April Kicks Off Autism Awareness Month!

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Every spring welcomes the return of Autism Awareness Month, creating an opportunity to recognize the achievements and challenges of people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). April is the time to celebrate the neurodiversity of those across the spectrum, lean into education, and highlight opportunities to contribute to raising awareness.

Both children and adults with ASD live and function in ways that are unique to them as individuals. Understanding ASD and how it impacts their experience is key to supporting and welcoming them as active members of our communities, and it affects professional roles across many industries.

ASD inclusion is a particularly important topic for schools because many of these students are able to fully participate in the classroom environment with a few simple considerations. It’s a tremendous opportunity for success, and the state of New York is leading the way with legislation and professional development requirements for its teachers. Courses like New York: Needs of Children with Autism keep educators in the know, compliant with new state requirements, and ready to make a difference for all their students.

Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or simply know someone with ASD you’d love to support, here’s everything you need to know to make this Autism Awareness Month one to remember.

Autism Facts

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects about 1 in 36 children in the United States and 1 in 100 children worldwide. ASD is four times more common in boys than girls and is most often diagnosed after the age of 4. Because it’s typically detected before young people begin school, preparing education professionals to support these students is a high priority.

People with ASD can display a wide range of challenges with socialization, stimulus sensitivity, and communication that may require a little attention from regular teachers or a lot of support from specialized staff. It can also lead to difficulty transitioning from one activity to another, atypical responses to certain sensations, and increased attention to detail. As children develop, classroom needs may change as well, so it’s important for school staff to update IEPs and be ready to adapt their strategies as necessary.

Finally, ASD also can make people more susceptible to other health issues. Individuals with ASD have been found to have increased incidences of anxiety, depression, ADHD, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and chronic sleeping problems. These additional challenges further reinforce the need for awareness and support.

Challenges of Autism

ASD typically presents with a constellation of factors that impact social interactions and communication. Meeting the needs of any child in a classroom environment requires expertise, but for children with ASD, there are specific factors every teacher will need to consider.

Roughly 30% of those with ASD are non-verbal and the other 70% experience varying degrees of difficulty in communicating with those around them. This can sometimes create frustration for the student and compound socialization and participation issues in the classroom.

As children with ASD become adolescents and young adults, they may have difficulties developing and maintaining friendships or communicating with their peers. It may also be hard for them to understand what behaviors are expected in dynamic and highly social environments like classrooms. These developing signs and symptoms may include:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Minimal facial expressions that relate to happiness or sadness
• Absence of gestures
• Not noticing other people around them or wanting to interact with them
• Not noticing when others around them are hurt or upset
• Repetitive behaviors
• Strong adherence to routines

Early screening and timely intervention are the best ways to set those with ASD up for success. Once diagnosed, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and related therapies are well-researched and offer promising results. In the classroom, these students can benefit from a variety of room setups, activity modifications, and other management strategies.

How to Participate in Autism Awareness Month

During Autism Awareness Month, there are many great opportunities to get involved! Whether you’re a teacher in New York City or simply know someone with ASD, you’re always in a position to make a difference. Here are some of the best ways to participate, show your support, and engage your school families and coworkers in awareness and inclusion.

Donations

Charitable donations through organizations like Autism Speaks are an excellent way to contribute to the cause. Financial support can help resources aimed at research on autism causes, therapies, and programs supporting the journey through school and the transition into adulthood.

Fundraising

If a donation isn’t your style, you can also help with a variety of fundraising activities. Consider offering your time to fundraising events like an autism walk, or creating a social fundraising event on your favorite social media platform. Depending on your situation, your school may be able to participate as a whole.

Help Spread Awareness

Something as simple as reading a book to students or encouraging others to seek out information about ASD is a great way to generate autism awareness. Your school will probably be planning activities for April, and it’s a great opportunity to take a more active role in the planning. This is also an excellent moment to give a voice to students in your classroom who might be struggling with ASD which promotes conversation and awareness among their peers.

A Culture of Kindness

Recognizing the month of April as an opportunity to work towards better autism outcomes with love and empathy! Approaching autism with compassion and kindness can foster an inclusive culture, and support those living with ASD in reaching their full potential.

Increase Your Knowledge During Autism Awareness Month

Autism Awareness Month may start in April, but if you’re a teacher in New York, you know that it’s a year-round event! Take this opportunity to learn more about autism, support your coworkers, students, and friends with ASD, and carry those lessons forward to create more inclusive classrooms and better futures for everyone.

Premiere is empowering New York teachers to meet their professional requirements and support their students with ASD with PD content like New York: Needs of Children with Autism by Jennifer McDaniel, M.Ed. QIDP, Southwest Ohio Developmental Center, and Amy Adkins-Dwivedi, MS, APRN.

These courses provide all the essential information on autism and its implications for working with children.