There is a well-known phrase that states: “Knowledge is power”. Being aware of the differences that people around one have can help them make the lives of those people easier. One example of those who are ‘different’ is individuals with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. As per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022), ASD is a developmental disability that affects how a person behaves, communicates, and interacts. There is no arguing the fact that parents and caregivers of individuals with ASD understand how important it is for people to be aware of the condition. However, others might ask why they should strive, as someone who has no relation to it, to learn more about autism. The truth is that autism awareness addresses stereotypes and misunderstandings, increases early intervention, and makes society more accepting of individuals with ASD.
First of all, the raising of public awareness helps clarify misunderstandings and eliminate stereotypes. Parents of autistic children often speak about being misunderstood by members of society. For instance, kids who have ASD-specific meltdowns in public can cause people’s resentment and become subjects of unpleasant comments, being called horrible and naughty. Such attitudes and remarks only stem from ignorance which could be corrected by greater awareness. That is, if people were to read or see something about autism, there might be fewer harmful comments. They would understand that the reason for children’s behavior is not their bad manners or sense of entitlement but their condition and be able to tell apart children with autism from ordinary children. As a result, people’s reactions would be different, and some would even offer help to families struggling. Therefore, autism awareness helps get rid of stereotypes and misunderstandings and provides emotional support for those caring for autistic individuals.
In addition to that, public awareness about the issue could promote timely intervention, which is of utmost importance for people with ASD. It has been proven that early intervention improves holistic development, reduces problematic behaviors, and helps children acquire the necessary social and communication skills, all of which lead to positive outcomes in life. With strong public awareness, the public will be better informed on the possible age of diagnosis, symptoms, interventions, therapies, and so on. When there is access to such information, the likelihood of children being screened early, diagnosed and provided timely support and intervention is increased (Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation, 2020). In this way, individuals with ASD will receive treatment as early as possible, and this will facilitate their transition to adulthood and social integration.
On the other hand, some argue that one person and their particular awareness of the issue cannot do much on their own. They say that there needs to be institutionalized change and that the public’s efforts are not enough. While it might be true, it is important to remember: the power is in numbers. Each member of society can make a contribution to information exchange and advocacy. For example, if an employee of an organization could influence their colleagues and, ultimately, their boss on the recruitment of autistic individuals, they would improve said individuals’ chances of employment in a particular company. The more there are such single acts of advocacy, the better there is the situation in society in general.
In conclusion, public awareness of autism improves the lives of people with ASD. It helps members of society stop having judgmental attitudes and making harmful comments. It increases the likelihood of timely intervention, which leads to autistic individuals’ enhanced quality of life. Finally, autism awareness makes the public more accepting of people with the condition. Therefore, it is something that should definitely be advocated for and supported.
References
Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation. (2020). Early intervention makes a huge difference for autistic children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). What is autism spectrum disorder?