Bookstore autism events aim to raise awareness of disorder

Barnes & Noble Inc. announced that 500 Barnes & Noble stores across the country will partner with Autism Speaks to host special storytimes in April as part of Autism Awareness Month.

The Storytime events kicked off April 2, designated World Autism Awareness Day by the United Nations.

The Spring Hill Mall Barnes & Noble will hold its special "Let's Be Friends: An Autism Awareness Storytime Event" for children ages 6 to 10 at 7 p.m. Friday.

The program will feature a reading of "Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book" by Celeste Shally and David Harrington. Other books on autism also will be available.

Kelly Weaver of the Alexander Leigh Center for Autism, Lake in the Hills, will present the reading, followed by children's activities.

Susan Tybon, executive director of the Chicago chapter of Autism Speaks, will be on hand, as well as representatives from Illinois STARnet, and Children and Family Connections serving Kane and Kendall counties. Afterward, families are welcome to visit and network throughout the store and café.

Information from other organizations also will be available.

The Barnes & Noble program, in partnership with Autism Speaks, is designed to raise awareness about autism and foster understanding of the disorder through in-store readings, activities and discussions.

Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, and to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism.

"Autism affects one in 150 children in this country and yet remains a mystery for far too many people," said Steve Riggio, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble Inc.

"Our special Storytime events, in partnership with Autism Speaks, is a unique way in which we can help spread knowledge and promote understanding of this disorder, which affects so many children each year."

"We could not ask for a better partner than Barnes & Noble in our effort to increase awareness about autism on World Autism Awareness Day and throughout Autism Awareness Month," said Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks.

"These in-store events will do a great deal to foster a sense of tolerance and understanding, something families affected by autism desperately need as they face the many day-to-day challenges posed by this disorder."

To learn more about Autism Speaks, visit Web site www.autismspeaks.org .