Autism awareness plates: Orders needed

Mike Sciortino wants to find the voters who supported the drive to create personalized "autism awareness" license plates because the state won't produce them until more are ordered.

"I know we had at least 250 people who supported this," he said.

Sciortino, whose grandson, Ethan, has autism, is coordinating orders. He needs at least 118 more plates.

"The number of applications collected is important because plates won't be produced in any fashion until 200 applications are collected. In other words, the special plate and design are on hold until that 200 milestone is reached," said Maura Browning, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Initial Autism Awareness plate orders must show proof of a $20 donation to Ethan and Friends for Autism, a not-for-profit advocacy group Sciortino founded. Send the Ethan and Friends donation, along with a completed form 1716 along with a $15 check or money order made payable to the Department of Revenue, to Ethan and Friends for Autism, 232 Camellia Drive, Cape Gir­ar­deau, Mo. 63703.

For details, visit ethanandfriendsforautism.org, call Mike Sciortino at (573) 335-9221, e-mail him at james.sciortino@yahoo.com, call Michelle McAdams at (573) 587-1694 or e-mail mcadamsfamily5@yahoo.com.