Art for autism awareness

An Ettalong cafe will help mark International Autism Awareness month by hosting an exhibition of artworks by two women who were recently diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.

Del's Let's Do Lunch located in the Rocks Arcade in Ettalong will host the Art 4 Autism exhibition this month to raise awareness about the autism spectrum disorders while showcasing autistic talents.

It is believed that in Australia, one in 160 people are on the autism spectrum.

For former North Avoca resident Ms Lisa Simone, her 2007 diagnosis was an "overwhelming relief".

For 39 years, she had been labeled "weird" and had tried to fix things about herself which were perceived as character flaws.

Ms Simone said the diagnosis also explained why she found her years at Terrigal High School so difficult, leaving school in Year 10.

Shortly after her diagnosis, Ms Simone was inspired to develop a series of cartoons which highlight the health, sensory, learning and social difficulties she experiences in day-to-day life.

The cartoons will form part of the Art 4 Autism exhibition, as well as a selection of Ms Simone's artwork which was produced before her diagnosis, and was the only way she could try and explain her claustrophobic and sometimes hallucinogenic world to others.

Ms Vicki McMellon will join Ms Simone in showcasing her art at the local cafe.

Ms McMellon is a formally-trained artist who was diagnosed with autism just last month.

Her four-year-old son was diagnosed in January last year, and as she and her husband started to learn more about autism, they noticed that she shared many of the same characteristics.

Ms McMellon's artwork shows her emotional landscape as she struggled to fit in, always acutely aware that she didn't.

The Art 4 Autism exhibition will run until the end of May.

Press release, 6 Apr 2010 Rachel Scollay, Art 4 Autism