April is National Autism Awareness Month, but for many families it is Autism Awareness every month.
So this is a good time to promote autism awareness, autism acceptance, and to draw attention to tens of thousands of families facing an autism diagnosis each year.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by social-interaction difficulties, communication challenges, a tendency to have obsessive interests, and engage in repetitive behaviors. Autism affects daily functioning, however, symptoms and their severity can vary widely.
Early recognition, as well as behavioral, educational, and family therapies may reduce symptoms and support development and learning. Jasper County Public Library has several autism resources with books and DVDs for all ages. Families with autistic children can find beneficial guidelines as well as personal stories including:
- The reason I jump: the inner voice of a thirteen-year-old boy with autism [1]
- OT for children with autism, special needs & typical (DVD) [2]
- The autism playbook for teens: imagination-based mindfulness activities to calm yourself, build independence, & connect with others [3]
- Understanding autism: the essential guide for parents [4]
We also have books by and a DVD about the renowned professor Temple Grandin like
- The way I see it: a personal look at autism & Asperger's [5] and
- Temple Grandin: voice for the voiceless. [6]
Did you know the Autism Awareness Ribbon echoes the complexity of the autism spectrum?
The different colors and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with the condition.
The brightness of the ribbon signals hope — hope that through increased awareness of autism, and through early intervention and access to appropriate services/supports, people with autism will lead full lives able to interact with the world on the own terms.
Here are some facts about autism from www.autismspeaks.org:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls.
- An estimated 50,000 teens with autism become adults – and lose school-based autism services – each year.
- Around one third of people with autism remain nonverbal.
- Around one third of people with autism have an intellectual disability.
- Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias.
For additional information, visit http://www.autism-society.org [7] or https://www.autismspeaks.org/ [8]