Autism Awareness is not just about slogans, license plates, Autism Walks, or assorted news stories. The term carries a variety of implications, including:
Public Opinion
Awareness will come when we quit arguing about whether there is an autism epidemic or not.
We need to stop wasting time blaming Andrew Wakefield (the doctor from England who had the temerity to question the vaccine gods) for why we don’t have a cure for autism. If you want to blame someone, start with Leo Kanner and Bruno Bettelheim, who concluded that it was the result of faulty parenting.
Political / Legislative
This past August, “President Obama signed into law the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which will allow families with children with disabilities to save for college and other expenses in tax-deferred accounts. This piece of legislation is an important step toward empowering people with disabilities to achieve independence and affirms self-sufficiency.”
Insurance companies need to become more realistic about what services are required. The traditional therapies are effective, and should be reimbursed appropriately.
Autism awareness includes dealing with the situation of an aging ‘Spectrum’ population, and the resources that will be required.
Scientific
There will be more enlightenment when we stop focusing on the ‘anti-vaccine kooks’ and start researching an intelligent answer to the question, “Are all vaccinations good for all children all the time?”
We need to be cognizant that ASD continues to increase, and research has not yet uncovered the most basic questions of “Why, Who, or What?” “Where and When” is right here, right now.
Autism awareness includes mindfulness of the environmental impact.
Personal
Speaking of ‘awareness’, how about when a parent can go to the park and sit on a bench while the child plays (or tries to play) with the other kids?
Another example is the child’s awakening. Parents are thrilled when they no longer worry about elopement when the family is outside or in a crowd.
Finally, REAL autism awareness is when your child gives kisses and says, “Mommy, I love you!”
Thanks for this. I agree with it all and particularly with the insurance part. We are just bleeding out with everything being out of pocket. And this is just talking about direct autism help. This doesn’t even take into account other medical expenses that come from autism, like for example the fact that an autistic child may not sit through a dental appointment so they have to be sedated in a hospital. This is a luxury to the insurance companies and you have to pay it as so. And this is just one example of many.