Each year the month of April is designated as World Autism Awareness Month and the purpose is to ‘promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity’. National Autism Awareness Month began in 1972 as National Autistic Children’s Week. There are many symbols for autism awareness that are used to rally support and promote understanding of it. One such symbol is the color blue which originated with the autism advocacy association known as Autism Speaks which promotes “Light it Up Blue” and calls for people to wear blue to promote autism awareness. Blue is associated with calmness and acceptance. Autism advocates and supporters are encouraged to wear blue on the official World Autism Awareness Day, April 2nd.

Another symbol strongly associated with autism is the instantly recognizable multi-colored, interlocking puzzle piece which was created by fifteen people, some of which were autistic and others who were autism advocates. The puzzle pieces symbolize that each autistic person is unique in his or her own way and signify the complexity of the autism spectrum. It also reflects the unknowns of autism and how it works as a diagnosis. The bright colors in the puzzle piece further represent the diversity of autism and those diagnosed hope for awareness, understanding and acceptance among everyone, according to Thomas McKean in “The Autism Puzzle Piece Logo: What it Really Means”. It does not, on any level, suggest that people on the autistic spectrum are missing a piece of themselves.

Celebrating Autism Awareness can be achieved in many ways including, but not limited to: 1. Become educated on autism. 2. Show your support. 3. Be inclusive. 4. Celebrate differences. 5. Support the autism community. 6. Be understanding.

Acceptance for those with autism is a global goal and engaging in conversation and learning about one another’s perspectives helps achieve that goal. Education on autism is the key and awareness is the vehicle. Those with autism can lead full and meaningful lives as integral parts of society.

Many different factors can contribute to autism including environmental, biologic and genetic factors. It is a developmental disorder that affects social and communication abilities. Advances in medical knowledge have enabled parents and doctors to detect autism in toddlers so therapy can begin at an early age. Additionally, changes in social attitudes and medical updates have enhanced understanding of autism and the ability to help people sothat they may lead normal lives.

Jenene Bignar, LaSalle Parish School Board Special Education Supervisor, has been working with children with autism in the school system for the last sixteen years. Ten of those years have been spent in the LaSalle Schools where she began as a speech pathologist and later served as an assistive technology coordinator. For the last six years as SPED Supervisor, she has been responsible for programming and training staff adequately to work with autistic and special needs students and to ensure that supportive services are in place.

LPSB promotes inclusion for all autistic students, as per their needs, with nondisabled peers as much as possible in the least restrictive environments.

“Early intervention is key to the students’ overall success, progress and achievement,” Bignar said. “Collaboration between stakeholders, including speech therapists, occupational therapists, other related service providers, educators and parents cannot be overemphasized. The saying ‘that it takes a village to raise a child’ rings even more true with a child with autism or special needs.”

One in thirty-six children are identified with autism she explained. Bignar advocates that autism awareness is more important than ever and understanding those on the autism spectrum and their individual needs is vital.

Ben Nicholson is the owner of The Pediatrics and Autism Clinic located 1587 North Second Street in Jena (only one of two in Central LA and one of six in all Central and North LA) and he also works closely with autistic children. He initially started working with children in the Methodist Children’s Home and later with special needs children as an educator in Richland Parish. He became interested in those who fell within the autism spectrum.

“These children were just so fascinating and fun to work with,” he said regarding children across the autism spectrum. “I saw the need for special treatment and found Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). It is the most proven and effective treatment as per the US Attorney General and the American Pediatric Association.

ABA is the therapy offered at the Pediatrics and Autism Clinic and it focuses on teaching children with autism in a much more microscopic way. Skills are reinforced in much smaller capacities. Ronny Brook is the Clinical Director of the center and there are eight staff members with degrees in related fields such as psychology, education and behavior analysis.

“We meet children where they are and expectations are important,” Nicholson said. “We set microscopic goals and reinforce when those goals are met.”

“These kids are kids just like all others,” he said. “They deserve as much life as any other child – different but not less. They learn in a different way, but still desire friendships and social and material things like all other children. We need to accept that, step back and see these children for who they are.”

Nicholson also advocates that parents who see or suspect signs of autism in their child seek early help as early intervention is the most successful.

“A two-year-old child has two years of learning and a four-year-old child has four years of learning. Bad habits, learning habits etc. are already being established,” he said.

The efforts of those promoting Autism Awareness are not going unrewarded. Just last week a group of young ball players from the travel ball team SMASH, represented LaSalle Parish in “The Angels 4 Autism Tournament”. They made posters representing autistic children from LaSalle Parish and placed second in the tournament. All monies raised from the tournament went to autistic organizations and their efforts to educate the public on autism.

Efforts to bring positive awareness to autistic children and individuals will continue to make progress. Medical research brings more understanding as new treatments and advancements are made. There are many who work tirelessly to ensure the public is aware and educated of the importance and place autistic individuals hold in our hearts and in our lives.