World Autism day this year was April 2, 2017, but the entire month of April is celebrated as Autism Awareness month.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability with signs beginning to show during the early childhood years. Autism is not a single disorder; it is rather a wide range of complex disorders that affects children differently. ASD affects children's abilities to communicate and interact with others. There is no known cause for ASD, but it's prevalence rate is on the rise.
As of 2016, the prevalence of ASD is 1 in 68 individuals. 1 in 44 of these children are boys. Early diagnosis allows children to enroll in speech therapy or other programs that will help improve their way of life.
Autism Awareness month is quite important for so many reasons, and it is important to know that ASD does not require a cure. The reason for this awareness is not to help raise funds to "cure" autism, rather the awareness comes in diagnosing young children and providing them with the resources they need.
Autism awareness was constructed in order to make sure there are programs in place to support all children with ASD. In addition, it raises the idea of promoting acceptance and inclusion among everyone.
Children with ASD should not be left out of activities just because they have differing social skills and intellectual abilities. Schools everywhere should promote inclusion of all children within the educational environment. Typically developing children should be able to interact with children with any disorder or disability and vice versa.
I personally don't like to view ASD as a disorder or a disability, rather these individuals just differ in intellectual abilities and social communication.
The term "neurodiversity" is starting to be used more widely in society, and in short, it means that just because individuals with ASD have different intellectual capabilities, they are not disabled or disordered. The more people learn about these differences and are able to embrace them, the better people they will be able to meet. Shying away from someone just because they are different is not okay, and Autism Awareness month allows individuals to learn about what makes individuals with ASD different and accept them for the amazing minds they have.
It is time we stop judging those around us for being different, and we need to start embracing all the differences among us. You never know what someone's beautiful mind could contribute to this world, and it is time we find out.
We all need to come together and celebrate Autism Awareness month and embrace each other's differences. It is time to stop pointing out the differences among people and accept everyone for who they are.
Temple Grandin's famous quote is "Different, not less" and those are words everyone needs to recognize and live by.
