Written by: Susan Kabot
Susan Kabot is the director of clinical programs at the Mailman Segal Center for Human Development. Kabot’s guest editorial was initially published on April 4 and is reprinted with permission from the Office of Public Affairs.
April is Autism Awareness Month, and the United Nations has designated April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day, with this year’s theme “Inclusion and Neurodiversity.” As a way to continue awareness for autism, we, at NSU, wore blue on April 4 to recognize World Autism Awareness Day and support our families and friends who need their communities to support them.
Nowhere do we see more diversity than on the autism spectrum. People on the spectrum exhibit a wide range of symptoms in the social, communication, behavioral and cognitive areas. Oftentimes, individuals who are socially oriented and like to be with people are not diagnosed because they don’t fit our “older” perceptions of what autism is.
It is critically important for people with autism to be identified as early as possible to ensure that they receive the most appropriate and intensive treatment possible for this challenging disorder. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to use the prevalence rate of 1 in 68, a study this year reported 1 in 45 people have autism.
Now, almost everyone knows someone who is affected by autism, whether it is a neighbor, co-worker or family member. It is likely that every teacher has had a student with autism. Although we have made progress identifying people with autism at younger ages, there is still a disparity between when Hispanic and black children are identified and when white children are identified. We must close that gap.
As part of the university’s Realizing Potential philanthropic campaign, the Taft Foundation recently awarded a grant to the Unicorn Children’s Foundation Clinic at NSU’s Mailman Segal Center. It provides training throughout our community in recognizing “red flags” for autism. This will target those who work with young children, including child care centers, medical personnel and parents who are concerned about their children’s development. It will also allow NSU to provide parent and professional training to build knowledge and skills about effective interventions for this disorder. NSU’s Starting Right program for 18- to 36-month-olds provides an intensive parent training/child intervention program for children who are at risk for, suspected of having autism, or already diagnosed with this disorder.
A recent research study carried out by the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that there is a high rate of premature mortality in individuals with autism spectrum disorder due to a variety of co-occurring medical conditions, including intellectual disability, mental health disorders and seizures. This study found that individuals with autism had a life expectancy 16 years below the average. For individuals who were lower functioning with autism, seizures were a primary cause of death. For those who were higher functioning, suicide was more commonly the cause. As NSU prepares to open our Center for Collaborative Research this fall, we are proud to be partnering with this highly respected research organization and know that the exciting possibilities this partnership brings to NSU will enhance our current educational, clinical, academic and research activities.
The more we learn about autism, the more we recognize that we need to learn more. The more people whom autism affects, the more we see that we need to find ways to include those with this disorder in our post-secondary educational institutions, as well as provide employment opportunities for these often highly skilled individuals. This complex, diverse disorder forces all of us to work together to increase program funding for earlier identification; quality educational, clinical and employment services; and train a workforce to support those with autism throughout their life spans.
