Over the past few years, my fiance Michael Scialabba and I have attended numerous weddings, each providing their own little memento as a token of the special day. So when it was time to plan our own wedding, we decided instead of giving away favors, we would take the money allotted and put it towards something a little more meaningful.

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I work with children on the autism spectrum. I work with these children in their

classroom and home (natural) environments, as well as on an outpatient basis. These children and their parents are amazing individuals. When you think of the numbers of children diagnosed each day, along with the amount of therapy and costs for children with special needs, we knew that Autism Speaks was in need of our help.

Michael is a graduate of Boston College and a fan of its former quarterback, Doug Flutie. Michael has participated in fundraisers for the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. including a 5K run held every spring in order to raise money and awareness for children on the autism spectrum.

It is astounding how much money goes towards other pediatric organizations and how little funding the autism community receives. Michael and I chose to make our donation to Autism Speaks for our wedding. Each guest in attendance will receive a blue puzzle-piece pin, along with a small fact sheet, as a reminder of just how prevalent this disorder is and in the hope we can raise awareness within our family and friends.

As the knowledge spreads and donations can be made to promote awareness and help find a cure, we can complete the puzzle and overcome this disorder.

Click here to donate to Autism Speaks.

If you have a story you wish to tell about choosing to donate to or raising money for Autism Speaks, we'd like to hear from you. Please e-mail us at editors@autismspeaks.org.

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