<font id="el-1363812745555-503" color="#0000CC"><b id="el-1363812745555-504">Autism</b>: </font><font id="el-1362852313507-483" color="#0000CC">A lifelong developmental disability affecting 1 in 50 that appears by the age of 3 and is characterized by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns.<br id="el-1363812745555-507"><br id="el-1361850363125-437"><font id="el-1363812745555-509" size="4"><b id="el-1361850363125-439">April is Autism Awareness Month</b></font>. <br id="el-1361850363125-440"><br id="el-1361850363125-441">Over the past few years, we have shared with you some of the challenges that our family has faced with our son with autism. Cory is now 20 years old and each year brings different successes and obstacles.<br id="el-1361850363125-442"><br id="el-1361850363125-443">Due to the generosity of so many, the awareness level has greatly increased and we now have services that have previously been unavailable in Polk County. Many of these services are the result of the tremendous efforts of the Central Florida Autism Institute, Inc. and its Center for Applied Behavior Analysis & Therapy. Last year CFAII was able to offer 5 full scholarships to summer camp; train 82 local police officers about autism and how to respond to our children in an emergency; continue to offer quality behavior programming at significantly reduced rates; provide free monthly trainings for parents on everything from how to implement behavior strategies at home, to how to obtain guardianship of their child at the age of 18; relocate to a larger facility to meet our growing needs, and much more!<br id="el-1361850363125-444"><br id="el-1361850363126-445">I will be participating in the event and would appreciate your support to help me reach my fundraising goal.</font><br id="el-1361850363126-446"><br id="el-1361850363126-447"><font id="el-1362852313507-497" color="#009900" size="4"><b id="el-1362852313507-498"><u id="el-1361850363126-448">Here are some of the ways you can help</u>:</b></font><br id="el-1361850363126-449"><br id="el-1361850363126-450"><font id="el-1362852313507-502" color="#009900"><b id="el-1361850363126-451"><font id="el-1362852313507-504" size="4">Join our Team</font>/</b><b id="el-1362852313507-505"><font id="el-1362852313507-506" size="4">Start your own team</font></b><b id="el-1361850363126-451"> </b></font>-<font id="el-1362852313507-508" color="#0000CC">The 9th Annual Autism Awareness Walk/5K & Family Fun Day will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Anchor Park on beautiful Lake Hollingsworth across from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Some of us will be participating in the 5K which begins at 7 am and some of us will be participating in the walk and family activities which begin at 9 am. You may register online by going to their website at</font> <font id="el-1362853070470-510" color="#CC0000" size="4"><a id="el-1362851719622-481" target="" title="" href="http://www.cfaii.org">www.cfaii.org</a></font>. <br id="el-1361850363126-452"><br id="el-1361850363126-453"><font id="el-1362852313507-512" color="#009900" size="4"><b id="el-1361850363126-454">Spread the Word</b></font> - <font id="el-1362852313507-514" color="#0000CC">Please share about our event to friends, family members, co-workers, fellow church members, etc. The more people who participate, the more autism awareness we can spread and the more money we raise to support the families living with autism today!</font><br id="el-1361850363126-455"><br id="el-1361850363126-456"><font id="el-1362852313507-517" color="#009900" size="4"><b id="el-1361850363126-457">Make a One Time Donation</b></font><font id="el-1362852313508-519" size="4"> </font>- <font id="el-1362852313508-520" color="#0000CC">All donations are tax deductible and stay right here in Central Florida to support our families living with autism today. To make a donation is very easy. Simply click on the <font id="el-1362852488962-524" color="#009900" size="4"><b id="el-1362852488962-525">DONATE</b></font> button above and contribute.<br id="el-1361850363126-460"><br id="el-1361850363126-461">To learn more about CFAII, please visit their website at</font> <font id="el-1362853070470-530" color="#990000" size="4"><a id="el-1361851667014-468" target="_blank" title="CFAII" href="http://www.cfaii.org">www.cfaii.org</a></font>.<br id="el-1363812745555-553"><br id="el-1363812745555-554"><font id="el-1362714010186-447" color="#000099">Thanks for your help and support.<br><br>Much love,<br>The Van Meter Family<br>Dawn, John, Cory and Connor<br id="el-1363812745555-556"></font><br id="el-1363812745555-557"><font id="el-1362714010186-447" color="#000099"></font>