Autism Awarness Month

Hello All;

My wife wrote this letter to send out to family and friends - thought I would share it with you.
(don't worry, we aren't trying to sling anything - just using the power of the underground to raise awareness)

Peace




Hello everyone!

Here we are again. It's April which is Autism Awareness Month. I try to send out an email every year to help raise awareness and to update everyone on Jordan's progress. I hope this email finds you all happy and healthy! :o)

Jordan is close to the end of fourth grade and is doing very well! As most of you know, he is in a typical school, in a typical classroom with typical peers. He does have a one-to-one aide and has a modified curriculum but I'm happy to report that he received excellent grades, mostly A's and B's and nothing lower than a C+! The most exciting grade for us was the A he received in social skills! This is an area that is most difficult for a person with autism! He will tell you that he likes going to school and spending time with his friends. There are a great group of kids in Jordan's class this year and they really take an interest in him and work hard to include him in whatever they are doing. They cheer him on and assist him whenever he needs it. It's really very heartwarming to see!

Jordan is also making great strides in several areas such as eye contact, two-way conversation, and overcoming his anxiety more quickly in public situations. He has been to three concerts in the last year, gone to see the Lipizzaner Stallions, had a ride on an elephant and another on a camel. He went on a field trip last month with his class to Old Sturbridge Village which required a LONG bus ride and he did great with it (By the way, I didn't go on this one!! BIG step for me!) He also did a water skills field trip at the YMCA and loved it! Oh, and one more thing...he did his first oral presentation in school this year! How incredible is that for a child with autism?

As you can see, Jordan is making great strides and we will continue to do whatever we can to encourage that. He has expressed an interest in horseback riding as well as learning to play the guitar. He also enjoys being out on the soccer field where Mikayla plays and kicking the ball around. Speaking of Mikayla, Jordan also shows some typical big brother behavior when he torments his little sister but, he is still her hero!

Below are some facts about autism and a couple of links to find out more information. Thank you all for reading and please watch for another email that I will be sending out. It is one I have sent in previous years but I think it's an excellent story which really gets the point across of what it's like to live with autism and deserves to be repeated.

Thank you again and I hope you all have a wonderful summer!!

Be well,
Cathy, Glen, Jordan & Mikayla



Did you know…

* 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism
* 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
* 67 children are diagnosed per day
* A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
* More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
* Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
* Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade
* Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
* Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
* There is no medical detection or cure for autism


Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 150 individuals.

Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence.

People with autism may have difficulties with social interaction and communication, as well as sensitivities in the areas of sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. They also may show repeated body movements such as rocking or spinning, poor eye contact, and resistance to changes in routines.




LINKS TO AUTISM INFORMATION

http://www.autism-society.org

http://www.autism-society-nh.org/

http://autismspeaks.org

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org

http://www.unlockingautism.org

http://www.icare4autism.org/