11 April, 2011

Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop

Today, I'm joining a group of blogs for the purpose of raising awareness about Autism, while giving a way some sweet book-related prizes.

Did you know that approximately one in every 1000 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autistic-spectrum disease?

Did you know that boys are 5 times more likely to suffer from a disease on the autistic-spectrum than girls?


There are many speculations on what can cause or trigger autism in children, but I actually want to share a personal statement on why autism awareness is important to me.

For the last 8.5 years, I have worked with a very sweet boy who has Asperger's Syndrome. His condition is considered very high functioning, but he has a marked difficulty with social situations, reading body language and other social cues that most people take for granted, as well as an extremely literal translation of speech, among other things. There are some people who remark on his "peculiarity", and there are others who don't see past it to the very open and lovable boy that he is.

But, he has support. He has a very extensive IEP (Individualized Education Program). His school understands the importance of socializing higher-functioning autistic children, and not alienating them. Our school district even provides aid for him during the summer, when he attends summer camp.

These are all important components to helping those with Asperger's Syndrome. More and more people are becoming aware of the higher incidence of Autism and Autistic-spectrum diseases. If there is a physical or environmental cause for Autism, I am all for discovering it. But I don't think that the controversy should over shadow the fact that more educators, health care providers, psychologists, and caregivers should be learning about Autism to help the children that suffer NOW. Every child should have the same support that I see in my daily life.

Do you know any children (or adults) that have been diagnosed with Autism or Asperger's? Do you have a more personal experience with either? Leave a comment about if or how Autism or Asperger's has affected you.


To add my voice to the supporters of Autism Awareness, I am giving away one of the the following two prize-packs. MOCKINGBIRD and HARMONIC FEEDBACK are both YA novels that deal with girls who live with Asperger's, and ADAM is a film about a young man who has to overcome his social difficulties that living with Asperger's involves.


To a U.S. Winner:





To an International Winner:





Rules:

1. Your comment is your entry. DO NOT leave your email in your comment, there is a form for that below.

2. One winner will be selected. U.S. winner gets U.S. prize pack. International winner gets International prize pack.

3. Must be at least 13 years old to enter.

4. Please fill out the address form after you comment.





For more information on Autism:
Autism Speaks


This Giveaway Hop is hosted by:

Lindsay at: Just Another Book Addict
Heather at: Fire and Ice Photo
Pixie at: Page Turners Blog
Kathy at: I Am A Reader, Not A Writer


A full linky list of the participating blogs is available at each host site.

92 comments:

  1. I don't personally know anyone with Autism or Asperger's. I've actually already read HARMONIC FEEDBACK (it's among my favourites!), but I really do want to read MOCKINGBIRD. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  2. I don't really have a story about Autism. But I would like to say how awesome it is that people are doing this blog hope to let people like me learn more about it. Growing up with a sister who had down syndrome always made me want to work with children who needed more than just a teacher. So thanks for this amazing giveaway!

    m.ramey@ymail.com

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  3. I have met people with Autism though none in my family has it. My two cousins both have cerebral palsy and I have ADHD. I know quite a bit about Autism though and I think it's really great brining awareness to it as so many children have autism and aspergers.


    http://blackfingernailedreviews.blogspot.com/

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  4. I have never met anyone with Autism before. To tell the truth, I didn't know much about Autism until now. I am glad I stopped by your blog. I sure learn a lot today.

    Also, thanks for the great giveaway.

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  5. Thanks for hosting this contest! :)

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  6. I'm a psychology student and have learned something about autism, however I've not had the experience with the autistic.

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  7. I think it's great that you try to create awareness of Autism. Not many people do, they think that just because they don't know someone autistic or they are not autistic themselves, they should just not care.
    I've have had brief encounters with autistic people & they are still human beings, contrary to the belief of many.

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  8. Thank you for spreading the word. My little boy has been in therapy for Sensory Processing Disorder since the age of 2. We are currently evaluating to see if he is on the Spectrum. Having a special needs child is not only extremely challenging, but also extremely rewarding.

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  9. My son has asperbers. It has changed the way I view the school system, medical system, and how our safety net to support our citizens with disabilities is nowhere near enough to help.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  10. I don't know anyone with autism, but that doesn't mean I never will. This is such a great giveaway hop because of all the information and symptoms I'm learning about autism.

