Making Peace – by Grace Deathride

MEDIA RELEASE: Wellington: Local eco-entrepreneur Lindsay Cowley has put out the challenge to Wellington businesses to help increase awareness and donations for the Autism Intervention Trust during April, Autism Awareness Month.

Cowley, owner of Kula Wellness, an eco-product retailer and distributer, is donating 20 per cent of all online retail sales at www.kulawellness.co.nz to the Autism Intervention Trust (AIT) during April. AIT is a Wellington-based trust run by parents to support autistic children and their families. It supports early intervention therapies such as Applied Behaviour Analysis, which unfortunately is not a publicly funded therapy in New Zealand and is often beyond the financial means of most families.

“April is recognized globally as a special opportunity to educate people about autism and the challenges within the autism community,” says Cowley. “I challenge other businesses to step-up and support these essential needs in our community that are not being serviced by local government.”

Autism affects some 40,000 New Zealanders in varying degrees, known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Different forms of Autism cause deficits in communication, socialisation, and often significant sensory issues.While ASD is a lifetime disorder, early intervention (before school age) provides good opportunities to improve the lives of those living with Autism.

The Autism Intervention Trust supports evidence-based early intervention therapies such as Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)*. Unfortunately the cost of an ABA program is beyond the means of most New Zealand families as it is not a publicly funded service here like it is in other countries.

“Any additional support we can offer families to help fund ABA programs is a wonderful gift,” says Sarah

Turnbull, one of the founding members of Autism Intervention Trust. “We are so grateful that Kula Wellness is offering to support the Trust in this way – it is awesome!”

“This fundraiser gives us the opportunity to raise the profile of Autism, which is key when there is very little support for the families challenged by it, due to the emerging nature of the disorder,” says Cowley. “At Kula Wellness we want to spread a little goodness by raising funds for the Autism Intervention Trust and we hope that other businesses will do so as well.”

Support the ASD community and spread a little Kula Kindness this month. Kula Wellness challenges you to learn more about Autism and also challenges businesses to get more active in the community. Learn more at www.kulawellness.co.nz/kula/kula-kindness-be-brilliant-blue/.

Media Contacts:

Kula Wellness:  Lindsay Cowley 027 367 3834, [email protected]

Autism Intervention Trust: Sarah Turnbull 04 386 4984

Tags: autism awareness