As we wrap up another wonderful Autism Awareness and Acceptance month, we at Blossom wanted to take the chance to really reflect on what it means to increase both awareness and acceptance for the whole year (not just April!).
Autism Awareness
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts 1 in 6 children (according to the CDC in 2020).
- Symptoms of ASD include deficits in social communication skills, as well as the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors.
- Some cases of autism can be diagnosed as early as 12 months of age, although more mild cases may not be as noticeable until 24 months of age.
- The impact of the symptoms of autism varies greatly, from some people experiencing mild social skills difficulties to others seeming to be “in their own world.”
- Each symptom is on a spectrum – a person could have varying amounts of severity in each individual symptom. This leads to an infinite number of possible presentations of ASD! No two people are the same (even with the same diagnosis).
- Research shows that early intervention can increase positive long term outcomes for children with autism and reduce the risk of bullying, depression and anxiety later in life.
When selecting a treatment team, it is so important to find one that is very knowledgeable in what autism really is and its immense complexity. This is more than just having experience with the population (because remember, you could work with hundreds of cases of autism and still not see it all!). Anyone working with this population should have extensive training on autism, the symptoms, and the manifestation of the disorder throughout all areas of development. ASD is a complex disorder that deserves to be understood on a deep level, not just discussed in a single hour training.
Once we are aware of what autism really is, we can move into acceptance and celebration of the differences. Here at Blossom, we believe we can demonstrate the highest level of autism acceptance while still teaching children new skills to help them meet their needs and enjoy their childhood!
Autism Acceptance in ABA looks like:
- Using compassionate approaches to treatment that focus on skill building rather than correction.
- Embracing the individual interests of the child (yes, even if they are stereotypic!) to connect with the child in a way that is most meaningful for the child.
- Targeting MEANINGFUL outcomes – instead of compliance or completing a predetermined curriculum, targeting skills that will help the child access more reinforcement (more FUN and HAPPINESS) in their real life.
- Meeting a child exactly where they are and developing treatment that suits their individual needs and strengths.
- Understanding that stereotypic behaviors (most commonly referred to as “stims”) are a part of life!
- Loving WHO the child is and only trying to teach skills, not trying to change who they are.
- Supporting the whole family in a personalized way.
- Celebrating every milestone, no matter how big or small.
If you are seeking acceptance and celebration of your child with autism, give us a call at Blossom to see if we could be a good fit for your family!
