Autism Awareness Day

Today is Autism Awareness Day. Maybe it's good to designate such a day for folks who don't know someone who's challenged by autism or who haven't any reason to think about autism.

For those of us who live with autism in some form or fashion every single day, though, we're acutely aware and we don't need a special day, a ribbon, a slogan or a fundraiser to remind us that no one knows yet what causes autism, what definitively works best to control its symptoms, or what we can do to make insurance companies treat autistic spectrum disorders as the costly and life-altering conditions they seem to be.

We also don't benefit much from the media parading so-called autism success stories, especially when such stories are rare and misleading as to what the vast majority of affected families must face.

I know the stories are meant to be encouraging or hopeful, but frankly they come across as more hype than fact.

True, some people with high-functioning autism do go on to lead relatively normal lives -- college, marriage, families, etc.

But far too many more end up in assisted living or group home situations, and some even wind up in mental institutions although autism is not a mental illness.

The population with autism seems to be growing bigger, although I suspect more accurate diagnoses are propelling some of that growth. The population with autism will one day age, and that's the part no one seems to talk much about.

What will we as a society do with so many people who need help with everything from basic life skills to intricate social skills? What sort of place will we prepare for them so that they can share the best they have to offer while making sure they are kept safe? Many people with autism are extremely bright and enthusiastic but because they have trouble "reading" other people they may also be extremely vulnerable to financial scams or even sexual abuse.

In all the noise and chatter about universal healthcare, I kept waiting for someone to take a position that because autism is widespread, broad in its manifestation, and potentially crippling unless intervention is begun early we should dedicate more resources to families struggling to cope with it.

Instead, the silence was deafening.

The statistics say that that 1 in 100 children have some form of autism. More boys are diagnosed than girls. In most cases, the cause of the disorder is never known. Mothers of children with autism may experience symptoms similar to that of combat fatigue.

So on this day and every day, here's what you need to be aware of: Autism in any form steals something from your child that you're hard put to get back. It cheats your family of its peace of mind because you can never completely relax, never completely let go. It chips away at your economic worth because most interventions are not covered by insurance. It can be isolating unless you fall in with a group of people who are either experiencing the same thing or who at least care enough about you to put up with the quirks.

Worst of all, it taunts you as a mystery you cannot solve no matter what you do.