AUTISMAUTISM

1 out of every 110 1 out of every 110 children is diagnosed children is diagnosed

with Autism.with Autism.

1.5 million people in the U.S. are 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected.affected.

Tens of millions are affected Tens of millions are affected worldwide.worldwide.

67 children will be 67 children will be diagnosed today.diagnosed today.

Boys are 4x more likely Boys are 4x more likely to be diagnosed.to be diagnosed.

Autism impairs the ability to Autism impairs the ability to communicate and relate to communicate and relate to

others.others.

People People with with

Autism Autism are:are:

I am a mother of a I am a mother of a childchild with with AutismAutism

His name His name is is

EvanEvan

He is funny, bright and kind He is funny, bright and kind and a blessing to our and a blessing to our

family.family.

There is NO cure There is NO cure for Autism.for Autism.

There are different degrees There are different degrees of Autism, called a spectrum.of Autism, called a spectrum.

Some people with Some people with Autism can function Autism can function

very well while others very well while others have more difficulty.have more difficulty.

Some have difficulty Some have difficulty with certain sights, with certain sights,

sounds or touch.sounds or touch.

and a desire forand a desire foracceptance.acceptance.

Some autistic people have Some autistic people have unusual fears, anxiety, unusual fears, anxiety,

depression,depression,

A person with Autism can A person with Autism can become frustrated by things become frustrated by things

that don’t affect others.that don’t affect others.

They just want to be They just want to be accepted and treated with accepted and treated with

respect.respect.

People without Autism People without Autism sometimes do not sometimes do not

understand the feelings understand the feelings that an autistic person that an autistic person

is feeling.is feeling.

That includes doctorsThat includes doctorsand teachersand teachers

……and even and even parents.parents.

People with Autism may fixate People with Autism may fixate on a particular interest and on a particular interest and

often find success in that field often find success in that field

as adults.as adults. Engineering, computers, Engineering, computers,

science, music science, music

People with Autism prefer People with Autism prefer structure and routine and may structure and routine and may become upset if their routine is become upset if their routine is

interrupted.interrupted.

A puzzle piece is the A puzzle piece is the symbol for Autism…symbol for Autism…

……because Autism is because Autism is puzzling to people who puzzling to people who

do not have it.do not have it.

But it But it doesn’t doesn’t need to need to be be puzzling puzzling if we just if we just accept accept an an autistic autistic person person for who for who they are.they are.

Sometimes autistic Sometimes autistic children are forced to children are forced to

change.change.

But that is not fair But that is not fair because it is simply because it is simply

who they are.who they are.

Would YOU want to be Would YOU want to be changed just for being changed just for being

you?you?

Autistic people can Autistic people can sometimes appear to sometimes appear to

lack intelligence when, lack intelligence when, in fact, they are often in fact, they are often

highly intelligent.highly intelligent.

They just don’t know They just don’t know how to communicate to how to communicate to

show how intelligent show how intelligent they are.they are.

It is frustrating to them It is frustrating to them because they are because they are

searching for the words searching for the words to communicate.to communicate.

Help make those with Help make those with Autism feel accepted Autism feel accepted

and respected.and respected.

Just like you, Just like you, they deserve they deserve

dignity.dignity.

Don’t expect them to be Don’t expect them to be just like you.just like you.

Accept their differences.Accept their differences.

April is Autism Awareness April is Autism Awareness MonthMonth

April 2April 2ndnd is World is World Autism Autism

AwareneAwareness Dayss Day

Empire State Building

New York City

Miami Tower

Miami, FL

JFK Air Traffic Control Tower

New York City

Kingdom Tower

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Michael Fowler Centre Wellington, New Zealand

Wrigley Building

Chicago, IL

Los Angeles International Airport

On the night of April 1, buildings across the world will be lit blue to raise awareness for Autism and

to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Friday, April 2.

You can show your You can show your support by wearing support by wearing

blue and talking with blue and talking with your family and friends your family and friends

about Autism.about Autism.

Thank you to Evan who Thank you to Evan who has taught me to see has taught me to see the world in a unique the world in a unique and beautiful way and and beautiful way and who allows me to share who allows me to share his story.his story.

Portions of this presentation are adapted from other beautiful You Tube videos and presentations.Portions of this presentation are adapted from other beautiful You Tube videos and presentations.

Music:Music:1. Part of My Heart1. Part of My Heart

2. Bittersweet2. Bittersweetby Jim Brickmanby Jim Brickman

(Played in the delivery room when Evan was born)(Played in the delivery room when Evan was born)

•‘‘Mother’s View on Autism’ at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucfo9EfQClYMother’s View on Autism’ at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucfo9EfQClY•‘‘Hope for Autism & Aspergers Syndrome: My Story’ at Hope for Autism & Aspergers Syndrome: My Story’ at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV_CcmLlaw4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV_CcmLlaw4•‘‘In My Mind’ by Alex Olinkiewicz at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgUjmeC-4oIn My Mind’ by Alex Olinkiewicz at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgUjmeC-4o