The Autism Society Philippines (ASP) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of persons on the autism spectrum disorder. We envision a society where Filipinos on the spectrum become the best of their potentials -- self-reliant, independent, productive, socially-accepted citizens of an Autism-OK Philippines.

21 January 2010

What Autism Is and Is Not

By: Tiffany Tan ASP Board Secretary


The Autism Puzzle Piece
Autism Puzzle Piece

We enter the 2nd decade of the 21st century. From the time of Leo Kanner to the present, scientists still can not agree to a single cause for autism. Biomedical, physiological, psychological, hereditary, dietary-therefore, the puzzle remains to be solved.

Autism is a puzzling and complex condition. People (parents, friends, family, professionals and institutions) must come together to help solve the challenges of autism, literally and figuratively, by piecing pieces together.

Autistic persons however, are not puzzle pieces. They are people first, before their autism.

The umbrella as a symbol for autism
A website classifies autism into the following categories with the umbrella as a symbol for autism: Autism Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Childhood Disentegrative Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, not Otherwise Specified.

We need umbrellas to shelter us from the heat and rain. Families of children with autism and people with autism need to be sheltered from the ignorance of the people around them.

Autism. See the potential, not the disorder.

Spectrum is a continuum of color formed when a beam of white light is dispersed so that its component wavelengths are arranged in order. Spectrum of colors adorns the rainbow.

Autism is a Spectrum Disorder. Spectrum, arranged in order. Disorder, the opposite of order.

Rainbows appear after the heavy rain
Confused? Rainbows appear after a heavy rain, God’s covenant with man.

Remember Dorothy’s song? Let’s sing together.

When all the world is a hopeless jumble
And the raindrops tumble all around,
Heaven opens a magic lane
When all the clouds darken up the skyway,
There's a rainbow highway to be found
Leading from your window pane
To a place behind the sun,
Just a step beyond the rain

See beyond the spectrum. Take the Giant Leap and Expand Boundaries for Autism.

How to celebrate the Autism Consciousness Week with your family?

During your free time make a simple art work using the 3 symbols of autism. Stick your artwork on the refrigerator door or on the cork board of your study. Bring out the karaoke and sing Over the Rainbow.

Join the Angels Walk for Autism this January 24, 2010 at SM Mall of Asia. No other Walk comes close to an Angels’ heart.

1 comments:

kixjavier said...

I would like to share this. I am from Tacloban City and we have a gifted child named Sam Teatro. She was born blind and later on had autism, but everytime she holds the microphone, she performs magic. You can check her videos at my website http://kixjavier.com/2010/01/19/born-blind-and-suffers-from-autism-singer/

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