On April and Autism, Awareness

Another April and here we are, the beginning of National Autism Awareness month. Tomorrow is World Autism Awareness Day. In the past I've shouted out from the rooftops about Autism. I've passed out stickers, pins, "puzzle piece" bracelets. I've written reviews on Epinions.com about products and parent advice. I've organized events to blow bubbles of hope for Autism families at the beach including children with autism and neuro-typical children. I raised money for local charities like NJ-Cosac (now AutismNJ), and POAC - even braving the Blue Claws stadium and my son having major sensory overload from the music and crowd. The past few years I have also traditionally launched our team page "Alex's Army" for the annual Autism walk (which fyi we are not doing this year).

In the coming weeks I look forward to sharing my take on a few Autism books including: Greenspan's Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think- about the Floortime approach, Jenny McCarthy's new book Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide, and Leeann Whiffen's book A Child's Journey out of Autism: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure and maybe even a few more that I have on my book shelf and reading list. I also will be sharing Alex's adventures trying out sensory smart socks, some new to him gluten & casein free foods - and then some. If you are looking for information about the gluten free diet, I'll be on the panel for the Gluten Free Twitter party taking place this friday - use the tag #gfree. Speaking of Twitter, there is an Autism Sitewarming event taking place this evening by Model Me Kids.

Yep, I've got lots planned but let me tell you how I really feel about Autism Awareness month. This month, we "spread awareness" and put on a smiling face - I feel like I'm going through the motions. We'll hear and read news stories about Autism and see puzzle pieces popping up around town. April will seem to be the longest month ever, and people will ask me questions that I'll answer with a smile on the outside all the while my head is spinning around and the mama lion inside of me is about to pounce. As Kim Stagliano so aptly put it at Age of Autism, We're Aware Already... It's Autism Epidemic Action Month. I think that it has taken me 6 years to realize that I'm rather over it. I'm not saying that I'm against autism awareness. Just the opposite in fact. I'm all for it and will be doing my part in educating others and sharing our story as I always do. Every day. Autism Awareness isn't a monthly thing here, it is our life. It is my child. Alas, awareness only goes so far and that simply isn't far enough for me anymore!

He deserves more.