Fostering

Autism Awareness

To the Editor:

Fifty handprints were carefully stamped on a white banner at the April 1monthly gathering of Families United in Newtown (FUN) to recognize and celebrate Autism Awareness Month.

The children, teens, and parents represented painted their hands with autism colors (red, yellow, and blue) to design the outer edge of our “Solve the Puzzle” banner to be hung proudly on Edmond Town Hall.

Thank you to all that participated in the FUN project. Special thanks to Newtown Hardware for donating the paint and Gary Boros at Signworks Studios, LLC in Monroe for donating the banner and taking his time and expertise to print our message.

Thank you to the Edmond Town Hall staff for hanging the banner, the Town of Newtown, Jean St Jean, the Town Hall Board of Mangers, and Borough Warden Jim Gaston, for supporting this first of its kind project promoting Autism Awareness through our banner project.

Thank you to First Selectman Pat Llodra for taking time out of your busy schedule to snap a shot of the final project. This is an example of what happens when people work together — anything can be accomplished!

To all who support Families United in Newtown including The Newtown Bee, I give you thanks as well on behalf of the hundreds of families in Newtown dealing with autism and autism spectrum issues in their households.

Linda Jones

Founder of Families United in Newtown

in memory of Tyler Jones

16 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Sandy Hook                          May 2, 2012