Autism Awareness Month

"Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."-- Margaret Meade

Happy Sunday, all! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. And if you live in the Southern California area, we hope you got out and enjoyed the beautiful spring sunshine!

As many of you know, April is Autism Awareness Month. In honor of this, we'd like to share a couple of things that families may be interested in.

If you live in the Orange County area and have kids, you probably have heard of Pretend City. It is a great museum that replicates a city and allows children to pretend to be adults and participate in all the hustle and bustle of a community. Pretty cool, right? Well, on Monday April 25 from 5:30-7:30pm  Pretend City will be hosting Family Autism Night. This is a great opportunity for children and families affected by autism to enjoy the museum and all the fun it has to offer with additional support. And the best part? They will be closed to the general public! You can find more Family Autism Night and other programs and events on the Pretend City website (click here).

**Remember, space is limited (as of tonight there are only 39 tickets remaining; 1 ticket is good for up to 5 people in the same family) so call today or go online to reserve your family's spot!**

Additional Information (from the Pretend City website):
"This special night is an opportunity for children and their parents/caretakers to play in an autism-friendly environment along with other families. Many of our community partners who specialize in supporting children on the Autism Spectrum or Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified ( PDD-NOS) will be on-hand to enrich your family play experience with their welcoming smiles and practical support. Pretend City will be closed to the general public. Only those families who have a reservation and a confirmation number will be admitted.

Who is it for? Families with children who are on the Autism Spectrum
How do I sign up and by when? Please register below or leave a voicemail at 949.428.3900 ext. 233
Is there a fee? $15 for a family of up to 5 people. Registration fee is non-refundable."

Hope you and your families can take advantage of this wonderful event. Be sure to let us know how it is and share your experience with us! Feel free to comment, find us on facebook, or send us an email! We'd love to hear from you!

Also, starting tomorrow night (April 18th), PBS will be airing a six part series about autism and how it affects families, schools, and communities. Check your local listings for the times. If you happen to miss it, you can also check out each report on the PBS website (click here).

Here is the topic and date for each part of the series:
Part One: Introduction to Nick and Autism as a whole-body experience Online April 15, on-air April 18
Part Two: Autism Prevalence Online April 18, on-air April 19
Part Three: Autism's Causes| Online April 19, on-air April 20
Part Four: Autism Treatment | Online April 20, on-air April 21
Part Five: Adults With Autism | Online April 21, on-air April 22
Part Six: Autism Policy | Online April 22, On-Air April 25

This series should be very informative and we are looking forward to watching it and discussing/sharing any information with you.

Finally, a big "thank you" to all those who follow us on Facebook! You can find In S.T.E.P.P.S by clicking here. We have reached over 100 "likes". Words can't express how much we appreciate your support as we grow! Continue to tell your friends about us and send them over here to our blog, website, or Facebook page. When we join together as a community, we can do powerful things!

Be sure to check back often! We will continually share news, resources, programs, and community events with you.

Have a fabulous week! :)