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Hospitals are grateful for their volunteers
Future members of school board get early lessons
Browns lose game they never should have lost
After 30 years at the helm of Akron Children's, Considine still looks to future
Utility mines new power source
Most foreign-born residents back smoking bans
Most Read Stories
2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
Akron man killed in crash on his street
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Akron Children's Hospital CEO, wife announce $1 million gift to support research
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Kangaroo tries to drown dog, attacks owner
Police: Pennsylvania man killed misbehaving puppy before Steelers game
Woman's purse snatched after beer purchase
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Viewing Notes
Patrick McManamon:
Of pass interference and alleged "fake" injuries
Akron Zips:
No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Audio: Mangini disputes Poteat call, accuses Lions of faking injuries
Kent State Sports:
Flashes travel to Florida Atlantic
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeye Football – Present and Future
Varsity Letters:
Gulley to visit Central Michigan in December
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Glaring Contradictions
Akron Law Café:
Don't Try to Have Fun if you are Depressed
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why I am Glad I live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Carl Chancellor/Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 11:27 a.m. EDT, Apr 03, 2008
The Greater Akron Chapter of the Autism Society has decided to put a face -- make that faces -- on the brain disorder that affects 1.5 million people in the United States, including about one of every 150 children.
During April, which is National Autism Awareness Month, the Akron area's skyline will be dotted with 10 billboards featuring the faces of local children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a complex developmental disability.
In addition to the photographs, the outdoor advertisements will feature an educational message about this common, yet little understood, disorder.
''All 10 billboards prominently feature the tagline: ''Intelligent. Unique. Autism.'' Each billboard also has it own secondary message, such as: ''Speech can be harder with autism -- Be patient;'' ''Making friends is harder with autism -- Be a friend;'' and ''People with autism see the world differently -- Don't we all?''
Lisa Weaver, president of the Greater Akron Chapter of the Autism Society of America, said the billboards are on display in Summit, Medina and Portage counties. The chapter also serves Stark and Wayne counties.
''We hope the billboards will help raise awareness and understanding of what autism is,'' Weaver said.
A collaboration of the Autism Society and Clear Channel Outdoor advertising made the billboards possible, she said.
Weaver, a Barberton resident, is the mother of two children. Her 13-year-old son Andrew has autism and is featured on one of the billboards.
''The message on his billboard -- 'Seeing the world differently' -- is so perfect for him,'' she said, explaining that her son has difficulty with ''communication skills.''
Autism can be mild to severe and not all autistic people are affected in the same way or have the same symptoms.
In rare cases, autistic people display extraordinary abilities, like amazing memorization powers or playing an instrument without ever being taught.
Weaver said her son began reading when he was 18 months old.
According to the Autism Society, the cause of the disorder is unknown and there is no cure.
The thrust of Autism Awareness Month and of the billboard effort is to encourage the public to educate themselves about the disorder and the challenges autistic people face. The hope is that understanding will foster respect and the realization that with help, kindness, patience and encouragement people with autism can show improvement.
More information about the Greater Akron Chapter of the Autism Society of America is available at www.asagreaterakron.com or by calling, 330-543-3955.
The Greater Akron Chapter of the Autism Society has decided to put a face -- make that faces -- on the brain disorder that affects 1.5 million people in the United States, including about one of every 150 children.
During April, which is National Autism Awareness Month, the Akron area's skyline will be dotted with 10 billboards featuring the faces of local children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a complex developmental disability.
In addition to the photographs, the outdoor advertisements will feature an educational message about this common, yet little understood, disorder.
''All 10 billboards prominently feature the tagline: ''Intelligent. Unique. Autism.'' Each billboard also has it own secondary message, such as: ''Speech can be harder with autism -- Be patient;'' ''Making friends is harder with autism -- Be a friend;'' and ''People with autism see the world differently -- Don't we all?''
Lisa Weaver, president of the Greater Akron Chapter of the Autism Society of America, said the billboards are on display in Summit, Medina and Portage counties. The chapter also serves Stark and Wayne counties.
''We hope the billboards will help raise awareness and understanding of what autism is,'' Weaver said.
A collaboration of the Autism Society and Clear Channel Outdoor advertising made the billboards possible, she said.
Weaver, a Barberton resident, is the mother of two children. Her 13-year-old son Andrew has autism and is featured on one of the billboards.
''The message on his billboard -- 'Seeing the world differently' -- is so perfect for him,'' she said, explaining that her son has difficulty with ''communication skills.''
Autism can be mild to severe and not all autistic people are affected in the same way or have the same symptoms.
In rare cases, autistic people display extraordinary abilities, like amazing memorization powers or playing an instrument without ever being taught.
Weaver said her son began reading when he was 18 months old.
According to the Autism Society, the cause of the disorder is unknown and there is no cure.
The thrust of Autism Awareness Month and of the billboard effort is to encourage the public to educate themselves about the disorder and the challenges autistic people face. The hope is that understanding will foster respect and the realization that with help, kindness, patience and encouragement people with autism can show improvement.
More information about the Greater Akron Chapter of the Autism Society of America is available at www.asagreaterakron.com or by calling, 330-543-3955.
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