LODI - Lodi Unified autism specialist Karen Honkala said that when many Americans think of autism, the most common reaction is for them to pull a quote or a memory from the 1988 Hollywood film "Rain Man," which starred Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman as...

(NAPSI)—Whether it’s knitting, scrapbooking or finger painting with kids, millions of people in the U.S. take part in crafting. Many of them are also supporting an initiative to raise awareness about developmental disabilities and autism. Its A.C. Moore’s Crafting a Better World for All Kids campaign.

(NAPSI)—Chances are that people you know and care about are among the estimated 54 million people living with autism and other disabilities in America today.

Standing at the daily morning flag salute, Reese Elementary students attentively listen to Heather Marini, a fifth-grade teacher, as she speaks about autism and how it is hard for those with autism to communicate. She asked students to be patient and encouraging to others with the disorder.

(NAPSI)—Many families may be relieved to learn about a new opportunity to try to stem the tide of autism.

(BPT) - Each April for the past four decades, National Autism Awareness Month has elevated awareness among the children, parents and friends affected by autism spectrum disorders.

Lois Sanders

A memorial service for Lois A. Sanders, 94, of Lodi, who died March 7, will be held today at the Latter-day Saints chapel, 1510 W. Century Blvd., Lodi. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. today in the chapel. Internment will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 2011 Arnold Industrial Way, Concord.

Gladys Peterson

A memorial service for Gladys Hope Peterson, 91, of Lodi, who died March 7, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Lodi Funeral Home, 725 S. Fairmont Ave. Internment will be held in the Chapel of Flowers at Cherokee Memorial Park.

(NAPSI)—When it seems like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, the answer may bemore weight...in a special weighted blanket, that is.

(NAPSI)—It happens all the time: You’ve been swimming a lot and then one night when your head hits the pillow you suddenly notice that your ear hurts. You’ve got swimmer’s ear—but what causes it? Surprisingly, swimmer’s ear is not caused by swimming at all. It’s simply associated with swimming. It’s actually caused by bacteria or fungi that invade the ear canal.

For years, parents have debated whether to have their children regularly vaccinated against diseases such as mumps and rubella. Some worry the regular shots are linked to autism, while others think there's nothing to worry about and would rather protect their children from potentially deadly disease.

Emily Levy was the salutatorian at Jim Elliot High School in 2005.

This Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Oakland Raiders in a matchup between the perennial Super Bowl contenders and the the 0-2 underachievers.

Third generation bluegrass picker Lee Boy Simpson is performing with Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks at the Bob Hope Theatre. Here, he shares his love for the sounds of the ’70s and the messages his music carries.

1. Creative Minds at World of Wonders Science Museum

New exhibits are coming to the World of Wonders Science Museum in Downtown Lodi.

For one full minute, the sky over Woodbridge Elementary School was filled with shiny, iridescent bubbles. Students and school staff were participating in Bubbles 4 Autism, an event to raise awareness about children with autism and try to break a world record.