    Thank you for participating.

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  11. i really admire those people who have autistic persons to care for because i know its not easy.

    thanks for this giveaway

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  12. In my teacher cadet class for my student teaching I worked with a little boy who had autism. His way of looking at the world was so unique and amazing!

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  13. My daughter has Aspergers Syndrome, she was just diagnosed about a month ago,but we have been going down this road for almost a year now - so we knew it was comming (or fairly certain) it is hard, but she was SO happy to have a name for who she "is". She is ten and honestly, the coolest kid. She will tell you anything you want to know about ancient Eqypt or Greece, she rocks my world :)

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  14. I don't know anyone personally, but this is such a brilliant blog hop, and I think it's a really nice idea.
    Thanks for participating!

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  15. My son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2...then he was downgraded to a sensory processing disorder diagnosis- a condition most individuals with Autism also deal with. Every day is a struggle...meltdowns over things I can't perceive such as too many people in a room, too much visual stimulation, too much noise, judgment from those who are uneducated and the simple pain of not knowing how to help your child. My son is still not speaking so it's hard. But there is hope...and spreading the word about these conditions provides hope and understanding. Thanks!

    stilettostorytime at gmail dot com

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  16. This is such a wonderful thing you and the other bloggers are doing to raise awareness of autism. One of my good friends has a son with Aspergers and my grandson has sensory integration dysfunction, which is very similar to autism.

    reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

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  17. I used to work with 2 children at a daycare who both had autism. It gave me so much joy, but also taught me patience.

    Lisa

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  18. No, I don't personally know anyone with either of these conditions.

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  19. Thanks for the information on Aspergers. I have been wanting to see Adam. Harmonic Feedback also sounds interesting. Thanks for the hop! -C

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  20. I only know a little boy who is distantly connected to us with autism but I do know the devastation it has caused on the family. Some people can cope and some sadly can't.

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  21. My IT co-worker's son has severe autism, hearing this dedicated father speak of his son & their family's struggles is heartbreaking.
    Thank you for spreading awareness about Autism! Best wishes and thanks for a chance to win this giveaway!
    Janelle Ashton

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  22. I have not had any personal contact with anyone with a autism. I admire anyone that lives with a family member with it :)

    Chrizette

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  23. I have to admit that I found out pretty much abut autism with this giveaway and it's helpful info,even if I don't know anybody suffering from this.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  24. I have a coworker with a son with Autism...I know he enjoys to talk about his son, and sometimes just to get the heart ache off his chest. My son has ADD, which effects his learning. But as he has gotten older, he has learned to adapt.

    thanks for the giveaway

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  25. thanks for the support! i'm part of this hop as well. my mother is a special education highschool teacher and i love her students!

    americangirlie1991 AT yahoo DOT com

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  26. Your story about the boy you work with was really interesting, thanks for sharing.

    I knew the parents of 2 boys with autism, one high functioning proper autistic whose parents worked hard to keep him out of an institution and now, as a teenager he's attending highest-level standard school. Very impressive.

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  27. My 7 year old grandson is on the autism spectrum. He doesn't have the aspergers diagnosis yet, but they believe that's what it's going to be. Thank you for helping to promote awareness for this condition.

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  28. I have been diagnosed with a mild form of Asperger's. Thank you for helping spreading the word about Autism.

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  29. I know a few kids with autism and asperger's. All of them are great and wonderful to work with.
    rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

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  30. I don't know anybody personally that is autistic or has an autistic child but I was aware of the illness.

    I dib not realize how widespread it is so I am very glad that so many bloggers are trying to make epople aware of this.

    Thank you.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

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  31. I don't really know anyone very well who has autism, but some of my parents' friends have severely autistic children. I've met them before, and I greatly admire parents who are able to deal with children (now adults) who are autistic. I know it's going to be a challenge for me, next year, just to be able to accommodate a boy with Asperger's who's coming up to my section in marching band.

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  32. Thanks for the giveaway!

    -Memrie

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  33. I don't know anyone with autism, but I know how hard it is for those who have. At least I've seen movies about autism.

    Anyway, thanks for the giveaway and for joining this cause :)

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  34. This is such a wonderful Giveaway Hop. It is amazing to see just how many people are affected directly through a loved one or through their life's work with someone with Autism.

