April, Autism Awareness Month, is in full swing and Hope For Three, local autism advocates, is hitting the streets to spread the Power of Three: Awareness, Action and Acceptance!
Organizers say the Power of Three is a must to help children with autism (1 in 45 school-age children affected) thrive and live the best life possible. In 2007, the United Nations declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day in perpetuity and the entire Month has become Autism Awareness Month. Hope For Three, founded in 2011, vowed its first celebration of April, Autism Awareness Month in 2012, would reach countywide and beyond. Today, the organization continues to garner the support of Fort Bend County Judge Robert Hebert and all 18 City Mayors, whereby each proclaims the month of April as Autism Awareness Month and encourages their city to support Hope For Three, its mission and local families and children living with autism spectrum disorder.
“Autism is a very complex disorder,” said Darla Farmer, Founder and Executive Director of Hope For Three. “We recognize for our community to take action and give unconditional acceptance to autism families, they must be aware and educated about autism spectrum disorder. Among the many ways, we bring awareness is through various events such as, Car Wash for Kids (4-8-18), “Strike Out”
Autism (4-29-18), a Jigsaw Puzzle Competition, Annual Luncheon and Golf “Fore” Autism. Awareness and training continues through Hope For Three’s signature program, It’s Cool to Care (awareness campaign in the public school systems empowering students to have empathy to peers with unique differences), Crisis Intervention Training (“CIT”, educating law enforcement on engagement strategies and the characteristics of autism) and, a caregiver empowerment session, H.O.P.E (Helping Our Parents Excel). The organization also offers two incredible programs provided by teen volunteers, Sibling Sessions (one on one mentorship for siblings of children with autism through a variety of activities) and Parents Time Out (volunteers entertain all children in the family to give parents three-hours of respite),” continued Farmer.
