The other night when Dear Husband emerged from the Darling Boys' bedroom after the infinitely long process we like to call "bedtime," he looked at the living room and said to me, "It wasn't this messy when I went in." As if I had gone into the living room and thrown all of the boys' toys from the shelves and baskets onto the floor while he was reading to them. I assured him that I had not done so, and that it had indeed looked like that before the kids retreated into their bedroom for their nightly cease-fire from the daily assault on the house. Then, quick as quick can be we proceeded to re-assemble the living room, aka Central Command Post for all kid activity, as we do most every night. Part of the clean up was to sort and piece together the numerous puzzles that had been dumped into one gigantic pile. Now I don't know about you, but I have learned to put the boys' puzzles together in record time. Yes, I know it may not sound like a tremendous feat to be able to assemble a puzzle meant for 3 year-olds in under a minute, but I am pretty impressed with my sorting and assembling stats.
But what if you could never get all the pieces to fit together? What if it looked like all the pieces belonged to the same puzzle, but they just would not fit together? Or once you finally got the pieces together you were still missing a few pieces and could never finish the puzzle. That is how parents of kids with autism spectrum disorders must feel. A puzzle piece is the symbol chosen to represent autism awareness. This symbol was created in 1963 by the National Autistic Society. The puzzle piece is so effective because it says something about autism: autism is a puzzling condition, isolating autistic persons from normal human contact, causing them to not "fit in." The interlocking, multi-colored puzzle piece has become the international symbol of autism. The symbolism in the piece is multi-faceted: representing for some, the mystery and complexity of the disorder and for others, standing for the mechanical nature of the autistic person's thought process. The bright colors signify hope.
Here are some Ideas for Celebrating Autism Awareness Month:
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Autism Speaks' "Walk Now for Autism" events take place nationwide (throughout the year).
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Toys "R" Us has partnered with Autism Speaks and has an in store fundraising campaign at its Babies "R" Us stores that began on March 1st and ends on May 1st. Babies "R" Us also publishes a list of the ten most helpful toys for children with autism.
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TJ Maxx will be offering its customers at checkout a puzzle piece (the symbol for autism) for a $1 donation.
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Modell's sporting goods stores will also be hosting the $1 puzzle piece donation.
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Build-a-Bear Workshop has a purple teddy bear called Nikki III that it will be selling during April and donating the funds from sales to Autism Speaks. Once purchased, the bear will have an Autism Awareness ribbon attached. Also, a satin purple heart priced at $1 can be purchased at the store with funds being donated to Autism Speaks.
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Thomas and Friend's Live performances will be offering discounts to children with autism and their families.
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The Discovery Health channel will be providing information on autism diagnosis and treatments through its programs.
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Show your support for people with autism by wearing the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon this month – as a pin on your shirt, a magnet on your car, a badge on your blog, or even your Facebook profile picture - and educate folks on the potential of people with autism! For suggestions and resources, visit www.autism-society.org/ribbon.
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On April 1, the Autism Society is asking supporters to change their status on Facebook and/or Twitter to "Autism affects 1 in 110. Text "AUTISM" to 50555 to donate $10 to the Autism Society. Help spread the word: http://bit.ly/bUAVRf." 100% of your donations will go to support the Autism Society's mission of improving the lives of all affected by autism.
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There are several important bills moving through Congress that will have important effects on the autism community – safer educational settings (Keeping All Students Safe Act), better autism services (Autism Treatment Acceleration Act), greater financial independence (Achieving a Better Life Experience Act), better protection against toxic chemicals (Toxic Substances Control Act Reform, introduction anticipated soon), and more. For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it, visit www.vote4autism.org.
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The Autism Society and inflatable playground franchise Pump It Up are bouncing again with "Bounce for Autism" – over 100 community-based fundraising events that combine family fun with raising awareness and support for autism in locations nationwide that welcome children on the autism spectrum. Check out www.bounceforautism.org for more information and locations.
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The Autism Society is working with AMC entertainment to bring special-needs families "Sensory Friendly Films" every month. Our special showing of How to Train Your Dragon is coming to a theatre near you on April 10. Visit www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms for more information.
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Locally, here in the Twin Cities, Fraser Walk for Autism will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at the Mall of America. For more information about Fraser and the Walk for Autism, go to http://www.fraser.org/calendar/autismwalk_index.html .
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For more ideas or to find activities and events in your area just search online for autism awareness events.
Here are a few Web sites that have a lot of great autism information:
Autism Society of America: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer
Autism Speaks: http://www.autismspeaks.org
Autism and PDD Support Network http://www.autism-pdd.net/autism-resources.html (this one has good legal resources)
This Web site has great estate planning and other legal resources for parents of special needs children: Academy of Special Needs Answers: http://www.specialneedsanswers.com. Academy of Special Needs Answers also has a link to download a Memorandum of Intent.
A Memorandum of Intent is a supplementary document to be used by parents or guardians of special needs children (whether a minor or not). The Memo is meant to be a personal letter from you to the people who will care for your child when you no longer can. It supplements your estate plan by providing information that is not appropriate to include in your special needs trust because that information changes over time, is your wish but not a legal requirement, or is too lengthy to include in the trust. Click here to go to the site to download the memo: http://www.specialneedsanswers.com/moi_order.asp.
Tune in on Friday when I post a bit of "Motherly Advice." April happens to be a month of special causes: Autism Awareness, Child Abuse Prevention, Earth Day and Law Day (actually May 2nd). So, for the rest of April, I will be bringing you law and information pertaining to these topics. Over and out…
Anna
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