Autism Awareness Month
Sean's Story
Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain in the areas of reasoning, social interaction, and communication skills. It occurs in about 15 of every 10,000 individuals, and usually appears before the age of three. One of those 15 happens to be my son Josiah. He was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Pervasive Developmental Disorder or PPD) at the age of seven, but little did his mom or I know that he began showing symptoms when he was as young as two years old.
Some of the signs included very little conversation, eye contact or wanting to play by himself all the time. As he got older he lacked social skills with other classmates and I started to notice that he was having problems talking. We just thought that he was going through a childhood phase and didn’t think anything of it. It wasn't until he and his mom moved to Iowa that we found out he had Autism traits. I really didn’t know what to think. At first I was blaming it all on myself, thinking it was my fault (my mom said I was doing the same thing when I was young), but after reading information and going online to get facts, I felt a lot better. I understand it all better now, and we've gotten support for some of the hard things that we face together. Josiah is helping me learn new things everyday!
I personally encourage each of you to give special attention to this disorder during April, Autism Awareness Month, but I also appeal to you to increase your awareness every day about this and other disabilities as they truly affect so many children and adults alike.
Sean Cowans
Information Technology Technician II
Denver Public Library
Rinh's Story
My son Ian was born on March 9, 2002 in the year of the horse. He is a handsome boy with a heart of gold. When he was a baby I would look at him and think to myself…"he is seeing the world in a different way than anyone else." Ian has Autism. Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects an individual's social interaction and communication. It is known as a spectrum disorder, because it affects each individual in different ways and to varying degrees.
Ian is now four and doing great. We are lucky enough to have access to a lot of skilled professionals to help us on our journey. He is reading and learning addition and subtraction. He also made a friend. He is enrolled in a special pre-school that provides one on one instructions as well as typical peer interactions.
Do I wish he didn’t have to go through this? I look at other children and see how easy it is for them to talk, how easy it is for them to make friends, and yes, it does hurt. Sometimes I wished I could be him so that I could understand him better. I feel sad at times just watching him struggle in a battle to keep out “the world” and a battle to join it.
But now I also see that Ian’s Autism may allow him to be an extraordinary person later in his life. Einstein was probably Autistic. Bill Gates may be too, along with so many historical figures. I was just reading a few days ago about a new book, Diagnosing Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson may have been on the spectrum.
We haven’t lost Ian to the Autism. I believe it has made us cherish and understand him more. Knowing his issues allows us to help him become more and more himself.
Rinh Pham
Material Access Services
Denver Public Library
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General Information and Research
MedlinePlus
Links to a wide variety of information about Autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorders from the National Institutes of Mental Health.
An introduction to the basics, and a variety of publications.
The STAART Network: Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment
Autism at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Denver Public Library Health and Medicine Resources
Resources for Parents and Family
TACA (Talk About Curing Autism)
A resource provided by families in California, but much of the information will be valuable for families everywhere. It includes lots of information about treatment choices.
AUT-2B-HOME
This site provides resources and a listserv of families homeschooling their children with Autism. Inspiration and support for parents of kids of all ages and abilities.
Autism Society of Colorado
A wealth of information about Autism and the many resources available locally. (in English and Spanish)
Parent to Parent of Colorado
Connects families of sons and daughters with disabilities or special healthcare needs in communities across Colorado.
MAAP Services for Autism and Asperger Syndrome
A nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information and advice to families of more advanced individuals with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD).
Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Support Network
Practical support and suggestions from parents of autistic children. Includes links to many legal, financial, and educational resources, organized by state.
National Autism Association
Information and advocacy, while funding research for a cure. Many on the Board of Directors are parents of autistic children.
AutismInfo.com
Organized and maintained by parents of an autistic child in Florida. They strive to provide all kinds of information that would be helpful, especially to parents of a newly diagnosed child.
Self-Help and Advocacy for Persons with Autism
Autism Network International
An Autistic-run organization for autistic people.
Disclaimer
The Health and Medicine section of the Denver Public Library Web site is intended to provide easy access to quality health information of interest to residents throughout Denver who want to be informed about health issues for themselves, their families, and their community. It is not intended as an endorsement of all the information at each linked site or organization. The Denver Public Library does not provide medical or health care advice. We recommend that you evaluate all health information with care, and that you discuss what you find here with your doctor or licensed health professional before making changes involving your health.
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Updated: August 06, 2008
