Create a robust and all-hands-on deck team to research and find help for our autism epidemic. Make autism an urgent priority and find immediate resources, guidance, answers, and solutions to this rapidly growing issue. Create an open forum where people from all walks of life can come together to discuss anecdotal experiences and join with scientists, inventors, businesses, and government to form an alliance that helps now.
In the US, about 1/36 children is diagnosed with autism and ASD is nearly four times more common in boys than in girls. In 2020, about 4% of boys and 1% of girls were estimated to have ASD. It’s time to find the source and the solution.
Yes! I proposed this as well. The children that already impacted need help, we are still in the dark ages of autism research, I feel it has been stunted by conflicts of interest and the elephant in the room.
I love what you have said here - we are still in the dark ages.
That’s so apt and exactly what I am trying to communicate as well. I think we need to keep using that terminology, because my gut tells me most people are not grasping this.
I 100% agree with this thread. I have an autistic child (22) and have found it very challenging to find any support other than putting him on medications to modify his behavior. There is very little community support, housing, and respite care providers. Imagine being a parent with a child that is unable to live on their own and you are aging to a point where you cannot care for the child effectively. What are your choices? Autistic people are one of the fastest growing populations in the US. We need to have better infrastructure and care options for this segment of population. Quality living conditions.
A child developmental therapist who specializes in non verbal autism here. Unfortunately behavioral therapy has become the “standard” intervention and covered by insurance. Research has proven this therapy to be detrimental to social emotional learning. ABA therapy keeps autistic children in a disabled loop because it does not support the fundamental symptomatology of ASD which is social and emotional learning. We have to support these children individually AND coach and mentor parents to be able to support the child at home. I see children everyday that come into my clinic at 3 years old highly medicated and addicted to electronics because the families do not understand how to help them. We need to get rid of behavior interventions and focus on a multi sensory approach that is play based.
Yes!! Include all stakeholders on the task force. Dr’s, parents, teachers, and autistic individuals . As the parent of an autistic child, it has been very difficult to navigate this new reality. There are limited options for therapies and resources. This task force should also include nutrition and environmental aspects as well.