Lack of service on kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder

 Lack of service on kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder

                                               

The Lack of service on children with Autism spectrum disorder is currently an issue that goes unnoticed due to lack of knowledge. This term is used to describe a constellation of early appearing social communication deficits and repetitive sensory-monitor behaviours associated with strong genetic component as well as other causes. It is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. “The prevalence of ASD in the United States is currently estimated to affect 1 in 68 children with higher rates among males and non- hispanic whites”( Liem T, 2018) It is one of the most common developmental disabilities going on today.

As a result, people on the autism spectrum face significant communication, social, and behavior challenges. They vary enormously from each other but they all have impaired social skills of one kind or another.

                                  

Children under the spectrum

• Delayed speech and communication skills
• Are upset by relatively minor changes

                             

• Are unaware of social convention/appropriate social behavior. 
• They express inappropriate emotions such as laughing at the wrong time and place
• Social interaction such as sharing interests with other people
• They may not understand the importance of taking turns during a conversation, or during an activity.
• The use of non-verbal communication like making eye contact 
• The development and maintenance of relationships like making friends. 
• Unexpected reactions to certain sounds, taste, touch and smell
• Find it difficult to understand other people’s emotions.

                         

        

                 

        Making it difficult to be out in public for both the child and family members.

Personal experience 

From my own experience, having a sibling who does not respond warmly and reciprocally to expressions of interest and love on the part of family members can create a sense of profound loss and humiliation. I get told “Your brother is cute” but deep down I know I’m being told that because they don’t know how to approach him or us about his disorder. I get sad when my friends siblings make the decision to leave him out of certain activities like soccer, or tag. I hate having to tell people that he has autism because I’m afraid they're going to look at him differently after, I’m afraid they’re afraid. “Children comment on their anger regarding peer reactions, difficulty explaining their sibling to peers” (Wright, Bridget M, and Joann P Benigno., 2019) These perspective illustrates how the experiences of one family member affects not only their actions and perspectives but also those of other family members.

                                 

Why this issue is important

I think this issue is important because in today’s society, we are quick to assume that the child throwing a tantrum at the store, or park is simply a spoiled child, who lack self discipline from the parents. Affecting their everyday lives and limited the activities the family could do together. “Parents of children with ASD were at increased risk of poor mental health, not because of others stressors engendered or exacerbated by their child's disability.” (Meadan, Hedda, 2010) This stress could have a negative impact on parents, leading to depression, anger, anxiety, and even marital discord.

                            

Interviews

“It’s hard going out as a family, yea. As a mother, it hurts to be looked at when your child is crying and hitting you when asked to get down from there or when reinforcing rules. I already know what half of the people are thinking of me. I think what hurts more is having to restrain your own child in public when you know he’s in danger to himself and those around him. The last thing I want is for people to think I’m a bad more or worse hitting my child.” 

-Rosa Duarte

“It’s tough. It’s really tough. I wish more people understood that ASD isn’t contagious but something extremely unique and beautiful. As a big sister I’m always afraid of the thought that my brother is getting bullied at school. He’s 8 and he’s pretty tall for an 8 year old. He still carries his chewing throughout his day. Knowing that kids his age refuse to play with him and laugh at him when chewing on his chewy or other objects kills me. Jacob is such a sweet kid. He’s funny, he’s charming. But people refuse to see what a beautiful kid he is.”

-Michelle Santos

“Ideen is a high functioning kid. Uhm, He gets mad a lot. Every time he loses at a game, or doesn’t have it his way he throws a tantrum. He becomes very violent too. He puts his hands on his sister a lot at home and at school. And although we try convincing jaimy that he’s still a kid, that he doesn’t know any better, she refuses to play with him most of the time. I think jaimy is hitting that point in life where she no longer wants to be around her own little brother. Some days, jaimy comes home and tells us “Ideen embarrassed me at school today. I hate him.” She has no idea that Ideen has autism, she’s only 8. We know that sooner or later were going to have to tell her but, we don’t really know how. I’m constantly getting calls at work about my children getting sent to the office for fighting. We get threats from other parents saying that if Ideen keeps hitting their kid, they're calling the police on him and us. I come home tired from work and I can’t really rest because Ideen is either throwing a tantrum or making loud noises. We get new nannies almost every 7 months because they find it difficult to care for him.”

-Ricky Ortiz 

Reference 

Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) : Recent Advances and Innovations in Assessment, Education, and Intervention, edited by James K. Luiselli, Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2014. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csla/detail.action?docID=1630627.

Chistol, Liem, T. Bandini, Linda Must, G. Phillips, Aviva Cermak, and Sarah Curtin. "Sensory Sensitivity and Food Selectivity in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder." Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 48.2 (2018): 583-91. Web.

Meadan, Hedda, James Halle, and Aaron Ebata. "Families With Children Who Have Autism Spectrum Disorders: Stress and Support." Exceptional Children 77.1 (2010): 7-36. Web.

Wright, Bridget M, and Joann P Benigno. "Autism Spectrum Disorder and Sibling Relationships: Exploring Implications for Intervention Using a Family Systems Framework." American Journal of Speech-language Pathology 28.2 (2019): 759-67. Web.