April 2nd is World Autism Awareness day, to celebrate we want to share a variety of resources with you.

What is Autism?

Autism, or Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects communication, social skills, and behavior. It is estimated that 1 in 54 children in the United States has ASD, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Symptoms of ASD generally appear by ages 2-3 and may include difficulties in the following areas:

Behavior:

• Rigidity of behavior and routines.
• Repetition of words or phrases the individual hears.
• Continued intense interest in a particular topic or object, with difficulty shifting focus.
• Sensory differences with varied sensitivity to light, noise, sound, texture, or temperature.

Communication:

• Following directions.
• Communicating wants and needs.
• Comprehending nonverbal communication, such as gestures.

Social Skills:

• Understanding others’ points of view.
• Difficulty initiating and maintaining conversation.
• Using appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, and tone of voice.

Statistics

• In 2020 the CDC determined that approximately 1 in 54 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• 1 in 34 boys identified with autism in 2016 (2020 report).
• 1 in 144 girls identified with autism in 2016 (2020 report).
• ASD is 4.5 times more common in boys than in girls.
• Most children are still being diagnosed after age 4, though autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as age 2.
• Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
• 44% of children with ASD have average to above-average intellectual ability.
• Early intervention affords the best opportunity to support healthy development and deliver benefits across the lifespan.

You can find additional information and statistics through Autism Speaks and Regis College.

History

Did you know the term “autism” was coined in 1911? Or that Asperger Syndrome was named after Hans Asperger, a Viennese pediatrician?

For more facts and insights, we encourage you to check out The Autism History Project. This website profiles people, ideas, and topics that shaped autism throughout the twentieth century and presents an archive of sources that illuminate that history.

A Message From The National Autistic Society

The National Autistic Society worked with friends from across the UK to share what autistic people and their families want the public to understand and handy tips on how the public can help support autistic people better. Watch the video below.

Sources

1. National Autism Association (https://nationalautismassociation.org/)
2. National Autistic Society (https://www.autism.org.uk/)
3. Autism Speaks (https://www.autismspeaks.org/)
4. CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html)
5. The Autism History Project (https://blogs.uoregon.edu/autismhistoryproject/)
6. eLuma (https://www.elumatherapy.com/online-speech-therapy/autism-spectrum-disorder/)
7. Regis College (https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder/)