A new necklace at the River Hills Mall has created a buzz about a very puzzling disorder.Right now one in every one hundred and ten children will be diagnosed with autism...News 12's Jennifer Hudspeth has more.(nats) The sales are sizzling...(NATS) the new trend... a puzzle piece."It's been amazing, the reaction we've gotten it's wonderful."It's the symbol for autism and it's helping to put missing pieces together...Pat Rist owner of Jewels of Austria is on a crusade...to make sure people understand autism, and the puzzles that surround it.Her five year old grandson (NATS this is Justin) was diagnosed at age two.Pat Rist says, "You don't know what it's like to live with an autistic child, until you've done that, it's very challenging and these families need help."Help like early intervention and early diagnosis... a message this silver pendant shines light on.Rist says, "We are trying to help put the puzzle together one piece at a time."Jennifer Hudspeth says, "For each necklace sold five dollars will go to the Southern Minnesota Autism Coalition, a new organization in the area dedicated to raising autism awareness while providing resources and information."Becky Fredericks says, "Definitely, we'd like to be the one spot where people can go to get their information."Information that's desperately needed in the area...Fredericks says, "From experience when we were told that our twin boys had autism we had no clue the only information I had was on the internet, it's totally overwhelming for anyone."But now a puzzle piece of hope may help.One design in solid silver, the other with crystals...it's a 16 dollar purchase that's going along way.Which is exactly what Rist had in mind.Rist says, "I want to make a difference."A difference and one piece of the autism puzzle that fits.In Mankato, Jennifer Hudspeth News 12.Coming soon to the kiosk: An autism bracelet and an autism keychain.










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