April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day

“On World Autism Awareness Day, we speak out against discrimination, celebrate the diversity of our global community and strengthen our commitment to the full inclusion and participation of people with autism.”

– Secretary-General António Guterres

World Autism Awareness Day with Lake Ridge Community Support Services icon & #celebratethespectrum

In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day, while Autism Speaks dedicates the month of April to increase understanding and acceptance and to foster support for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Autism Speaks, n.d.). This is done by lighting up buildings blue, wearing blue, knowledge sharing, and fundraising.

Individuals with ASD each have unique challenges, differences, and strengths, but all share certain common characteristics. Common challenges include difficulties with social communication and interaction, as well as restrictive or repetitive interests, behaviours, or activities that may impact daily life (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). One-third of individuals with ASD also have an intellectual disability, and one third remain non-verbal (Autism Speaks, n.d.). These individuals will fall along the autism spectrum based on the amount of supports needed, which can change for an individual throughout the lifespan. Applied Behaviour Analytic (ABA) services can promote independence and reduce the need for supports by teaching skills and reducing challenging behaviour, especially with early intervention.

1 in 66 children in Canada gets diagnosed with ASD every year, typically around the age of 2-4 years. Different combinations of genetic and environmental factors are now believed to cause Autism; however, those combinations and factors still largely unknown and require further research (Autism Speaks, n.d.).

Individuals on the spectrum largely have difficulties with social interactions, however, these difficulties can be exacerbated from the perception and judgments of those around them (Sasson, Faso, Nugent, Lovell, Kennedy, & Grossman, 2017). Peers that displayed these judgments showed to pursue social interaction with kids with autism less than those who did not show those judgments (Sasson et al., 2017). These judgments may contribute to social exclusion that individuals with ASD experience and may form in response to some of the common characteristics of ASD, such as difficulties with social skills, stereotypical movements, odd prosody of speech, unusual interests, or rigidity in routines. Peers may perceive these characteristics as unusual and not know how to interact with individuals with ASD.

Help end the stigma by talking to your children, family and friends about Autism and help spread awareness. Being informed on the challenges that these individuals face and what impairments they experience may help battle misconceptions about ASD and foster acceptance.

This April 2nd, send a message of understanding and acceptance by Lighting it up blue for World Autism Awareness Day. Wear blue, start a conversation, spread information, and show your support. Together we can make a more inclusive and accepting society for everyone.

To learn more about ASD or ABA visit www.lrcss.com.

References

Sonja Zdjelaric, M.ADS, Behaviour ConsultantLake Ridge Community Support Services