Autism Awareness
One in every 150 people is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Years ago autism was associated with low verbal and mental ability and stereotyped behaviors, but the diagnosis now also encompasses many who are very intelligent, may have average or exceptional verbal ability, and have numerous other strengths. People with autism (or Asperger’s Syndrome or Pervasive Developmental Disorder/PDD) traditionally struggle with social interactions. There is much that everyone can do to help them, through understanding and a willingness to provide missing social information. To find out more about ASD and available resources and programming, go to www.thegraycenter.org.
We encourage you to tell others about our web site and this SUN News blog. You can visit The Gray Center’s events calendar at http://www.my.calendars.net/gcenter_all for more ways to promote awareness of ASD. Feel free to post additional suggestions for raising autism awareness and social understanding as comments on this page.
Together we can create a world that understands and values individuals with ASD!
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STEPHEN HINKLE WAS ACCEPTIONAL AT HE LAST Winter Conference in Southern Long Beach. JANUARY 26TH AND 27TH. He was so good at letting us know as parents of teens with ASD how The GENERAL PUBLIC AND FELLOW STUDENTS THAT WERE NOT Individuals with ASD SHOULD BE EDUCATED ABOUT HOW ASD Individuals see their environment so that they could better fit THEM INTO THEIR OWN CIRCLES OF society. Many individuals with ASD DO NOT VISUALLY LOOK OR ACT DIFFERENT AT FIRST SOCIAL ENCOUNTER. AS A RESULT, THIS can be a SHOCK if they suddenly exhibit different mannerisms or verbal gestures that might not appear to the general public or fellow students, teachers and peers as APPROPRIATE AND ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. SO in lieu of hearing Stephen’s input I strongly believe that it is more important to RAISE AWARENESS TO OTHER YOUNG TEENS AND FELLOW TEACHERS and to the GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT ASD AND ITS LONG TERM SOCIAL EFFECTS ON THESE WONDERFULLY TALENTED INDIVIDUALS. Please see this link…. BRAVO to Stephen Hinkle during ASD awareness month http://www.aspergianpride.com/blog/2007/07/11/autistic-activist-makes-himself-heard-at-conference/