Sadler hopes awareness of autism leads to progress

As a race-winning NASCAR driver, Hermie Sadler knows about effort leading to results. Thus, during autism awareness month in April, he again joins his brother, Nextel Cup driver Elliott Sadler, in trying to promote knowledge of the condition.

For the Sadler family, dealing with autism became a focal point when Hermie's daughter, Halie Dru, was diagnosed as autistic in 2001. Each year the Sadlers conduct fundraisers for the Autism Society of America, but knowledge is even more valuable, Hermie said.

McMurray auction for autism awareness

Roush Fenway Racing driver Jamie McMurray is teaming up with the NASCAR Foundation to help raise funds and awareness for autism. The Jamie McMurray Foundation will help lead this effort during National Autism Awareness Month in April. Beginning Wednesday, the NASCAR Foundation Web site will kick off an online auction with the funds going directly toward the Jamie McMurray Foundation.

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"One thing we do know is that autism is a lot more in the public eye -- a lot more mainstream -- than it was last year," Hermie said. "The statistics now say that one in 150 kids are affected by autism -- but the main thing is there's a lot more awareness and a lot more people know more about the disease than they did a year ago.

"That's kind of what our job is, and what autism awareness month is all about. The funds that you raise are great, but the awareness of the disease is really what it's all about."

Over the last six years, the Sadlers have gone from knowing nothing about autism to champions of the cause.

"It's an education process, like it was for us back in 2001, when we'd never heard the word before," Hermie said. "Now we've got Halie in a good setting and between her schooling and her therapy she's transitioned back into a regular school, she's in second grade and doing great.

"Now, for us it's about educating other people about autism so that when we take Halie to different places and she doesn't act like a normal eight-year-old child would, in a public setting, people might understand why she does those things, instead of just assuming she's an ill-behaving child."

Sadler said in 2001, one in every 500 children was affected by autism. Awareness, he said, is at the root of the statistical change.

"That's why we're not quick to judge kids when we go places and see kids do certain things," Hermie said. "This affects a lot of people. I'm sure in your family or the family of someone you know, there's someone's that's affected.

"The cool thing for me is that not a day goes by that I don't have someone tell me a story about their child, or grandchild or niece or nephew [is affected]. It shows, again, how great and loyal the NASCAR fans are, and especially with Elliott and Jamie McMurray being onboard we've really gotten the word out there."