He stands proud, chest out – but his eyes are down to his page. He reads from his page, a speech he designed himself.. telling the world, what he wants to be when he grows up. A medical scientist, his passion –
reading medical journals to put himself to sleep at night. He is motivated to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, one of them a 6 year old boy, named Morgan. His speech is also gripped with words of bullying.
His name is Matteo, he has autism. A complicated, neurological disorder that affects 1 in 150 children, out of that statistic, 1 in 95 are boys.
This night, he read his speech to an audience in a gym as the opening special guest of an Autism Awareness evening hosted by Autism Coffee Chat, a Sudbury Ontario parent-driven support group to over 80 families. – this group is in their 4th year of support to families and is NOT funded by any outside agency. They rely on donations from local businesses. (www.autismcoffeechat.blogspot.com)
The evening was a success, bringing in donations at the door, which will be donated for research to Autism Ontario’s Bonnie McPhail (Campaign organizer) though not much money was raised, the REAL payout was the expression of the audience as they laughed and cried throughout the evening starting with Matteo’s speech, and then the films, first “Experiencing Autism” from Autism Ontario’s “Together for Autism Campaign”, and then the acclaimed film “Snowcake” http://www.snowcakemovie.co.uk/
Starring: Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss.
Princess Anne Public School celebrated the campaign, and have placed over 200 colorful figure cutouts of children encircling the entrance to the school.
Autism Coffee Chat parents are driven by trying to comprehend this mysterious disorder and seek to clarify meaning in their everyday lives. These parents meet monthly to have a coffee and a chat, and discuss the issues of the day. They now have a school setting and can bring their children to play, with special adaptive sports equipment, supplied by the Sudbury and District Health Unit.
An online private discussion forum is also set up for their use.
Autism Coffee Chat’s film night success was co-organized by Coffee Chat members, and sponsored by several local businesses, donating coffee, juice, pop, water, snack foods, and pizza.
By convincing 20 people about Autism, this group has convinced 200 because they will tell a friend, who will tell two more.
Autism is not going away. It’s time to understand it, meaningfully and give these people, their right to equality and a life free from stigma.
Trish Kitching,
Parent to three autistic children
Moderator, Autism Coffee Chat
Executive Member, Alliance for Families with Autism www.allianceforfamilieswithautism.blogspot.com
www.autismnewsarticles.blogspot.com
For more information on how to join the support group, contact Trish at Ktchmeifucan2002@yahoo.ca
