By Marieliz Cruz Personally I wanted to start this op-ed with the fact that I have two autistic cousins and they are awesome and wonderful. Autism does not define personality or who they are as a person. But what is autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? This refers to a wide range of conditions characterized by challenges with aspects of life including social skills, repetitive behaviors, language and nonverbal communication. Autism, or ASD, affects approximately 1 in 44 children in the United States today. Since autism is fluid and on a spectrum, some people with autism need a lot of attention while others are extremely high-functioning and may not “look” or “seem” what society thinks a person with autism might be like. Even though people with autism may have different struggles, they all are the same as anyone else when it comes to hopes and dreams. These people often see things very differently than neurotypical people through their senses, such as taste, smell, touch, sound, and sight. Sensory sensitivities can have a huge impact on an individual with autism’s everyday life. Sometimes someone with ASD will find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable. They might get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events. Oftentimes, people with ASD find it hard to communicate and interact with other people, and find it hard to understand how other people think or feel. It is for these reasons that educating ourselves and others about ASD can make a difference. When we accommodate, accept, and celebrate everyone’s needs, we can create an inclusive environment that is great for all!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
May 2022
Categories |