Frank Talk About Autism Spectrum Disorder

To mark National Autism Awareness Month, Frank Talk Art Bistro and Books will be hosting a panel discussion about Autistic Spectrum Disorder Saturday at 3pm, followed by a book signing with panel guest, author Rasheedah Saleem-Muhammad. Her book, Pedro Visits the Aquarium, gives focus to an issue that affects many families. Indeed, according to the Autism Society, one out of every 100 children is born within the autism spectrum.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (or ASD) is a group of disorders with similar features. Whereas one person may have mild symptoms another may have extreme symptoms, but both have an autism spectrum disorder. Currently ASD includes classic autism, Aspergers Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Essentially the term is more inclusive in regards to the similarities of these disorders.

Joining Muhammed on the panel will be Valerie Trower, Public Health Advisor for the State Department of Health and Human Services. Trower’s son was born with autism and was non-verbal. Non-verbal autism simply means the individual cannot physically say any words or they cannot functionally talk to others. Nonverbal individuals often forms sounds, but they are unable to mimic or repeat words.
 
When Trower’s son was growing up in the early eighties, very little information was available about ASD. Yet, he eventually overcame his disorder and attended the University North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in journalism. He was also a United States Navy Yeoman during Operation Desert Storm. Yeoman Trower’s success, despite the disorder, is testimony of the power of determination that makes a difference in overcoming ASD.
 
Rounding out the dais will be Safiyyah A. Muhammed, who serves as an Advisory Council member of the Elizabeth Boggs Center for Developmental Disabilities. She is the mother of five children. Her 12 year old is autistic. The family was recently featured in Decoding Autism, an hour-long documentary that aired recently on New Jersey Network Channel (NJN).
 
A representative from Autism New Jersey will also be available at the event. The aim of the entire discussion is to bring greater awareness and to share resources and technology with parents, teachers, caretakers and all families struggling to uncover the mystery of autism.
 
For more information or to reserve your seat for the event call  (732) 747-2572.