AEIOU News

"Valentine's Day" Opening Night Charity Screening - Sold Out!

Thu, 11 Feb 10

The AEIOU Foundation is hosting an opening night charity screening of “Valentines Day” at the Palace Barracks Cinemas tonight.

The 265 guests attending will be among the first to see the feel-good film of 2010 whilst raising funds for children with autism. They will also be the first to see AEIOU’s stunning brand new commercial entitled Bubbles.

Voiced by award-winning actress Toni Collette and staring an autistic child from Toowoomba, the advertisement features beautiful bubbles dancing on the breeze. The bubbles represent the thin veil that separates a child with autism from the environment around them.

AEIOU Foundation CEO Alan Smith said “we are delighted with the overwhelming response to attend our fundraising event and look forward to the reaction Bubbles will inspire in our audience.”

Mr Smith said “a 2005 study found 1 in 160 Australian children are on the autism spectrum making it more prevalent than childhood cancer, diabetes, and HIV infection combined and twice as prevalent as cerebral palsy.”

“While there is no cure for autism, specific programs targeting the key early learning years can greatly improve the skills of young children and transform the lives of their families. Our AEIOU learning centres across Queensland are able to offer best practice early learning for children with autism in the critical development years of 2.5 to 6 years of age,” he said.

The advertisement was created by award-winning advertising agency, SapientNitro and produced by Head Pictures and Cutting Edge.

To find out more about the AEIOU Foundation, phone 07 3320 7500 or visit www.aeiou.org.au

The boy behind the bubbles

As a 2 year old, Isaac Driesson loved being in his own world. His favourite activities were flipping his hands in front of his face, gazing at straight lines and lining up his mothers pegs – but only the blue ones! The sibling of a deaf older sister, Isaac was undiagnosed with autism until he was 3, but thanks to a dedicated and patient mother, he was enrolled in AEIOU Toowoomba shortly after. After the two years in the care of AEIOU’s staff, Isaac went from a disconnected, compulsive and lonely boy to a delightful, independent and charming 5 year old who is mature beyond his years.