World Autism Day: Protecting "Children of the Stars" and Making Love Not Lonely

(This article is about 900 words and takes 3 minutes to read)

April 2 is World Autism Day. This year's theme is "Implementing the Care Action Plan to Promote the All-Round Development of Autistic Groups". Children with autism are like stars in the sky, shining alone in their own world. They are called "star children". Let us walk into their world, understand autism, and protect their future with love and care.

Autism Status

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with an increasing incidence in recent years. In 2021, about 1% of children worldwide were diagnosed with autism, and the prevalence in the United States was even higher than 2%. In China, there are about 2 million children with autism aged 0-14, and about 160,000 new children each year. These data are shocking and reflect that autism has become a public health issue that cannot be ignored.

Autism traits

Autism is characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, accompanied by restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests. These characteristics have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life and social ability. For example, they may avoid eye contact, overreact to certain stimuli in the environment, or repeatedly engage in certain activities. These behaviors make them appear out of place in social interactions.

Causes of Autism

The cause of autism is still unknown, but the most widely recognized cause is the interaction between gene mutation and adverse environment. Studies have shown that older parents, infection during pregnancy, improper use of drugs in early pregnancy, or exposure to chemicals may increase the risk of autism.

Interventions

At present, there is still a lack of effective treatment drugs for autism, and the main treatment method is rehabilitation training. The best intervention period is before the age of 6. The earlier the rehabilitation training, the more significant the effect. Rehabilitation training includes behavioral intervention, speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc., aiming to improve the patient's social skills, language expression skills and self-care ability.

Social support

The degree of society's recognition and acceptance of autistic people directly affects their quality of life. Families, educators and social organizations should all actively participate in providing necessary support and optimized education methods. For example, schools can provide inclusive education for autistic children, communities can carry out caring activities, and companies can set up inclusive positions to provide employment opportunities for autistic adults.

Conclusion: Protecting "children with disabilities" requires the joint efforts of the whole society. Let us use love and care to create an inclusive and friendly environment for them, help them better integrate into society and realize their self-worth. On this World Autism Day, let us act together to make love not lonely.

Data support source:

1. In 2021, approximately 1% of children worldwide will be diagnosed with autism.

2. The prevalence in the United States exceeds 2%.

3. There are approximately 2 million autistic children aged 0-14 in China, with approximately 160,000 new children each year.