Where has autism come in twenty years? Ideally the question should be: Where has autism gone? We would not mourn its passing, as the disruption has left families in a devastating wake. Autism has entered our world as a tidal wave, propelled by a force to be reckoned with.
Tragically, the numbers are proliferating and the only way to move forward is to look back. What are the signs? What therapies are available? What scientific studies have made advances? What impact do the rising numbers of autism have on society? How can awareness help individuals with autism? How can we prevent the dramatic surge of autism diagnoses?
Below are words written by a father about his son, who was diagnosed more than two decades ago.
Twenty years have passed since I held my 3 year old Paulie, as if I could shelter him from the world. Can you imagine hearing the words "your child has autism"? In a split second, life - as you know it - has changed. The only thing that has not altered one iota is my love for this child. He is the light of my life.
He is not a child any longer and I cannot protect him from the barricades that autism enforces. I cannot make people understand him anymore than I can help him navigate the complicated world we live in.
What I can do is walk. I walk for awareness and research. I walk for my son.
Documented cases of autism are multiplying at a rapid pace. Every 15 minutes, a child is diagnosed with autism. Autism now affects 1 in 110 children; 1 in 70 boys.
Please walk with us on June 5th, either in spirit or donation. Spread the word to support research and awareness.
By participating in this event, you are helping to change the future for all who struggle with this devastating disorder. By walking, you are getting us one step closer to finding what causes autism, how to prevent and treat it, and ultimately find a cure so no family ever hears those words again. Until then, we walk to find answers and raise awareness about the shattering toll that autism has had on families like ours.
Join us on June 5th at our new location: New-York Presbyterian Hospital, 333 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, New York. Registration 9AM-Ceremonies 10AM-Ribbon Cutting 11AM
I thank you in advance for Paulie, and his future in the fight to cure autism.
Warmest regards,
Danny
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