THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2006
Family's Plight Catches World's Eye
By ANDREA ZELINSKI
Journal Reporter
The Waters' family household in Park Ridge was flooded this month---with e-mails.
After the Park Ridge Journal published a story about the family's autistic daughter Candace, the Waters said they never imagined they'd get such a positive response.
Robert and Sandy Waters told the Journal about 5-year-old daughter Candace and their struggles with her autism earlier this month in the paper's June 7 edition. They said the disorder left their daughter with difficulty communicating and explained how their daily struggle raising Candace lead them to pen a song. They titled it "Faith, Love, and Hope," and said those words represent the inspiration every family needs when they struggle with autism.
After the article was published, waves of responses came rolling in from as close as their neighbors in town to as far away as a family in Australia.
"We got over a hundred e-mails" asking for a copy of the song, said Mr. Waters. "And we got back to every one of them," Mrs. Waters added.
Alderman Rex Parker (6th) e-mailed the family, saying he'd like to meet them personally. "Parker said I was the greatest dad in the world," said Mr. Waters. "I have to come over and meet you," Mr. Waters recalled Parker saying to him last week.
They also received responses from Judy Bar Topinka, republican candidate for governor, who said she loved the story and thought the song was beautiful.
Christopher Kennedy, an attorney for the Autism Society of Illinois put the article in the group's e-mail newsletter which has since spanned around the globe.
"At that point it kind of blew up. It took off," said Mr. Waters.
The article was also posted in the Schafer Autism Report, which is also available worldwide, he said. From there, a woman in Australia e-mailed the family, looking for a copy of their song.
They have since received several requests to perform their song at autism walks and conferences, including "Walk Around the World" in McHenry County and at the 20th anniversary conference for Likotek, a producer of toys for disabled children. Both events are in October.
"We're going on tour," Mr. Waters joked.
The song might also be used at the Autism Speaks walk-a-thon in New York this year, Ms. Waters said.
The family received a request to use the song in a short film for Autism Speaks, she said. The film will be finished in October.
They were also invited to a radio show to talk about autism on WMBI radio on July 1, 90.1 FM, at 11 a.m.
Mrs. Waters said they didn't think they'd get such a great reaction, though it was their goal.
"So many wonderful responses," said Mrs. Waters. "We never dreamed we'd get so many responses...We never thought we'd be in this [situation]."
The Waters said they sent maybe 20 to 30 articles out to different political figures and autism activist groups.
"Just out to different politicians to show them what's going on," said Mr. Waters.