April=Autism Awareness Month

April is autism awareness month, along with poetry month. On April 1 places around the globe have been lighting up blue. Everywhere from the Empire State Building, to The White House, to the Opera house in Sydney Australia, and everywhere in between. This month we are encouraged to put on blue clothing. Blue is the color of Autism. So that is why places around this globe have been going blue.

The number right now for autism is staggering, and they are estimated to be growing. The current number right now is 1 in 110 children will be diagnose with autism. 1 in 70 boys will be diagnose with autism,( numbers from Autism Speaks), Remember this is just the current numbers, they may change latter this year and I do expect it to change.

Now my nephew and oldest brother is currently on the the autism spectrum. People keep telling me:

"But they don't "look" like they have autism"

My answer is:

"What are they suppose to "look" like?"

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints says this about autism:

"Autism is a disability with characteristics that vary across a wide spectrum. While persons with autism can’t be identified by their physical appearance, they have similar attributes that can be observed. They usually have difficulties with language or communication, social skills and behavior, often due to sensory difficulties. Children with severe autism may be nonverbal and seem unaware of other people. Those with mild autism can appear to be incredibly smart, but may seem very odd in social interactions. Most people with autism are somewhere in the middle. Even though they have difficulty expressing their feelings and relating to others, people with autism still sense how others feel about them.

Whether a person’s autism is mild, moderate, or severe, it is commonly accepted to be a lifelong developmental disability . The exact causes of autism are unknown; however, it is a brain-based disorder. It is clear that individuals with autism are born with the disorder or born with the potential to develop it. Autism is not caused by bad parenting. "

I could not have said this better then my self. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also provides information on what to look for, ways to help, and teaching tips. So please click on the link to get additional information. The website also provides additional links to other autism websites, also other information to other disabilities. All of this information is not only exclusive to the people who belong to this church. The information that the link provides belongs to everyone everywhere.

Please put on some article of blue clothing during this month and support Autism Awareness.

Cheers Everyone!