Today is the beginning of Autism Awareness / Acceptance Month. Of course, I have something to say about it. This is long, so bear with me... Theres a lot you can do this month and youll see all sorts of blue lights and puzzle pieces for sale. Im not much for gimmicks, so I wont tell you to run out to the nearest hardware store and buy every blue light they have in stock. I wont ask you to change your profile to some little blue square. And I personally dont think a puzzle piece will ever be able to symbolize the life of an autistic individual. Call me old fashioned, but I think there are better ways to spend your time and money. Puzzles pieces and blue lights do not improve someones quality of life. So what can you do? Theres a lot you can do and the majority of these things wont cost you a single dime. If you are a parent, first and foremost, learn the signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder in infants and toddlers. Ill put a link in the comments for a great website to help you out. I want you to look for these early signs not so you can seek some cure, but rather, so you can seek out early intervention. Early intervention wont stop your child from being autistic, but it will help provide the foundation for learning valuable social communication skills, social emotional skills, and coping mechanisms for handling sensory challenges. If you are a parent of a child who does not display any characteristics of ASD, you can still do something. You can teach your own children the value of making friends with an autistic person. You can teach your own children the meaning of inclusion and embracing differences. You can teach your children all that and more by MODELING these values in your own words and actions with others. If you are an educator, spend some time learning about the characteristics of ASD and how YOU can make a difference in your classroom. I guarantee you, at some point a person with ASD will walk into your class and you CAN make a difference in this students life, but only if you are educated specifically about Autism. Stay up-to-date in your knowledge of ASD--so much can change in just a single year. There ARE opportunities for free continuing education, but even if you have to spend a little money, trust me, it is an investment worth making. If you are a doctor, please, I beg of you, LISTEN to parents. If parents have concerns, most likely those concerns are real and reflect deeper developmental issues. Dont be afraid to refer and evaluate. Dont be afraid of early intervention. USE these programs so that you may benefit your patient for the rest of their life. Learn to think outside of the spectrum and recognize the signs of pain in your autistic patients. It is not always Autism, sometimes there is something else preventing your patient from reaching the quality of life he or she deserves. Be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. If you are a community member, invest in local groups that benefit individuals with Autism and other disabilities by giving your time, and if at all possible, your money. And when you do donate, donate locally. I promise you, there is a group, a clinic, a program, a school in your community RIGHT NOW, that could benefit from some extra support. Educate yourself about Autism. Most ASD groups will offer free training if you but ask for it. The more you know, the more you will understand the actions and words of those you might be judging every time you venture out to a restaurant or store. If you are a neighbor to an individual with Autism, reach out across the fence and get to know this person and his or her family. Trust me, it will be worth it. If you are an employer in your community, consider the value of hiring an autistic individual. If the job is the right fit, believe me when I say, it will be worth it. You will likely find the best employee youve ever had. So take a moment this month to think beyond blue lights and puzzle pieces to consider how YOU can make a difference in someones life. I guarantee you, you have a role to play in improving the lives of people with ASD in your community.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 14:11:05 +0000
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