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Health & Fitness

"Raising Autism"- a POAC Autism Services Fundraiser

"Raising Autism", a POAC Autism Services fundraiser, debuts April 21st and April 28th.

Last week some staggering statistics were made public in a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a report that discussed findings regarding the prevalence of autism in 14   states, as well as nationally.

The national reports showed an increase in autism diagnosis of 78 percent when comparing a 2012 study to one conducted just five years before in 2007, a fact which is overwhelming in and of itself. What concerned me even more however, were the statistics for the Garden State.

According to the data, one in 49 children are affected in New Jersey.

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For girls, one in 172 are on the spectrum.

For boys, it’s one in 29.

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Yes, I said one in 29.

There are a myriad of debates raging in the autism community, ranging from such topics as causes and treatments, to whether or not this increase is real, or just a result of pediatricians having access to better diagnostic tools. It may take decades to solve the more complicated puzzles.

Some questions regarding the disorder may never be solved at all. But to me, one issue is perfectly clear.

All of us who love someone with an autism spectrum disorder have to do our part to help, if we can.

There are hundreds of autism organizations now in existence, all of which contribute to the community at large, many with their own special niche. One that happens to be in our backyard, and has made an indelible difference in the lives of teachers, law enforcement officers, and so many Garden State families (including my own), is POAC Autism Services.

POAC is located in Brick, but offers free trainings and workshops all over the state, educating those who love and/or work with individuals with autism on how best to serve them. They’re a phenomenal organization headed up by Gary Weitzen, executive director, and for over a decade have been responsible for improving the lives of many children and adults with autism.

Two of those lives include my own kids.

Over the next two weeks I will be producing my play, “Raising Autism,” which will act as a fundraiser for this wonderful agency (yes, this is a shameless plug to get my readers to buy tickets, but they’re only $10, it’s a cheap evening out). For the past few months I’ve been harassing relatives and friends, and come close to approaching strangers on the street (I’ve stopped short of that) in order to get a good turn-out.

My goal is to raise a couple of thousand dollars for POAC, enough to facilitate a few more trainings. I also hope there’s some money left over to create those all-important weekend activities for families, activities which function as a safe haven for our kids, a place where they can be who they are with beautiful abandon.

Those events are a haven where their parents can feel free to be who they are as well.

The play chronicles the lives of three very different women raising four children with autism between them, kids who fall on every part of the spectrum themselves. At times (at least I’m told), it’s a humorous look at some very difficult situations.

I’ve also been told (with sodden tissues as evidence) that it will break your heart a bit, because it’s an honest look at the challenges many of us face with our children on a daily basis.

In other words, in “Raising Autism,” I say it like it is.

While I hope the play brings in a lovely chunk of money for POAC, I also hope it delivers more than just a nice bundle of funding for their endeavors. Of course I also wish it will act as a vehicle through which awareness is raised, which to me is just as important as soliciting donations.

Last, I have one final wish for the play as well. To all of those attending, I hope hearing these women’s words will be both cathartic, and serve as validation for our children’s struggles, as well as our own.

It was definitely cathartic for the woman who wrote it.

“Raising Autism” debuts April 21 at Brick Township High School, and on April 28th at the Jersey Shore Arts Center. For more information please see POAC’s website at:  www.poac.net

Thank you for reading this, and hope to see you there!

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