Video: The Advertising Council and Autism Speaks Launch New PSAs to Raise Awareness...(ismSpeaks. We are incredibly grateful t...),Health

The new PSAs build on the success of the first round of the award-winning Autism Awareness campaign which launched in April 2006, and has received more than $178.2 million in donated media. According to Ad Council tracking surveys conducted this past September, 59% of individuals who reported seeing the ads said that autism is "very/somewhat common," and 20% of individuals who are "ad aware" have discussed autism with a doctor or pediatrician in the past six months.

Per the Ad Council model, the PSAs will run and air in advertising time and space that is donated by the media. Print advertising will be available in February.

"We are proud to continue our initiative with Autism Speaks with this wonderful series of PSAs designed to encourage parents to learn the early signs of autism," said Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of The Advertising Council. "This unique campaign, with its clear and simple message, holds great promise to help parents know the signs of autism."

"The 1 in 150 statistic is a powerful one on its own. Our goal was to couch that startling statistic in a story that pulls a viewer in so that when those odds are revealed, we have his or her full attention. By telling the story from the point of view of Ernie Els' world rather than Ben's, the communication speaks even more strongly to the people who can help with an early diagnosis - the parents," said Susan Credle, Executive Vice President and Executive Creative Director of BBDO New York.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), autism is the fastest- growing developmental disorder in the United States, with life-long consequences for individuals, family, and society. This complex brain disorder inhibits a person's
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