AS I interact with young parents with children with autism, I am inspired by their patience and dedication to working with professionals, doctors and service providers to provide the best possible help for their family and kids.
Autism by definition is a condition that affects how a person thinks, feels and interacts with others. It is a lifelong disability acquired since birth. Every person with Autism is different.
According to the Center for Disease Control, autism affects 1 in 44 children in the U.S. today.
Early signs of autism are not responding to their names, avoiding eye contact, repetitive movements and many other behaviors on a spectrum. I came into contact with a 2-year-old boy who was fascinated by the tires on my wheelchair. He would always try to push me so that the tires turn and he would get so excited. I noticed he was always holding onto a toy car on one hand. His parents said he was into cars and tires. So, I let him do whatever he wanted to do with my wheelchair. It was fun to see him get excited over something so random as a wheelchair tire. I can only imagine the daily challenges faced by people with autism. It is estimated that 25%to 50% of kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder never develop spoken language, making it difficult to communicate.
April 2022 is Autism Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities in a Post-Pandemic World.” I have attended several Autism Night and hot dog run events which raised awareness about autism. All proceeds went to a good cause.
Please join me and celebrate Autism Awareness Month in April as we recognize children, parents and individuals with autism.
For more information contact NMPASI at (670) 235-7273/4 or visit us on the web at www.nmpasi.org, www.facebook.com/NMPASI, and follow us on Instagram @nmpasi670
JOHN ALLEN CABRERA
Client Advocate
