Today is Autism Awareness Day worldwide(April is also Autism Awareness Month). For many of my clients, everyday is Autism day- and some days are better than others. From Autism Speaks website:
Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others... Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins Hospital. At the same time, a German scientist, Dr. Hans Asperger, described a milder form of the disorder that is now known as Asperger Syndrome (read more). These two disorders are listed in the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as two of the five developmental disorders that fall under the autism spectrum disorders. The others are Rett Syndrome, PDD NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder), and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. All of these disorders are characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and social abilities, and also by repetitive behaviors... Autism spectrum disorders can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, although new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as 6 months. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills. Pediatricians may initially dismiss signs of autism, thinking a child will “catch up,” and may advise parents to “wait and see.” New research shows that when parents suspect something is wrong with their child, they are usually correct.
Early diagnosis and intervention seem critical to the success of treatment. This is why it is so important to me to get the word out. Your son or daughter may not be affected, but chances are- that you will know someone whose child will be affected. Please educate yourself about Autism, and support organizations like Autism Speaks this tax year. According to the Better Business Bureau Autism Speaks has spent 17.5 million dollars towards research, and another 6.6 million to boost awareness. UnScripted Photography and Project Jack are proud to support Autism Speaks. www.autismspeaks.org
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