Salukis Host Autism Awareness Night as Basketball and Community Meet

For most fans, tonight’s game at the Banterra Center is about conference play and competition. For others, it’s about something far more personal.

When Southern Illinois takes the floor against Northern Iowa, the evening will also mark Autism Awareness and Acceptance Night, an effort designed to bring visibility, understanding, and inclusion into one of SIU’s most public spaces.

Saluki athletics has partnered with the SIU Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders (CASD), inviting families and staff from the center to take part in the game experience. The event seeks to lift visibility around autism, amplify inclusion, and create a welcoming space for families in the community.

According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism affects approximately 1 in 31 children in the United States. Individuals on the autism spectrum may experience differences in communication, social interaction, and sensory processing, and families often navigate unique challenges to find supportive environments and community acceptance.

“We’re really excited to start this initiative here at SIU,” said Saluki Athletics Director Tim Leonard. “It’s important for us to be aware of the impacts autism has on families and how we can help.”

The partnership goes beyond pregame recognition. Last week, Saluki freshmen Luke Walsh and Daniel Pauliukonis visited the CASD to learn more about the center’s programs and to spend time with children who participate in its services.

“Daniel and I got the opportunity to visit two little kids with autism this past week and it was a great experience,” Walsh said. “As we play UNI Wednesday night and it’s autism awareness night, we wanted to make it special. We got to hang out with the kids and learn more about autism. It was really heart-warming for both of us.”

For Walsh, the evening is a chance for fans to connect with something bigger than hoops.

“The partnership is to spread awareness and help the families,” he said. “We want people to show up Wednesday and be a part of something bigger than basketball. Although everyone wants us to win and compete at a high level, the real win is coming out to support autism awareness.”

Denise Croft, Director of CASD, said the collaboration with SIU athletics brings awareness into spaces where many people in the community may not otherwise engage.

“Oftentimes, standalone events draw in people who are already invested in autism awareness,” Croft explained. “To really build awareness and acceptance, it’s important to branch into community events like SIU men’s basketball and reach a greater number of people.”

Croft emphasizes that the night isn’t just symbolic but practical. Families attending can make use of a sensory-friendly space inside the arena — a quieter environment equipped to help individuals self-regulate while still enjoying the game.

“The sensory space is located close to the basketball court,” Croft said. “It is a quiet space with sensory equipment so clients can regulate and have their sensory needs met. The game is played on the screen, too, but quietly, so the game can be watched at a more comfortable level.

Seeing athletics actively support this effort carries emotional meaning for families connected to CASD.

“It brings me and the families to tears to feel included, understood, and supported,” Croft said. “It's truly a shared goal and extremely special. Athletics leadership truly spearheaded this, and it is wonderful to see the initiative each year. Incorporating the athletes really brings another layer of wanting to build and bring support to autism acceptance.”

Tonight will feature basketball. It will also feature community. And for many involved, that combination is worth showing up for.