April Brings Attention To Autism And Child Abuse
Some of you may or may not know that April is National Autism Awareness Month. Awareness months are helpful because they help to bring public attention to issues facing many of our friends and families. Autism is no different. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the medical term for Autism is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is described as a group of developmental disabilities which can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.
The National Institute of Mental Health further characterizes ASD as:
• Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts;
• Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities;
• Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (typically recognized in the first two years of life); and
• Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.
It is important to note that individuals diagnosed with ASD differ greatly in their learning, thinking and problem-solving abilities. Those abilities can range from gifted to significantly disabling. Since the 1960’s, the number of children diagnosed with ASD has increased. However, it’s unknown for certain whether this is due to an increased number of cases or to the increased awareness of ASD among the medical community and the general public as a whole.
There are a variety of organizations that provide helpful resources and information regarding ASD. One such organization is the Autism Society which was founded in 1965 by Bernard Rimland, Ph. D whose own son was diagnosed with ASD. Since its formation the Autism Society has grown from a handful of parents to more than 120,000 members and supporters of whom are connected through a working network of more than 115 affiliates nationwide. The Autism Society is dedicated to its role of increasing public awareness about ASD which includes the day to day challenges faced by individuals, families and professionals affected by ASD. If you would like to learn more about the Autism Society. Another organization that serves as a resource for ASD is Autism Now. Other additional resources include The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Mental Health.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
The month of April is also the National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Tragically, hundreds of thousands of young Americans face abuse and neglect in their daily lives. It is important that we identify and work to prevent this type of abuse. We need to work to try and create a more safe and secure society. As a community, it is essential that we bring awareness to this issue and work to improve this generation by eradicating violent actions against our youth. The types of abuse and neglectful situations will often times result in the decline of school performance and grades.
One of the initiatives that have been put in place to help diminish the abuse of children is the Administration for Children & Families, which is a division of the United States Department of Health & Human Services. This was created to encourage healthy and strong communities of people to work to create a positive impact on both the development of children and their quality of life. Additionally, the Administration for Children & Families works to create partnerships with the various stakeholders to provide front-line services to those affected. They also work to address there vulnerabilities of the public as well as those who have developmental disabilities.
If you would like to learn more about this organization, additional information can be found Administration for Children and Families.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
