Today Is World Autism Awareness Day - April 2

Today (April 2) is World Autism Awareness Day, so the month of April is considered Autism Awareness Month. Having three cousins with autism, I would like to help spread awareness about this disorder. I am standing up for autism. I will be participating in the Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop put on by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer(http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2011/03/upcoming-event-autism-awareness.html), so come visit again from April 11-14 to win some great books about Autism. Free Spirit Publishing will be donating some copies of the wonderful Autism book, How To Talk To An Autistic Kid by Daniel Stefanski (a 14 yr. old autistic kid) to help the cause, which I will be reviewing on the blog. Please feel free visit their website at: http://www.freespirit.com/. I will also be giving away an autism book. Thanks!

Below is some information about autism and some videos to highlight world autism awareness day.


What is Autism?
(According to this Source:http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm)

"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autistic disorder, sometimes called autism or classical ASD, is the most severe form of ASD, while other conditions along the spectrum include a milder form known as Asperger syndrome, the rare condition called Rett syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Although ASD varies significantly in character and severity, it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group."


Some Autism Statistics:
(According to the Source: http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/index.php)

• 1 in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.


• 1.5 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide are affected by autism.


• The prevalence rate of autism is increasing 10-17 percent annually.


• Boys are more likely than girls to develop autism and receive the diagnosis three to four times more frequently.


• In the United States alone, 1 out of 70 boys is diagnosed with autism.

What causes Autism?
(According to the Source: http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/index.php)

• The vast majority of cases of autism are idiopathic, which means the cause is unknown.

What Are Some Red Flags of Autism?
(According to the Sources: http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/index.php and http://www.firstsigns.org/)

If your baby shows any of these signs, please ask your pediatrician or family practitioner for an immediate evaluation:

• No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter


• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter


• No babbling by 12 months


• No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months


• No words by 16 months


• No two-word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months


• Any loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age

To Learn More About Autism, Please Visit The Following Websites:

• http://www.autismspeaks.org/index.php


• http://www.autism-society.org/


• http://autism-resources.com/


• http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org/site/c.egLMI2ODKpF/b.3917065/k.BE58/Home.htm


• http://www.lightitupblue.org/

For Donations of Your Time Or Money To Help With Autism, Please Visit:

• http://action.autismspeaks.org/page/content/give/

Here Are Some Video Resources Showcasing Autism For World Autism Awareness Day:

World Autism Awareness Day 2011 -Message by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

(Video Source is from youtube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ylB8nPUtaw&feature=related)

World Autism Awareness Day April 2, 2011 (Video Source is from youtube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InbmVxpUZFE)

Autism Awareness Day - April 2, 2011
(Video Source taken from youtube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5thQ77yBuo)

Light It Up Blue (Video and Video Description taken from the Source http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaZi04TMn5Q: "Owen Saunders and ten of his classmates recorded a song for Autism Speaks urging the world to Light It Up Blue for World Autism Awareness Day.")


-Elise