Random Work

Speech!!!

A u t i s m A w a r e n e s s

Does your baby rarely smile? Does he point to things when he wants them instead of telling you? Does he pick up toys once in a while, but do the same thing with them? Does he have extreme temper tantrums? If you answered yes to all of these questions your child may have autism. Don't worry your child can still have a good life, get an education and have a good job!

Did you know that one in 155 kids is now affected by autism and that there are more than 7,000 students in school who have autism. Autism is also called Autism Spectrum Disorder or ADS. The symptoms range from mild to severe. Which often include repetitive behaviour and difficulties with social interaction, communication and learning in the usual setting. Children with autism can have a high IQ or could be mentally slow, they can be chatty or silent, affectionate or cold, organized or disorganized. Did you know that studies show that signs of autism are usually present by the age of three years old and it is about four times more likely in boys than in girls. The diagnosis is mainly based on observation by a team of professionals, which include doctors, psychologists, speech therapists, teachers and more! Finally there is NO known cure for autism due to the fact that researchers and doctors don't fully understand where autism comes from. Some studies say that autism is caused by abnormal brain structure or function.

Did you know that family, friends, teachers, caregivers and more are all affected by a child with autism? Did you know that families who have a child with autism usually spend over $60,000 in expenses? The medication some children with autism are put on can cost up wards of $3,020 in annual costs depending on the spectrum. An EA for school can cost upwards of $8,610 per year. Sometimes autism can allow teachers to form new ways to teach the class as a whole, not just for that one child. When the child can't cooperate in class, they are placed into a special school for kids with disabilities. There are schools like this all over Canada for students with disabilities who need a smaller class to help them learn. Did you know that when you see a puzzle ribbon in multiple colours, then it is a autism ribbon? The puzzle pattern reflects the mystery and complexity of ADS. The different colours and shapes represent the diversity of the people and families living with autism. The brightness of the ribbon signals hope,hope that through increased awareness of autism, and through early intervention and appropriate treatments, people with autism will lead better lives.

Have you ever wanted to donate to an autism charity? Or, Help a family with a child who has autism? Firstly you could donate to an autism charity. Secondly if you can't donate to a charity you can make your own fundraiser or you can find a day where you can donate to dress down. On some websites your donation will be put towards programs that give parents, caregivers and professionals information about effective treatments and therapies or programs to support scientific research, to find the cause and cure for autism. On different websites you can find upcoming events in your area. For example, From April first to thirty you can light it up blue by bringing a donation of $5 per day to wear blue jeans at work throughout April. Now if you can't donate to a charity there are other ways to show your support towards autism. Like not calling a child disabled or saying out loud "Hey Autistic kid!" or "He's so autistic." because then your going to make the child feel even worse and your just showing people how rude you are. Instead you can say that they have a different ability because they can do most things we can do. For example, some can remember information such as dates, about their favourite things or shows!

Autism is a serious disability, that is still not fully understood. However, this does not mean you can push around a person with autism because they are still a human being like you so they too should be treated with love, kindness and respect. So the next time you see a person or child with a disability don't just jump to disrespect and judgment, first get to know them for who they are! Thank you.