Introducing Sesame Street’s Julia

There is a new neighbor on Sesame Street! The newest muppet created by Sesame Workshop is Julia, a preschool girl with autism. Julia is described as a girl who “does things a little differently.” The character invention comes one year after Sesame Workshop partnered with Autism Speaks to raise awareness and to help educate families. Not only can you see Julia on the Sesame Street television program, but parents and caregivers can also go online, or download the app, to receive helpful tools and advice caring for children with autism.

Just as a young child is beginning to walk and function by themselves, one of the most trying experiences for a parent is to be told that their child may be on the autism spectrum.  Unfortunately, there is a rise in the number of parents that are faced with this issue.  One in every 68 children in the US is diagnosed as being on the spectrum for autism. What does being on the spectrum mean? Autism Speaks defines it as, “having exceptional abilities in visual skills, music and academic skills.” About 40 percent have intellectual disability (IQ less than 70), and many have normal to above average intelligence. Indeed, many individuals on the spectrum take pride in their distinctive abilities and “atypical” ways of viewing the world. Others with autism have significant disability and are unable to live independently. About 25 percent of individuals with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) are nonverbal but can learn to communicate using other means.

             Julia is not only a character. She is a learning tool. Julia inspires feelings of understanding, compassion, acceptance, and determination. Sesame Street believes that this new character will “reduce stigma, and demonstrate the commonalities that children with Autism share with all children.”

Who Speaks? Autism Speaks.

Just as their young child is beginning to walk and function by themselves, one of the most trying experiences for a parent is to be told is that their child may be on the autism spectrum.  Unfortunately, more parents are hearing those harsh words.  One in every 88 children in the US is diagnosed as being on the spectrum for autism. What does being on the spectrum mean? Autism Speaks defines it as, “having exceptional abilities in visual skills, music and academic skills. About 40 percent have intellectual disability (IQ less than 70), and many have normal to above average intelligence. Indeed, many persons on the spectrum take deserved pride in their distinctive abilities and “atypical” ways of viewing the world. Others with autism have significant disability and are unable to live independently. About 25 percent of individuals with ASD are nonverbal but can learn to communicate using other means.”

Autism affects more children in the US than Diabetes, AIDS, Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and Down Syndrome combined.

            Autism can be diagnosed as early as 18-24 months. Once a child is diagnosed, many parents must realize that their child may have to go to extreme measures to live a somewhat normal life compared to other children. This is modeled in a new book by autistic teen, Trevor Pacelli, titled Growing Up Autistic: 100 Lessons To Understand How Autistic People See Life. In his book, Pacelli explains what it is like growing up autistic, being diagnosed at 5 years old, and how people can better understand what goes on inside the mind of a person on the spectrum. Within the book, Pacelli shares 10 things people should know about autistic children and teens and how they think: 

1.      They get either A’s or F’s
2.      Nobody on earth thinks like them.
3.      Time alone vs. time with others
4.      Some actually prefer to be alone
5.      Balance solo activities with parental interaction
6.      They also want to go out
7.      They need to vent their problems
8.      Getting out of the home helps with social skills
9.      Everyone needs to be socially active
10.  Some can have mood swings

While many parents and caregivers may not understand how the autistic brain functions, the fact that autism affects hundreds of thousands of children in this country is reason enough why we need to be educated. Understanding how this abnormal brain functions, is the first step in finding a cure so that it can function normally. Listen to how autism speaks.

http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/faq

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/growing-up-autistic-teen-_n_2005778.html?utm_hp_ref=parents&ir=Parents

To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate: National Infant Immunization Week

Since 1994, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been celebrating National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). NIIW is about awareness and action in hopes that all infants can be fully immunized against the fourteen vaccine-preventable diseases. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses this week to celebrate the advancements made in both the creation of vaccinations and immunization programs. Many states and politicians are even getting in on the action, for example Governor Brownback of Kansas signed a bill to make NIIW officially recognized in the state and Illinois is even providing free vaccinations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics asserts that vaccines are one of the best health tools available to the public—they are cost effective and have a track record of success. Still, vaccines are one of the most talked about and controversial issues when it comes to keeping children healthy. Data does suggest that providing children with vaccinations is in the best interest of their health. Yet many families, especially in the West and Northwest United States believe that immunization is too dangerous and refuse to put their children at risk; many even suggest it may be a cause of autism (though that assertion has not been medially confirmed). As a result, the United States is now seeing the highest rates of whooping cough and measles that has existed in decades.

As a parent or caregiver, what are your thoughts on vaccination? Will you help to increase awareness of immunization this week? Have your children or charges been vaccinated, or alternatively, would they be if the choice was yours?

In Your Own Words, What Is Autism?

That’s a question that most people probably can’t answer. And those who can will produce a myriad of different responses.

Why?

Because the term autism has morphed time and again throughout the years. It has been applied to the truly autistic but also the developmentally delayed and even those children who are just a little left of center. To confuse matters more, there are several “types” or “levels” of autism that doctors use to classify the level of the disease in their patients, the most common being Asperger’s disorder. Today, 1 in 88 children in the US are diagnosed as autistic, leading many to believe that autism is heavily over-diagnosed. As a result, a portion of the medical community is suggesting it’s time to redefine autism.

The proposed redefinition would eliminate classifications such as Asperger’s with all cases falling under the new “Autism Spectrum Disorder”. Children who are diagnosed will exhibit three types of communication problems and two limited, sometimes non-typical, interests or repetitive behaviors.

Both proponents and opponents of this redefinition have exceptionally strong opinions, as one would probably imagine. Opponents include some parents that are worried their children will lose treatment and other benefits and the “mildly” autistic who suffer from Asperger’s or PDD-NOS (Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) that do not want to be categorized by umbrella terminology. Proponents include many members of the medical community, including a panel of the American Psychiatric Association.

As a nanny or a parent, has a child you love been diagnosed with Autism? If so, does this emotional connection produce a strong opinion regarding the validity or benefits of the proposed redefinition? What are your thoughts? Will this be beneficial or detrimental to Autistic children?

No matter the outcome, in our opinion there is one glaring benefit of this proposed redefinition—a very important increase in Autism Awareness.