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  35. As a supply teacher I deal with students who have varying forms of Autism on a regular basis. There are good times and there are bad times but we have to remember, regardless of their degree of autism, they are still children first and should be loved and cared for just like any other children.

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  36. This weekend I found out that a childhood friend's son has autism. She quit her job to stay home with him. My heart goes out to every family that has been touched by Autism.

    Thanks for spreading the word!!

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  37. Thanks for supporting such an amazing cause :)

    - Kris Summers

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  38. When I was in high school, I worked for a summer school program that helped children with autism. Currently, I don't know anyone with autism.

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Amy // amyismyfriend at aol dot com

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  39. Thanks for the giveaway! I work with kids with autism.
    musicalhobbit at aol dot com

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  40. I have several cousins on the Autism Spectrum. My oldest cousin (in his 30s now) has Aspergers, and all 4 of my mom's youngest brother's kids fall somewhere on the Spectrum as well. They are all relatively high functioning, but it's heartbreaking to watch. It really changes a family.

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  41. Thanks for the giveaway! I think this is a wonderful way to raise some awareness. One of my closest friends in junior high had a younger brother with autism. He was such a wonderful kid, and it was really interesting when you could get him to talk to you because he was so intelligent in his own different way. I know it has been tough for their family over the years though.

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  42. I have never met anyone who had Autism or even a relative with any. I have seen shows and books about it and my heart breaks for everyone. I wish they could find some answers for this problem!!


    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

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  43. One of my friend's brothers have autism. He's a quiet little guy, but since I don't talk or see him too much, I don't know what he does or something like that XD One of my cousins has down syndrome, but he's a great and funny guy, and you have tons of fun with him all the time, principally when we're playing games XD

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  44. My 3 yr old son is on the Spectrum. Life with him is seldom easy and I get a lot of flack from my father in law for my handling of my son's diagnosis but I wouldn't trade Ian for the world.

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  45. I do not know someone with Aspergers. I may have but I'm not aware.

    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Gian Faye

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  46. While I have read a book in the last year about a child with Autism, I am very thankful that neither of my children have it.

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  47. a good friend of mine's son has aspbergers and I see how difficult it is on her so I try to help her as much as I can

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  48. Yes. My best friend's son has autism. It's been an incredibly humbling experience watcher her mother him. She's incredible and thanks to early intervention he is catching up quickly.

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  49. No, I don't know anyone with autism. It is a really important issue and I think it's great that you're doing a giveaway to help spread awareness.

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  50. I don't know anyone with autism, but I really hope researchers come up with something to make their lives easier.
    Thanks for the contest.

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  51. Yes, a daughter of my favorite author has autism. but i don't know nor met her personally.

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  52. The younger brother of a childhood friend is autistic. Back in the day when not much was known about autism, he was diagnosed as mentally retarded.

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  53. I've met several people with autism or Asperger's, but none of them are especially close. The most memorable for me was a neighbour that I babysat a couple of times.

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  54. My cousin had Autism. She passed away in 1992 at age 13. I still think of her often and miss her.

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  55. A friend of mine has an autism boy.He rarely say words. It was hard for her to accept everything. It was difficult for her to take all those glance from anyone.But now she is stronger. She let the boy goes to special needs kids school.

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  56. I haven't met autism yet I read, watch and know some people on TV or by words of mouth from my mom. By the way, thanks for great giveaway

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  57. My grandson has Asperger's and my sister is a special education teacher. Both of these give me a perspective on living with a form of autism.

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  58. Thank you for supporting autism awareness. My brother, age 55 has severe autism.


    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  59. Great Giveaway! please count me in. the books look interseting especially the Mockingbirds.

    International Follower

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  60. It's wonderful to shed some light on Autism.

    marypres at gmail dot com

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  61. I have not been impacted by autism, luckily enough.

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  62. My 13 year old son has Asperger's syndrome! He is absolutely delightful just the best kid! He is sweet and kind and never has a bad word to say about anybody! He is on the A honor roll at school and bowls and plays the baritone!!
    shannonjean14(at)gmail(dot)com

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  63. Thank you for the giveaway. I haven't read either of the books or seen the movie, so thank you for sharing!

    Erin @ Quitting My Day Job

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  64. These books both look really good. Thanks for being a part of the hop and spreading the word about Autism.

