~~April 2, 2014~~
“World Autism Awareness Day is about more than generating understanding; it is a call to action. I urge all concerned to take part in fostering progress by supporting education programmes, employment opportunities and other measures that help realize our shared vision of a more inclusive world.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
Message for the World Autism Awareness Day 2014
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that manifests itself during the first three years of life. The rate of autism in all regions of the world is high and it has a tremendous impact on children, their families, communities and societies.
Throughout its history, the United Nations family has promoted the rights and well-being of the disabled, including children with developmental disabilities. In 2008, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into force, reaffirming the fundamental principle of universal human rights for all.
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day (A/RES/62/139) to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder so they can lead full and meaningful lives.
World Autism Awareness Day
April is Autism Awareness Month
The seventh annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2014. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. How will you celebrate? To share your events, photos and Autism Kindness Acts (#AKA) go to Autismspeaks.org/LIUB or click on the links on this page.
And if you’re on Twitter, use #LIUB to share your experience helping light the world up blue this April.
Learn how the world will Light It Up Blue for Autism Awareness on April 2.
World Autism Awareness Day has been held every year since 9 September 1989. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution “62/139. World Autism Awareness Day,” adopted on 18 December 2007, proposed by Qatar, and supported by all member states.[1][2][3][4] The resolution had four main components:
- the establishment of 2 April as WAAD
- participation of UN organizations, member states, NGOs and all private & public organizations in WAAD
- raise awareness of autism on all levels in society
- to ask the UN Secretary-General to deliver this message to member states and all other UN organs.
Autism Ontario celebrates World Autism Awareness Day by “Raising a Flag” for autism. Municipalities around Ontario raise a flag to raise awareness for autism in their region.
This year’s WAAD coincides with Onesie Wednesday, a day created by the National Autistic Society to encourage people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to show their support for anyone on the autistic spectrum. By wearing a onesie or pyjamas, participants are saying, “it’s all right to be different”.
~~What Is Autism?~~
What Is Autism? What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome.
ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art.
Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development.
However, the most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age. Autism Speaks continues to fund research on effective methods for earlier diagnosis, as early intervention with proven behavioral therapies can improve outcomes. Increasing autism awareness is a key aspect of this work and one in which our families and volunteers play an invaluable role.
How Common Is Autism?
Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 50 American children as on the autism spectrum–a ten-fold increase in prevalence in 40 years. Careful research shows that this increase is only partly explained by improved diagnosis and awareness. Studies also show that autism is four to five times more common among boys than girls. An estimated 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States.
ASD affects over 2 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide. Moreover, government autism statistics suggest that prevalence rates have increased 10 to 17 percent annually in recent years. There is no established explanation for this continuing increase, although improved diagnosis and environmental influences are two reasons often considered.
What Causes Autism?
Not long ago, the answer to this question would have been “we have no idea.” Research is now delivering the answers. First and foremost, we now know that there is no one cause of autism just as there is no one type of autism. Over the last five years, scientists have identified a number of rare gene changes, or mutations, associated with autism. A small number of these are sufficient to cause autism by themselves. Most cases of autism, however, appear to be caused by a combination of autism risk genes and environmental factors influencing early brain development.
In the presence of a genetic predisposition to autism, a number of nongenetic, or “environmental,” stresses appear to further increase a child’s risk. The clearest evidence of these autism risk factors involves events before and during birth. They include advanced parental age at time of conception (both mom and dad), maternal illness during pregnancy and certain difficulties during birth, particularly those involving periods of oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain.
It is important to keep in mind that these factors, by themselves, do not cause autism. Rather, in combination with genetic risk factors, they appear to modestly increase risk.
A growing body of research suggests that a woman can reduce her risk of having a child with autism by taking prenatal vitamins containing folic acid and/or eating a diet rich in folic acid (at least 600 mcg a day) during the months before and after conception.
Increasingly, researchers are looking at the role of the immune system in autism. Autism Speaks is working to increase awareness and investigation of these and other issues, where further research has the potential to improve the lives of those who struggle with autism.
~~Sources~~
http://www.un.org/en/events/autismday/
http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism
http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/world-autism-awareness-day
~~Published on Apr 1, 2013~~
Autism Awareness video using photos of children with Autism submitted by our wonderful friends at facebook.com/puzzlepiecefriends. Hope you enjoy!
We ALL are connected through HUMANITY!!
We ALL are ONE!!
It Is What It Is 
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
LikeLike
TY for the reblog, my brother!!! Hugs …. ❤
LikeLike
My husband has Asperger’s and we only found out within the last two years. We thought he was an asshole and it was Asperger’s all along. Realizing this, I put up with zero BS now.
