Volunteer Your Way to a Happier You
OCT 29, 2024Volunteering is a great way to get reconnected to others, increase self confidence and decrease feelings of anxiety and depression.
Read MoreYou’ve probably encountered someone with autism, even if you didn’t know it at the time. This condition is more common than you may think.
One in 44 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with this condition than girls, and it affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. According to Autism Speaks, an estimated 707,000 to 1,116,000 teens with autism will enter adulthood over the next decade.
I grew up with a sibling who has autism, so I have the benefit of firsthand experience. My brother is one year younger than me, and I remember my parents really advocating for him. For example, they brought in speech therapy when he was young to help him with his verbal skills. He can do a lot of the same things as everyone else, but there are differences too.
That’s the most important lesson I’ve learned: you can’t put people with autism all in one category. It’s very much a spectrum disorder. Each person faces different challenges with things like social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. Some people are high functioning and others may have developmental delays or mental retardation.
What they often have in common is difficulty with sensory processing, and again, the spectrum is wide. People with autism can be over-responsive or under-responsive to certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes and more. When you see them fidgeting or moving in a repetitive way, there’s a reason for that. They’re trying to calm themselves by blocking out uncomfortable sensory input.
When you understand more about this condition, you can be more accepting of these differences. My brother, for example, prefers to wear headphones while riding in a car. He’s not intentionally ignoring others. He’s simply controlling his environment to avoid becoming overstimulated. That’s just autism.
So what should you do when you encounter someone with autism? Be patient, be kind and remember that person is someone’s much-loved sibling or child. Here’s 10 ways you can support those on the autism spectrum:
Volunteering is a great way to get reconnected to others, increase self confidence and decrease feelings of anxiety and depression.
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Read MoreWhen you need local health information from a trusted source, turn to the CHI Health Better You eNewsletter.