Bowtie and Scarf Monday
Tie One On for the Cause
This Week's Cause: Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Their longtime friend Bernie Marcus donated $25 million to fund the organization. Autism Speaks has grown into the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into Autism’s causes, prevention and treatments and finding a cure; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Today, Autism Speaks is dedicated to advancing research into causes and better treatments for autism spectrum disorders and related conditions both through direct funding and collaboration.
Contributions can be made in the office of the Vice President for Student Services (110).
What is Autism?
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.*
We now know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, and each person with autism can have unique strengths and challenges.
A combination of genetic and environmental factors influence the development of autism, and autism often is accompanied by medical issues such as:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders
- Seizures
- Sleep disturbances
Autism affects an estimated 1 in 59 children.
Many people with autism also have sensory issues. These can include aversions to certain sights, sounds and other sensations.
Autism's hallmark signs usually appear by age 2 to 3. Often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier.