Autism Awareness

Four years ago, April 2nd didn't mean anything to me.  Usually it meant the beginning of MLB, and the day before my mother's birthday.  That changed 3 1/2 years ago.

Most of you know the story by now, but we'll do a brief re-cap.  We were leaving Luxembourg on the way to Bolivia, when we had to stop in Washington, DC.  My wife felt there was something wrong with my daughter, but couldn't put her finger on it.  She took her to a pediatrician who said everything was fine.  Enjoy Bolivia, she said.  But my wife couldn't stop thinking there was a problem.  Her language wasn't coming along, and there were other issues as well.  She called a speech therapist to see my lovely daughter, and even though not qualified to diagnose, suggested immediately that we get in touch with a develpmental pediatrician.  Sure enough, the diagnosis came: Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The stats say 1 in 88 children in the US now are on the Autism Spectrum.  What it doesn't say is who those people are.  It also doesn't talk about adults who are on the Spectrum, and how we've failed to give them more help.  We've been sidetracked by talk of vaccines, and cures and other things that supposedly help.  I can understand parents wanting to help their children, and doing the most to give them a normal and healthy life.  I also know how lucky I am to have a highly functioning child on the spectrum, who has grown tremendously over the past year she's been at a new school.

Listen, we need to focus on helping people on the spectrum become a part of society.  In the future there will be more of them, and they might need some extra help. You know what?  I think that's ok.  If they can function in society and maybe need just a little nudge, then you give them the nudge.  

Some people are looking for the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder, and why there has been a rise in diagnosis over the past 20 years.  Well, I think one of the reasons is that people know what they're looking for now.  Also, they aren't focusing solely on the boys anymore, which is brilliant.  My daughter isn't like a boy on the spectrum, so you can't use the same diagnostics.  Each person is different.  Yes, they share traits, but you can't pigeonhole someone.

Today is Autism Awareness Day.  If you're saying, I don't know anyone with Autism, well you know my daughter through my writing.  Remember though that Autism is only a piece of who she is.  She's more than that, and so are the millions of others world-wide that are on the Spectrum.  Give them a thought today, and maybe realize that we're all in this together.