The Autism Society Calls for Awareness and Action this April to Support 1 in 110 People with Autism in the United States

March 31, 2011
By Amanda Glensky

Bethesda, MD (March 31, 2011) – The Autism Society, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, will launch several awareness activities to commemorate National Autism Awareness Month this April. Highlights include:

•    Attend the Wretches & Jabberers tour. This April, the Autism Society has teamed up with AMC Theatres© and Area 23a, an event-based distribution company, for a unique, national theatrical run of the feature documentary Wretches & Jabberers about two-self-advocates with autism. Join us at 40 theatres this month and help to change attitudes about disability, intelligence and communication: http://www.autism-society.org/wretchesandjabberers

•    TAKE ACTION. The Autism Society works daily to help individuals and families through national and state advocacy efforts. Learn about current initiatives and legislation (such as the TEAM Act, Reauthorization of the Combating Autism Act, the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act and much more) and how you can help at www.vote4autism.org.

•    Put on the Puzzle! The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. This month, the Autism Society encourages all friends and advocates to wear their puzzle ribbons in a display of support.

•    Spread the word about the Autism Society’s online information and referral database Autism Source^TM. We help individuals and families find accurate information about autism and identify the service providers they need close to their homes.

•    See a movie! The Autism Society and AMC Theatres have teamed up to present Sensory Friendly Films each month. A family trip to the movies is often not an option for many affected by autism, but Sensory Friendly Films provides an accepting environment where people can get up and move around as they please. Our special showing of Hop is coming to AMC theatres nationwide on April 2 in most locations and Rio will be showing on April 30. For more information, visit www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms.

•    Find local events. Nationwide, 150 Autism Society chapters hold a number of special events in their communities throughout April. See our calendar here: www.autism-society.org/calendar. An online tool, 1Power4Autism, also makes it easy for supporters to mobilize friends and family and help make a difference by holding their own event.

•    Text AUTISM to 50555. Text “AUTISM” to 50555 to donate $10 to the Autism Society, 100 percent of which will go to support the Autism Society’s mission of improving the lives of all affected by autism.
For more information about any of these activities, please visit www.autism-society.org/AutismAwarenessMonth.

The Autism Society can also provide experts, parents or other knowledgeable media sources for any autism-related stories you may be working on this month – from the challenges facing adults with autism to the need for early intervention to community efforts at social inclusion, the Autism Society is a great place to get balanced, contextual information.

To learn more about the Autism Society and National Autism Awareness Month, or to schedule interviews with autism experts, contact Amanda Glensky, Media Specialist, at 301-657-0881, x9015 or aglensky@autism-society.org.

About National Autism Awareness Month: Established in the 1970s to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, April is a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community. With 1 in 110 Americans now being diagnosed, the need for services and supports is greater than ever, and this year the Autism Society hopes to raise awareness of the many issues faced by families affected by autism. Learn more at www.autism-society.org/AutismAwarenessMonth.

About the Autism Society: The nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, the Autism Society exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy. For more information, visit www.autism-society.org.

About the Puzzle Ribbon: The puzzle pattern reflects the mystery and complexity of the autism spectrum. The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with the condition. The brightness of the ribbon signals hope—hope that through increased awareness of autism, early intervention and appropriate treatments, people with autism will lead fuller, more complete lives.

About Autism: Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

Related News