Group aims to raise awareness, support for autism

as seen in the April 23 2010 Morden Times and on the Morden Times website!

Posted By Lorne Stelmach


A non-profit group recently formed in the region to support families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The South Central ASD family support group involves people from all over south central Manitoba and meets the first Tuesday of each month at the Boundary Trails Health Centre.

The month of April is autism awareness month, and the group is planning a couple of events in conjunction with April 24 to 30 as autism awareness week.

The first is a family fun night with bowling at the Winkler bowling lanes this Saturday (April 24) then a fun fair and stick rodeo in conjunction with the Keen Ridge Equine Center May 1.

Everyone is welcome with all proceeds going to the South Central ASD family support group.

For more information, contact Celeste at 331-3357, Michelle at 822-5908 or Dianne at 822-4587 or e-mail southcentralasd@yahoo.ca. You can also go to their website at southcentralasd.intuitwebsites.com/

Their goal is to support, improve and enhance the lives of ASD children and their families in the Pembina Valley through information sharing, education, awareness and proactively supporting each other.

Autism is a developmental disability that affects a person's verbal and non-verbal communication, understanding of language, and socialization with peers. Other characteristics include: engagement in repetitive activities, resistance to environmental change and unusual responses to sensory experiences.

The range of severity can be from extremely mild to severe.

Autism is a behavioral disorder, not an illness or disease. It typically appears by age three and is a lifelong condition. There is no known cure, although there are documented cases of symptoms being reduced and even some children losing their diagnosis alltogether.

Although autism affects the functions of the brain, the specific cause is not known.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an increasingly popular term that refers to a broad definition of autism including the classic form of the disorder as well as closely related disabilities that share many of the core characteristics.

Although the classic form of autism can be readily distinguished from other forms of ASD, the terms autism and ASD are often used interchangeably.

Article ID# 2545984




Thank you to the Morden Town Council & Mayor for signing a proclamation declaring April 24th to 30th as Autism Awareness Week!