World Autism Awareness Day

Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month?

Did you know that today, April 2nd, is World Autism Awareness Day?

Did you know that some of the coolest people I've ever met have been diagnosed with Autism? 

Throughout the years, with each encounter... These individuals have taught me more about the beauty of life, than almost anyone else. What a true gift - a blessing - each and every one of these individuals have been to my life!

So, in honor of World Autism Awareness Day, I wanted to share a few things...

Did you know there is no known official specific cause for Autism? Did you know that women can have a perfectly healthy, "normal" pregnancy, and their child may still be diagnosed with Autism? Did you know that people try to say it's caused by this or that... And yes, there are some instances where a likelihood of Autism is increased, for example: certain genetic and environmental factors... But, at the end of the day, there are still no 100% definitive causes for Autism.

Did you know that... "Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome." (Source: Autism Speaks)

Did you know that some of the best educators on the subject of Autism are parents?

"There is this myth that children with autism don’t have empathy. I’ve found the exact opposite to be true: children with autism are instead the most highly sensitive individuals I have ever had the privilege to know. They simply express themselves differently. If Neal likes you, he may smell your hair. If he finds you to be insincere, he will walk away or throw something.

Yes, there are the difficult challenges of autism: the tantrums, the delays, the stimming, perseverating, and other frustrations. I don’t want to minimize these, yet if we dare look at all behavior as communication, we can see these actions as different forms of communicating. Perhaps the world is too loud, too fast, too toxic and it’s the so-called typical folk who need to take a step back and reflect on what we’re doing and how much we may be missing in our world. Perhaps our children with autism are here to teach us to look at the world with a different set of eyes; a new perspective. I’ve found such immeasurable joy, love, and value in the pure and simple creative connection I have with Neal and others like him.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. I think it takes a child with autism or other special needs to raise the consciousness of a village." (from The Art of Autism: Shifting Perceptions, p.128 by Debra Hosseini.

I was browsing the Autism Speaks site the other night and came across an article from Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, written by pioneering autism researcher Joaquin Fuentes, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Spain’s Policlínica Gipuzkoa, highlighting tips from people with Autism in regards to ways people can support them.

The first tip was my favorite. 

I am not “autistic.” I am first, foremost and always a person, a student, a child; and I have autism. Do not confuse me with my condition. And please do not use the term in a negative or inconsiderate way. I deserve to be respected.

*You can read the whole article here.  

 

I'll end with this.

I follow Chrissy from Life with Greyson + Parker, a blog written by  of two boys with Autism, who said her biggest hope for World Autism Awareness Day is that all people, whether they're affected by Autism or not, would learn to...

CELEBRATE DIFFERENT

She went on to say, "To me, Autism awareness means learning to love and accept what is different about ourselves, so we can understand and love what is different about others. My sons' level of different may be greater than yours or mine, but still they are simply different. We all are."

I love that. 

Celebrate different on World Autism Awareness Day and every other day of the year too...