Autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a human’s ability to socialize, communicate and engage in certain behaviors. It can be very challenging, not only for the person diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) but also for their family and friends. 

Many students with ASD are forced to join certain schools that can provide the proper assistance. While this may be good, other children who aren’t able to focus, stay calm or pay attention are turned away from schools that simply can’t have them. This is obviously very stressful for the family, particularly parents who now have to find new places for their child to earn an education.

Sadly, many families don’t only have to figure out what's best for their child, but they also have to deal with bullies. Many kids with ASD are targets for bullying. Professionals believe this is because of the students' high vulnerability and inability to defend themselves. It’s horrible to have someone who may not be able to understand certain things forced to do or say things that are not ok.

It may not seem that big of a problem, but when you take into account that every 1 in 31 students, or about 5.4 million people in the U.S., have ASD, it becomes more relevant. Most of these students need extra help and support, whether it comes from a teacher, friend or counselor. 

Of course, not all students with ASD need as much help as some other students. The autism spectrum is very widespread; some students are very high functioning, while others may be non-verbal. Along with this, not all people diagnosed with ASD have autism. 

“Over the past two decades, the definition has broadened to include some conditions that used to have specific diagnoses attached to them, such as Asperger's Disorder or Pervasive Development Disorder. They now fall under this ASD umbrella.” Says John Hopkins University.

“I’ve been here at the junior high for 20 years. The first ten years, I worked with students with mild disabilities, and I’d say I had maybe one, two students with autism every year. But now, the last ten years, I've been doing moderate to severe, and I've had students with autism every year for the last ten years, probably most of my classroom is students with autism.”  Says Mrs. Finzel, the Special Education teacher at Brea Junior High School, after being asked how widespread she had personally seen the autism spectrum.

Autism diagnoses have increased 300% over the last 20 years. This makes sense since the diagnostic criteria for autism have increased, leading to a more inclusive definition. Because the spectrum is so widespread, no single individual with ASD is the same, meaning they all need different support and care that has been specially designed for that person.

There is no absolute known cause for autism. Specialists have been working on this singular issue since the first observations in 1920. One possible explanation for autism is that there could be certain genes that increase the risk for autism or certain environmental factors, such as infections, medications or complications during pregnancy.

“Several genes seem to be involved in autism spectrum disorder. For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be related to a genetic condition, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other children, genetic changes, also known as mutations, may raise the risk of autism spectrum disorder… Researchers are exploring whether factors such as viral infections, medicines, complications during pregnancy, or air pollutants play a role in causing autism spectrum disorder.” Says Mayo Clinic.

“The potential causes are probably as diverse as the presentation of the disorder itself.” Said several unidentified scientists.

Autism isn’t an easy thing to understand because it varies so much. Without a known cause, it’s hard to find a cure… 

Professionals have stated several times that the concept of a cure is impossible, autism is not a disease, therefore, there is no possible cure. Because autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, the closest specialists will get to a cure is the development and improvement of therapy to help people with ASD manage their symptoms, build social and mental skills, and overall help improve their lives.

Autism doesn’t only affect students; around 2.2% of the population in the United States has autism. Having ASD may make it harder to find a job and keep a steady source of income.

It’s illegal to reject job applicants solely based on an autism diagnosis because it’s considered discrimination. However, it’s awfully hard to prove that an employer is being discriminatory since it’s easy to lie about other disqualifying factors.

“I have read painful recollections from employees who are shunned, bullied, exploited, or underpaid as a result of being neurodivergent. Then there are those who were rejected or fired after disclosing autism, ADHD, or other neuro-differences,” Says Ludmila N. Praslova, a professor of organizational psychology, in her article, “Autism Doesn’t Hold People Back at Work. Discrimination Does.”

Along with this, having autism can also affect the ability for someone to find a partner and even get married. Lots of people diagnosed with ASD have difficulty with social cues, communication, and the unwritten rules of dating, making it quite a hassle to try and find someone to spend the rest of their lives with.

Autism can be very difficult and challenging, so it’s incredibly important that we as a whole are properly equipped to provide the necessary support for these individuals. Properly understanding what autism is and how it affects the mind is a significant way to not only emphasize but also bring awareness to the situation that many people in the world deal with. In total, there are 61.8 million people in the world who have been diagnosed with ASD. It’s an important thing to be educated and understanding of the challenging disorder.

Written By: Anastasia Biniasz