Activities for April: Autism Awareness Month

Here are some ideas to help you spread the word during April, Autism Awareness month.

First: HELP TACA HELP FAMILIES!

Participate in TACA’s 6 th annual F amily & Friends campaign. This campaign helps TACA continue our programs and services for FREE for families affected by autism. Contact Genny Belekar at for more information or start your own online fundraising and awareness page at www.firstgiving.com/tacanow.

IN THE COMMUNITY:

• Southern California Events – free events for families affected by autism:
• Walka for TACA – April 17. For more info http://meetup.talkaboutcuringautism.org/events/walka-for-taca/index.htm
• Oakley Autism Community Day – April 24. For more info
  http://www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/about_taca/oakley/
• Other activities are being planned across the U.S. check out http://meetup.talkaboutcuringautism.org/

• 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. For a link to autism facts visit http://www.tacnow.com/aboutautism.htm

• Reach out to your local video store and see if they will create a movie display featuring movies like Temple Grandin Special on HBO, 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 susan@tacanow.org 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:
  • AutismNDI’s poster project
    http://www.autismndi.com/posterproject/
  • CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early campaign
    http:// www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly
  • First Signs
    http:// firstsigns.org
    
• 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. To find your local and state representatives, go to www.congress.org.
  
• 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 preschoolers 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
  • A is for Autism, F is for Friend by Joanna Velasco
    

• Make Autism Awareness Ribbons. These ribbons are very simple to make. You can buy the puzzle pieces ribbon from a local Michaels or Joann’s, 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 from:
• TACA: www.tacanow.org
• National Autism Association: www.nationalautismassociation.org

• 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! If you would like to raise funds for TACA – please contact violette.prentice@tacanow.org for suggestions, the ability to create a personalized web site and support.
  

• Send TACA’s HOPE FAITH RECOVERY cards to family and friends about autism awareness month with the message that AUTISM IS TREATABLE!
  www.talkaboutcuringautism.org/about_taca/faith-hope-recovery.htm

For additional information please contact us.

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