A study recently places the numbers for occurrence of Autism at 1 in 50 births.
Many will use this to sound alarms and drum up negative attention. Scaring people into that old familiar “Fear Awareness” as we head toward the month of April again.
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Be afraid the numbers are growing…help us to stop it now.
This sentiment has been causing pain. People that think they are helping are harming. Imagine yourself as the “IT” in that sentence. Now, read the sentence again.
1 in 50 are authentic.
When we can get past this tactical train of thought designed to garner sympathy and donations. We will be winning awareness, real awareness. We need real truths about Autism passed around during the month people are willing to entertain ‘our stories.’ Stories about differences and the changes that can be made to make these differing styles people have more comfortable. Help us to understand the sensory and processing nuances that make us unique to one and other. Become willing and able to accommodate change.
Sadly, we in the Autism community are the ones holding all of the ‘real awareness.’
We, the ones the media does not generally hear.
Big dollar lights and ribbon campaigns flash and wave. What do they signal to their masses ?? Look at me…I am Autism?! I am growing. How does that make anyone aware? How does that build meaningful lives for Autistic people? How does that help you recognize the Autism in your life?
1 in 50 is a bogus report.
I believe Autistics have always been 3% of the population or thereabouts. I believe I have always known Autistic people that were perhaps clumped into ‘other groups’ and not identified as ‘Autistic’…growing up, in school, throughout my entire life. Probably some of my teachers too! I think all Artists have Autistic traits as well as scientists, engineers, mathematicians etc. There have always been Autistics helping to build societies of every culture from the beginning of time. Autism is not a new epidemic.
Human Traits.
We all have this central nervous system that’s ‘wired for speed’ some systems are coated/ protected with built in buffering…some systems are not & feel life in a more raw state. Some of us have all access to layers of left and right brain action, while others do not. We all have the opportunity to be and feel Autistic. Sensory perceptions, processing styles are normal human reaction as to how one copes with the streams of stimuli constantly happening.
Learn something useful about Autism and yourselves!
Interpreting and reacting to loads of daily data. The difference being our kids/adults on the spectrum are wired to always be ‘in that mode’ amplified or de-amplified. Permanently feeling and thinking about things differently. ‘NT’s (Neuro-typicals) have meltdowns and struggle with processing all of the time. We are more alike than generally believed. To me 1 in 50 says: We have FINALLY learned the basics of brains and behavior. How our minds and bodies link to our central nervous system to perceive the world. How those differences drive all behavior and how we can recognize “it” in all people if we look.
