Autism a rising—but silent—epidemic

One out of 150 Americans is born with autism or related autism spectrum disorder, according to the latest findings of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Autism Society of America.

In the CNMI, over 70 children in the public school system have been diagnosed with autism.

Each year, the number of autism cases has grown at such a dramatic rate that many professionals have classified it an epidemic.

Despite this, there remains a lot of ignorance about the subject, necessitating the need to educate the community on autism.

Toward this end, the Autism Society of the CNMI has teamed up with the Governor’s Office to declare April 2008 as Autism Awareness Month.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, who signed the proclamation yesterday morning, urged members of the community to take a minute to learn more about the disability.

Chad Merfalen, a person living with Asberger’s, one of the autism spectrum disorders, read aloud the proclamation before the governor’s endorsement.

Autism is a developmental disability that affects the brain in the areas of reasoning, social interaction, behaviors, and communication skills.

According to research, autism does not discriminate and affects individuals in every ethnic, country, socioeconomic class throughout the world.

Autism, according to the proclamation, is a “complex disability that is not very well understood.” The manner in which people are affected by autism varies from person to person, while causes and treatment are still the subject of debate.

Not only does it impact the individuals with the disability, “but it also has a significant impact on families, caregivers, educators, and health care professionals, many of whom are still struggling to learn how best to address the special needs of an individual with autism.”

Merfalen read that “it is of utmost importance that the CNMI become more aware of this disability as the number of individuals being diagnosed continues to rise.”

ASCNMI member Larissa Larson is a mother of two young children diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

PDD-NOS is a long-winded version of saying that individuals have several symptoms of autism but do not have full-blown autism.

Larson said that one of the difficult things about dealing with autism is that it affects each child and family differently.

“In order to understand how autism is affecting our children and families, you have to understand what autism really is,” Larson said.

She and the rest of the ASCNMI members are inviting everyone in the community to take a minute and learn more about the disability.

The ASCNMI was formed in January 2006 by families and friends of autism in order to support each other and share information.

The ASCNMI works to promote, protect, and advocate for the rights of all individuals with autism in the CNMI in close collaboration with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the CNMI Council on Developmental Disabilities, University Center of Excellence on Developmental Disabilities of the Northern Marianas College, Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy and Systems Inc., and other organizations.