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Health & Fitness

April 2nd is World Autism Day, Celebrate or Fight?

I always have mixed emotions on World Autism Day and the entire month of April, Autism Awareness Month as a matter of fact.  How, as the parent of a severely impacted child am i supposed to celebrate when my own child and an alarming number of others are purely suffering?

I am referring to individuals that are severely impacted.  There are many who are what we refer to as high functioning and for them, it can be considered a gift. Sure there are the savants, few and far between however, there are the socially awkward and sensory sensitive...that describes me completely, i have Asperger's Syndrome.  But we are able to function well in our lives and in our communities, i went to college, had a great career (back in the days before autism) and run my own business that i love today. We are talking apples and oranges here people!

What about the countless others that are not being spotlighted in the media? Where are the articles on the children that are screaming in pain daily, not able to communicate, have severe immune issues, gastrointestinal disorders, food allergies, mitochondrial dysfunction and are still not toilet independent over the age of 6?

Just last week the CDC announced the new autism rates, 1 in 68!  How are we supposed to celebrate that? I swear they have a secret wish to taunt us parents by announcing those number every year less than a week before autism awareness month. Kinda like a (let's get the A word out in the press before the big month) mentality i believe.

How much longer and how many more children must be impacted? I speak especially for the families with children that are so severely impacted they cannot care for themselves. For those that believe Autism is a gift...spend a day with my daughter who is (at this very moment) screaming like she is being attacked....(well yes, actually she is) by her pain and frustration. Spend a day volunteering at Kaitlin's Hideout and see the impact on these children and young adults (we are changing diapers on some in their teens)...the stress on these families is comparable to military duty and they suffer greatly from anxiety, depression, fear, hopelessness and fatigue to the greatest extent. This was my personnel FB page post that night, written through a stream of tears!

I not only have my own daughter as proof but many children that come to Kaitlin's Hideout for recreation and respite care. We also run the childcare program for AutismOne, the world's largest and most comprehensive autism conference, tons of suffering children, sadly, each year there is a larger demand for care!

I pray everyday for a change.  There needs to be more awareness, more action and less complacency.  Our communities need to get involved and help these families that feel incredibly isolated.  Be a voice for those that do not have one, be a hero to a sweet and innocent child with many challenges.

Get active, do something every day to educate someone in your community and if possible (yes, it is) support a family you know if you are not touched yet personally. Volunteer and donate with/to a reputable organization....Be brave....help make a change!

I am lighting it up RED for the month of April, not Blue!  Red signifies emergency action.  

Stay focused and steadfast until there is no more suffering of our angels! :)

In closing, i choose not to celebrate, i will FIGHT instead, please join me!


Peace, Love and Happiness Always,
~Lisa

Lisa is the founder of Kaitlin's Hideout and Mom to 13 year old Kaitlin whom is at the severe end of the Autism Spectrum.







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