World Autism Awareness Day 2021
April is Autism Awareness Month and specifically, April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. Here at eLuma, we are deeply committed to supporting Autism Awareness. So in honor of today, we want to share a variety of resources.
What is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects communication, social skills, and behavior. Though it can be developed at any age, symptoms of ASD generally appear by ages 2-3.
What are the signs?
As part of their campaign “Spot ASD by 3”, the National Autism Association shares these 4 signs to help “S.P.O.T” the early signs of Autism.
S. Social Differences
Avoiding eye contact; not showing interest in other children; unusual play patterns; no pretend playP. Persistent Sensory Differences
Persistently getting upset over everyday sounds; over or underreacting to lights, smells, tastes, texturesO. Obsessive/Repetitive Behaviors
Flapping hands; rocking back & forth; having obsessive interests in a particular object or activityT. Talking/Communication Delays
Little to no babbling by 12 months; not saying a single word by 16 months; may appear deaf; loss of previous verbal skills or language
Because ASD is a spectrum disorder, its symptoms and severity vary greatly. Some individuals with ASD may also demonstrate impairments in food tolerance, fine and gross motor skills, sleep, or attention.
Statistics
In 2020, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 54 children has ASD.
Of the 1 in 54 children diagnosed in the CDC report, 33% had some form of intellectual disability.
ASD affects all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
ASD is more than 4x more common among boys than among girls.
How to Help
Here are “Five Good Rules for Autism-Friendly Schools” presented by The National Autistic Society.
You can find additional information and statistics through the CDC and the National Autism Association.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
National Autism Association https://nationalautismassociation.org/
