APRIL is AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH. Let us educate ourselves on the needs of those in the spectrum & at the same time, express our support to those who are caring for them. May our world be a safe & loving place for people with autism, most especially the kids.💛 #AutismAwareness
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.
The term “spectrum” reflects the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism.
Autism’s most-obvious signs tend to appear between 2 and 3 years of age. In some cases, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Some developmental delays associated with autism can be identified and addressed even earlier. Autism Speaks urges parents with concerns to seek evaluation without delay, as early intervention can improve outcomes.
Below are 4 things you can do to support autism acceptance month
1. Listen to as many autistic people as possible.
The best way I have found to do that is by reading blogs written by autistic people. Another way is to read books by autistic people.
2. Change your and other's assumptions about autistic people.
The reason I dislike the terms "high functioning" and "low functioning" is because these labels are based on a person's ability to communicate and need for support. Many of the written by autistic people are by people who are considered "low functioning", people who cannot speak and require lots of supports. Also, in the way you encourage neurotypical children to become parents one day, do the same for autistic children.
3. Act to end discrimination.
If you work in HR, review and change your hiring practices to make sure the interview process accommodates people of different neurotypes. If you don't work in HR, you can bring this subject up to superiors. If you work at a school, you can ensure children have an age-appropriate curriculum. If you make policies for your school or district, you can create policies to ensure all autistic children receive an age-appropriate curriculum. You can call your government to change laws, such as how CPS deals with autistic parents.
4. Make sure people are aware of autistic causes.
We must have a public discourse on autistic issues. Politicians should not ignore them.