Powerful New Album Gives Voice to Parents Raising Children with Autism

Boston, MA – September 8, 2006 – Jamie Manning, a Boston-area songwriter and father of a son with autism, today announced the release of What Remains, a poignant collection of 11 songs telling the stories of parents living with the trauma associated with raising a child with autism. CDs will be sold online and via download beginning in mid-September, with five percent of each sale being donated to Autism Speaks, a leading national organization dedicated to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society.

Reaching Out to Parents
What Remains began with a need to communicate the feelings of parents undergoing traumatic circumstances. "Autism hits families on every level", notes Manning. "It places enormous emotional, financial, and physical strains on parents. They work nearly 24 hours a day, spend all they have, and completely lose the lives they knew to draw their children into a world that so often turns its back on them."

An autism diagnosis thrusts parents into lives for which they are not prepared and that offer few roadmaps. The songs on What Remains reach out to these parents, telling them that their feelings are understood and shared by others. "Perhaps the hardest part of an autism diagnosis is the feeling that you are alone," said Manning. "These songs provide a sense of validation. They’re war stories that can bring parents together through a common understanding.”

Educating the Educators
The songs on What Remains also convey to autism professionals the pressure experienced by the parents of the children they work with. "In my experience, the majority of professionals in this field do not understand the overwhelming stress facing parents in this situation", said Manning. "Of course, their primary focus must be on the children, but a deeper understanding of, and greater empathy for, the whole family dynamic ultimately leads to better outcomes."
Parents raising children with autism almost always come to it with no experience. Yet overnight, they must gain expert knowledge of child psychology, biochemistry, nutrition, special education law, and countless other topics to properly advocate for their children. And they must do this while facing continual scrutiny from the professional community, along with constant emotional and financial pressure at home.”

Compelling Stories, Accessible Music
The music on What Remains is rooted in American traditions, with influences encompassing Nashville, bluegrass, blues, and folk. The songs were written and recorded to keep the lyrics and melody clearly at the forefront to emphasize the storytelling. The instrumentation is acoustic and features some of the finest musicians in the Boston area.

Pricing and Availability
CDs will be available for purchase for $14.99 on Amazon.com and CDBaby.com, with individual songs available for download on iTunes and other outlets. Complete album information, along with audio samples, a complete biography, and more are available at www.jamiemanning.com.

About Jamie Manning
With the album What Remains, Jamie Manning has found his voice as a songwriter by giving a voice through song to parents dealing with the traumatic effects of raising children with autism. A classically trained musician with degrees in music performance, education, and conducting, Jamie has been writing and performing in the Boston area and abroad for the last 25 years. He plans to support the release of What Remains with selected performances to benefit autism and other childhood disorders. To learn more about Jamie and What Remains, visit www.jamiemanning.com.