The 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS) Report estimates autism's prevalence as 1 in 66 children in Canada. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls.
An estimated 50,000 teens with autism become adults – and lose school-based autism services – each year.
Around one third of people with autism remain nonverbal. Around one third of people with autism have an intellectual disability. Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias.
Note: In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association merged four previously distinct diagnoses into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These included autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome.
People with ASD might be disturbed by the overload of sensory information. These overwhelming inputs can lead to sudden meltdowns, and they might end up doing something inappropriate in public, as perhaps they found the situation hard to cope with. To cap it all, inconsiderate reaction or the lack of support can make the situation worse. Let them be; more often than not, this is what they need from you.
"Parents might find themselves in awkward situations, even though there is nothing to be embarrassed about in the first place. Parents know what they are doing. People can just follow through and be ready to help them as they are trying their best to take care of the child. Also, the key is not to try to conceal autism. The more we involve them in our conversations, the more we will be able to celebrate diversity. If we keep on hiding, the scenario will not get better, as others' mentality will not change," said Mamataz Begum.
People with ASD might be disturbed by the overload of sensory information. These overwhelming inputs can lead to sudden meltdowns, and they might end up doing something inappropriate in public, as perhaps they found the situation hard to cope with. To cap it all, inconsiderate reaction or the lack of support can make the situation worse. Let them be; more often than not, this is what they need from you.
"Parents might find themselves in awkward situations, even though there is nothing to be embarrassed about in the first place. Parents know what they are doing. People can just follow through and be ready to help them as they are trying their best to take care of the child. Also, the key is not to try to conceal autism. The more we involve them in our conversations, the more we will be able to celebrate diversity. If we keep on hiding, the scenario will not get better, as others' mentality will not change," said Mamataz Begum.
