by Dawn Marcotte

Created on: April 07, 2010

Autism is a disease with a cause that remains a mystery. There are no definitive diagnostic tests, treatment varies widely and educating the public is essential. Autism effects approximately 1 in 150 children in America and while the variety of treatments available have increased dramatically in the last 10 years, there is still work to be done. A day dedicated to this mysterious disease will help to increase awareness of how many people this developmental disability effects.

Autism is not a single disease, but a spectrum. Severely autistic people are often unable to communicate with others verbally, have significant social difficulties and may not even be able to live at home with their families. Aspergers, or high functioning autism, is at the other end of the spectrum. These individuals are highly intelligent and focused, but lack many social skills. Most individuals with autism fall between these two extremes. Autism encompasses one or more of the following: social skill difficulties, sensory integration problem, non verbal learning disabilities, heightened sensitivity to sound, taste, smell or texture and motor skill problems. Each individual is different and a specific treatment plan is created to suit their personality and needs.

Research has shown that early intervention is key. A day devoted to autism can be used to coordinate events such as early childhood screening and informational meetings for parents and educators. A child who is diagnosed before entering school can receive services that will help them be successful in a traditional school setting. A student who is diagnosed in grade school can be taught the social skills that are so important in middle school and beyond. A middle school student can learn organizational skills that will carry over into adulthood. A high school student can master the subtleties of non verbal social skills that will be important in job interviews. Whenever the diagnosis is given treatment will help address specific issues and problems for that individual.

A day to increase awareness of autism can be used to raise funds for research. Ongoing research is essential to create new treatments, drugs and finally determine a cause of this lifelong illness. Local organizations and individuals can utilize the designated day to organize events such as dinner, auctions, races or any other event that can be used to raise money. Having a specific day will also help get the information into the media as local news is more likely to advertise an event when it is part of a national day.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Marcotte.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.