April is a month filled with love, excitement and a spirit of renewal. The month is filled with celebrations of all sorts: religious beliefs, social and regional just to name a few kinds. There is also something very important being recognized during this month. Not it is not the coming of the showers for all of the May flowers. April is Autism Awareness Month. This period of time has been set aside to educate the world at large of just what Autism Spectrum Disorder is and how a person can support those around them that may be affected by this disorder.
Autism is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of disorders. However, what they all have in common is that they cause communication difficulties and/or repetitive behaviors. This can affect a child or he or she can be affected by one of the many other forms of autism as well.
Autism has been on the rise recently. As someone who lives in this community, I have noticed a shift starting to take place with how people are approaching this disorder. Before autism was considered a "condition" that needed to be treated, it was looked upon as an issue that could be overcome through proper treatment and support from family members and friends alike.
This being said, let's get one thing clear. Autism is not a mental illness, virus, mental deficiency or even a deficiency in a person level of intelligence when they are discovered to be "on the spectrum." Autism can't be cured through pounds of medication or treated with barbaric treatments such as shock therapy or a lobotomy. As a matter of fact some of the most intelligent people in the world have been on the spectrum.
The inventor of the livestock squeeze process, Temple Grandin is a scientist and advocate for the humane treatment of livestock. She has won several awards, holds patents, is an accomplished author and has even had a movie made about her. She is also an outspoken advocate in the world for the treatment, support and understanding of Autism, being a shining example herself. That's right; she's Autistic.
Some of the most creative musicians and artists have been on the spectrum. With this month being shared with National Poetry Month, I would be remise if I didn't mention the fact that many of world's best poets and laureates are Autistic. They include greats such as William Carlos Williams, Ezra Pound and even the founder of this great country of ours, Ben Franklin.
As Autism Awareness Month winds down there are a few more things to keep in mind. First and foremost is that many people who are on the spectrum can be very gifted in a great many areas. There are millions of Autistic adults in this world. Many play vital roles in their communities including teachers, bus drivers and even doctors who work with autistic children every day.
Today is the day for you to love and support all members of your community! Autistic people are all around us; many that are high functioning members of society. This April, show your support for these exceptional people and let them know how loved they truly are.
