A trio of Tri-City moms is hoping to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorder and have developed a line of jewelry they hope will get people talking and raise funds for a new support centre for families.
Keri Kennett, Patricia James and Debbie Siu, who live in the Tri-Cities, have designed puzzle-piece earrings made of sterling silver that are being sold this month at all B.C. and Alberta London Drug stores. The earrings are a companion piece to the sterling silver necklace they designed, manufactured and sold through London Drugs last year that raised $20,000 for the Pacific Autism Family Centre.
"The puzzle is a symbol of something we're going to solve in terms of how do we provide better treatment. It's something researchers and parents are still trying to figure out," James told The Tri-City News.
To get the earrings to market, the women got their families to help them package the pieces and prepare them for sale. They are are available until March 31 for $20 at the customer service desk at London Drugs.
All friends with young sons who are affected by autism spectrum disorder — a developmental condition that can lead to difficulties with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviours — the women remember the challenges they faced getting help when their kids were first diagnosed.
They believe the Richmond-based centre — which has plans to provide clinical supports and assessment, information and resources through a hub model to include families outside of the Lower Mainland — will bring relief to parents across B.C.
"It's really a lifeline for parents," James said of the centre, which opened in November with classrooms, clinics, labs, observation rooms and offices. Among the services they see as a benefit is a dental clinic operated by UBC dental students, and a LifeLabs blood collection clinic.
Future pieces of Puzzled Jewelry could include a bracelet or other memento, and a new trinket will come out each year as long as parents, teachers and educational assistants who work with children with on the spectrum will buy the jewelry.
And if there's a wider market for the stylish line of Puzzled Jewelry, that will be good, too, because they want more people to know about autism, the women say.
"If more people understand autism, there will be more acceptance of them," Kennett said.
James agreed, noting: "They look typical but they [the children] struggle every single day.
