05/10/2024
We should be aware of AUTISM not just on the month of April, but everyday, because kids around the world are living with challenges everyday!! Whether you may think Autism is a cause and effect of the Environment, the Foods, the Vaccinations, and/ or the Genetics and so on, the numbers are rising as we speak!! It's businesses and vendors like these that help with the Awareness and Acceptance of Autism. The donations collected from the funds are raised for the ASD classrooms. I am so thankful that I could be a part of helping with this great cause. Kids with Autism live with so many challenges not just on a daily basis, sometimes moment to moment to basis. It is highly crucial that their peers and the parents of their peers understand and empathize what they are going through. Some kids are hypersensitive and some are hyposensitive and it's important for these kids' livelihood and well being to understand the difference. If the kids are biting their nails or fidgeting, changing behaviors, and having negative self talk, it's the triggers surrounding them. It's important to know those triggers, they are not doing those things on purpose, please understand what accommodations are needed to help them process all this chaotic information coming in all at once at them. It's a nightmare for them! Please understand why it's a nightmare. Not every child is the same, but understand and be sensitive towards each individual child. Some children show up late to school every day. Why? Try to understand why, maybe it's because the halls are full of loud kids, feet spread out, some standing, some sitting, all talking at once, some screaming, the lights in the hallway, the classroom doors shutting, and opening, hands clapping, so much is happening all at once. Those 15 minutes of showing up to school early, is a nightmare for some Autistic children, now you know why, some kids prefer to walk into empty hallways and feel safer walking in late to class. The school district should be aware of this, the teachers need to be aware of these triggers and understand the accommodations needed to live a happy life for all.
Please imagine wearing virtual glasses through the eyes of an autistic child and imagine what they are going through on a daily basis. Most of all include them in games, tags and understand why some of them may be slow processing, give them a chance to kick a ball or make a goal and most importantly be patient, because you never know, the things you may find difficult might just come so easy for them. We don't just have 5 senses, this is an oversimplification of all the things our brains process that we take for granted. Other than sight, taste, hearing, touch, and smell, there are more that most of us don't think about that we have.
Balance: The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, works with the visual system to help the body maintain balance and coordination.
Body awareness: The ability to sense our body's location, movement, and actions.
Pain: Pain receptors called nociceptors alert the body of danger and trigger an appropriate defense response.
Proprioception: Knowing which parts of your body are where without looking.
Kinaesthesia: Sense of movement.
Thermoception: We know whether our environment is too cold or too hot.
Chronoception: How we sense the passing of time.
Kids with Autism may have difficulty with some or all of these senses, that's why some of them may have difficulty even throwing a football or dribbling a basketball, writing with a pencil and etc. Please watch this video.
https://youtu.be/Ezv85LMFx2E?si=O_UplI0GGFWUlWQl
