April is National Autism Awareness Month, and The Arc and The Autism NOW Center are working to empower people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with the information and resources they need to live their lives to the fullest potential. Just this month, the CDC declared that 1 in 68 (a 30 percent increase from previous figures) children may be impacted by autism spectrum disorders, so it’s a fair bet that each one of us knows someone with autism or someone who has a family member or friend with autism. You may know someone on the spectrum and not even realize it.

That’s why it’s important to dispel the myths and misinformation to understand and accept what having an ASD really means.

That’s why The Autism NOW Center (www.autismnow.org) exists, to weed through the volumes of information and provide high-quality, vetted resources to people with autism and other developmental disabilities, their family, friends, colleagues, teachers, employers and others.

View and share a new video about Autism NOW and learn more. Also, we encourage you to join in the conversation. Follow us online and on Autism NOW’s blog to read the personal stories of people with autism in a series of guest posts during April.

Use the hashtag #AutismAware to generate discussion about autism awareness and acceptance.

 Upcoming Events

•May 1: Mower County Special Olympics Bocce and Softball begins at Todd Park South

•May 13: 62nd Annual Meeting of The Arc Mower County from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Arc

•June 7: Self-Advocates Minnesota Conference in Winona. (Contact The Arc for Registration Information)

•June 9: Unified Kickball. runs for five weeks at Todd Park South (free and open to the public, but registration is required)

Jamey Helgeson is the Program Director at The Arc Mower County and can be reached at jamey@thearcmc.org or by calling 507-433-8994, Extension 102. You can also visit our website (www.thearcmc.org) and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thearcmc).