Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month. April 2nd is National Autism Awareness Day. Every day of the year is Autism Awareness Day in my household. I am the quite frazzled, sleep-deprived mom of two daughters with autism. Every year as April approaches, I have this weird feeling take over my body. It is a feeling of sadness for the two girls who have autism in my family and for the countless other families who find themselves in the same situation I am in. I also feel hope and faith that this April will bring us more information on autism and make those who may not be that aware of the condition, more aware. I started April off with anxiety as I knew that the CDC would be soon releasing the new autism prevalance statistics. I knew deep down that the statistics would show that more and more kids are being diagnosed while still hoping this would not be so. The day the statistics were announced, I felt my heart sink. One in 88 kids are now diagnosed with autism. The year Abigail was born, the rates were one in 188. What has happened? Why is this not looked upon as an epidemic? Why are teachers and specialists being downsized at our schools and early intervention cut when the rates only continue to go up? I am not in a position to understand any of the above questions. I am just a simple mom of two wonderful, talented daughters who will need substantial help both in school and at home throughout their lives. I am a parent that wants the schools and administration to understand that a diagnosis of autism does not mean that you give up on the child. I am a woman whose heart bleeds for those who deal with this every day of their lives. Almost four years ago, my life took a differnt turn when my oldest was diagnosed with autism. I am not the carefree, trusting person I once was. I am a person who struggles every day seeing the struggles my children go through every day. I am a person who wants the best for my children, wants them to succeed but knows their successes seem minor compared to other parents typical children. I am a proud mom of these two girls. If given the choice all those years ago, I would not have wanted to have autistic children. Does anyone really? But these girls have changed my life, gave me a voice, and forever made me a much better person. Autism awareness month is almost over but I continue the fight all year long. I am saddened that this year there seems to be less and less media coverage of this condition and more and more families affected. I continue to hope that time will grant us more answers and awareness of autism. I made a pledge to myself many years ago that my life will be about fighting for better services and making the public more aware of my daughter's condition. I continue this pledge every day of my life and take on as many opportunities as I can to make the lives of all kids with autism substantially better. Join the fight for autism. Learn the facts. Get involved.