April is Autism Awareness month.

My best friends daughter was recently diagnosised with autism it's such a heart breaking diagnosis. But, we still love Madelyn the same as before she's just Madie! God bless you for sharing Simon it's got me through some rough spots seeing how you are able to manage and how happy and well he does.

I usually just lurk and while my life isn't touched by autism personally, my husband forwarded this link to me today and I thought I would pass it on the you. It's about an autistic high school boy and what he achieved! It gave me chills. enjoy!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-818944862742874918&q=autistic%3Ehttp%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid&pr=goog-sl
Susan
p.s. I'll be seeing you Saturday at Reminisce and I can't wait!!

This is a wonderful logo and speaks volumes. Two of my former students had a form of autisim and they were the most beautiful thinkers I have met to date.

Ali -
You Rock, Girlie! I will going to check out your logo items and making a purchase!
My son (with Asperger's Syndrome) was diagnosed later (he is 7 and was just diagnosed a few months ago). It was very frustrating because we knew there was something going on, and couldn't get the docs to help us. We kept pursuing and finally found someone who was seeing what we saw. He is now getting services and the help he needs. It means so much to me to see a mom so proactive for her little guy! You are awesome Ali. I have loved you for the inspiration you have given me as an artist, and now I love you even more as the inspiration you are as a mother of a special child.
May God continue to bless you and your beautiful family,
Sally

Hey Ali. Just wanted to say how cool I think ya are.
Love the logo. And the picture.
Have a great Tuesday.

Ali,
You do so much for Autism awareness on your blog. It's wonderful!! I love the "gear" you have with the slogan you designed. Great stuff for a great cause! I also linked to your store on a post I did on my autistic son for Autism Awareness month on my blog
http://artsymama.blogspot.com/2006/04/day-six-adversity.html
Thanks for everything!

thanks for this Ali, you made we cry reading this.. Pam C.

Ali - you are amazing!

it's hard to equate what autism represents with our beautiful boys isn't it. They are 4 and this is the crucial time for them and it not only affects them but all those around them, everyday I get up and plan to make just a little prgress but in the hustle and bustle forget for a minute and pull into the wrong bowser at the petrol station and everyone ends up in tears and any prgress made that day has back tracked even further.
I try not to dwell on what has been lost but with an uncertian future I need to get it right now and not make any mistakes, yes I expect a lot from myself but we all do and I would do anything to make his life as fantastic as it can be
thank you for making people aware

wow - I love the logo - it's a very good thing that you're doing....you reach so many people in so many ways - thanks :)

that is such an incredibly loving photo.. just beautiful. I look forward to what i will learn about autism from you this month!

Hey Ali.
My son (7) has Autism. I'll be watching for the resources and info you post. We have a lot in common. I can't say Autism is a word I ever thought would be a part of my daily life either.
Looking forward to meeting you.
Nic (New Zealand)

Ali, You are an amazing individual. Thank you for your deidcation to your craft and family, you inspire me daily!

Thank you Ali - for your crusade and information. I have been blessed with three children, and have not been touched by autism - and I found that, as I checked your autism links, I had been uneducated and/or mis-informed. Thanks for using your blog to spread positive education and awareness. Even the few minutes to check your info will help me to help others in any way I can - and I'm taking this info with me when I take my turn in the 4-5s nursery at my church this Sunday morning.
Ali, you've always inspired me creatively, and now you've inspired me socially as well.
Thanks for sharing Simon - he's such a cute guy and such a blessing - and thanks for blessing us with you too!

My Son is Autistic also- he's 3. We found out about 6 months ago and your blog helped me to deal with it- come to terms with it- I'm sure it will help MANY more. Inspiring. Thank You.

ali, you are so brave for embarking on this journey of awareness, education and advocacy for autism. you inspire me and your blog is just what i need sometimes to "push me" into doing the same for my little dude. he has been diagnosed with TSC (short for tuberous sclerosis complex) since he was three months old. here is a link if you'd like to read more:
http://www.tsalliance.org/
many of the kids with TSC also have autism. and although josh is not autistic, he does have some autistic-like mannerisms. my hope is to be able to do the same for TSC that you do for autism. if i can achieve for TSC just half of what you've achieved for autism, then i will count myself successful.
perhaps, if i may be so bold, would you be able to design some type of logo for me so that i can further my cause? i would never be able to create something as cool as the one you did....if i tried, i might set us back 2 steps. i might be hurting my cause more than helping...yikes!
in the words of the joe dirt......keep on keeping on!!!
- g

I love reading your blog. It's not only entertaining, but also so educational. I've learned so much from reading about Autism and then going to your links. I've been a teacher for 14 years. I've had children with Autism, Aspergers, ADD, ADHD, you name it. But I never really knew a while lot. Now that I'm subbing I've had the privilege to be on a long term assignment in a special day class. 12 students with Autism, Aspergers, ADD, ADHD and so on. The last 7 weeks have been my most rewarding time as a teacher. I've even decided to go back to school so I can teach a Special Day Class on a permanent basis. The video you shared was so touching. I loved reading the facts, things I didn't even know. Thank you for opening up our eyes to what our children, our future, are facing.
Off to hug my children and say a prayer for all the children in our growing world.

I've got a 4 year old daughter who has autistic features - it's such a tough disabilty because the children look so perfectly 'normal'!

Love how you keep us informed about autism, Ali ... and the logo on the CafePress items rocks! Do you think you could create a large mug and a journal with it? I'd love to buy some for my family since my nephew has autism too. :)

I am emailing from ethiopia. a mother of a child with autism and the founder of joy-cener for children with autism. your logo is awesome! keep the good job, remember there are also victims of Autism in the other world.