Jaden with his mom and dad

This year, a little boy named Jaden is helping the YAI Network to raise awareness and spread the word about the Central Park Challenge, our biggest community event of the entire year!

Jaden is just like a lot of 3-year-old boys. He loves playing sports, partaking in a game of musical chairs and watching the movie Happy Feet.

When it comes to learning new things, Jaden is bright and catches on quickly. He is dynamic and outgoing with grown-ups, including his parents and teachers. But making friends with kids his own age doesn’t come so easily. That is because Jaden has an autism spectrum disorder, which makes it hard for him to relate to his classmates. Thanks to his teachers at the YAI Network’s Forest Hills West School, Jaden is beginning to climb out of his shell and connect with the world around him.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how much progress Jaden has made over the last few months. Thanks to YAI, my son now has the ability to have a conversation back and forth and tell me what he needs,” said Jaden’s mom.

There’s still a long way to go, but Jaden is building the foundation for future friendships one conversation at a time. And he will have countless opportunities to make friends this year, as he brings the message of the YAI Network and the Central Park Challenge to millions of people in his community.

Watch this video with Jaden and his new friend Sherri Shepherd!