapist, was implemented at LAE and Weaver. BRAIN stands for Building Respect for Autism Inclusiveness Now! This initiative connects volunteer elementary students, the Big Buddies, with young children on the autism spectrum, the Little Buddies, to form connections over playground games and engaging toys. The program aims to foster awareness of autism and provide an exciting time for all.
Recognizing that the Big Buddies transition into middle school often reduces the frequency of these meaningful meetings, BRAIN organized a special reunion. The event was aimed at reconnecting the bonds in celebration of Autism Awareness Month. Taking an interactive approach to promote acceptance for autism, BRAIN gathered around 20 Little Buddies, around 30 Big Buddies, along with 23 volunteers who came together to build enjoyable memories with each other as friends.
The reunion featured a variety of engaging play stations including testing throwing skills in cornhole, jamming out with musical instruments, and most notably, a colorful Easter Egg Hunt. Each station was specifically picked to ensure the toys were adequate for everyone, including children on the autism spectrum. Each Little Buddy spent quality time with either their Big Buddy or volunteers and gleefully played with various toys, contributing to the lively atmosphere.
After an hour of joyful exploration at the different stations, the excitement reached its peak as the Easter Egg Hunt commenced. The volunteers were gathered and given a huge, heavy bag of Easter Eggs, each filled with sensory toys and yummy candy, the highlight of the reunion. Spreading the capsules of treasures all across the park, the volunteers freely tossed, dropped, and occasionally needed to reclose the eggs. Soon, a swarm of Big and Little Buddies alike eagerly scattered to discover as many treasured eggs as possible, filling their eyes with anticipation and excitement!
“It was fun to see both old and new faces having a good time at the reunion. Especially with helping the exciting egg hunt at the end and seeing the kids grab their prizes,” said Jonathan
Qiu, a board member and volunteer for BRAIN, after festively scattering Easter Eggs for the attendees to search for.
“Seeing all these smiles and laughter shared between the volunteers, whether they were a Big Buddy or not, and the kids is what it is all about,” said Dr. Vicky Vu as she shared her experience in the accomplished event.
BRAIN showcases its dedication to raising awareness for autism and creating an inclusive environment for all through the creation of events that show children with autism are just like you and me.