April is Autism Awareness Month! Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with Autism and 1 in 45 adults are diagnosed with Autism.
For ASD, there is a level of severity that should be specified that ranges from Level 1 to Level 3. The severity levels focus on the level of impairment and also the level of support needed to be successful in day-to-day activities.
There are individual variations in the type and severity of the symptoms each person has. There is a saying in the autism community that “If you have met one person with Autism, you have met one person with Autism”. This speaks to the spectrum aspect of ASD. The way that the different strengths and challenges present is very different for every person.
Many of us know or work with children and/or adults that are on the ASD. It is critical that we support, advocate for, and celebrate these children and families. Everyone experiences the world differently, including people with ASD.
Some great resources for ASD are: