Did you know …
- Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys
- Autism prevalence figures are growing
- More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
- Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
- Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade
- Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
- Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
- There is no medical detection or cure for autism
- The median age of earliest autism diagnosis is between 4.5 and 5.5 years, but for 51–91 percent of children with an autism, developmental concerns had been recorded before three years of age.
- Studies have shown that about one third of parents of children with autism noted signs before their child’s first birthday, and 80% saw signs by 24 months.
- Research has shown that a diagnosis of autism at age 2 can be reliable, valid, and stable. But despite evidence that autism can often be identified at around 18 months, many children do not receive final diagnoses until they are much older.
Visit www.worldautismawarenessday.org for more information
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Things you can do to Light it Up Blue!
| Autism Brown-Bag | Join your friends, family or co-workers for a brown-bag lunch, where you can teach them about autism spectrum disorders. |
| Blue Movie Watch Party | Invite friends over to watch and discuss a movie or television show that features an autism spectrum disorder. HBO’s “Temple Grandin” is an excellent movie! |
| Facebook Flash Mob | Organize all your friends to change their Facebook icons or update their Facebook statuses to raise awareness for autism. |
| Retail Stores | Retail Stores around the country will turn their lights blue and dedicate storefront windows to autism awareness materials. Ask your local stores if they’d be willing to participate. |
| Speak to Your Faith Community | Take a few moments at your worship service or faith gathering to speak about autism spectrum disorders. |
| Tweet-Up | Meet with other Twitter-users in your hometown or area to raise awareness for autism. |
| Wear Blue to Work Day | Wear blue clothing or ribbons to work and encourage your co-workers to do the same. |
Saturday, April 2, 2011
