Autism Society of Alabama
Posted by Barclay on 20 Sep 2006 at 3:16 pm | Tagged as: Camp ASCCA Family, Education, Fall, News, Parents, Podcast, Video | Printer/Text Reader Friendly Version: Print This Post
Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability, affecting almost 1.5 million Americans.
According to studies by National Institutes of Health (2004) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2001), 1 in 166 children born today will fall somewhere on the Autistic Disorder Spectrum. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. It is important to remember that autism is a spectrum disorder and it affects each individual differently and at varying degrees.
The Autism Society of Alabama(ASA) is located in Birmingham and has been serving persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families for over 10 years. Their mission is “to improve the quality of life of persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families through education, advocacy, and support”. The organization relies heavily upon volunteers for its current and future success.
Over the weekend, 19 families from all across Alabama visited Camp ASCCA for our first-ever Family Autism Weekend. The group was organized by the ASA and led by their staff members. One staff member is Tammi Trawick. Tammi is the administrator and office manager for the ASA, but she is also the parent of a child with autism. Phillip, her son, led her to the ASA when he was diagnosed a few years ago. Mrs. Trawick quickly became involved in the organization and now, as the ASA has grown, she is a full-time employee.
Below is a video interview with Tammi as she discusses the ASA and how they serve the Autistic population. This video is 5:35 in length and is a 9.6 mb download.
