“GUIT” is a film/stage project that presents to the audience a piece of real life. It is about a condition that at this current time has no cure and occurring every day. 1 in every 150 children is born with autism every day.

The people of Puerto Rico are in the dark about autism. Because of perhaps their lack of concern to get involved, lack of social awareness, lack of information, lack of engagement in their community and government social services this condition is not recognized.

“GUIT” will be an artistic film/stage presentation project that is based on a fictional story but factual information; and evidence about the shortfall and later demise of a family that lives on the edge of violence with autism.
The setting takes place anywhere in every local community and is occurring rapidly at the rate of 1 in every 150 children are born with autism.
“GUIT” is a performance piece meant to educate and insight the audience into a dialog about autism. It will move the audience to actively participate in a discourse about what autism is and how close in proximity it lives among us.
It is meant to impact and create awareness. The information shown will ignite a spark of the real experiences that are taking place in the lives of families who have an autistic child with this condition. The number of autistic children here in Puerto Rico is higher than in the states per capita.
Autism is a life threatening condition that needs solution. I know of no better way to educate, inform, inspire insight and ignite the people of Puerto Rico into action. Given that this project must be shown free of charge so that all the communities will go to see it.

NECISIDAD

There is a tremendous lack of information, education, and stimulus to create awareness to help the children who have autism here in Puerto Rico. Autism is a complex development disability that appears during the first three years of life. It is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.
The prevalence report put out by the Centers for Disease Control reports that 1 in every 150 American children and almost 1 in 94 boys are born with autism. Puerto Rico is in the dark as to the opportunities and how to serve these families facing a lifetime of trials and tribulations with this condition.
The ASA currently estimates that the cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million, and that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism (this figure includes research, insurance costs and non-covered expenses, Medicaid waivers for autism, educational spending, housing, transportation, employment, in addition to related therapeutic services and caregiver costs).
In this presentation, the clinics now working to support these families will be given the opportunity to share their informational brochures and participate after the presentation about their facilities. They will be able to talk about the signs of early identification and how it can change the lives of these autistic children and their families.
The clinics, hospitals, educational institutions, educators, and individuals who are living with this family situation will be able to participate. They will support and supply the activity with possible donations to informational and support materials about autism.
“GUIT” introduces that autism is treatable. Children do not “outgrow” autism, but early intervention significantly improves their life. The presentation will introduce the signs of autism:
• Lack of or delay in spoken language
• Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
• Little or no eye contact
• Lack of interest in peer relationships
• Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
• Persistent fixation on parts of objects

IMPACTO

• It will develop a dialog about autism
• It insights a discourse about what is not going on here in Puerto Rico.
• It will show what autism is and how it affects the family.
• It will show the atmosphere of the subliminal effects of violence in the household.
• It will create a discourse whereby each individual in the audience will become the catalyst of information to help ignite and spread the word about autism.
• It will build community awareness so that Puerto Rico will take care of its own children.
• It will share the benefits of what Puerto Rico can learn from the children who have autism.
• It insights Puerto Rico to take action to get involved and to help the many children and their families who have suffered violence and autism.

PROMOCION/DIVULGACION

The promotional and mass media portion of this project will be to put out several news releases, press packets, communiqués, blogs, and internet search engine sites; and to inform all the local news papers, print, TV, internet and radio stations.

Those specifically invited will be the Department of Health and Human Services, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Centro de Terapia Luna, Centro de Evaluacion e Intervencion Pasos, other clinics of autism, the various University Departments & Program Heads on Autism and Disabilities, The Department of Rehabilitation, the mental health educators and providers, the Children’s Hospitals, the various hospitals around Puerto Rico, the clinicians and counselors who work with autistic children, the 78 clinics for autism, the American Disabilities Association, the Department of Rehabilitation, numerous clinics who participate in job opportunities for the disabled; and the general population.

“GUIT” is a project that everyone will be interested in seeing and enjoy interacting with the actors during a question and answer period after the video is presented.

I pray that you can help.