Cranston native, teacher bikes for autism awareness

By Pam Schiff
Posted 7/20/16

By PAM SCHIFF Giving back to the community in which he teaches is a big deal for Drew Hochman. A Cranston native who attended Barrows Elementary School and Park View Middle School before graduating from Cranston High School East in 2004, he now teaches

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Cranston native, teacher bikes for autism awareness

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Giving back to the community in which he teaches is a big deal for Drew Hochman.

A Cranston native who attended Barrows Elementary School and Park View Middle School before graduating from Cranston High School East in 2004, he now teaches special education in the city’s elementary schools.

“I feel it is so important to raise awareness and education about autism and the increase in the number of children being identified with it,” he said.

Autism is on the rise globally. Hochman said it is the second most prevalent developmental disorder in the world, diagnosed in one out of every 68 children.

“As the autism population grows, the research is lagging. It receives the least funding of any other disorder,” he said.

For the third straight year, Hochman is participating in “Bike to the Beach,” a 106-mile bike ride from Washington, D.C., to Dewey Beach, Delaware, on July 29.

Hochman and his girlfriend will drive to Arlington, Virginia, to meet up with his brother, Eric, who is also riding.

“It was Eric who got me involved with the program,” he said.

The cause matched up perfectly with Hochman’s beliefs about autism awareness and education, so he was hooked.

“[Children with autism] need to be socialized, they need to know that just because they are having a bad day, it does not and will not define them as a person or a student,” he said.

Hochman said he wasn’t a great student, and never would have thought he would go into teaching.

“My students work harder than a lot of mainstream students, they push themselves to excel not only academically, but socially as well, which is usually their biggest challenge,” he said.

During his five years teaching in Cranston, Hochman has seen a significant increase in the number of students with an autism diagnosis.

“When I see one of my students overcome a challenge, or learn or understand something new, they simply light up with pride. One of the most important things in lives of these students is routine, and knowing what to expect day to day. Fire drills, substitute teachers, are just a few things that can change their attitude and learning for the day,” he said.

The company Spectrum Designs out of Washington, D.C., is designing the T-shirts for this year’s bike ride.

“Seventy-five percent of [the company’s] employees have an autism diagnosis. I think that is a huge deal and they should be proud of what they are doing,” Hochman said.

Hochman is considering doing the local ride from Boston to Newport in September.

“I ride because I have a passion and dedication to making a difference. That’s why I teach. I get to see the successes. I want them to know they can do it and nothing should hold them back,” he said.

To donate to Hochman’s ride or learn more about Bike to the Beach, visit my.biketothebeach.org/drewhochman.

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