By now, you’ve probably seen Jaden’s curly hair and bright grin beaming out from TV, billboards, subways, telephone kiosks, newspapers and buses as he spreads the word about the Central Park Challenge. It’s a big job for such a little boy, but thankfully, he has his parents, teachers to give him love and support along the way. He has also made a wonderful new friend in Sherri Shepherd, the YAI Network’s spokesperson, who is committed to raising funds and awareness for children and adults with disabilities.

That doesn’t mean things are always easy for Jaden. Because he has autism, he has a difficult time making friends and playing with other kids, even the classmates he sees every day at his YAI Network preschool.

Just last month, at another child’s birthday party, Jaden’s parents saw how isolating autism can be. “The biggest heartache was when my husband sent me a picture from the party, and the picture said a thousand words,” said Sandra, Jaden’s mom. “Jaden was stacking cones and there wasn’t a child near him.

“When I asked my husband where the other kids were, he said they were playing elsewhere. It broke my heart.”

So even though raising awareness about the YAI Network is important, Jaden heads off every day to his YAI preschool in Queens because he has an even more crucial task to attend to—learning how to make friends and relate to other kids.

Fortunately, things are beginning to look brighter. 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,” Sandra said.

Geraldo Rivera and YAI Network's 2010 Central Park Challenge!

A few weeks ago, Jaden began playing with other children on a trip to the neighborhood park. “He started chasing some other kids, saying, ‘Hey, wait for me!’” Sandra said. “Then he started running the other way, saying, ‘Now you catch me!’ It made me so happy to see him taking the initiative.”

Achieving this milestone—something as simple as playing in the park with other kids—wouldn’t be possible without the love, attention and top-notch education Jaden receives at his YAI preschool.

“YAI has changed the way I think about Jaden,” said Ismael, Jaden’s dad. “YAI is there to help him.”

“Thanks to YAI, my son now has the ability to have a conversation back and forth and tell me what he needs,” said Sandra.

Jaden is only one of 20,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities who rely on the YAI Network for help finding a job, getting a checkup at the doctor, volunteering in the community and yes, even making friends on the playground. When you support the Central Park Challenge, you are helping to ensure that their lives will be brighter for generations to come.