Yes, it’s Autism Awareness Month,and Autism Awareness day was April 15, last week.

In this post I am including the most current information and stats on the condition, that is gaining more awareness, daily.

Since my post last year entitled Autism In the News, the topic is still one of controversy, and alarming statistics.

The thing about Autism that I find most baffling, is the odds of autism, and it’s occurrence. Currently, the odds of autism are 1:110 children affected here in the U.S, and 1:88 in the UK, or perhaps lower,just in this last year. The odds of autism, just a year ago were 1:150 children affected.  These new statistics imply, that a new case of autism, is diagnosed every 20 minutes or less, somewhere in the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

Update

Congratulations, to to NASCAR’S, Jimmy Johnson.  He was Sunday’s (May31,2009) winner of the Autism Speaks 400.  The race was held at Dover International Speedway in Delaware.

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On Sunday, May 31,2009, The NASCAR Sprint Cup Race will be held at Dover Internaational Raceway.  The name of the race is the Autism Speaks 400.  Autism Speaks was founded in 2005, by Suzanne and Bob Wright, who are grandparents  to a child with autism.  It has become the nation’s largest organization, focused on autism science and advocacy.  Their mission is to fund for the causes, studies, prevention, treatments and cure for autism.

The NASCAR communnity, includes many families and individuals who are affected by autism.   This race helps promote awareness, compassion and hope to the NASCAR community and the entire nation.

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There is a new effort being made, to require insurance companies to provide benefits for the treatment of autism.  The bill made it through Missouri state senate, but failed to make it through the house.  The push is on to have autism insurance available in 2010.

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Controversy is always swirling when it comes to autism.  Anything from the GFCF (gluten-free casein free) diet, to this treatment or that treat ment.  Which one, how much is enough or too much?  Then of course there is always the Question- To Vaccinate Or Not? As if, autism itself weren’t enough for parents and caregivers to  cope with.

According to the scientific community, the topic of whether to vaccinate or not, has become the most debated, diverse, and persistent medical myth of our times:  that autism could be caused by childhood vaccines. Scientists and research says there is no connection.  Obviously,trust and accountability are some of the main reasons Why Many Parents Believe Myths About Autism AndVaccines.

Currently, the odds of autism are 1:150 children affected here in the U.S, and 1:88 in the UK.  The biggest question is why?  Now, in the most recent study conducted at Cambridge University, many children are “undiagnosed.”  This, could bring the number of affected children to 1 in 64.  I find this very troubling…and still the biggest question is …WHY?

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See where the cutest ladybugs live!

That’s right!  She has only been gracing my blog for 96 days, yet she has proven herself to be very welcoming and popular.  She’s been a good luck charm and inspired many green articles, as well as helped me cover everything from the odds of autism, to diet and autism, the gas crisis, and much more.

She is such a wonderful people greeter, that I decided to name my power mall after her.

My Ladybug Mall

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If you’re looking for a business opportunity, I’m so glad because it means you want to change your life. I’m sure you already know how important it is to find that right opportunity. When I started looking for a business I knew that 97% of people who try to find financial freedom through a home-based business fail so I knew whatever I chose had to be different!

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I’m not going to take time to explain it because MY POWER MALL has created some powerful movies and a great website that will do just that. I will tell you it is totally new, totally FREE, very simple, and can be done in conjunction with anything else you are doing to generate financial freedom. You could easily be making $4 – 6000 a month, but your income potential is unlimited. Interested?

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The first ever national survey on attitudes toward autism, was recently conducted for the Florida Institute of Technology.  Of the 1,000 randomly selected adults, results revealed that nearly 24% , or one in four, believe the disease is caused by childhood vaccines.  This group feels that because vaccines may cause autism, it is safer to not have children vaccinated at all.  Still, another 19% were unsure how they feel about the ongoing controversy.

The Centers for Disease Control, currently reports that the odds of autism affects one in every 150 children born in the United States.  The public concern about vaccines arose from a controversial British study conducted in 1998, that linked autism to the MMR vaccine, which then contained the preservative known as thimerosal.  The authors of that study, later retracted their findings, and thimerosal was removed from all vaccines in 2001.  However, the results of this just completed survey in Florida, suggests that in general, the public is still confused.

The survey commissioned by the Florida Institute of Technology, specifically asked its participants about the preservative and autism.  The results were as follows: 19% agreed with the statement “Autism is caused by a preservative once found in vaccines.”  Another 43% were not sure of this statement, meaning that fewer than half (38%), felt that no link exists between the vaccine and autism.

Part of the confusion may stem from the fact, that there still is no known cause for autism, and people are searching for answers.   Scientist still say that there is no evidence that links vaccines and autism.  Still, there is a lingering fear and unsureness that is leading to fewer parents having their children vaccinated.   The result , according to an August article in The New York Times , states that in the first seven months of 2008, measles cases grew at the fastest rate in a decade.  Cases in Britain, Israel, Italy, and Switzerland are said to be soaring as well.   Fear and anxiety over the ever increasing incidence of the disease, may be leading people to make their own decisions whether to vaccinate or not.

In Other News

The only scientifically proven treatment for autism in young children (ages 3-5), is ABA (Advanced Behavioral Analysis) or 1:1 treatment.  It teaches how to learn.  The use of repetitive skill building techniques, helps children with autism, create a foundation of neural pathways, needed for learning in the general education system.

Some preschools may have fallen behind the curve in offering ABA.  Preschools that have this program in place, save the Department of Education, money in the long run for these children in the 3-5 age group.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends 25-30 hours per week of intense ABA therapy for young autistic children in this age group.  The Department of Education, wastes large amounts of money fighting parents, who insist on proper education for their autistic children.  The DOE, could instead put those funds to better use by implementing ABA in all preschools.

It is afterall, a parents right that effective education for autistic children be readily available to all- not just those who have a fat wallet, or can afford a high priced lawyer.

With the odds being one in every 150 children, chances are you know someone who has a child with Autism.  It is a brain disorder that affects communication and social interaction and causes repetitive and restricted behavior. It usually shows up before a child is three. Affected children can be anywhere on the spectrum from not speaking at all, to being obsessive-compulsive, chattering repetatively on one topic.

All children with Autism have one thing in common.  Their daily life is a struggle for themselves, their families and anyone who has contact with them. They have to overcome speech difficulties, physical challenges and social issues.

There is no single cause or factor for the recent rise in autism, and there is no cure.  However, it is alarming how dramatically it has increased since the 80’s.  It’s everywhere now.

As adults, few live independently. They live with family or in supported group homes. Some are successful  and work in community sheltered work shops.  Whether autism is a condition or a disorder, that one in 150 with autism may be someone close to you.