Why is autism important to society?

Reducing challenging behaviors. Increasing frequency and consistency of desirable behaviors. Building and improving motor skills, social skills, communication skills, basic self-care abilities and other important life skills.

What makes autism unique?

Each child with autism spectrum disorder is a unique individual; people with ASD differ as much from one another as do all people. Children and adults with ASD may speak or interact with others. They may have good eye contact. They may be verbal or non-verbal.

Why is autism genetic?

Researchers have known that genes contribute to autism since the 1970s, when a team found that identical twins often share the condition. Since then, scientists have been racking up potential genetic culprits in autism, a process that DNA-decoding technologies have accelerated in the past decade.

How does autism impact the community?

As with most people, most individuals on the autism spectrum want friends and social engagement. Yet, social isolation is common among people on the autism spectrum. Trouble with communication and social interaction sometimes makes community participation difficult and friendships hard to attain.

Why is it important to talk about autism?

When we, as human beings, don’t have an effective way of communicating, we often learn other, less adaptive and potentially more dangerous ways of communicating what we want or need or feel. Having an effective way of communicating often makes those problem behaviors go away or at least decrease in intensity.

What causes autism in pregnancy?

Studies have linked autism to a number of factors in pregnancy, among them the mother’s diet, the medicines she takes and her mental, immune and metabolic conditions, including preeclampsia (a form of high blood pressure) and gestational diabetes.

What does the autism community need?

Raise awareness and understanding of autism and the effects on those individuals who care for a person diagnosed with autism. Provide education, training, and support to all those living with or involved with autism. Provide advocacy. Fund research into causes, preventions, and treatments.

Why are people afraid of children with autism?

Children with autism are taught to avoid “unexpected” responses to others—not because they are in any way harmful, but because the “unexpected” (rocking, flapping, asking the wrong question, repeating the same words, etc.) frightens people. 2  Parents and grandparents are often frightened by autism because they fear the worst for their child.

What are the scary facts about autism?

Scary Realities About Autism. Parents and grandparents are often frightened by autism because they fear the worst for their child. They assume that their child will be left out, bullied, ignored, or even abused. They believe that after they die their child will be a helpless pawn in the world of government agencies.

Is autism really that dangerous?

In rare cases, the experience of autism really is overwhelming, dangerous, and frightening. In most cases, however, the fear is out of proportion to the reality.

What are the causes of autism?

The causes of autism are not well understood. In general, people like to feel that they can protect themselves and their children from illness and injury. They use child carseats, buy organic fruit, go to the doctor, and otherwise do everything they can to stay well.