April 2nd is Autism Awareness day, but what does the day mean and how can you help raise awareness?
On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139, tabled by the State of Qatar, declaring April 2 as World
Autism Awareness Day in perpetuity. This UN resolution established WAAD as one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days, with the goal of bringing the world's attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions.
World Autism Awareness Day shines a bright light on autism as a growing global health concern. WAAD activities help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism crisis and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of people with autism, and features
community events around the world where individuals with autism and their families are warmly welcomed and embraced.
World Autism Awareness Day will be celebrated on April 2nd, 2013. Currently, the month of April has been dedicated as Autism Awareness Month. You can participate by wearing blue, putting blue light bulbs in your porch lights, handing out blue candies/foods, etc. For more information on how you can participate in lighting it up blue please go to www.lightitupblue.org.
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social relationships, and is often accompanied by behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in 1 out of 88 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. Living in Utah means your baby boy will have a 1 in 32 chance of having an autism spectrum disorder, the highest risk in the nation. The prevalence of autism has increased dramatically in the last few years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown. (The information
How Is Autism Diagnosed?
“Diagnosis: the earlier, the better”. If your child has been diagnosed with autism or your doctor is looking for a diagnosis; an evaluation with a pediatric speech language therapist can help you understand how your child is affected and help you understand methods to help your child’s daily function and development.
At Primary Children's
and Intermountain outpatient pediatric rehabilitation sites we have developed a protocol for assessing children with autism and providing information for families on community services. If you have any questions regarding autism services especially as related to speech and occupational therapy services, please contact one of our centers listed below:
Primary Children’s Rehab Sandy 801.571.3081
Primary Children’s Rehab Bountiful 801.292.8665
Primary Children’s Rehab Taylorsville 801.840.4360
Primary Children’s Rehab Ogden 801.387.2080
Intermountain Rehabilitation - Orem Community Hospital 801.714.3505
Cache Kids Pediatric Rehabilitation in Logan 435.716.6440
Dixie Regional Pediatric Rehabilitation in St George 435.252.2250