April is Autism Awareness Month. How Aware Are You?
April is Autism Awareness Month. I’m participating in RJ Scott’s blog hop to share important facts about autism.
Today’s autism fact:
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability
I think everyone knows a child with autism, or a person who is raising an autistic child. It’s tough enough to raise kids these days, and autism makes that job even more difficult. It should come as no surprise that this is the fastest-growing disability. The good news is that kids are being diagnosed and treated, so they can grow up with proper understanding and care.
I’d like to share some of the other facts, in case you haven’t been participating in the whole blog hop, because this is important for everyone to know.
- Difficulties with transition can lead to social isolation, mental health problems & continued dependence on parents. Parents of young people with autism have described transition to adulthood like falling off a cliff-edge
- Service dogs are now available that are specially selected and trained to support autistic people, to be their unfailing friend and companion, safeguard them and improve their independence. Unfortunately such dogs are very expensive.
- Many parents of children with autism feel they’ve been wrongly accused of poor parenting.
- Autism affects over 700,000 people in the UK (more than 1 in 100). 1 to 1.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder.
- Only 56% of students with autism finish high school.
Did you have any idea of how widespread this disorder is? I didn’t. I’d like to thank RJ Scott for giving me the chance to share the facts.
I’m giving away a $25 gift certificate to your choice of Amazon, ARe or Dreamspinner Press. Or, you can choose to have the $25 donated to an autism research organization recommended by RJ Scott.
Please leave a comment below to be entered for the gift certificate: Has autism affected your life?
Thanks for participating, and please be sure to visit the other authors’ pages.
I’d also like to invite you to read an excerpt of my next release: Out of the Gate comes out from Dreamspinner Press April 21.
It’s the story of Wes Tremayne, a British actor in Hollywood who falls for a race horse trainer. Just one problem: Wes is in the closet. Will coming out mean the end to his blossoming career?
10 Responses to “April is Autism Awareness Month. How Aware Are You?”
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I had no idea about how many people and children had Autism or how hard it is to get a diagnosis. The work of dogs to help people with Autism is a great plan there are so many children who respond to pets and they can make a great difference to their lives,
ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk
My cousins little boy has autism, he was diagnosed when he was very young. At the time we knew nothing at all about autism. You learn by reading as much as you can.
Over these 2 weeks on the blog hop I have learned a lot of facts that I didn’t know.
I have enjoyed reading all the posts, and others stories.
geetracy1170 (at) gmail (dot) com
I knew that it’s being diagnosed far more often now, but I didn’t realize that it’s genuinely so pervasive! It’s been such an enlightening tour…
vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com
No, it hasn’t
Nice of you to support
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thank you for sharing that list of facts. It was very informative. I haven’t been directly affected my life, but it has affected many of my friends who have children with autism. This blog hop is a wonderful way to educate people.
jczlapin(at)gmail(dot)com
I can’t say I have been affected by autism as of yet but I don’t know what my future may bring. Thank you for providing so many interesting facts. This whole blog hop has been a learning experience.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
when my father was alive he had aspbergers. he didn’t know that until he was 50–it was one of those things where the term autisim and aspbergers was not knowen in the 1940’s when my dad grew up. it was tough b/c i also had learning difficulties so his autism and my LD oft got in the way of say a happy relationship. but we made it work with a lot of understanding and patience
parisfan_ca@yahoo.com
I appreciate all I’ve learned about autism during this blog hop and all the authors that have participated. I especially want to send a High 5 to EM for her tax tips for authors – as a CPA I’m just happy to have this hell of a tax season over 🙂
Oops just in case: lgrant1@san.rr.com
I know parents with autistic children and didn’t realize the broad spectrum of types and how it was so pervasive.
strive4bst(AT) yahoo(Dot) com