Autism Awareness Month

Autism has environmental causes

This month, the biggest autism twin study ever done -- the California Autism Twin Study -- found that, unlike two previous studies, the identical twins had lower concordant rates of autism, and fraternal twins had higher rates of concordance. This suggests that most cases of autism are caused by the environment and not heredity.

For two decades, many have attempted to make us believe that autism is 90 percent heritable. The CATS study states the split is more likely 40/60, with environment being 60 percent.

Meanwhile the epidemic of autism denial will continue to grow along with the real cause. Substitution, awareness and better diagnosing are a few of the excuses that continue to nourish the hungry lies.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into genetic studies searching for those elusive genes with little success. Money must be diverted to environmental causes of autism, as this twin study points out.

Whooooaaaa there... your not going to get a reasonable hearing on these boards. As you see, EPA is a liberal socialist program that only 'hassles' the job creators who's best interest is in 'PROFIT' for the shareholders, not how they can be better citizens and neighbors. You are asking for the socialist government to use taxpayer monies (mine, yours, ours) which must be collected by TAXES to investigate an epidemic that only effects a small portion of our population. And hey, if we did do the study and spend our tax money, we might even find that the causes of Autism have their roots in other physical debilitation's we may need to do something about. But oh yes, just who is going to do these studies? The scientists you say, oh whoa is me, the same scientists who promote a liberal facist socialist agenda developing hypothesis' around ways to subvert our liberties. Best you and those who 'care' about your autism issue find some 'angel investor' who's not in it for the money to support your sorely needed research. The government is Broke. (I hope you'all got the satire here)

I think the detail you overlooked Techfan is that these are not rates of OCCURRENCE, but of CONCORDANCE.

Celebrating Autism Awareness Month in College : College Candy

April is Autism Awareness Month. According to the Autism Society , this month is intended to bring concern and awareness about autism to the forefront, while simultaneously celebrating those we know with autism.

Most of us know someone with autism or Asperger’s. It might be one of your siblings, a girl in your class, or that boy down the hall. Most young adults with autism or Asperger’s do not consider themselves to have an illness or anything wrong with them. They just consider their autism or Asperger’s to be a name for their personality — something that makes them unique.

When I asked a girl with Asperger’s at my school what she thought about having Aspberger’s, she replied that there was “nothing wrong with me that needs to be fixed.” To her, having Aspberger’s is a part of who she is. Her Aspberger’s is a part of her personality that she enjoys.

A lot has been said about autism and Asperger’s in the past few years. I don’t want to sound like a total Debbie Downer, but most of it hasn’t been very nice. Some very cruel stereotypes have been propagated about children and young adults and it’s not uncommon for students to use it as a label for anyone socially awkward. How many times have you been behind someone in the dining hall who says “OMG, he was so weird and autistic about kissing me in the morning.”

As college students, it is up to us to transcend beyond those cheap stereotypes, learn more, and stop using the terms as a synonym for people who are socially awkward.

So how can you celebrate Autism Awareness Month?

Get involved!

Reach out to someone in your community who has autism or Asperger’s. Throw an event on your campus to bring awareness to autism and Asperger’s. Find a local autism awareness organization in your community and see what else you can do!

As a college student, you have a millions way to get involved, either by volunteering or bringing awareness, so go for it! As well, by being a friend to someone with autism and Asperger’s, you can make even more of a difference.

So this April, when you’re celebrating spring and the approaching summer, take a little bit of time to educate yourself about autism and Asperger’s.

For more information, check out the Autism Society and Autism Speaks !

Critical disability theory, essays in philosophy, politics, policy, and law

Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates of the 108th Congress Second Session

Understanding Autism for Dummies

The Autism Matrix

Chase's Calendar of Events, 2011 Edition