CMS Students Raise Autism Awareness

Autism Awareness Month comes to a close soon, but not before getting a boost from students at Parsippany's .

The school's Interact Club spent much of April working to teach people about the condition and to raise money for the cause.

Club advisor Heather Bruno told Patch that the youngsters put a lot of work into the effort.

"The students distributed and hung up facts about autism throughout the school during the first week" of the month, she said. "In addition, we began selling Autism Awaress puzzle pieces at lunch."

On April 17 and 18, the club, which is an arm of the Parsippany Rotary Club, held a hair-raising event to promote autism awareness.  

"Pro Haircutters of Morris Plains donated their time to come during our lunch periods and attach blue hair extensions for any students and staff who were interested," Bruno explained. "The students and staff donated money and received the hair extensions."  

In all, the group sold about 125 hair extensions, the advisor said, raising $771. Puzzle piece sales will continue through the end of April, she added.

"As a special education teacher, the outpouring of support was simply incredible," Bruno said. "As the prevalence of this disorder continues to increase, we all need to be aware, and more importantly, educated about autism."