Autism Awareness Month

April is National Autism Awareness Month. There are so many good causes that I can’t possibly cover them all, so I tend to focus on those that have had a direct impact on my life. Although I don’t have any experience with autism in my family or closest friends, I do have friends with autistic children. Not long ago, I learned that a man with whom I went to college was diagnosed with Asperger’s. Fifty years ago, autism wasn’t as well-known as it is now, and when he was a college student, this man was just considered “weird” by most people; his autism wasn’t recognized until late in life.

But the biggest reason I identify with autism is that there are many ways in which it is similar to dementia, and I have a lot of personal experience with dementia. I’ve written more about this in previous posts:

The video below features a young man diagnosed with Asperger’s explaining what he considers the top ten things we need to know about autism.

O HEAVENLY Father, we beseech thee to have mercy upon all thy children who are “wired differently.” Surround them with families and friends who are patient and understanding and give the children and their loved ones thy peace that passes understanding; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Image: © Depositphotos.com/WavebreakMedia

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