Autism Shines

We've all seen the negative press autism gets -- from misguided news reports linking autism to violence -- to Facebook pages that openly discriminate against people on the autism spectrum. It's disheartening, and there are a lot of folks out there (myself included) who add to the effort of getting those Facebook pages shut down and spreading the word about how amazing, inspirational, and loving our friends and family on the spectrum are.

A few weeks ago, some friends had a sparkle of inspiration. They started a Facebook page called Autism Shines and began showing the world the real face of autism. In just a few short weeks there have been more than 6,100 likes and more photo shares than I can count... including this one:

I wanted to do something to show the folks at Autism Shines how much I appreciate the work they are doing... and since I'm a crocheter at heart, I designed a little sunshine for them.

It's a simple pattern -- a little yellow yarn (I used Sugar 'N Cream cotton, but you could use just about anything), a pair of plastic eyes, some fluff, and some embroidery thread. Even a beginner should be able to handle it. And if you know your way around a hook, I hope you'll give it a try. Make one for yourself or for someone special who reminds you just how Autism Shines. And when you're done, I hope you'll share.

You can get a copy of the pattern here... it's free (download now). And please... if you haven't done so already... take a few minutes and see the beautiful and inspiring faces of autism, thanks to Autism Shines.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AutismShines
Web Site: http://www.autismshines.com/