Just during the holidays, on April 2nd, the eleventh annual World Autism Awareness Day took place. From the United States to China, landmarks, buildings and communities were all lit up blue alongside everyone who marched in order to raise awareness for the development disorder. Niagara Falls, the Empire State building, the Burj Al Arab, and the Sydney Opera House were just a few examples of sights coated in blue. Even the creator of Archie Comics- Nancy Silberkleit took part in this day by introducing a new character named Scarlet who has autism. Her character shows readers how to treat those who express themselves in a different way.
All this was part of the Light it Up Blue campaign which aims to encourage understanding and acceptance to all those with the disorder around the world.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. The term “spectrum” refers the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism. Although the exact cause of ASD is being researched, today it is believed to be a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Some risk factors in utero are believed to be any form of infection during pregnancy or if the mother ingests alcohol or drugs during the pregnancy but even this is only 1% of the cases. Of course, the controversy surrounds many other environmental factors such as vaccines causing autism but that has been proven wrong. Autism’s most-obvious signs tend to appear between 2 and 3 years of age. In some cases, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.
No single treatment is best and treatment is typically tailored to the child’s needs. Although, many medical advancements are made in the field, one of the main objectives are to improve the quality of life of anyone who has ASD.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. Autism can lead to and be accompanied by other medical and mental health issues such as seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias.
This Autism Awareness Day was a special one as the president of the United States and the United Nations recognized and proclaimed the day. Donald Trump stated that “on World Autism Awareness Day, let us renew our commitment to support the entire international ASD community, including children and adults with ASD, their families, and caregivers. Together, we can increase access to information, encourage heightened understanding of ASD, promote respect and dignity, and support the services that assist people with ASD to reach their full potential.”
