Help With Autism

Children with autism may not get a lot of joy out of the season’s hot new toy. Knowing that, many parents of autistic children struggle with what to buy their child. Fortunately, a new San Francisco based autism awareness website has some stellar suggestions.

At the top of their list is the iPad. Yes, it’s pricey, but it can be loaded with games and activities that autistic children respond to. Unsurprisingly, Legos, video games, and sensory toys like stuffed animals are also appropriate.

According to CDC estimates, 1 in 110 children in the U.S. fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. Previously, researchers thought that the likelihood that a younger sibling of a child with autism to also be autistic was between 3 and 14 percent. Now researchers believe that the risk is actually closer to 19 percent.

Overall, the average risk for the sample was 18.7 percent. Some children had even high risk. For instance, families with male children had a recurrence risk of 26.2 percent (autism awareness has taught us that males are more likely to be autistic). Younger siblings with more than one older sibling with autism have a one in three chance, or 32 percent chance, of being autistic. This research is certainly alarming and is further reason that a cure needs to be

It always warms my heart to learn about communities that champion acceptance for individuals with autism and their families. One such community is located in Westminster, MD. Pathfinders for Autism and Denny’s have teamed up for an Autism Awareness Night.

The event, to be held later this month, has been specially planned with the needs of autistic people in mind. For instance, the background music will be much softer and a quiet area will be set up. Staff will be trained in autism sensitivity. As icing on the cake, ten percent of the evening’s profits will go to Pathfinders for Autism, which was founded in part by Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer B.J. Surhoff and his wife Polly.

Childhood disintegrative disorder is another form of autism, which is more commonly referred to as autism spectrum disorders. These persuasive developmental disorders are typically characterized by varying degrees of impairment in social skills and general communication and may include restricted and repetitive behaviors. Rett syndrome is know to primarily affect females and is only seen in one out of every 10,000 to 15,000 people. This type of autism is also characterized by impaired communication and social skills as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors.

Rounding out this session of autism awareness is the final type of autism:. This category of autism is defined by delays in the development of socialization and communication skills. Parents may recognize such symptoms as early as infancy. Other symptoms may include a difficulty with changes in routine or changes in familiar surrounding as well as unusual play with toys and other objects.

Founded in 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, Autism Speaks was developed as an autism science and advocacy organization. Today, the program had emerged into the nation’s largest program of its kind. And to think it only took the belief and strength of two people, the grandparents of one autistic child, to bring this noble organization to life.

Autism Speaks is dedicated to funding research for the exploration of prevention, causes, treatments, and cure for autism. Secondly, the organization strives to promote increasing autism awareness and the spectrum of disorders to a child’s behavior and cognitive capabilities it can bring. The Wrights are also determined to unite the autism community as a powerful voice among government and health officials to promote change within the treatment of autism.

When your child is diagnosed with autism, it’s only natural to wonder if it is because of something you did. But please don’t worry and certainly don’t blame yourself. The truth remains, unfortunately, that most of the time parents will never know why their child developed or what may have caused this condition. Therefore, if you put the blame on yourself, you’re only in for a guilt-ridden life of pain and worry.

The causes of autism are an area of interest for parents and for medical practitioners worldwide. Two theories that are vaccination related continue to exist in the chatter of parents of autistic children. The first vaccination theory states that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination has led to the development of autism in certain children while other people believe that the mercury contained in other vaccinations for perseveration has led to autism in children. And while medical authorities continue to refute both theories, parents are constantly left in uncertainty.

Parents with special needs children face daily challenges. When a child is school age the state is required to educate and work with your child. What happens when a special needs child ages out of the system? This can be a scary prospect for many parents who have concerns about where their child will continue to get help and what will happen when parents are no longer able to take care of their special needs child.

I found an article on St. Louis Today’s website that was particularly uplifting. The article put a spotlight on the Midwest Adult Autism Project which focuses on helping clients reach tailor-made goals. The Project focuses on the autism spectrum from those with Asperger’s syndrome to those who are severely autistic. The two boys featured in the article have made great strides in behavior management. Though only one of the boys featured can hope to one day live independently, both have a better future for having taken part in the program. I would encourage all parents of autistic children to look for these inspirational articles on autism, to give hope during stressful times.

The varied causes of autism remain a hot debate in the medical community. Whether people attribute it to birth defects mercury poisoning or some other unknown cause, everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject. Mercury poisoning tends to be the most controversial as mercury is a common ingredient in almost all immunizations. Immunizations have been cited as instrumental in eliminating common diseases such as polio.

On the other hand, some people think the mercury used to preserve these immunizations is instrumental in the development and increase in autism. With the number of cases rising sharply the medical community struggles to find the cause. Finding effective treatments and solutions will rely largely on finding the cause of autism. But while the cause remains a mystery there are still many options for parents of autistic children. Do your research and find the strategies that will work best with your family.

In a viral campaign to raise autism awareness thousands of people around the world shut down their social networking activity on November 1, 2010. The move is intended to emulate the social impediments that many people with autism endure on a daily basis. To turn off your social network for a day should allow a person to temporarily emulate the communication challenges so many suffer with every day of their lives. With autism spectrum disorders on the rise such a movement is none-too-soon. Trying to shirk stereotypes and stay in the mainstream, many autistics champion the viral campaign but it is not without its detractors.

Some people criticized the campaign’s attempt to emulate social challenges faced by autistic children and adults. Others, including those living with autism, decided to take the day as an opportunity to speak out about their experiences. From day-to-day people with autism live in a foreign land, surrounded by people who either can’t understand or just don’t want to. The largest sufferings seem to stem from the social barriers faced by autistics so I can see how the social networking campaign was certainly a unique idea. Anything that gets autism front and center in our social conscience is helpful.