Celebrating World Autism Month
April is World Autism Month, and here at Atlanta Innovative Counseling Center, we’re excited to celebrate and spread awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and neurodiversity! We have a passionate team of therapists who work with individuals with ASD, and in this article we’ll provide an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as various ASD therapies and facts, to support and celebrate World Autism Month.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
ASD has many faces and, as the organization Autism Speaks suggests, it “refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.”
Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that each person with autism is completely unique--he or she will have their own strengths, sense of humor, weaknesses, challenges, etc.
Autism Speaks suggests that the “ways in which people with autism learn, think, and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged.”
This means that some people with ASD may need a high amount of day-to-day support, while others may live entirely on their own.
For more information about the many variations, as well as signs and symptoms of ASD, we recommend the following:
The CDC’s list of Signs and Symptoms of ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder Statistics and Early Intervention
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “about 1 in 54 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)” and “ASD is more than 4 times more common among boys than among girls."
Autism does not discriminate among ethnic and socioeconomic groups, although minority groups tend to be tested and diagnosed later and less often (Autism Speaks).
Experts, including AICC’s own Dr. Jessica Alvarez, agree that early intervention for ASD is critical and can lead to better outcomes for people with ASD later in life.
These positive outcomes can include increased verbal skills and access to mainstream classrooms.
Indicators of autism usually surface by age two or three, although Dr. Alvarez notes that the average age of diagnosis is usually age four.
Therapies for ASD
There are many therapies available to children and adults with ASD. Contact AICC to find out how our therapists who specialize in ASD can help.
Therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder
There are many therapies available to children with ASD. These therapies are as unique as ASD, which means that therapy will not be a one-size-fits all approach.
Children with ASD may also require a combination of therapies and medications for additional medical conditions that are often associated with ASD such as:
sleep disturbances,
gastrointestinal issues,
seizures,
ADHD,
anxiety,
depression,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more.
To learn more about the medical conditions that can be associated with ASD, visit the Autism Speaks website.
If your child needs therapy, there are many options:
Behavioral Intervention
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Speech Therapy
Music Therapy
Play Therapy
These therapies can help children with ASD with a wide range of interventions, including behavioral changes, participating in daily tasks, sensory integration, and communicating their needs and feelings.
Coupled with medicine to treat any existing medical complications, or as a stand-alone prescription, therapy can give your child the tools they needs to express themselves and their unique personality. Play therapy is one of the treatment options offered by therapists at AICC.
Play Therapy for Autism
Most children with ASD express themselves through play, which means that their toys and their actions while playing can become their direct form of communication.
Play Therapy utilizes the skills children with ASD already have in order to help expand their forms of communication.
AICC’s Dr. Ashley Tolleson specializes in Play Therapy. Dr. Tolleson writes, “Play Therapy is an evidenced-based, developmentally appropriate form of therapy for children. It can help improve social and emotional skills, imaginative and abstract thinking, language or communication skills, and develop personalized coping strategies.”
Dr. Tolleson notes that the tools learned in Play Therapy can also be taught to parents: “over time, parents can take an active role in their child’s growth and development and use these skills to build a stronger, more meaningful relationship with their child on the spectrum.”
Positive Autism Facts
Appreciating the depth and beauty of the individual with ASD is part of celebrating World Autism Month. AICC’s therapist, Alex Baxter, LPC, shared with us five lessons she’s learned from working with individuals with ASD:
The world shows you beautiful, quiet aspects of our universe if you listen with all five senses
If you’re passionate about a topic, it’s okay to soak up any and all information about that topic without reservation
Words are not needed to communicate in this world, and silence can be a beautiful thing.
We can connect our hearts without spoken word or physical touch--we connect in the presence of another.
We can experience pure, authentic joy if we slow down, quiet the chaos, and focus on what’s truly important.
Contact the team at AICC today to speak with one of our ASD specialists. Feel free to share what World Autism Month means to you and your family!
