Light It Up Blue!
April is Autism Awareness Month– join us at Ellens by wearing blue to help raise awareness!
April is Autism Awareness Month, and we’re inviting our friends and families to come together and go blue to increase global understanding and acceptance of people with autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges.
- ASD occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups
- ASD is four times more common among boys than girls
- Seeking assistance before 2 years in age is crucial
Signs and symptoms of ASD in children:
- difficulty relating to others, or not having an interest in other people
- avoiding eye contact and wanting to be alone
- preferring not to be held or cuddled
- repeating words or phrases said to them, or acting repetitively
- Having a lasting intense interest in certain topics, such as numbers, details, or facts
- Having overly focused interests, such as with moving objects or parts of objects
Treatment:
While there is currently no cure for ASD, research shows that early intervention treatment services can help improve a child’s development. Therefore, it is important to talk to your child’s doctor as soon as possible if you think your child has ASD or another developmental issue.
For more information about local efforts to address the educational issues of students with special needs, please visit the South Pasadena Council PTA’s Special Needs Committee’s website.