World Autism Awareness Day is marked globally on 2 April, and the month of April is dedicated to raising awareness of autism.
Autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurobiological and development condition and can cause a difference in social interaction and communication.
Signs of autism show up during childhood and can be noticed from birth to age 3.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1 in 100 children has autism.
Some of the noticeable signs of autism are:
- Avoiding eye contact
- Wanting to be left alone
- Repeating actions
- Not looking at objects being pointed at
- Difficulty in expressing emotions through words and gestures
- Repeating words or sentences
As there is no treatment for autism, early intervention can help in the child's development by giving them the right care to grow and thrive in a supportive space.
Autism Awareness Month is marked to help promote awareness on the matter as well as encourage acceptance for people with autism.
Although autism is not brought up as much, this April, it is key to highlight, to children and adults alike, to be more inclusive of people with autism and not treat them differently as well as create a kinder and more accepting community for them to thrive in.
For resources for autism in Dubai, visit the Dubai Autism Center website.