Community Corner

8th Grader Tackles Autism From Lax Field

Drew Quinto started Hills vs. Autism, a nonprofit, aimed at raising awareness of the disorder and money for sports programs.

Drew Quinto is a typical kid with big dreams. Unlike most 13-year-olds though, he’s already making them a reality.

Quinto, who recently finished the eighth grade, has one main goal: to promote awareness, tolerance and acceptance for kids with autism.

Drew has a 16-year-old brother on the spectrum. To outsiders, the disorder may seem to be a dividing factor between the siblings, but not to Drew. The incoming Hills East freshman focuses on what he and his brother, Corey, have in common, especially their love for lacrosse. For that reason, Drew, and his family, created Hills vs. Autism, a nonprofit organization that promotes physical and social skill enhancement through the sport. The program launched April 1, and has already raised more than $15,000.

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“I sat just hoping something like this would happen. It’s like a dream,” Drew said during a Half Hollow Hills school board meeting last month, in which the district honored the young advocate.

The latest of Drew’s accomplishments within the organization took place June 23 during the “King of the Hill” lacrosse tournament at Hills East, in which more than 70 teams competed, including challenger participants with special needs.

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Due to the work of the Quinto family, Hills vs. Autism was able to pay for a bus to travel from Maryland to Long Island. Challenger participants from the Half Hollow Hills and Garden City combined to create a Long Island team to verse the Maryland players. 

On the bus was the Marcellino family, who in 2010, fought and won the challenge of changing the phrase “mental retardation” to “intellectual disability” in all federal statutes. The change, known as Rosa’s Law, is named for Rosa Marcellino, an 8-year-old girl with Down Syndrome. Her family’s push began when Rosa's school listed her as “mentally retarded” instead of as "health impaired." The phrase “retarded,” which often infers derogatory sentiments did not sit well with the Marcellino family, and they set out to make a simple, but monumental change in federal language.

Not only did Drew’s and his family’s work, enable the Marcellino family, and others with disabilities to participate in the tournament, but it was the first time that three lacrosse teams for developmentally disabled athletes have come together.

The next fundraiser for Hills vs. Autism is a Mah Jongg Luncheon and Tournament at The Woodlands at The Greens in Melville. Click here to learn more.


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