January is National Autism Awareness Month. Just what is autism? With the movies and television giving partial information, and romanticized information at that, there any many misconceptions we hope to dispel.
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It seems to be the result of a neurological disorder that affects functioning of the brain. Autism and its behavioral symptoms occur in approximately 15 out of every 10,000 births and is four times more common in boys than girls. It crosses all lines of racial, ethnic and social backgrounds and is found throughout the world. Autism is not the result of bad parenting.
Some symptoms of autism can include disturbances in development of physical, social and language skills. There may be abnormal responses to sensations and a lack of “pretend play.” People with autism do not form normal relationships with other people and may not be able to understand another person’s point of view.
While there is no cure, autism is treatable. Early intervention and appropriate education are key. Those of us in the autism community want you to know it is not always easy to live with someone with autism. It is downright difficult and sometimes heartbreaking. We cannot do it by ourselves. With community, educational and family support and understanding, we can help our children become productive members of society.
We really do need your help. Learn more about autism and help others understand.
