Autism Society Joins Forces with Yanni Drummer Charlie Adams to Increase Awareness and Education Reach

The Autism Society of America (ASA), the oldest and largest grassroots organization within the autism community, and Charlie Adams, Yannis lead drummer for over 20 years, today announced a partnership to help increase autism awareness.

BETHESDA, MD, April 15, 2004 -- The Autism Society of America (ASA), the oldest and largest grassroots organization within the autism community, and Charlie Adams, Yannis lead drummer for over 20 years, today announced a partnership to help increase autism awareness.

By combining ASAs commitment to providing the best and most comprehensive education, advocacy, research and community resources with Charlies passion for family, music and the importance of supporting programs to improve the treatment of autism, we have created a powerful relationship that leverages our combined strengths to develop programs to help meet our communitys unique challenges," said ASA President Rob Beck.

As part of this alliance, Mr. Adams has agreed to help the ASA to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum, and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their community. Mr. Adams and his wife, Andrea, have also agreed to participate in a number of ASA events including the "Rooted in Hope" ceremony at ASAs headquarters in Bethesda on April 9th. During the month of April which has been designated National Autism Awareness Month (NAAM), the Autism Society of America kicked-off the Rooted in Hope national tree-planting campaign signifying the unified strength of ASA's grassroots efforts and the hope given to families touched by autism.

My familys first hand experience with autism enables Andrea and me to provide the ASA community with a parental perspective on the special needs of children with autism. We are thrilled to work with ASA and look forward to helping others as a result of this partnership," said Mr. Adams.

At the upcoming ASA Annual Convention in Seattle this July, the ASA and Mr. Adams will announce additional programs to help increase autism awareness and education reach. At the convention Mr. Adams will kick-off the opening general session with a musical introduction.

About ASA

For more than three decades the ASA has been acknowledged as the leading source of education, information and referral about autism and has been the leader in advocacy and legislation initiatives. Today, over 50,000 members and supporters are connected through a working network of over 200 chapters in nearly every state. For more information, please visit http://www.autism-society.org.

About Charlie Adams

Charlie is one of the world's best and most recognized drummers. He has been Yannis drum lead for over 20 years and their CDs have gone platinum and double platinum. Live at The Acropolis sold over 8 million copies and the video set pledge drive records when it played on PBS. Charlie is currently playing in Yannis Ethnicity 2003/2004 tour. For more information about Charlie, visit http://www.charlieadams.com.

Trademarks

Charlie Adams is a registered trademark of Charlie Adams, Inc.