April is Autism Awareness Month

Odds… We examine them daily, take risks based on them, plan our future by them. Odds are everywhere and part of our daily existence and culture. For example, the recent Mega Millions lottery drawing enticed just about everyone to purchase a ticket, yet those odds seemed impossible (176 million to one).   

On the other side of the statistical coin, the chances of you getting struck by lightning in your lifetime are a mere 1 in 500,000. Clearly, we’d safely take our obscure chances with Mega Millions then chose to play a round of golf during a summer storm. 

Do you know that the odds of a child being diagnosed with autism are now 1 in 110? For boys those odds are even higher, 1 in 90. Many experts believe that these numbers may actually be as high as 1 in 60 boys in New Jersey. Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the United States. More children will be diagnosed with autism this year then AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined.  Autism costs the nation over $35 million per year and this number is expected to dramatically increase as our current children age into adults and more children are diagnosed as being on the Spectrum. 

April is Autism Awareness Month. April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. On the nights of Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2 landmarks around the globe will Light It Up Blue to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders. I will turn my porch light blue and my family will wear blue.

I am asking Chatham merchants to Light It Up Blue. I am asking Chatham houses to Light It Up Blue. I am asking you, my neighbors, to wear blue. You may purchase blue light bulbs at the grocery store or hardware store. Home Depot is even selling Light It Up Blue bulbs at every store. One dollar per sale goes towards Autism Speaks.

Yes, my family is affected by those 1 in 110 odds. Many of us Chatham residents are. Sometimes it feels as though Chatham has been hit harder by just 1 in 110, but I cannot even begin to calculate those odds! I have learned that autism comes in many forms; it is different for each person affected.

The biggest mistake we can make is to assume to know what autism “looks like.” Autism is a Spectrum Disorder. That means that autism affects EACH person uniquely. There may not be “hand flapping” or “spinning.” Someone affected may be quite verbal and humorous, even affectionate. Because autism is so different for each person, current treatments may work for some and not others. Additionally the cause of autism is not a standard answer…only varied theories. Autism is a puzzle with many missing pieces. 

This April, please consider the odds that autism affects 1 in 110 people. Utilize organizations such as Autism Speaks for more information, to learn the signs of autism, and to find support. April 1 and 2, wear blue, change your light bulbs to blue and never lose hope. I have hope that we will find the answers to why so many of our children are affected. I never lose hope that we will find the missing piece of the autism puzzle.

Sincerely,

Eileen Ruggiero