Where can a blind child, a child in a wheelchair, a sister with autism or brother with Down syndrome play with other families equally, and be part of their community? The Magical Bridge Playground.

In Palo Alto, the most innovative and inclusive–and expensive– playground in the country opened on Saturday. It’s a wonderland for young and old alike where there are no barriers to fun. Read more.

Author David A. Seaton is bringing light to April’s Autism Awareness Month through his book, “The Mystery of Jack.”

“The current rate of autism is 1 out of 68 children according to the Center of Disease Control,” Seaton said. “Needless to say, many families within our community are impacted.”

Seaton, 48, wrote the book after dealing with the reality that his own son Jackson, now 14, was diagnosed with autism. Read more.

FONTANA >> Research conducted using medical records of 322,000 children born at Kaiser Permanente Hospitals in Southern California shows that diabetes in early pregnancy will increase a child’s risk for developing autism.

The findings were published in this week’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more.

When Alan Lawrence’s son was born with Down syndrome, he said, “it was a shock. It felt as though he would put limits on what I would accomplish, what my family would accomplish.”

Fast forward 18 months, and nothing could be further from the truth, Lawrence said. Wil, his fifth child, “brings a light to our family.” See pictures and read more.

Santi Rogers, Director of the Department of Developmental Services notes:

Autism is a complex and varied neurodevelopmental condition. Since the first National Autism Awareness Month was declared by the Autism Society nearly a quarter century ago, the number of persons in California diagnosed with Autism continues to increase at a significant rate. Over 80% of California’s growing Autism population is male. Read more.

April is Autism Awareness Month. It would be expected that all persons with autism would be preparing to “light it up blue” with blue clothing, shirts and light bulbs to show support for those with autism.

Some autistic people would argue that awareness is already out there.They feel that autism is not only known, but widely feared. This fear being the source of prejudice and misunderstanding.

What is needed, is more acceptance. Read more.                                                                  Then see how one Mother faced her son’s transition to adulthood in this report on the Today show here.

Stephanie Sullivan dons a hard hat at the groundbreaking of a new home for those with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s. Sullivan plans to move into the residence when it opens next year. (New Horizons/Flickr)

The sound of hammers and saws coming soon to a vacant Reseda, Calif. lot means that someone like Stephanie Sullivan will have a home where she will be cared for and her needs understood.

Read more.