What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as unique strengths and differences.
The term ‘spectrum‘ reflects the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism.
- 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System
Some Facts About Autism
Autism’s prevalence rate is 1 in 66 children in Canada. This includes 1 in 42 boys, and 1 in 189 girls.
Around one third of people with Autism remain nonverbal.
An estimated 50,000 teens with Autism become adults, and lose school-based autism services each year.
Conditions that frequently accompany Autism include gastrointretinal disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias.
- 2018 National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System
What Can You Do To Help?
”If you know one person with Autism, then you only know one person with Autism”
Every person on the Spectrum is different. Get to know the people in your life with Autism, and how you can help them cope with the world around them.
Promote awareness, acceptance, respect, and understanding, and teach your children and others to be kind and inclusive of everyone.