World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated on April 2nd every year to raise awareness about people with autism throughout the world. You! takes a look...
autism
World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated on April 2nd every year to raise awareness about people with autism throughout the world. You! takes a look...
What is Autism?
Autism is a complex neurobehavioral condition that includes impairments in social interaction and developmental language and communication skills combined with rigid, repetitive behaviours. Autism often involves difficulties in listening and/or concentration skills: a child with autism can sometimes seem either unresponsive or easily distracted because of sensory issues or because their social ‘presence’ isn’t as responsive to other people as the average child of their age.
Autism is described as a spectrum condition (ASD). This means that while people with autism, including Asperger’s Syndrome, share certain characteristics, they will be highly individual in their needs and preferences. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may face additional challenges, including learning disabilities, which affect them so profoundly that they need support in many areas.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of autism typically appear during the first three years of life. A common early sign of autism is that a child doesn’t start to speak at the usual age, or sometimes only speaks in ‘echolalia’ - repeating apparently random sounds or phrases over and over again. Children with autism have trouble communicating. They have trouble understanding what other people think and feel. This makes it very hard for them to express themselves either with words or through gestures, facial expressions, and touch.
Children who are autistic may have repetitive, stereotyped body movements such as rocking, pacing, or hand flapping. They may have unusual responses to people, attachments to objects, resistance to change in their routines, or aggressive or self-injurious behaviour.
What causes Autism?
Experts are still uncertain about all the causes of autism. In all likelihood, there are multiple causes - rather than just one. It appears to be that a number of different circumstances - including environmental, biologic, and genetic factors - set the stage for autism and make a child more likely to have the disorder.
People with certain genetic disorders, such as fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex and Angelman syndrome, also tend to have autism, experts say.
Treatment of Autism:
There is no cure for autism spectrum disorders. However, there are behavioural and educational therapies that may help reduce symptoms. And early diagnosis is the key to connecting children with autism to treatment. Common autism treatments include behaviour therapy, speech-language therapy, play-based therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nutritional therapy. There are many things parents can do to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) overcome their challenges.
Tips for parents:
Learn about autism: The more you know about autism spectrum disorder, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed decisions for your child. Educate yourself about the treatment options, ask questions, and participate in all treatment decisions.
Accept your child, quirks and all: Rather than focusing on how your autistic child is different from other children and what he or she is “missing,” practice acceptance. Enjoy your kid’s special quirks, celebrate small successes, and stop comparing your child to others. Feeling unconditionally loved and accepted will help your child more than anything else.
Don’t give up: Don’t jump to conclusions about what life is going to be like for your child. Like everyone else, people with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities.
Be consistent: Creating consistency in your child’s environment is the best way to reinforce learning. Find out what your child’s therapists are doing and continue their techniques at home.
Praise them when they act appropriately or learn a new skill.
Life with Autism:
Research suggests that early intervention can often make a huge difference to the lives of people with autism. Some individuals grow up to manage quite independently (with or without early support), but even the most independent people are still dealing with a complicated condition. The right help can be incredibly important, and the sooner they get it, the better.
In the bigger picture, we can build towards a society that recognises children and young people with autism for who they are: valuable human beings, deserving of support and full of potential.
Society is far from fully accepting autism yet, but we make progress all the time, and we believe that by working together and believing in people - both in our cherished children and young people and in the power of ‘ordinary’ people to make the world a better place - we can all accomplish great things.
World Autism Day:
On November 1st, 2007, the United Nations (UN) called for one day each year to be designated as World Autism Day. On December 18, 2007, the UN General Assembly designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. It was first observed in 2008.
World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) aims to put a spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism - and others living with autism - face every day. As a growing global health issue owing to its increasing exposure in the press and common knowledge, autism is an issue that is only gaining more understanding - and WAAD activities are planned every year to further increase and develop world knowledge of children and adults who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
What’s more, World Autism Awareness Day goes one step further to celebrate the unique talents of those with autism. Putting a huge focus on welcoming these skills through community events around the globe is necessary for such people.
The day often features educational events for teachers, health care workers and parents, as well as exhibitions showcasing work created by children with autism.
