Characteristics of Autism

April is Autism Awareness Month. Remember, there are no two children with Autism that are alike. One may have great eye contact and be passive. Another may be hyperactive and oversensitive to sound. The combinations are endless! So many people tend to assume that "Autism" is a set in stone set of characteristics. However, there is a saying in the Autism circuit that is known and recognized as truth:

If you met ONE person with Autism, you've met ONE person with Autism.

Please continue to show your support by being open minded and compassionate to families affected by Autism.

Autism: What can YOU do?

 

First I want to apologize for disappearing this month. I had a hospital stay that lasted a little over a week and got a bit behind. I'm back now and should be able to do all I said I would in the month of April! 

As you may know, April is Autism Awareness Month. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States. Females are less likely to be affected by Autism and as a result are being diagnosed at an older age then their male counterparts. Also, African American's are being diagnosed a full year after their Caucasian counterparts.  New statistics suggest that 1 in every 50 children are diagnosed with Autism. This is up from the statistic in 2007 of 1 in 88. 

So, what can you do to show your support to people with Autism? First, understand that, even though they are different then you, they still want the same things you do. A person with Autism still wants to be accepted by their peers, to have friends, to have fun. Be open minded and realize that a person with Autism may communicate in a totally different way then you. A characteristic of Autism is the inability to understand things like facial expressions and body language. Take the time to learn how you can fully communicate in a way that is fully understood. 

Imagine yourself on an alien planet. Everything is different and you don't truly understand what the aliens are saying. Sometimes they seem to be smiling but are in fact sad. You've seen them give someone a thumbs up after the alien did something inappropriate, such as pushing a smaller alien down. You are only able to think logically, and what you see doesn't make sense. This is how a person with Autism often views the world. When you say "Oh Great!" with full sarcasm implied, a person with Autism may think you are truly saying that what happened was great! A personal example: My back was hurting one day and I said "My back is killing me". My then 5 year old busted out crying. He thought that I was literally dying! 

The best thing you can do for a person with Autism is to take the time to truly get to know them. Spend time with them. Learn how they communicate. Discover how to be a good friend to them. A person with Autism can introduce you to a whole new side of life that you otherwise would not have discovered.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Today is the first day of Autism Awareness Month! As most of my readers know, I have two boys on the Autism spectrum. My eldest, Keeg is almost 16. He has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. My youngest, Pookie, has been diagnosed with High Functioning Autism.

There has been alot of negative press and media regarding Asperger Syndrome lately and many people feel that children with Aspergers is predispositioned to violence. Many believe it is a mental illness. Some believe that Autism is only a severe developmental disability.

This month we'll be showing the different faces of Autism. We'll be hosting guest blogs from those that have Autism, as well as siblings and parents of those with Autism.

Our family and friends will also be sporting blue mohawks this month to show our support. We'll be handing out flyers starting tomorrow. We'll be helping to educate and spread awareness.

Please remember, those that falsely judge Autism do so because they are simply not educated. Education is the key to awareness. Help spread the word about Autism.

Autism is the fastest growing developmental delay in the United States. 1 in 88 children have Autism. You can be an advocate for Autism Awareness!

Special thanks to Supermom at http://www.theadventuresofsupermom.com/ for creating the awesome badges below for our family to use on our blogs and Facebook pages this month. These badges will be used by my children and myself this month. You'll see them on our various blogs, Facebook pages, and more.

Be sure to contact me if:
~ You have pictures to share showing your support
~ You would like to share a post about your Autism experience
~ You will be blogging about Autism this month

You can read more about Autism at my son's blogs by clicking on the links below:
Paths From Keeg's Soul
Paths From Pookie's Soul