PORTLAND — When the Portland Pirates take the ice at the Cumberland County Civic Center tonight to play the Manchester Monarchs, they will wear commemorative jerseys incorporating the puzzle symbol of the Autism Society of America.

April is Autism Awareness Month, and the hockey team is doing what it can to bring attention to the developmental disability that affects as many as 4,000 Maine families.

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The logo on the Pirates' jerseys tonight will incorporate the puzzle symbol of the Autism Society of America.

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“Autism is a cause that people are talking about more,” said the Pirates’ CEO and managing partner, Brian Petrovek. “It’s in the minds of more and more people across the country. I think, as a society, we are challenged with individuals who are finishing school programs — youths who are becoming adults — and the programming just doesn’t exist for them.”

The Autism Society of Maine will receive a portion of the proceeds from tonight’s ticket sales and corporate sponsorships, but fundraising isn’t the main reason the Winthrop-based organization has partnered with the Pirates.

“For us, it’s that awareness piece,” said Cathy Dionne, director of programs and administration for the group. “As a fundraiser, that’s a bonus out of it. We are a nonprofit, and we do rely on donations from the general public for our funding.”

Dionne said the event also will give families who are affected by autism a chance to go and watch a hockey game.

“One of the hard things that happens with families is that feeling of isolation,” said Dionne, whose 17-year-old son has autism. “When we’re out with the public with our children, sometimes the feeling is that people are looking and staring, and they don’t understand. Some of the individuals will have behaviorial issues that will come through, which are really triggered by sensory issues.”

At tonight’s game, a section will be reserved for the families.

“It can be difficult for a lot of families, so we wanted to provide them with an opportunity that every other family gets to enjoy all the time,” Dionne said. “We will have our own section so that they can at least be with other families and everyone sitting around them understands.”

The Portland Press Herald is the prime sponsor of the Pirates’ Autism Awareness Night.

“We think it’s important to be able to partner with businesses to help bring a higher level of awareness to issues that are affecting our community,” said Adrienne Dodge, marketing manager of MaineToday Media, parent company of the Press Herald. “Supporting the Portland Pirates as they host their first-ever Autism Awareness Night was a good fit.”

Dionne said Maine has one of the highest rates of pervasive development disorder in the nation.

According to the Autism Society of America, an estimated one in every 110 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism.

“Maine has the second-highest prevalence rate. We are one in 67,” Dionne said. “Why? We don’t know. Is it better diagnosing? Maybe. Is it environmental? Maybe. We don’t know.”

As children who have been diagnosed with autism grow into adulthood, it is increasingly difficult to provide them with the services they need.

“Right now, the state has a waiting list of 400 for services, which means they’ve been found eligible but there just are no services for them,” Dionne said.

“It’s real important that we have that early intervention, and I think there has been a lot of work on that,” she said. “Kids are getting diagnosed earlier, and they’re receiving services earlier. We now need to look at the adult population.”

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at: pbetit@pressherald.com

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