AUTISM BUZZ
P.O. Box 1431
Jefferson City, MO 65102
missouri
April is
Autism Awareness Month
EDUCATE * ADVOCATE * UNDERSTAND
We hope you choose to take time to educate yourself and others about autism and the issues facing families.
Information is the key to understanding - the beginning of any problem-solving.
Activities in April:
HELP Raise $$$!
Participate in local fund raising efforts to benefit families in your community - there may be several in your area, or you might be the first to start one in your community! There are several local and national autism groups.
ATTEND COMMUNITY EVENTS: Many autism organizations have activities planned, and involvement from the community is crucial!
CREATE COMMUNITY AWARENESS: Create an Autism Awareness Display in your local library, church, school, or community center with information about autism, local support groups, books, etc.
JOIN an AUTISM GROUP: There are several national autism organizations, and there are quite a few local support groups and autism organizations in Missouri.
GET ACTIVE: Write a personal letter or make a personal visit to your legislators to express how important autism issues are to your family.
National Autism Awareness Month
IDEAS from TACA website
IN THE COMMUNITY:
Contact your local library, church or community center to see if they will let you create an autism awareness display that can include information about autism, local support groups, books, etc. Reference autism facts.
Reach out to your local video store and see if they will create a movie display featuring movies like Rainman, Molly, etc. While Hollywood may not always get autism right, this is a great way to begin getting people more aware.
Set up meetings to talk with your Parent Teacher Association, police department and fire department. TACA can provide you with and educational presentation and handouts. Please contact Roxanne Hall for more information.
Educate pediatricians in your community about the early signs of autism. Early intervention and diagnosis is key to a positive outcome. Some wonderful tools are available at:
TACA’s poster project
AutismNDI’s poster project
CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early campaign
First Signs
Write to your local and state legislators. Tell your personal story and describe the need for government support of scientific research, medical treatments and educational resources for this growing population of children. Request proclamations that designate April as Autism Awareness month.
Contact your local media. Neighborhood newspapers often feature human interest stories, so tell your story and share the facts about why autism is important to all of us.
Help children learn more about autism:
Create a buddy program in your school where typical students befriend a child with autism. These groups could be during lunch, recess or after school social clubs.
If your child has a neurotypical sibling, visit their school in April and read a children’s book on autism to the class. Some suggestions include:
Andy and his Yellow Frisbee – by Mary Thompson
I love my brother!! By Connor Sullivan (A preschooler's view on an older ASD brother)
Ian’s Walk – by Laurie Lears
A non-autism book but for all disabilities is What's Wrong with Timmy? by Maria Shriver
Make Autism Awareness Ribbons. These ribbons are very simple to make. You can buy the puzzle pieces ribbon from a local craft store, glue the ribbons and the pin backing. These can be passed out to family and friends to wear in the month of April or all the time.
Wear autism awareness merchandise, from t-shirts to pins to bracelets and bands. Show your support with car bumper stickers or magnets. Merchandise can be purchased online.
Plan an event to raise both awareness and funds: an autism awareness night at a local restaurant, a lemonade stand or bake sale, dress-down days at work or schools… be creative!
Send an Autism Awareness Month e-cardfrom www.123greetings.com (free) or www.bluemountain.com (free trial membership available). Search “autism” at the prompt.
National Autism Awareness Month
In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, ASA has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.
From the Autism Society of America website:
ASA’s “Six ways you can celebrate National Autism Awareness Month” this year:
- Host your own event. ASA‘s 1Power4Autism is the first grassroots fundraising Web site for the autism community. It gives you an opportunity to “turn on your power” by starting an event online and the tools you need to mobilize your friends and family. Learn more at http://www.1power4autism.org/. Or for more events in your area, please visit our event calendar.
- Get bouncing! After a successful first year, ASA and inflatable playground franchise Pump It Up are bouncing again with “Bounce for Autism” - a nationwide, community-based fundraising event that combines family fun with raising awareness and support for autism in locations that welcome children on the autism spectrum. Find an event near you at http://www.bounceforautism.org/.
- Show your colors. Wear your autism awareness puzzle bracelet to show your support. Make an online donation by March 25, and you’ll receive a free autism awareness bracelet. You can also purchase them in bulk at our online store.
- Read a book. In The Horse Boy, Rupert Isaacson shares his inspiring story of how he and his wife learned to think of their son’s autism as an adventure rather than a curse, a beginning rather than an end. Little, Brown and Company is publishing the book on April 14, 2009, and will be partnering with the Autism Society of America to raise awareness. Both the ASA and the book aim to empower families to think creatively and openly when it comes to treatment. Learn more at http://www.horseboythebook.com/.
- Spread awareness. ASA has free download materials to help your family, your school, your church or other community organization learn more about people with autism. ASA has developed a printable poster which can be displayed to raise awareness in your community. Our “Growing Up Together” is a new, popular pamphlet that teaches typical kids how much fun they can have with their friends on the autism spectrum. ASA’s Safe and Sound materials are also critical to keeping our citizens with autism safe. Bring our cards and pamphlets to your local police and fire station and help us spread awareness today! To learn more, please visit www.autism-society.org/research_safeandsound.
- Take action. Getting involved in advocacy efforts at the local, state and national levels is a crucial way to support legislation benefiting those with autism and their loved ones. Check out current national initiatives at www.autism-society.org/research_advo_action.
- Become a member. A gift of $30 gives you all the benefits of membership, including access to a community that provides comfort, support and essential information to families living with autism; ASA's quarterly magazine the Autism Advocate, a leading source of information on the latest issues in autism; and valuable resource information and advocacy for autism-related issues. With your help, we can achieve our mission of improving the lives of all affected by autism. Learn more about becoming a member at www.autism-society.org/join_home.
EVENTS: 2013
April 2 World Autism Awareness Day
April 3 Missouri Autism Rally at Capitol
AUTISM AWARENESS RALLY at MISSOURI STATE CAPITOL
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P.O. Box 1431
Jefferson City, MO 65102
missouri
