Towards a greater understanding

NEW GLASGOW - For five-year-old Stephen Carmichael and his mom Christine every day presents a new and different challenge living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Carmichael said her son is a typical little boy who loves to play but because he has been diagnosed with one of the most common childhood neurological disorders, at times even the simplest task like putting on socks can become a long lasting and difficult battle.

"Sometimes it's really funny and sometimes it's complete insanity," said Carmichael.
"There is no normal."

The Trenton mother said people need a greater understanding of the disorder and how it affects children.

"It is very hard because when you see Stephen he's just like every typical five-year old," she said.

"There is no rhyme or reason to it, some days are really good and some days it's really hard because you never know what he's going to do."

Carmichael joined about 50 people at New Glasgow's town hall on Monday afternoon welcoming 24-year-old Jonathan Howard, from Mississauga, Ont., as he ran through the town, accompanied by Deputy Mayor Henderson Paris, on a coast-to-coast Run The Dream campaign to raise awareness about the disorder.

Since beginning his 8,500 kilometre long journey in Port aux Basques NL, on March 25, Howard has already trekked more than 1,000 kilometres with a goal to raise $2.5 million by the time he reaches Victoria, B.C., in Dec. 2008, passing through more than 650 communities in 10 provinces.

"The reason I picked ASD is because I saw the rates on the rise and I think it's the mystery around it," said Howard. " It is a puzzle, the cause, and how people with ASD view the world and getting inside that by understanding and engaging the public."
Howard's dream to launch the awareness campaign began while in university and he said it would enable him to realize at least two of his own personal goals.

He wanted to run across the country and start a non-profit society choosing Autism Spectrum Disorder as his main focus because of personal experiences with affected children while working as a summer camp counsellor and swimming coach.

Heidi Lindblad, and her three-year-old son Kristian also greeted Howard in New Glasgow and praised him for undertaking his mission.

"This is amazing because it's going to take a man like this to have people asking questions," said Lindblad. "Just seeing him running people are going to ask what is autism?"

Autism Spectrum Disorder affects approximately one in 135 people, changing the way the brain processes information and can affect all aspects of a person's development. Individuals with ASDs have varying degrees of difficulty in social interaction and communication and may show repetitive behaviours and have unusual attachments to objects or routines.

A support group for parents with autistic children meets on the first Tuesday of every month in the Carmichael room at the Aberdeen Hospital. To learn more about Howard's journey or to follow his progress crossing the nation visit http://www.runthedream.ca/.

Dream run facts
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological disorder resulting in developmental
disability

It affects communication, social understanding, behaviour, activities and interests.

A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes

More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined.

About 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism

One in 94 boys are on the autism spectrum.