In France, autism spectrum disorders affect nearly 650,000 people. Today, there is no cure for these diseases. Patients can only benefit from symptomatic management. Throughout the month of April, to help families affected by the disease, the American jewelry brand Stella & Dot donates a share of the benefits of its solidarity bracelet to the association "A step towards life" .

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears before the age of 3 and lasts throughout the life of the vast majority of people affected. The Institut Pasteur lists the 3 criteria that define this disease: disorders of social interactions , verbal communication disorders, repetitive and stereotyped gestures . In France this disease remains unknown: 61% of French people think that 50,000 people are affected by this disease. An estimate well below reality.

A Stella & Dot bracelet for the association 'A step towards life'

To improve the lives of patients and their families, there are several associations. Among them, "A step towards life". Created in April 2008 with the will to support families affected by autism and founded by TV presenter Eglantine Eméyé , herself a mother of a little autistic boy, the association wants to offer moments of happiness to families who live with the weight of the disease, by providing respite homes for children from all over France.

For 2 years, the association can count on the support of the Stella & Dot brand. As in 2016, the designers of the American brand have imagined a piece of which a share of the profits will be donated to the association. This is a bracelet worth € 22 for the belly of which € 4 will be donated to the association "A step towards life". The goal? Fund the creation of new homes.