One in every 110 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with autism.

For Cammi and Bill Jones of Brookhaven, their first born son Warner was that child.

“It was certainly a shock,” said Jones of when he learned Warner was diagnosed at age 1. “I simply didn’t know a whole lot about autism.”

Around that same time, Autism Speaks, a national organization seeking to unite the autism community and promote medical research, was picking up momentum. In 2007, the organization started the Walk Now for Austism Speaks in Georgia.

After finding strength and resources in the autism community, the family turned their struggle into positive action and served on the original Walk Now for Autism Speaks committee four years ago.

On Sunday, the family’s team Walking for Warner will return to Atlantic Station for the 2010 event. This year, however, the team will celebrate a milestone for its namesake.

After five years of specialized education and therapy at the Marcus Austism Center in DeKalb County, six-year-old Warner will begin to transition into elementary school this fall.

“It’s been a story of steady, gradual, upward progress,” said Jones. “To see where he even was four months ago and where he is now, it’s amazing. He’s come so far. He’s been through a lot of hard work.”

Catherine Trapani, Ph.D., the center’s director of education and manager of its early intervention program, said approaching children with autism like Warner in an individualized manner with a variety of therapies and activities is essential.

“We focus on developing language, social skills, attention skills, abilities to follow step-by-step directions and increasing daily living self-help skills,” she said. “Two-thirds of our children transition to neighborhood public and private schools and are in classrooms making honor roll.”

In addition to Ms. Trapani’s work with Warner, Jones also credits the help of his two younger sons, Lawson, 5, and Liam, 2, to Warner’s success.

“They’re very verbal. They engage him and always keep him active,” he said. “Most parents would say they don’t like it when their children fight, but for a parent of a child with autism it’s a great thing because the child’s interacting.”

With his family’s experience, Jones said he hopes to spread a message of hope to other parents with autistic children.

“Maybe it’s not how we thought it would be, but what it’s now become is something that is very special,” he said. “Involvement and awareness are two key things … I believe all these kids like Warner have the ability to make incredible progress and live meaningful lives.”

If you go

o What: 2010 Walk Now for Autism Speaks

o Benefits: Autism Speaks

o When: registration: 8 a.m., walk: 10 a.m. Sunday

o Where: Atlantic Station, 171 17th Street, Midtown

o Information: (770) 451-0570 or visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.org