Autism awareness is a topic that is discussed all year ‘round. However, during the month of April, we hype up awareness by sharing and celebrating success stories of individuals and children on the spectrum who are doing and learning things people didn’t think at one time were possible. I have heard people mention that we are inundated with information about Autism and that it’s too much. I’ve also heard others mention that they despise Autism Awareness Month because of their private struggles with autism as a self-advocate and as a parent. I understand why people may feel the way they do, there is no easy path to follow when living a life with autism or caring for a loved one who has it. Still, autism awareness is needed for understanding, for sensitivity, for acceptance and access.
What do the statistics say?
The CDC recently reported that 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism. During the 1980’s, an era when the movie Rain Man starring Dustin Hoffman was released (1988), autism prevalence was reported as 4 in 10,000. In the 1990’s, it was 1 in 2500. When my son Richie was born in 2002, the rate then was 1 in 150. Richie wasn’t diagnosed until he was close to three years old, despite my claims that I noticed symptoms and ultimately believed he had autism at 9 months old. Family members and his then pediatrician, didn’t want to give him that diagnosis, a common trend among doctors back then.
Thankfully today, there are new diagnosis criterion and best practices continually being developed and used among pediatricians and physicians for earlier detection. Children as young as six months can be diagnosed using proper protocols. Autism is still only detected by observation only. Awareness is important across the medical field so that the earlier a child or adult is diagnosed, the earlier treatment for undesired symptoms can begin.
Please don’t get it twisted. Treating people with autism is puzzling – not their intelligence .
In the early 1900’s, it was believed that individuals exhibiting autistic behaviors were really signs of having schizophrenia; they were aloof, self-absorbed and seemingly preferred being alone. In 1943, an American psychiatrist named Leo Kanner published his reported findings of 11 patients who were children as highly intelligent, but noted that in order for these children to feel regulated or comfort, they required rigid routines, engaging in repetitive behaviors and had a seemingly desire to be alone. Dr. Kanner later diagnosed those children as having “Early Infantile Autism.”
In 1945, an Austrian pediatrician and professor named Hans Aspergers reported that a group of his patients were highly intelligent but struggled with social interactions and exhibited obsessive and ritualistic behaviors. Hans later named the condition Aspergers Syndrome. These patterns of similar tendencies were a milder form of what Kanner was reporting, but the symptoms were strikingly similar in nature.
You may have noticed that in both reports from Dr. Kanner and Dr. Aspergers, they stated that the patients they studied were highly intelligent. This is important to mention because it’s natural for us to make quick assumptions based on what we see and not what lies beneath the surface. We see non-speaking individuals who are behaving unusually and seem not to have the ability to do the most basic of things, such as self-care, or having a conversation with others. However, what we don't see is what they truly know, understand, and may be able to do.
It’s important to know that individuals with autism can learn and do so much more than we give them credit. Patience, love, and understanding can help them get to living a life of independence and continued learning.
Autism is among the quick rising prevalence of
developmental disabilities today!
People will most likely know someone with autism personally or know of someone who has autism. There are many myths and misconceptions that may cause fear, prejudice, and unnecessary distancing from someone who has autism. This is why awareness is still needed.
You may have noticed that I mentioned that the children in both groups of patients “seemingly desire to be alone.” I don’t believe that anyone truly desires to be alone all the time, that most certainly includes people with autism. Sure, there are moments when we all need space to adjust, adapt and regulate to our surroundings and circumstances from to time. However, no one desires to live a life utterly alone.
We all desire companionship, we all desire to be comforted with affection, or by touch, hugs, and some kind of interaction or connection with others. Children and adults with autism are no different. Their behavior may indicate a need for a break from the current situation, not a permanent place in isolation.
We all desire companionship, we all desire to be comforted with affection, or by touch, hugs, and some kind of interaction or connection with others. Children and adults with autism are no different. Their behavior may indicate a need for a break from the current situation, not a permanent place in isolation.
People who have autism play a role in this world and are a part of God’s plan just like the rest of us. It’s up to us to help them to discover their path in life with support, encouragement, love, kindness, and understanding.
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