The award-winning documentary “Autism: The Musical” will be shown Sept. 27 in a free program hosted by St. Mary’s Health Center Auxiliary to increase understanding of autism and its impact on children and families.

            The program will begin at 1 p.m. in the Coca-Cola Community Room, 605 Washington St. The movie features five children with autism as they struggle through life’s challenges and come together to produce an innovative musical theater program.

            In addition to the movie, the program will include personal testimony from a mother who raised a child with autism. Even though non-verbal, he graduated from college and is successfully employed today. The audience also will have the opportunity to ask questions and enjoy refreshments.

            St. Mary’s Auxiliary is sponsoring the program as part of a statewide autism education effort launched by the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. There is no known single cause of autism, but it affects one in 150 children.

            The program is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Rosemarie Turner, (573) 635-3175.

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