Autism JAM Annual Garage Sale

Pete Fazio — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:53:11 +0000

Friday 5/15 - Saturday 5/16
9AM - 3PM
108 Country Downs Circle
Fairport, NY 14450

We will be selling:

toys
kids bikes
furniture
exercise equipment
kids clothing both boys and girls
household items
lots of miscellaneous items

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day

Jennie Collucci — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:44:55 +0000

A year ago I heard the second most frightening words ever spoken to me in 39 years of my life. "You have cancer," the doctor told me somberly. "It's serious."

  You may wonder what that has to do with World Autism Awareness Day. Which brings me to the scariest words I have ever heard. It was eight years ago, when I brought my beautiful baby girl to a neurologist to figure out why she had no speech and was unresponsive to her name. "Your daughter has autism," he told me.

Alina and me at Autism JAM 2008.

Many of you reading this know the shock, fear and pain that follow this diagnosis. No one hands you an instruction booklet, and there is no cure.  

For me there has been chemotherapy radiation therapy, and surgery. For me there are clinical trial dugs and hormone therapies, and medicines to manage side effects. Even with an advanced cancer, for me there is research, and there is hope.  

My daughter's autism will never go away. For her there has been and will be nothing but work. Work every day with therapists and teachers, work to learn step by step, little by little, how to function in this world. To learn how to communicate. To learn how to connect.  

The thing that scares me most is that I won't be here to care for her. On more than one occasion I have heard parents of autistic children say, "I can never die." No one can ever care for her like I do.  

Here is the good news: we have come so far in the past several years with helping children like mine using behavior therapies, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and even medications. But we have so far to go. World Autism Awareness day is about giving these remarkable children the attention they deserve, and treating them with respect and tolerance.  

With 1 in 150 people in the country now affected by autism, we have no choice but to focus on helping them reach their full potential. When you contribute to autism research, you help ensure that these children have a fighting chance at happy and productive lives.  

And maybe someday, with your help, no parent has to hear those terrifying words, “Your child has autism," ever again.

Happy 4th Birthday Jack and Matt!

Tom Cicotta — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:52:19 +0000

We had a great time at our 4th birthday party!

Autism Jam – Special Thanks!

Tom Cicotta — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:52:49 +0000

We would like to thank everyone who helped make the 2008 autism jam a tremendous success! We have already started our planning for the 2009 event and we are so excited about the progress that's been made so far! We look forward to your support this year and we'll inform all of you of our updates over the next several months. Thanks again!

The Cicotta's