Walk Now for Autism Speaks is set to have its annual Walk Day on May 5 in New York City as part of its efforts to raise money and awareness for autism spectrum. Walk Now for Autism Speaks is the nation's largest fundraising walk event and takes place all across the United States and Canada.

The grassroots walk program is run by volunteers and those who have family members within the autism spectrum. Employers from local businesses and companies that hire individuals within the autism spectrum also help with the event. Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a successful fundraising event that also helps raise awareness about the need for increased research for autism.

"I think the entire nation is half asleep about autism and I think they need to be woken up," parent and advocate Daniel Spitz said.

"There's no known cause for this, it's not going to go away. So we all need to learn the signs and learn how to treat it," parent and advocate Candi Spitz said.

The prevalence of autism is increasing and the Walk Now for Autism Speaks event generates vital funds each year, bringing thousands of people together for the sake of a common goal.

"We need awareness. Autism Speaks is doing what other people aren't doing, the research," parent and advocate Amy Schwarz said.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a set of complex brain development disorders that impairs social interaction and communication by affecting information processing in the brain. These disorders include autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome and also pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

According to recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),  autism affects one in 50 kids. The 2013 Walk Now for Autism Speaks walk comes to New York City on Sunday, May 5. Registration starts at 9:00 AM EST at Citi Field in Flushing, N.Y.