April 2nd is Autism Awareness Day.

Do you know anyone with Autism? There many different types of Autism disorders. The way it affects every individual is different. Boys are 4 times more likely to develop Autism than girls. While we do not definitively know what causes it, many cases are linked to genetics & environmental factors.

A little over 4 years ago, my 6 year old cousin was diagnosed with Autism. This was my first personal brush with the disorder and it was an eye-opener.  In my cousin's case, he was diagnosed fairly early and has made some progress in his social development. However, he still has very limited speech abilities and that will likely be a struggle his entire life. He has to adhere to a very strict routine. Any change in his routine will cause him extreme distress. He has to constantly be watched for seizures although they are thankfully becoming less frequent.

He goes to a special school that supports kids with Autism. The care for a child with Autism can be quite expensive when you are factoring in specialists, medictaion, therapy, schooling as well as other expenses.

 Despite his challenges, he is an extremely intelligent, wonderful little boy and I love him deeply.

I hope that we all will take a moment to learn more about the disorder and exercise patience, love and understanding to those who have it. It can make all the difference.

WEAR BLUE IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WITH AUTISM!