Autism Awareness Day in Shelburne: April 2

March 18, 2015 · 0 Comments

April 2nd is National Autism Awareness Day.
In support of the Autism Canada Foundation, local grandmother of two autistic children, Deanna Avison, encourages you to wear blue on April 2nd and donate to her fundraiser, ‘Acapella for Autism’.
“I am a grandma on a mission,” Avison told the Free Press. “(My goal is to) support my grandchildren and all other children on the spectrum, and their families. I want to make a difference.”
Avison’s fundraiser, ‘Acapella for Autism’ will start with her singing a song on video and then posting it to Facebook. She will nominate, or challenge, four other people to do the same thing. She’s hoping for a snowball effect from there.
Showing her playful side, on this very serious issue, Avison said, “I hate singing and sound just awful. I’m not sure what I was thinking!”
Avison is hoping that much like the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS, this fundraiser will go viral.
“My goal is to raise $20,000 for research,” she said. “This would put Shelburne on the map in support of autism.”
Additionally, Avison is planning Autism Awareness Day activities at Highland Heights P.S. – where her two grandchildren attend – for April 2nd.
“We will be giving out Autism Awareness wrist bands to all the children, and the school is participating in Wear Blue for Autism Day,” she said. Avison is also petitioning council to participate in the event.
“I have written a letter about the importance of Autism Awareness to the Mayor asking him to make a proclamation to declare April 2 Autism Awareness Day in Shelburne,” Avison said.
With 1 in 68 children being diagnosed with autism, including Avison’s grandchildren, you can bet this passionate grandmother will do everything she can to promote acceptance and spread awareness.
“This is very close to my heart and important to all children with autism who deserve recognition. These children are amazing, very smart, they just learn differently.”
Information about Avison’s fundraiser can be found at: www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1096988&supId=420388738 on the Autism Canada Foundation website.

By Wendy Gabrek