Autism is a developmental behavior that causes significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities on the Autism Spectrum can range from verbal to non verbal. Individuals along the Autism Spectrum may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people.
According to the CDC, Autism impacts one in 54 children and is the fastest-growing childhood diagnosis in the country. Boys are four-to-five times more likely to identify with autism spectrum disorder.
An Autism Spectrum diagnosis includes several traits that may be identified in a person:
Early diagnosis of children on the Autism Spectrum typically is associated with success and improved outcomes earlier in a child’s life. Until recently, students of color are now being assessed and diagnosed at an equal rate as white children, access to aid, accommodation programs and resources for them are still distributed at an unequal rate. Delays in diagnosis are sometimes compounded in marginalized communities by issues of poverty, food insecurity, employment opportunities, and lack of affordable transportation and housing. Children in lower income families are often diagnosed at older ages than their more affluent peers, a reality that denies those children critical opportunities for timely intervention and treatment.
The most important thing to understand is that Autism is not a disease. You cannot "catch" autism nor is there any scientific proof that Autism is a result of vaccinations There is no cure for autism and it does not go away. With good education, intervention, and support, children may improve as they get older. Behavior may get more challenging around puberty. The earlier children get help with learning and speaker the better they do
According to the CDC, Autism impacts one in 54 children and is the fastest-growing childhood diagnosis in the country. Boys are four-to-five times more likely to identify with autism spectrum disorder.
An Autism Spectrum diagnosis includes several traits that may be identified in a person:
- An ability to process situations differently. People on the Autism Spectrum have very strong interests in things other people don’t understand or seem to care about. They are great problem-solvers and pay close attention to detail. Although their executive functioning may be a challenge, like figuring out how to start and finish a task, moving on to a new task, or making decisions, routines are important for many autistic people. It can be hard for us to deal with surprises or unexpected changes.
- Heightened Senses. People on the Autism Spectrum may be extra sensitive to things like bright lights or loud sounds or may have trouble understanding what we hear or what our senses tell us. We might not notice if we are in pain or hungry. We might do the same movement over and over again. This is called “stimming,” and it helps us regulate our senses. For example, we might rock back and forth, play with our hands, or hum.
- Coordination. People on the Autism Spectrum may have trouble with fine motor skills, coordination, or spatial awareness. Minds and bodies sometimes feel disconnected and It can be hard for to start/stop moving. Speech can be extra hard because it requires a lot of coordination. Another noticeable difference is an unawareness of volume. for some, there may be a lack of verbal communication even though what others say can be understood.
- Communication. People on the Autism Spectrum talk using echolalia (repeating things heard before), or by scripting out what they want to say. Some autistic people use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to communicate. Communication may be done by typing on a computer, spelling on a letter board, or pointing to pictures on an iPad. Some people may also communicate with behavior Not every autistic person can talk, but we all communication is important.
- Socialization. Social Rules may be difficult to follow and people on the Autism Spectrum may be more direct than other people. Eye contact might makes many uncomfortable. Many people on the Autism Spectrum may have a hard time controlling body language or facial expressions, which can confuse non-autistic people or make it hard to socialize. Some of may not be able to guess how people feel. Just tell them how you feel so thy don’t have to guess. Some autistic people are extra sensitive to other people’s feelings.
- Daily Living. It takes a lot of energy to live in a society built for non-autistic people. Parts of being autistic can make doing some things too hard. People on the Autism Spectrum may need help with things like cooking, doing our jobs, or going out. Some tasks are easier than other, leaving a lot of space for independence. Throughout the day, things become overwhelming and breaks are needed.
Early diagnosis of children on the Autism Spectrum typically is associated with success and improved outcomes earlier in a child’s life. Until recently, students of color are now being assessed and diagnosed at an equal rate as white children, access to aid, accommodation programs and resources for them are still distributed at an unequal rate. Delays in diagnosis are sometimes compounded in marginalized communities by issues of poverty, food insecurity, employment opportunities, and lack of affordable transportation and housing. Children in lower income families are often diagnosed at older ages than their more affluent peers, a reality that denies those children critical opportunities for timely intervention and treatment.
The most important thing to understand is that Autism is not a disease. You cannot "catch" autism nor is there any scientific proof that Autism is a result of vaccinations There is no cure for autism and it does not go away. With good education, intervention, and support, children may improve as they get older. Behavior may get more challenging around puberty. The earlier children get help with learning and speaker the better they do
We feel it is our job to help you with your journey as a person on the spectrum, Parent or Friend.