The birth of a child is a miraculous event. Parents look toward a birth with excitement and anticipation.
The day finally arrives, and after the delivery, Mom lovingly counts all of the fingers and toes and says a prayer of thanks that everything went well.
Before you know it, you are celebrating your child’s first birthday. You notice that your child has been having difficulty with language, her social skills are impaired and she is stimming (repetitive action or movements such as rocking or spinning). You wonder if these behaviors are caused by the MMR vaccine that protects children against measles, mumps and rubella that she had recently. You consult with your family physician and after months of tests, you are told that your child has autism spectrum disorder. It is an emotionally crushing statement for parents to hear.
April 2 was designed by the United Nations as World Autism Awareness Day. Autism now affects 1 out of 110 children in the U.S. ages 3-17 according to the Autism Society. Diagnosis focuses on a variety of behavior characteristics in a child such as marked impairment in nonverbal behaviors, failure to develop social relationships, a delay or total lack of the development of spoken language, and difficulty with sensory issues. ASD is often overlooked in girls and women due to a combination of factors, including diagnostic bias and societal expectations. Autistic girls may be better at masking to their autistic traits to fit in socially. Most of us will be touched by someone who has autism.
Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year. In the fiscal year 2023 research funding for autism amounted to $306 million, an increase from $232 million in 2016 (CDC). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders describes 3 levels of ASD. They describe them in 3 levels, 1,2 and 3. These levels range to Level 1: Requiring Support: Level 2: Requiring Substantial Support: Level 3: Requiring Very Substantial Support. These levels are useful in providing support needs, however, they don’t give a complete picture of the strengths, needs and capabilities of each individual persons needs. An example would be of an autistic student’s accommodation at home versus school. A student may perform well at school and struggle with certain behaviors at home. School can be challenging for students with ASD. Social interaction is difficult, noisy environments, changes in routine, and organization and problems with learning are just a few things ASD students struggle with. These struggles lead to increased worry, anxiety, depression and stress for our students. In speaking to a parent regarding resources for her daughter that has been diagnosed with ASD, she feels it’s imperative that teachers, school administrators, counselors and parents work together to support ASD students and have the resources to help the students make progress. She also states general education teachers should help create an inclusive environment to promote awareness and acceptance to help support and understand ASD students. She says in her opinion teachers lack training in how to work with ASD students in their classrooms. Could it be these teachers are not provided with sufficient resources or, in-service programs, with other knowledgeable professionals in this field to create an appropriate environment? There are both state and federal laws in place to protect the rights of students with ASD and to insure they receive a free and appropriate public education for all eligible children with disabilities.
Autism is on the rise. Cleveland Clinic and other research institutions believe it is a combination of genetic and environmental factors that play a part in the cause in autism. According to Cleveland Clinic while genetic changes are strongly linked to autism, environmental factors during pregnancy and delivery may also contribute to the development of ASD. ASD is a neurodevelopment meaning it involves differences in brain development and function. In April 2025 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. the Secretary of Health and Human Services stated that ASD is an epidemic that destroys families. He states his belief that environmental toxins are the primary drivers of the increase in autism diagnosis. Another piece to the puzzle? Additional research will be needed to nail down the cause or causes of ASD because the incidence has become alarmingly high.
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Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Opinion: Sandi Squicquero: Autism spectrum disorder is complex, needs more research )
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