Peter Earhart holds his son, Mason, on the counter as his daughter, Logan, 8, draws a picture. Logan is autistic and high-functioning.

Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star

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If you think autism is something that doesn't affect you, Peter Earhart and his wife, Laurel, politely beg to differ.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 150 8-year-old children in multiple areas of the United States have autism spectrum disorder; it is four times more likely to occur in boys as in girls and knows no economic, ethnic or social boundaries.

"Chances are that in your lifetime you will know someone with autism, and it may be someone close to you," Peter said.

For the Earharts, statistics hit home with Logan, 8, the second of their four children.

Laurel said she sensed something different about her daughter from birth: The newborn avoided eye contact and stiffened and pulled away when held.

By age 2, Logan exhibited speech delays, difficulty in sleeping and frequent tantrums, but Laurel's concerns were brushed away by her pediatrician with a "hand on my shoulder and reassurances that kids develop differently and it didn't mean something was wrong."

In retrospect, Laurel encourages parents to follow their instincts.

"In the case of autism, it is really important that if parents suspect something is wrong they get intervention as soon as possible," Laurel said.

"Autism is not something that gets better and goes away. Now they are saying that even at 2 to 3 years of age there are things that can be done — diets, behavior modification and other therapies — to increase the child's chance for a normal life."

According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, affecting areas of social interaction and communication skills.

The disorder affects people differently and at varying degrees; some attain high levels of function, and others don't.

"People with autism are in their own world, and teaching them how to make contact with the outside world is critical," Laurel said.

Equally critical is promoting autism awareness and linking affected individuals and families to resources, which has become a crusade for the Earharts.

"Bringing together the need with the resources is our biggest challenge; there (is) a shortage of resources, and it is not easy to find them all," said Peter, who has been president of the Autism Society of America's Pima County Chapter for the past three years.

He has helped institute a structure designed to facilitate connections, including a 24-hour hot line — 770-1541 — and the Web site www.tucsonautism.org.

Monthly meetings and support groups address topics ranging from education and nutrition to medications and environmental factors.

"We try to bring in professionals and resources that can provide information that is useful to parents," Peter said.

"Our support groups are not commiserating sessions. I have found that our parents are more interested in discussing new information we can use to help children or adults with autism."

The organization has also partnered with the University of Arizona and the Tucson Autism Community Center to form the Tucson Alliance for Autism.

The alliance is designed as a hub of information and support, featuring an autism resource library that is open to the public.

Services include early autism evaluation and diagnosis (no physician referral is necessary for that service) as well as speech/language, communication and occupational therapies. Financial assistance is available for those who need it.

In addition to promoting awareness, the Earharts are dedicated to fostering "autism pride" with such events as the Second Annual Piece the Puzzle Autism Walk/Run and Resource Fair on April 5 on the University of Arizona Mall.

Laurel said teachers comment that Logan — who started kindergarten in the Catalina Foothills School District with the support of a personal aide but no longer requires that assistance in third grade — brings added dimension to the classroom with her unique perceptions.

Laurel said Logan is well-liked and has many friends who instinctively compensate for her shortcomings. She also said the highest grade on her report card is respect for others.

And Logan said she likes school just fine.

"I love the playground, and it is really super," she said.

The Earharts said they hope the upcoming walk will spotlight the diversity of individuals and families affected by autism.

"The bottom line is that the issue of autism is bigger than any one person or one organization or one group," Peter said.

"It takes a community effort, and that is why awareness is so important."