Your View Helps the Cause
You may or may not have heard of the band “Five for Fighting”, but probably are aware of autism and the impact it has on families whose children have been inflicted with this disorder.
The band “Five for Fighting” have generously pledged $.49 for each time their video is watched. These moneys are ear marked to help find a cure for autism:
In this video you will watch young children who have been diagnosed with autism. They are beautiful young children, but for the most part they are silent, unable to interact as a normal child would. They do not know how to tell someone that they are hungry, thirsty, and sleepy, in pain, or just simply express love or wonder. They cannot ask the endless questions children are prone to ask.
I have given thanks to God many times for giving me relatively healthy children. Sure they had childhood illnesses, and one was diagnosed with ADHD, but these are all treatable. Many insurance plans do not offer satisfactory treatment plans to help intervene in autistic children's lives and enable them to live a somewhat normal life. Early intervention can make all the difference in their ability to lead productive adult lives.
Warning Signs for Autism
These are not absolute indicators, but signals that a child should be evaluated. The earlier treatment begins the better chances for improvement.
- No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by 6 months or after
- No back and forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other interactions by 9 months or after
- No babbling by 12 months
- No back and forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
- No words by 16 months
- No two-word meaningful phrases except for imitating or repeating by 24 months
- Loss of speech or social skills that the child earlier displayed
This information provided by First Signs, Inc. and available at Autism Speaks.
What is Autism?
It is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout one's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders or ASD. It is more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined, striking 1 in 150. It does not discriminate against race, socioeconomic groups, or ethnic groups, but is four times more likely to effect boys than girls. It impairs the victim's ability to communicate and relate socially. It also is associated with obsessive compulsive behaviors and the need of rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, with symptoms ranging from mild to quite severe.
Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms, while pediatricians often dismiss a parent's concerns with their “wait and see” attitude. Infants as young as 6 months have been diagnosed.
A two year treatment prior to the child entering school has been shown to significantly improve a child's symptoms. Effective programs should focus on development of communication, social and cognitive skills.
Individuals with Disabilities Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was revised in 2004 and renamed Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, however most are still saying IDEA.
This law mandates that states provide all eligible children with free and appropriate public education that is in keeping with their unique individual needs. Free legal support is provided for parents. It seems that there is not an agreement as to what is appropriate public education to meet the individual needs of each child.
For example, if you had been working closely with qualified personnel in an early intervention program for your child, you would be required to stop the current program and work with the special education department in your local school district. Early intervention focuses on the entire family and the interaction and impact of autism on the child and the family, where special education is concerned with providing the child with an adequate education.
Summation
Every good parent wants only the best for their children. These parents are not striving to spoil their children, just to give them lives that are close to normal. My heart goes out to them. If watching the above video can help to improve and make someone's life just a little richer, I will gladly watch it, and ask that you do the same. My children could tell me when they were hungry or didn't feel well. They talked my ears off, and for the most part, I loved it.
Thank you for participating in making someone else's life closer to normal. Yours will be richer for the effort.
