Autism Spectrum Disorders: Ten Tips to Support Me By: Joaquin Fuentes, MD

The tips begin:

1. I am not “autistic.” I am first, foremost, and always a person, a student, a child, and I have autism. Do not confuse me with my condition. And, please, do not use the term in a negative or inconsiderate way. I deserve to be respected.

2. I am an individual. Having autism does not make me the same as other people with autism. Make an effort to know me as an individual, to understand my strengths, my weaknesses, and me. Ask me—and my friends and my family, if I cannot reply— about my dreams.

3. I deserve services, just like all children. Services for me begin early. Autism is—or it will be, when recognized—a public health issue in many countries of the world. There are instruments to screen it. They should be applied in the framework of screening for other developmental disabilities. If you start soon, my life will be different! And remember that about one quarter of my siblings will have autism or other problems. Help them; they are an important part of my life.

Read all ten tips – and Dr. Fuentes introduction – here. 

Full Paper & References: http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567%2814%2900614-5/pdf. Also found written in Spanish, French and Basque...

August 26, 2014.

Dr. Fuentes is with Policlınica Gipuzkoa, San Sebastian, Spain.

Correspondence to Joaquin Fuentes, MD, Policlınica Gipuzkoa, Child

and Adolescent Psychiatry, Paseo de Miramon, 174, San Sebastian,

Spain; e-mail: fuentes.j@telefonica.net

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY

1146 www.jaacap.org VOLUME 53 NUMBER 11 NOVEMBER 2014 FUENTES

Full Paper & References: http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567%2814%2900614-5/pdf

For more information on autism go to http://www.brightfuturesaei.com/, drop me a note or call to schedule a free consultation.

Here's to Bright Futures for all children!

Zoe

#Autism #BrightFutures #ABA #Advocacy