A.S.D Support [Helping to Raise Autism Awareness]

..Hi! my names Selina, i have 3 children, two of which are now helping me run the page (my girls), and one of which has A.S.D, A.D.H.D and D.C.D (Dyspraxia). He's my main motivation behind doing this page, if it wasn't for him, i'd probably be completely ignorant to the complexities and challenges that having a child with Autism brings! He's my Star!!! I hope to help raise peoples awareness of autism, it is all around us and most people probably know some one who has it (even if they're unaware). Feel free to message me whether you be a parent/carer/sibling...or just curious!! I have links posted in my blog to other UK and international pages, and if anyone has any ideas then let me know!! Thanks for taking time to read this..and to look at my page!!
WHAT IS AUTISM?On first sight of a child with autism it would be very unlikely that you would tell them apart from any other child. There are no obvious visual clues, which is why so many children are mistaken for being naughty or rude.Autism is a disabling brain disorder. It affects the way in which people understand and react to the world around them. This causes them to act differently than others. Many autistic people have a hard time using words to say what they want or need, where as others might end up repeating the same word or sentence over and over again.The difficulty in understanding what others are saying can cause great confusion. They may see or hear a person talking, and although every word has been heard, they fail to grasp the meaning of what has been said.A child with autism may be perfectly happy one moment, but all of a sudden become sad or angry, or even have a tantrum. This may be because they can't tell people what they want. Taking the wrong turning, or a certain noise could trigger this reaction, or simply parking the car on the wrong side of the road.The fact is, it could be any number of things, For the parent or carer of the autistic person finding the cause can be a long slow process. (If not at times impossible) A lack of communication can lead to frustration and confusion both for the autistic person and for the people around them.Many people with autism have ritualistic behaviour, insistence on routine and sameness. An autistic person may be perfectly happy to go to a familiar shop, but take them to a different shop to buy the same item, and they may become frustrated, withdrawn, even fearful. An unfamiliar space or routine no longer feels safe or secure. The autistic person can find it very difficult to relate from one situation to another.Reality to an autistic person can be confusing, a mass of events, people, places, sounds and sights. With no clear boundaries, or meaning to anything.It is important to remember that every person with autism is an individual. It is a myth that all autistic people act the same. They simply don't. (Rainman was a film!)They do however share problems in three key areas. Communication, Social Interaction And Imagination.Autism is often referred to as a "spectrum disorder," meaning that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a variety of combinations, ranging from extremely mild to quite severe.People with autism can often have accompanying learning disabilities but everyone with the condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world. TRAITS OF AUTISM!There are a large number of symptoms or traits for Autistic Spectrum Disorders. The list below is complied with some of the most common ones. This list should not be used for diagnosis. If you have any concerns, contact your GP or Health Professional.No or little speech Non-speech vocalizations Delayed development of speech Echolalia: speech consisting of literally repeating something heard Delayed echolalia: repeating something heard at an earlier time Confusion between the pronouns "I" and "You" Lack of interaction Lack of eye contact Lack of response to people Aggressive behavior due to anxiety and/or frustration When picked up, offering no "help" ("feels like lifting a sack of --potatoes") Preoccupation with hands Flapping hands/ this may be accompanied by jumping up and down with excitement Spinning Balancing, e.g. as if standing on a fence Walking on tiptoes Extreme dislike of certain sounds / may hold hands over ears Extreme dislike of touching certain textures Dislike of being touched / close contact Either extremely passive behaviour or extremely nervous, active behaviour Extreme dislike of certain foods Behaviour that is aggressive to others Lack of interest Desire to follow set patterns of behaviour / interaction Desire to keep objects in a certain physical pattern Repetitive behaviour Self-injurious behaviour Ritualistic behaviour Remember all children are different, especially children on the Autistic Spectrum. They may have many, or only a few of the symptoms/ traits above.Again, if you have any concerns about your child please contact your health professional.