When Marie Mambuca's son, who has autism, was a little boy, she got a lot of strength from talking to other moms of adolescents with the condition.

She remembers thinking if those moms have children with autism who are in their teens and the mom is still breathing, laughing and doing well, then she had hope that the road wouldn't be too hard for her when her son was that age.

Now Ms. Mambuca works for ABOARD, the Advisory Board on Autism and Related Disorders, as its family supports coordinator.

ABOARD, located in Etna, will be the beneficiary of an art sale at the Galleria, Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon, Jan. 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

ABOARD volunteer Vera Fitzharris said art will be available in many styles and prices, some of it done by children with autism and some by local artists.

The sale will include sculptures, drawings and paintings in oil, acrylics and watercolors. Sizes range from 8 inches by 10 inches to 36 inches by 40 inches, Mrs. Fitzharris said. Prices for most items range from $25 to $400.

Artwork will include landscapes, florals, seascapes, portraits and country scenes, she said.

It's the second time the group has sponsored such a sale. The last one, a one-day event at the Galleria in September, raised $3,000.

The group hopes to hold the sales every few months, Mrs. Fitzharris said.

ABOARD was established in 1996 and provides education, advocacy and support to parents and professionals who deal with autism. The non-profit group runs about 60 support groups in 30 counties, Ms. Mambuca said. Its funding comes from fundraisers, donations, and some grants.

The group's effort is far-reaching: it has a database of 11,800 parents and professionals it has helped over the years, Ms. Mambuca said. Members assemble packets of information that go to schools, psychiatrists and other professionals and a separate packet is available for parents who have just received a diagnosis for their child. ABOARD also provides resources and information on its Web site, www.aboard.org.

"Our goal is to raise awareness," Ms. Mambuca said.