What Everyone Should Know About Autism

Obviously, autism rates on at the all time high. A common fact is that 1 out of every 150 children has autism. Recent studies have upped that and it is now said that 1 in every 110 children have autism. Everyone should be aware of these staggering new rates and consider the risks of getting a child vaccinated. Along with this, children are being diagnosed sooner. Braxton was diagnosed at the age of two, which was a common age for most children. However, now children are being diagnosed within their 24th month.
There's several more cool facts out there, but these really shocked me. This website helped me out.

Random Facts

It's becoming difficult for me to come up with more things to post a blog on involving autism. But, since there's only two more weeks of school left, I feel like I can handle just two more posts.

This week I figured I would google some things about autism and post some things that I thought were cool. Some of these things I didn't know myself...

Like, I didn't know that autism was once considered a form of schizophrenia. This seems weird to me because I've seen cases of both and they seem so different. Another thing I didn't realize was that approximately 67 million people worldwide are affected by autism. That's a lot of people.

Some more cool facts:

• In families with one autistic child, the risk of having a second child with the disorder is approximately 5%, or one in 20.
• Some cases of autism may be associated with a family history of manic depression.
• From the Greek autos meaning “self,” autism literally means “alone."
• There is no blood test, no scan, and no image that can detect autism. Diagnosis relies on behavioral observation and screening.

So, I must admit that this is all off of the internet. However, I like to think that I know my fair share about autism. I really enjoy learning more about autism and I can only hope that one day I'll learn that there is, at last, a cure.

I got these facts from this website.

Memories

As it's getting later in the year, all I can think is, "Oh my goodness, it's almost summer!" It's kind of insane how fast this year seemed to go. Thinking back, memories of junior year seems to be so much more of a blur compared to the other years. I wish I was able to remember how I used to feel this time freshman year. Or how I felt all the way back in middle or elementary school. I can remember what I wore on these days, but it seems more difficult to remember feelings verses these memories.
To think that this is nearly the opposite for an autistic person. Their mind is composed of feelings and thoughts. Spending a majority of your time daydreaming and thinking, it's no shock that most of what those with autism remembers is how they felt. I can bet that Braxton remembers how he felt and his thoughts on his very first day of school. However, I doubt he could tell me, in description, what his classroom looked like. Recent surveys have shown results from questions like these that were asked to autistic adults. I won't go into full detail, but it was pretty cool to see just how true this really is.
Just proves how much more complex the autistic mind is compared to an "average" mind. Maybe one day we'll be able to "get into" an autistic mind. Until then, we can only imagine.

Famous People in the Autism Spectrum

I was surprised to find out that Albert Einstein, the "smartest guy to ever live," had autism. It makes sense to me considering that people with autism seem to have a different mindset and a different way of thinking. I also found out that many other famous people in history may have also been included in the autism spectrum:

Bill Gates, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Beethoven, Van Gogh, Mozart, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Edison. It's crazy to me to think that I didn't know this before. It just proves that autism shouldn't have to hold anyone back, that they can still be anything they want to be; a poet, an author, a famous composer or artist, or even the smartest person to ever live.

Vaccines and Autism

In everything I read or see on t.v. about Autism, they always mention how vaccines are the cause. My sister is another big believer in this. Although it's not proven, researchers say that the Mercury found in almost all vaccines is what eventually leads to slow developing of the brain. This, they also say, is the cause of other disorders like Aspergers disease, which is really simular to Autism. Crazy to think how something that is supposed to cause prevention and do well for a child could cause such harm. As I get older, I want to learn more about this, because I have also heard that Autism is genitic; that both the father and the mother had what it took to cause it. But, this believe is becoming more and more popular. Jenny McCarthy has written about vaccines in all of her books that she has written about Autism.  "If the vaccine companies are not listening to us, it's their fault that the diseases are coming back. If you give us a safe vaccine, we'll use it. It shouldn't be polio versus autism."

Autism Walks

I hate that this year will be the first year in a while that I won't be able to go to any Autism walks. Usually, there is one in Terre Haute that we go to. We did last year and I loved everything about it; the walk itself, the people my family and I met, and hearing several inspirational stories throughout the day. I was looking foward to one in Indy, however, this year (this month especially) is way too hectic for my family and I to make it. It makes me frustrated, but I can only hope that it works out next year.

Austism Awarness Month

I wish the weather was warmer. Just yesterday it had snowed for several hours. However, I'm soo glad it's finally April! This means that the school year's finally almost over and the weather will at last warm up... hopefully. Along with the warm weather rolls in Autism Awarnes Month. At this time of the year there are several different Autism walks and other things going on that I like to go to. However, tomorrow, the first day of April, is the biggest walk of the year and it's always during the school day. I really wish I could go. I'm sure April first will end up landing on a weekend some year. Until then, I hope there will be other events my sister and I can go to. This is why April is my favorite time of year.

Terre Haute's Children's Museum

Not too long ago my brother and sister's families came down and we all set out to go to Terre Haute's new Children's Museum. It was super cool and I think my sixteen-year-old niece and I had more fun than the three younger kids. This place is very tiny, but it has enough cool things to do that I'm sure we didn't see it all. The reason why I bring this up is because of how disability-friendly the place seemed to be. Sometimes Braxton gets overwhelmed in places that have a lot going on, however, the museum had seperate little stations that were set-off from the others that allowed him to do his own thing. The miniature grocery store was my favorite. :)

Jenny McCarthy





My sister is obsessed with Jenny McCarthy. Jenny is a famous actress, author, model, and comedian. She had a son, Evan, back in 2002 who was diagnosed with Autism. Since then, Jenny has written several books about her expierences with motherhood and Evan's Autism. Even though my sister pretty much forced me into reading one of her books, I would never admit to her that I've read all of her books. She has a new one coming out soon and I'm super excited. My favorite so far: Louder than Words. Jenny is also very active with Autism, hosting events and running donations. She is truly inspiring and it's no wonder why my sister adores her so much.

Clock Work

It's hard waking up in the mornings. Especially when you're woken up, five in the morning, to screaming and someone jumping on your feet. This is how I would wake up all last week when Braxton came to visit. I didn't even bother setting my alarm clock, Braxton made sure to wake up just in time. "Get ready for schoooool!! Get up, get up!" Lately, Braxton has been obsessed with schedualing. When he's hungry, you better have lunch ready at noon. Sharp. When he's ready for bed, his head must hit the pillow at nine. Sharp. Likewise with all the pills and supplements he has to take everyday; you better have them and a glass of water ready by the time he needs them. It's just another funny thing I noticed when watching Braxton last week. This kid never gets boring.