World Autism Awareness Month

 

Today on Akella Tech, we'll be talking about something that is not about tech. Shocker. That's right, I've decided to take a digression for this particular post as this month is quite special to me yet is something that not many people know about. April marks the World Autism Awareness Month. 

Before we proceed, let's take a moment to clarify what autism really is and run through some common misconceptions. Autism, otherwise referred to as ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a type of disability that can severely impact one's social, sensory and self-controlling skills. It is important, however, to note that ASD is not a disease - it's just a different ability. It's a neurological disorder, so you can't easily identify who has it just by looking at someone. 

So why should we educate ourselves about this disorder? Well, Autism is one of the fastest growing disabilities in the world - in fact, it is estimated that around 700 000 people in the UK are diagnosed with Autism and that 1 in every 100 children are diagnosed with it. There is no known cure for it as of now. A boy is four times more likely to have ASD than a girl. Furthermore, some say that it is, despite first appearances, the future of humankind. Just because a person is diagnosed with Autism, that doesn't mean that they are mentally slow or unintelligent. In fact, there are lots of well-known people that have been diagnosed with Autism. Here are just a few of them: 

• Charles Darwin 
• Albert Einstein
• Steve Jobs
• Nikola Tesla
• Andy Warhol
• Bill Gates
• Robert (Bobby) James Fischer
• Lewis Carroll
• Robbie Williams
• Sir Isaac Newton
• Magnus Carlsen
• Elon Musk
• Dr Sheldon Cooper (Yes, I had to add Big Bang Theory references)

Now THAT is a shocker. Who would have known that most innovative, creative and different thinkers of mankind were diagnosed with Autism? Fascinating, isn't it?

How does Autism affect a person diagnosed with it? The impacts are not visible, so you can't draw conclusions just from the naked eye. That being the case, we have figured out that Autism affects different people in different ways. For some, ASD might have a mild impact and for others, it might be severe. The greater the severity, we say the lower they are on the spectrum. Some may have restrictions in verbalising or using their senses whilst others may struggle to socialise as result of anxiety. That moves me onto another point - Autism is not one particular type of disorder, but an umbrella of multiple. The spectrum ranges from sensory integration disorders to ADHD to anxiety. There's just so much, it would be impossible to list all of them right now. No matter what the condition is, however, those with ASD don't have the ability to hate or feel grudges - they can only love even though their actions may speak otherwise. Certain constraints enable them to concentrate better on their work and think without getting distracted even in chaotic environments. 

Previously, I mentioned how this month is very special to me - well, that's because my own brother is severely Autistic. Hence, I would like to share some of my experiences as a carer. My brother, albeit his ASD, has brought much joy into our family and is an amazing little person. However, this has not been without many challenges - this includes sleepless nights, sudden cancellations in plans and his unpredictable meltdowns with no clear reason. If he is desperate for something, he is not able to voice his concerns and so it comes out as shutdowns and prolonged tantrums. I am fully aware that his condition will continuously throw challenges and difficulties as time goes on, but it has been received with his boundless love and comfort. When people ask me if I ever wished my brother was normal, I always ask them what their definition of 'normal' is. I also tell them that I love my brother the way he is and wouldn't give it up for the world. My brother really enjoys spending time with us when we go for walks in nature and villages. At times, he can be rather cheeky and bully me into doing things for him; sometimes, however, he just needs a good 'ol hug. In short, his different character traits and nature make this family-loving boy a perfect sibling!

In conclusion, Autism is not necessarily a 'bad' condition or disorder - it's just an example of neurodiversity. In fact, there are a lot of things we can learn from them. In a world that is rife with distractions and temptations, we as humans are self-conscious about every action we make, worried about what other people might think of us. On the contrary, most people with Autism will not be concerned about the trivial matters in life. Most of us may not have ASD as of yet, but that shouldn't stop us from reminding ourselves that we only have one life and that we should live for own self and treat others with unconditional respect. 

'Autism is not a disease, don't try to cure it. Try to understand it.'