A resistance to cuddling, a robotic voice and repetitive hand-flapping are possible symptoms of autism that can be alarming for parents to witness in their children. According to the United States National Library of Medicine, autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of life. It affects an individual's ability to develop social and communication skills. Even though an autism diagnosis poses many challenges for families, new advances in autism treatments and a supportive community ensure that parents of autistic children never have to face these challenges alone.
Autism Treatments
Although autism does not yet have a cure, autistic individuals can learn to manage their condition and function effectively in society. According to the Autism Society, autism treatments fall into two broad categories: nonmedical interventions, which focus on behavioral and educational approaches, and biomedical treatments, which include alterations to the autistic individual's diet and vitamin intake. A treatment that works for one autistic person may not work for another, so parents of autistic children should be patient and flexible when monitoring their child's progress.
Successful Autistic Adults
Many adults living with an autism diagnosis maintain happy, productive and even exceptional lives. One example is Temple Grandin, a prominent autistic intellectual who invented a more humane method of slaughtering animals. She has also written several books, dealing with the ways in which being autistic have helped her to think along channels that "normal" minds probably would not be able to access. Most recently, her life was the subject of an HBO biopic starring Claire Danes.
Communities of Parents with Autistic Children
The Internet enables parents of autistic children to share anecdotes and advice with one another; it also allows them to form groups to raise awareness of autism. One such organization is Autism One, a nonprofit charity. It produces weekly radio shows and sponsors conferences. It also provides links to the latest autism research on its website. Getting in touch with groups like this one can remind parents of autistic children that their situations are not unique.
World Autism Awareness Day
In 2007, the United Nations designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day. This annual global event helps increase awareness of autism as a health epidemic, as well as the importance of diagnosing it early and treating it effectively. At the same time, it celebrates the distinctive abilities and accomplishments of autistic individuals. On previous World Autism Awareness Days, cities around the world, including Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Budapest in Hungary, lit their important buildings and monuments blue. This is the symbolic color of autism.
