Today, April 2 has been designated by the UN as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD). This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days. The other two are diabetes and AIDS. The goal of WAAD is to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention.
This is a good, but why just encourage early intervention? Don't get me wrong early intervention is important. However, as I have stated before time and time again, there is no cure all for autism. While many people respond incredibly well to early intervention, many don't. As a society we need to support individuals living on the spectrum. They don't need pity - who wants to be pitied for who they are??? However, depending on the individual, they may need services, accommodations and a little understanding to be successful.
In the end we are all better off if everyone has the support to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Happy World Autism Day
2 comments:
I totally agree . . . there is great merit in remediation whatever the age. I could not have predicted how far Pamela has come in the past five years after I stumbled on the right interventions for her needs!!!!
But it needs to start somewhere and I'm tired of the HFA/Aspie end getting all the "goodie" press about how "wonderful" it is and if only they had a little bit of help.
When parents like Estee (Joy of Autism and The Autism Acceptance Project) say they won't allow their children extra therapies and that their children should be allowed to evolve.... This is good b/c?????
That's what ticks me off. That assumption that I am bad for teaching my children by these adult autistics who think I'm a horrible parent. Those same autistics over on the Autism Hub bashing us parents during Autism Awareness Month.
Awareness has to start somewhere, early learning, early speech therapy, early teaching of social/daily living skills, is a good thing for all children, including those with autism. It starts there, it spreads through the school system by parents that have been there/done that and then spreads into the adult care system as those children become older.
I don't want my child stuck in an institution just b/c someone who's an adult on the spectrum says he should be allowed to "evolve" and not be taught. Personally, I think they're scared. Scared that if it can be shown that a child with autism can become a functioning, employable, relationship enjoying, person as an adult.... they'll lose their $$$$$$$$$$$ and people will start asking... why can't you do??????
S.
Post a Comment