According to the CDC’s latest reports, 1 in 50 school children have autism, up from last year’s estimate of 1 in 88. With those numbers getting higher, we’re all likely to know and love someone with autism spectrum disorder (ASD.)
Today, April 2nd, is World Autism Awareness Day, and the whole month of April you’re encouraged to light it up blue, too.
As a mother of a baby with special needs, helping to spread autism awareness hits home more than ever. To be truthful, because of the baby’s medicine regimen and their effects, I don’t even know if our baby will be in that above stat. Whether he is or isn’t you better believe I’ll be on the frontlines helping to spread awareness to better understand ASD.
The president had some uplifting words in regard to Autism Awareness and how his administration is addressing them.
And looking ahead, my Administration is investing in medical research that can help unlock tomorrow’s breakthroughs in autism detection, intervention, and education. Leveling the playing field for Americans on the autism spectrum also takes commitment in our schools. That is why we are advancing initiatives to help students with ASDs get a good education free from discrimination and undue hardship.
To read the presidential proclamation go here
And speaking of Obama, I actually found this article quite interesting:
Obama brain intiative announced on World Autism Day
BRAIN — which stands for Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies — is a $100 million project that is focused on mapping the brain to better understand its function, and hopefully one day understand the causes and treatments for certain diseases. Autism advocates and organizations like Autism Speaks hope that this push will help reveal the mysteries behind the disorder.
This is a very big deal. Very big.
Here’s more information on this BRAIN Initiative. Politics aside, this initiative affects a lot of people, and in a good way.
Today at the White House, President Obama unveiled the “BRAIN” Initiative—a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.
I will update this post later with some great articles I’ve read on spreading autism awareness and how you can help, but in the meantime, please visit LightItUpBlue.org and AutismSpeaks.com .
