What You Can Do to Participate in "Autism Awareness Month"

April is “Autism Awareness Month” and many are out there every day, showing their support. I am sure you want to as well, but may not know how or what to do. Here are a few suggestions:

Put on the Puzzle!

The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Autism prevalence is now one in every 110 children in America – that’s 13 million families and growing who live with autism today. 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.

Spread the word

Helping the autism community can be as easy as updating your Facebook or Twitter status! Check out our website: http://www.dannyswish.org, read our story and make a donation. Our mission is to help provide life enhancing resources and experiences for kids and families that deal with Autism and Autism related spectrum disorders.

Connect with your neighborhood

Check out the local events going on in your community. Reach out to someone you know who’s life is effected by Autism and plan an activity together. See if anything is going on at your local school district, and just be involved in those activities.

Watch a movie

Did you know that something that seems as simple as going to the movies is not an option for many families affected by autism? The Autism Society is working with AMC entertainment to bring special-needs families “Sensory Friendly Films” every month. The special showing of How to Train Your Dragon is coming to a theatre near you on April 10. Or, you could see a movie about autism itself – the Autism Society is partnering with the Independent Television Service (ITVS) to support 70 community screenings of the new movie The Horse Boy, based on the memoir of the same name. In the film, Rupert Isaacson shares the 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. Find participating locations for both events at:

- Sensory Friendly Films: www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms

- The Horse Boy: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/horse-boy/