The pen is mightier then the system

If you’ve been hearing about Autism lately in the media, you’ve probably come across the actress turned author Jenny McCarthy’s individual account of her battle with her son’s condition through her most recent book, Louder than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism (Dutton, 2007). McCarthy’s refusal to hand her son over blindly to a flawed system has certainly made a dent in the public’s awareness, but it is still only one story. Autism Epidemic: Shaking the System is a non-fictional work in progress from two West Island writers that plans to change all that.

It certainly hasn’t been a tranquil year for Litsa Kameteros, Dollard des Ormeaux’s upcoming author of the children’s picture book, “Welcome to My Autistic World”, or Lea Schizas, Pierrefonds author of the middle-grade chapter book Bubba and Giganto. But it has been a year of breakthrough for both authors in terms of the research they’ve pooled internationally for autism awareness. Through their various contacts in the publishing industry, and the numerous questionnaires they’ve prepared for parents, caregivers and teachers living and working with autistic children, they’re hardly falling short of their ambitious aim; to take the broadest and most proactive approach towards our society’s responsiveness to autism. “We want kids to come out of this progressing, not regressing” Schizas said.

The critical age for autism detection is between 0-3 years, yet most kids are not being seen until they are much older. Autism Epidemic: Shaking the System advocates early assessments, early intervention therapies, and educating paediatricians across the system, medicare funding, and proactive action from the school boards in educating the public and training shadows.

The book, which they hope to have published in 2009, will be combine hard facts about autism, such as currently every one in 150 children is diagnosed with autism, compared with 1 out of 20,000 in 1950, as well as personal accounts from families coping with autism world wide. Autism Epidemic: Shaking the System will be a combined appeal to review the medical system in provinces like Quebec that often leave autistic children in the dark. “We want to create a roadmap for autism… to create a positive outcome for children diagnosed,” Kameteros said. “The stories of parents are touching, and create more of an impact” Schizas added.

Since these authors cannot create their book without the outpour from families in the community and abroad, they plan to give back 20 percent of proceeds from their book to families in need. In the long run, they would like to start up a foundation that would supply families dealing with autism with grants to help them along their journey. “Each case is unique” said Kametaros, who has worked with gifted autistic children, “We want struggling parents to know not to give up on their kids” added Schizas.

To learn more about the upcoming book Autism Epidemic: Shaking the System, or to share your story and fill out a questionnaire visit, www.theautismepidemic.com.