I’ve always been someone who likes to help people.  Even as a little kid, I liked volunteering, helping neighbors & the like.  As an adult, I donate to charities, volunteer at events, participate in fundraisers, etc.  I believe there are people out there whose lives have been profoundly changed due to the kindness of strangers.  When I see people who are hurt or in need of help, I try to assist if I can.  There’s a saying that goes something like ‘even the small acts of kindness can make a difference’.  I am a firm believer in that. 

When I was chosen as Miss April for the Arkansas Women Bloggers and asked to guest post this month, I knew I wanted to talk about something with meaning, something close to my heart.  One of my favorite charities is Autism Speaks.  I have friends from college who have a son with Autism.  He is the sweetest, funniest little dude in the world.  When he was diagnosed with Autism, it changed their family forever. 

His family has a team that participates in the Walk Now For Autism Speaks which is held in Little Rock every year at the Clinton Presidential Center.  This year’s event is on October 5th.  You can sign up to participate here, if you’re interested.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) & autism are both general terms for a
group of complex disorders of brain development.  These disorders are
characterized by difficulties in social
interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive
behaviors.  They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood
disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise
specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. With the May 2013 publication
of the new DSM-5 diagnostic manual, these autism subtypes will be merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. 

 
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) identifies around 1 in 88 American children as being on the
autism spectrum.  That’s a ten-fold increase in prevalence in 40 years!  Careful
research shows that this increase is only partly explained by improved
diagnosis and awareness. Studies also show that autism is four to five
times more common among boys than girls. An estimated 1 out of 54 boys
and 1 in 252 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States.  Another sobering fact?  In the United States, a child is diagnosed with Autism every 11 minutes. 

Did you know that autism receives less than 5% of the research funding
of many less prevalent childhood disorders and diseases? 

Prevalence VS. Private Funding
   • Leukemia: Affects 1 in 1,200 / Funding: $277 million
   • Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 100,000 / Funding: $162 million
   • Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 300 / Funding: $394 million
   • Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $156 million
   • Autism: Affects 1 in 88 / Funding: $79 million

Our little group of family and friends is called Dyllan’s Dinos and we walk to spread awareness of ASD.  Please check out my Autism Speaks Sponsor Page if you feel compelled to donate to our team.  My goal is to raise $1,000 before October 5th.  Please know that you’d be donating
directly to Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated solely to autism
research, and that your donation is 100% tax deductible. 

I believe in thanking people that have made
donations.  When someone makes a
donation to my team, I will send you set of my Autism Awareness elastic hair ties from my Etsy shop as a thank you!