LikeLike
Hope this helps!! Is everything ok with him and his “surroundings”??
Hope so. Hugs!!
LikeLike
He refuses to get an official diagnosis and anything I do or say he opposes. We went on a short vacation once to my home state and he drove between 40 and 50 miles per hour on interstate roads that are marked 65 mph in good weather and refused to let me drive. The trip normally took 11 to 13 hours and the time he drove it took 18 hours. That was the LAST vacation we ever took together and we were only married about six years.
Surroundings? He does not socialize and has no friends… he’s lucky he has family. He works, studies and reads. He spends the bulk of his time in a small home office when he is home. He says he will never be happy and he means it. He heard our daughters and me in the kitchen one holiday laughing and he told me he “wished” he could have fun like that.
He has three emotions: mad, angry and rage.
He has good attributes as well: He is very punctual, he pays all our bills or debts (we don’t have many), he is goal oriented, he loves work and he follows his routines.
He is an excellent provider but he is a lousy father. He is a lousy husband. He cannot make “polite conversation;” he stands in front of me and rants about politics, government, “idiots” at work and on the commute. He never mentions love or shows affection. This past Valentine’s Day was the first time in 33 years of marriage that he brought me anything and he handed me chocolate covered pretzels and a chocolate teddy bear (no mention of love or happy). He never gave me a wedding ring. He has never given me any gift. He has never appreciated anything I ever did except to say that I would have made a good engineer. Our daughters told me that he told them I can build anything and that I was the smartest woman he ever met.
There are many days I would give anything to have a regular husband who watched too much TV and talked about silly things he heard or saw during his day.
I started a blog once to vent and found I just do not have any free time.
Thanks, I can use all the hugs I can get.
PS: Neither he or I have or will ever cheat on the other.
LikeLike
Jackie …. I hardly have any words. Life can be hard sometimes and we need to accept that part and live the hand that we were dealt. On the other hand, you can get out of any situation that doesn’t suit you … generally speaking. Seems like a part of you is missing bc you don’t have that with him.
However, it’s not him … he’s not sick, he’s different. I don’t mean to “demean” your situation at all. I mean that you should be happy ….. we all should be happy. But who gauges happiness? It’s all very subjective. Carry on, my dear friend …. that’s the best way. Maybe life will surprise you some time.
Hugs …… from the heart!! ❤
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Mavadelo's mindscape and commented:
It’s World Autism Awareness Day, interesting Article from our resident Doctor Rex.
LikeLike
TY Martin .. for reblog!! I like that “resident doctor” …. reminds me of the “good” days!
Hugs, my brother!!
LikeLike
Great Post Rex! You are spreading Autism Awareness! God bless you!
LikeLike
Thank you, T … that is my intention. Spread what I know …. glad you liked it!!
LikeLike
I have a grandson who is autistic. He gets fixated on different things at different times, and is the love of my life. He is 17 now, and has been home schooled since first grade. His twin sister is in high school, older brother a college freshman, and younger brother is 11. I’m not sure where he is in school — the younger one. The twins and the older brother were all adopted from Romania, and my daughter has raised them to be proud of both their home country as well as their adopted country. The youngest is a biological miracle child, born after dozens of miscarriages, and prayers for a successful birth. My daughter is a super-mom who has taught her children well, and made me so proud of her.
After reading the reply above, I’m inclined to believe my ex-husband is autistic also. He could be the husband described in that one, except that he did cheat repeatedly, and as my MS got worse his neglect, hostility, abuse and anger got worse. The day I left was the turning point in my life, because it was the actual beginning of MY life. I learned how to laugh again, and will leave this earth with a giggle at some odd memory showing on my face.
LikeLike
My dear angel!!!! Life can be hard. Seems to be you are doing what needs to be done at this spot in your reality. At least, he’s your ex … you managed to get out. Lessons learned, right??
Hugs, dear new friend …. from the heart!! ❤ …
LikeLike
And hugs to you also. I have created an Angel Award for all of my angels both new and old, so please stop by my site and pick one up. http://kyangel17.wordpress.com Then help me spread the angels around the world.
LikeLike
Found it …. I will be writing a post about this soon!! Thanks to much, angel friend!!!
Hugs … from the heart!! ❤ …..
LikeLike
Pingback: when is autism awareness day | Autism Speaks Spectrum Disorder
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
MEDICAL CORNER ….. “World Autism Awareness Day” … April 2!
A throwback post! APRIL is Autism Awareness Month!!
LikeLike