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April is Autism Awareness Month. UN has declared April 2nd 2012 is WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY. On this day, many buildings and major landmarks around the world will participate in the "SHINE A BLUE LIGHT ON AUTISM" on April 2, 2012. Show your support and shine a blue light if you can🤗.
A few days ago, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States announced that the newly-released statistics suggests that now 1 in 88 children have an Autism Spectrum Disorder which is up from 1 in 110 released in 2009. Boys with autism outnumber girls by 5-to-1, according to the CDC report, which estimates that 1 in 54 boys in the United States have autism up from 1 in 70 three years ago. Autism has reached epidemic proportions that it now outnumbers HIV-Aids, juv. diabetes and childhood cancers combined.
By now, almost every one of us either has a family member or know a family or friend living with a person with autism. Even as people become more aware of autism, many are still misinformed or uninformed about the nature of the disorder. What is often frowned upon and labelled by some as immature and improper public behavior of those affected by autism, is actually their struggle to cope with the bombardment of multi-sensory stimulation they encounter everywhere around them.
People with autism can be extremely sensitive to some of the multi-sensory stimulation and do their best to cope with it in the best way they know how. In spite of their challenges with support and guidance they learn to comply with the society's rules. The rest of us need to do our part and reach out to include them in activities they can participate. In the absence of sensory overload they can successfully engage with others and be productive. They have unique skills that can be channeled to make them productive contributors in many sectors.
People with special needs face many challenges that the rest of us take for granted to get through life everyday. They are often judged by members of our society for the challenges they face, yet they rarely judge another. People with autism can teach us a lot about what really matters in life. They teach us acceptance, patience, tolerance, and inclusion. We for our part can teach them to do the things that come most naturally to us.
This April, if you see a person with autism or their family member, be sure to give them a smile to light up their day and yours.
Shiv Shakti
Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon
