In the United States, over 3.5 million people are affected by autism. According to various reports, one in sixty-eight children is born with one or the other form of this disorder.  Throughout April, parents, patients, doctors and nurses rally together to celebrate “National Autism Awareness Month.” Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder that would affect a person’s ability to interact and/or communicate with others.

It’s more than likely that each and every American would meet someone with autism in their lifetime. So, it’s critical to raise as much awareness as we can about this disorder.

Where did it start?

With an increase in the number of Autism cases in the country, the “Autism Society” was formed in 1965. American citizens. This marked the beginning of National Autism Awareness Month. The first campaign of the awareness program was in April 1970. During every April since then, this organization and others worldwide worked to increase awareness for autism and support those who are diagnosed with the disorder.

What can be done for the people with Autism?

During National Autism Awareness Month, keep in mind that there are a few things you can do to help support someone with autism, whether you are a family member or not.

Be Accepting:

Accept patients as who they are: Themselves. We all know that it’s important to feel loved and accepted by others, more than anything else. Enjoy your time with those affected by autism and stop comparing them to others.

Research and learn:

Getting to know about autism would help figure out what could trigger these kinds of disruptive behaviors what could elicit a positive response. Learning these could help understand the behavior of people with autism, thereby, enabling the person to troubleshoot the problem. Understanding the disorder would also help prevent or modify the situations that arise.

How could people participate in Autism Awareness Month?

Anyone can participate in the National Autism Awareness Month and extend their support towards the cause. The following are some of the ways to take part in the awareness campaign:

Sharing the Puzzle Ribbon:

The well-known symbol of autism awareness is the “Puzzle Ribbon”. To share this ribbon is one of the easiest ways to stand with loved ones on the autism spectrum and educate other people about the disorder. You could also offer advocacy for the people who might know quite as much about individuals with autism.

Donating to Organizations:

As per the information provided by the “National Institute of Health”, the budget for autism research was over $200 million. It’s to be understood that the more research that is carried out, the more progress the country could make. Also, according to a study, an autism diagnosis could cost over $17,000 per year per child. For those who are willing to participate in Autism Awareness Month, it’s a good time to donate. Some organizations that you can donate to are:

• The Autism Society
• Autism Speaks
• The Autism Research Foundation

Participating in Autism Walks:

For the people, who do not have resources to donate, there are several other ways to show their support. For instance, they can take part in autism walks. There are several events taking place in the country all year.

No matter whether people choose to create awareness or show their support, they must understand that taking part in the event is important. In any case, they should not miss out any opportunity to extend their support to the people with the disorder!