Last month, we discussed several important issues regarding the autistic community and their loved ones. This article will provide a summary of the topics talked about, reiterating their timeliness and significance.
Autism Awareness Month 2023 – The Facts
Updated Autism Statistics in the US
In 2022, the most recent reports showed that around 1 in 44 children were identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In 2023, that number skyrocketed to 1 in 36. To put this into perspective, when my son Aidan was diagnosed in 2005, ASD was identified in around 1 in 150 children. So, from 2005 to 2023, there has been a ~300% increase in ASD diagnoses.
Autism Awareness Month 2023 – Autism Is Not a Blessing
Autism – A Love-Hate Relationship
I feel frustrated whenever someone says, “Autism is a blessing.” If autism were a blessing, I would not be spending my life advocating for people with autism and other neurobiological disorders. If autism were a blessing, my son Aidan would be able to feed himself. He would have the ability to express himself in words. He would go on to lead a “normal” life, and years from now, I could be welcoming grandchildren into the world.
Autism is not a blessing.
Autism Awareness Month 2023 – Enaction Speaks Louder Than Words
Year-Round Autism Awareness
Supporting the autistic community and their loved ones is a lifelong commitment, not to be relegated to only one month out of the year.