Autism Awareness

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a complex developmental disability; the signs of ASD typically begin to appear during early childhood, and affect a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. ASD is defined as a “spectrum condition” since it affects individuals differently, and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but research shows that increased awareness, early diagnosis and intervention, and access to appropriate services and supports combine to produce significantly improved outcomes.

At YOU, Inc. and in schools and agencies across Central MA, children and teens with autism spectrum disorders are receiving the services they need to thrive in their families, schools, and communities. During Autism Awareness Month, we invite you to learn more about autism spectrum disorders, and how the Autism Society and its partners are making a significant, positive impact in the lives of youth and adults on the spectrum.

The Autism Society – the United States’ leading grassroots autism organization – was organized in an effort to improve the lives of all children and adults affected by autism. The society promotes increased public awareness of the day-to-day issues faced by people on the autism spectrum, advocates for appropriate services for individuals across their lifespan, and provides the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.

On April 1^st, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the latest report on Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years. The report indicates that the prevalence of ASD has held steady, with 1 in 68 children aged 8 in the study group were found to be diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Yet despite that stability, it's important to note that overall, there are approximately 3 million children, teens, and adults who have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADS) in the United States.

The CDC study found:

“Overall estimated ASD prevalence was 14.6 per 1,000 children aged 8 years in the ADDM Network sites in 2012. The higher estimated prevalence among sites that reviewed both education and health records suggests the role of special education systems in providing comprehensive evaluations and services to children with developmental disabilities. Disparities by race/ethnicity in estimated ASD prevalence, particularly for Hispanic children, as well as disparities in the age of earliest comprehensive evaluation and presence of a previous ASD."

You can read the full article here:

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/ss/ss6503a1.htm

For more information about the Autism Society and Autism Awareness Month, visit:

http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/national-autism-awareness-month

Local Autism Support Centers and Activities:

Autism Awareness

Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that perspective is even more amazing than yours.