Help Take the "Awe" Out of Autism with Stone Soup January 2008
by Sue Sokoff
The fable of the Stone Soup is an applicable way to make events a cooperative endeavor whereby all participants go away with a better understanding of what your mission is.
There is a real need to remove the mystery and sense of "awe" that we often find associated with autism. The word is familiar, but few people outside the autism community understand what it really means to have a child affected by the disorder. Spreading the word of upcoming events to your individual network can help take the "awe" out of autism. By adding everyone's unique blend of talents and passion, a boiled stone becomes a delicacy. Like the beggar and his "stone soup," by eliciting cooperation from the curious public with your event as the stone, everyone can end up more nourished. Here are some ways to "beef" up your soup that we've heard about:
Don't be too shy to speak up about what you know. Educate your immediate family and close friends. If you have contacts in the school system, tell them about upcoming events and invite them to attend. Electronically send your group's event calendar and newsletter to people in your email address book with an invitation. If you have a blog or a website, post stories, photos, and interesting factoids about autism from time to time. Let people in your place of worship (e.g. youth leaders, Sunday School teachers, priests or pastors) know about what is going on in your support group and invite them to activities as your guest. Contact non-profit groups in your area that help individuals with disabilities and ask what programs are available that will benefit your loved one. If they have none, ask them to contact OFCA or another autism awareness organization for help in getting a program started.
The Stone Soup principle is to create partnerships by appealling to the raw curiosity of humanity and by including your community in your successful events. With your friendship and gentle encouragement, the "awe" of autism can slowly be demystified. And all of us will benefit as a result.