April is Autism awareness month.
Original artwork by the sensational @rigaronib
Are you aware Autism exists? Yes? Great! Mission accomplished! All that is left is to hang up some blue decorations, display some puzzle pieces and give ourselves a big pat on the back.
If you are not aware of the existence of Autism, please check any of the five posts I have written about Autism (please see below).
Are you aware now? Great! Please see the first paragraph.
But wait. Now that we are all aware of the existence of Autism, is there anything else we should know?
Of course there is. First of all, not all organizations call it “Autism” anymore. In 2013, The American Psychiatric Association began placing all types of Autism under the umbrella of “Autism Spectrum Disorder” (ASD).
According the National Institute of Mental Health,
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a guide created by the American Psychiatric Association used to diagnose mental disorders, people with ASD have:
- Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people
- Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors
- Symptoms that hurt the person’s ability to function properly in school, work, and other areas of life
Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience.”
Let me stress that one more time “there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience.”
Autism is a spectrum much like this one. How many colors can you see? It is not as easy as ROYGBIV. Neither is understanding Autism.
There is also a wide variation on how people feel about Autism awareness month.
Some, like my neighbor, love it and use it as a motivation to hang their Autism flag and celebrate their son who is on the Autism spectrum. Others, like Kim Stagliano, despise the very idea of the month and wish no one would celebrate it. There are also many people who fall somewhere in between.
That is how a spectrum works. There are many shades between the two extremes.
Because my previous posts aligned very closely with my neighbors’ opinion, today I would like to focus on the other end of the spectrum.
How could anyone be against a day that raises awareness and celebrates the accomplishments of people on the Autism spectrum?
Wait. Someone is against Autism awareness month?
Yes. Because this month may not address the needs of everyone on the spectrum.
Perhaps it is because Autism is a broad spectrum and awareness days and months tend to focus on a very narrow section of it. I am guilty of this myself.
If you look back at my posts, you will see they all center around people (mostly children) who are on the higher functioning part of the spectrum. Those posts were all written from the point of view of a teacher of students who fit into that category. I want my students to be treated with dignity and respect. As a result, I used those posts as a way to educate, fight ignorance, and celebrate the awesome things my students have and will accomplish.
However, there are many people who have far more significant needs than my students. Perhaps my posts made it seem like Autism is not that serious. It just merely causes people to behave and learn in slightly different ways.
That is true… for some people. But what about the parents who have children with far more significant needs?
Sure my students have difficulty communicating and interacting with people effectively, but what about the people on the spectrum who cannot communicate at all? What about the people who scream in pain when they are hugged? What about those who can not tolerate being in a room with other people? How about the ones who have such significant sensory need that they injure themselves in order to have those needs met? What about the adults who cannot care for themselves let alone get a job? After all, kids with Autism grow up to be adults with Autism.
Many of these people see Autism awareness day as a way to show that being on the spectrum "isn't that bad". Some feel this is a dangerous attitude in that it does not stress the urgency to discover treatment options or a cure.
This may be true for some, but I bet people who have loved ones with significant needs don't think this is very cute.
There are also people on the spectrum or the people who love them who are deeply offended that a person with ASD needs to be "cured" at all. To them, being on the Autism spectrum is simply like being on the "personality spectrum". Different people have different personalities. No one needs a "cure" for a unique personality. What they need is understanding and acceptance.
Was I purposely ignoring the people who lie outside of the narrow sliver of the spectrum on which I focus during Autism Awareness month?
No.
I was using a teaching strategy.
One way to teach a concept is to start with the familiar or simple and then show how something new ties to it. For example, when I teach my high school students about revolutions, I begin by briefly touching on the American Revolution (since they have studied it for years) and then demonstrate how other revolutions are similar or different to it. This technique creates a strong base from which to grow.
Ummm how about you start by teaching them about a light switch first?
Hopefully Autism awareness month is doing that as well. I believe the end goal of Autism awareness month should involve more than just making people aware of the existence of Autism. This month should be a start to providing benefits for as many people on the spectrum as possible.
Autism lies on a spectrum. Therefore, so should the month that seeks to benefit people affected by that spectrum. This spectrum may include understanding, acceptance, resources for families, educational breakthroughs, treatments and cures. However, because it is a spectrum and every case is unique, it also includes a myriad of things I can't even begin to list or possibly understand.
All I know is that I hope Autism awareness month continues to evolve into something that can begin to help meet the individual needs of people with ASD and the ones who love them. Perhaps it is time to follow Kim Stagliano's advice and turn this into Autism Action Month.
Although this is true, it will require different things for different people.
*As with all of my posts on this topic, I focus on the social, emotional and educational aspects of ASD as I feel I have some experience and knowledge in these areas. I do not address the science involved as I prefer to leave that up to those who have experience and expertise in that area. There are many resources online, including many posts here on the Steem Blockchain, that provide a platform for a scientific discussion. In addition, I do not feel like I am an "expert" when it comes to ASD. I recognize that each individual family has a unique experience. I am not an expert in these experiences. I am merely providing insight from the point of view of someone who has worked with many students on the spectrum.
Previous posts addressing the social, emotional and educational sides of ASD:
https://steemit.com/life/@hanshotfirst/autism-awareness-month-introduction
https://steemit.com/life/@hanshotfirst/a-super-hero-with-autism-inconceivable