Best Of: Hey Autism Awareness, Where'd Ya Go?
Note: Cathy has today off. Did you notice how few stories there were about autism last month? Cathy did, last year. We've dropped off the radar in the public eye, yesterday's darling.
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By Cathy Jameson
Around this time last year, I noticed that autism had all but dropped off the news cycle. It appears to have taken a back seat again this year. No big fan of how the month of April has been blue-washed for well over a decade, I’m okay with fewer autism awareness campaigns.
Always a strong proponent for autism action, I’m not even seeing that in this month’s news stories. Like the flu, and like the measles, COVID19 has replaced illnesses, diseases, and other health conditions the world over.
Autism awareness may have disappeared from the media, but the autism epidemic still exists. Some will argue that autism, a spectrum disorder, is not an epidemic. While it’s not a disease or illness, autism, a condition that can significantly impact physical and mental health, does fit the CDC’s definition of epidemic. From their website: CDC.gov
epidemic the occurrence of more cases of disease, injury, or other health condition than expected in a given area or among a specific group of persons during a particular period. Usually, the cases are presumed to have a common cause or to be related to one another in some way
Last updated in 2020, the current rate, which has risen steadily for decades, is 1 in 54 reported cases. Even though the numbers are not a true representation, if that trend continues more will be added at the next reporting period. Based on data from years ago, and from only a handful children in only a handful of states, a more accurate rate is likely much higher. With that, I’d say that one can absolutely use the word epidemic to describe what’s happening!
Regardless of how high the statistics are, autism news is scant these days.
When I looked for an autism-specific news story last Tuesday, a few half-hearted reports of groups “lighting it up blue” could be found. But they certainly didn’t come with the pomp and circumstance previous April autism stories have had. I did notice, however, that some are pushing for autism acceptance this year, not awareness. Acceptance? I’d rather not.
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