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  65. Thanks for the great giveaway- myself and my 14 yr old son both have Aspergers

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  66. Thanks for being a part of this giveaway hop! I have learned a lot about autism through this event.

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  67. My son has grown up with a boy with autism. He lives next door. They are great friends and I have had the boy next door over many times to pay. It's been 13 years since I met him, they don't play so much as hang out now. It has been very interesting to me to see the changes and development this young man has gone through. I am also friends with the mother. I know the hard battles that she has fought to give him as "normal" of a life as she can.

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  68. I do not know anyone personally who has been diagnosed with autism or Asperger's and I have no personal experience with either, other than the heart-wrenching information, novels and memoirs I have read.

    It seems incidences of autism and Asperger's are gaining in prevalence and I can only hope that research can keep up and eventually surpass for the sake of those who struggle to deal with it daily.

    Thank you very kindly for raising awareness and for your lovely giveaway.

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  69. I do not know anyone with Autism and would love to read up more on it. Thanks for this giveaway.

    joanne.j at hotmail dot com

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  70. I have a nephew with autism, he is sweet, charming & very polite -- a tribute to his parents who have always treated him with respect & had a very inclusive attitude during all family functions.

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  71. Thanks for spreading awareness of autism. I learned some new facts; thanks for sharing your personal experience around it. The books look great. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway :)

    Crystal

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  72. Mocking bird sounds like a great book!
    Thanks for the chance :)

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  73. I suspect a couple of people of having Asperger's, and I myself even have a few autistic tendencies, but I don't know anyone who has been diagnosed.

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  74. I do not know anyone with autism or asperger's.
    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  75. I don't know anyone with Autism or Aspergers. Some of the students in my high school were in the special needs classes because they had autism and other conditions. Everyone avoided these students, and truth be told that never sat well with me. I'm glad there is more awareness now.

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  76. I personally don't know anyone with autism or asperger's. But honestly, if ever I do meet and get the chance to know one, it is not clear to me how to act towards them. This is why I appreciate the awareness drive this hop is pursuing.

    P.S. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  77. The hop's really effective, I didn't know much about autism (except for the obvious) before this. I'm learning quite a lot from reading through all the blogs doing the hop (:

    Thanks for the giveaway! And for spreading awareness!

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  78. I have not been affected but my heart goes out to those who have

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  79. Thanks for the giveaway and for participating in this blog hop! My husband is a psychologist who works with the developmentally disabled with an expertise in the autism spectrum. Outside of his 9-5 job, he works with families who have an autistic child and I am continually amazed by the struggles and joys this disorder can bring to one's life. I am very proud of my husband and his compassion and understanding of this disorder and the gift he has to provide support to individuals and their families who live with this disorder daily.

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

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  80. My nephew has Asperger's. He is a fabulous kid who has an amazing future. I hope people will learn to accept and understand him. Sadly he has been bullied and mocked, but he still is fairly upbeat. I love him to death!

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  81. There is a child in my church who has Autism and he is very different from everyone else. Kids treat him differently but he is such a happy boy.
    Thank you for participating in this giveaway hop
    ejhtan at gmail dot com

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  82. Thanks for being part of this educational hop!

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  83. I haven't had the opportunity to read either of these books but I have heard so much about both, especially Mockingbird, that I'd love to be given the chance to read it. Thanks for the great giveaway:)

    sarah.setar@gmail.com

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  84. This hop is actually is great effort for autism awareness among readers and. I happened to know about autism when my teacher's son is diagnosed with it. But he's a great kid!

    darlyn225 at gmail dot com

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  85. I love this giveaway! I have came across kids with Autism and they really need the love, care and concern from their family..

    luvwendy87 at hotmail dot com

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  86. My cousin has autism but since we had been so close, I had never noticed he was any different from the rest of us. It was heartbreaking to see him being teased and bullied even though they could never understand what he was going through. I'm happy that people are more aware of autism because it means a lot to me if people are sensitive to the situation. Thank you for the awesome books and spreading the awareness.

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  87. I have cousins on the autistic spectrum.
    caliblue7 at gmail dot com

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  88. I have a friend with an autistic child.

    velvethubler at yahoo dot com

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  89. i don't know anyone that has autism but it is nice to be informed about it in case i meet someone that has it.

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  90. i forgot my email sorry

    katie_tp(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  91. I have a nephew who has autism.

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