and April is Autism Awareness Month. http://www.worldautismawarenessday.o...
Some facts and stats about Autism from AutismSpeaks.org:
* 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism
* 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
* 67 children are diagnosed per day
* A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
* More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
* Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
* Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade
* Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
* Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
* There is no medical detection or cure for autism
Source: http://www.autismspeaks.org/...
Please stay with me for a personal perspective and a message I sent to the Obama Administration at change.gov during the transition.
As a parent of a 16 year old daughter with autism and intellectual disability, I have seen what early intervention, good communication and cooperation between school and home can yield. While early intervention is essential, there is scarce information, support and resources during the middle school, high school and transition years. All of the work and support provided in early intervention will be for naught if people with autism do not receive the proper transition into the community and world beyond school.
Autism is still not understood well enough. The social and communication deficits are the crux of the disability, but also part of who they are as people. A blind person can use braille to read and a seeing eye dog for assistance, but asking him/her to look at something is absurd. Training people with autism to be like their "neuro-typical" peers is like asking a blind person to watch a beautiful sunset. He/she may be able to feel the glow of the sun or hear the sounds of that time of day, but the experience is different from those that can see the sunset. Different, not better, not worse.
People with autism deserve the respect that everyone else is accorded. Accepting and respecting differences is a human issue, a civil rights issue. Research is necessary in understanding autism and to discover ways to help those with the disability best navigate the world. However, more immediately, the Obama administration, with the help of families, could better educate the public at large regarding the diversity, gifts and struggles those with autism encounter.
The families of people with autism are on the front line and are incredibly knowledgeable about autism because we live it every day. Not only does it effect the individual, autism effects the entire family. Yet, much of what we try to say is discounted or minimized. There seems to be an unnecessary barrier between "experts" and families. I don't expect educators or doctors to be experts about everything autism. I do expect an openness to the experience and knowledge of families. The system needs to be more user friendly to families. The disability makes it difficult for families to obtain and retain trustworthy caregivers, thus limiting the family's ability to be in the community themselves. Isolation and exhaustion makes advocacy difficult for many families.
As you well know, the numbers of individuals, families and communities encountering the autism epidemic is just beginning to be felt. This lifelong, pervasive disability has far reaching generational effects beyond what anyone has discussed. As any parent of an autistic individual can tell you, we have to plan now for what our children will need when they're adults and when we're gone. We don't have the luxury of living in the moment. We have to face realities that many people either take for granted or don't have to face for years. We can be a great resource.
If I can be of any service in this area, I would be proud to assist the Obama administration. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to submit my ideas.
Sincerely,
XXXXXX
I've witnessed firsthand that many people on the Autism Spectrum have unique perspectives of the world and possess gifts and abilities that should be emphasized, developed and celebrated. Not only should we provide support where needed, but we should embrace the beauty and the gifts that those with Autism possess.
Thanks for reading.