April is Autism Awareness Month. How Aware Are You?

April is Autism Awareness Month. I’m participating in RJ Scott’s blog hop to share important facts about autism.

Today’s autism fact:

Autism is the  fastest-growing serious developmental disability

I think everyone knows a child with autism, or a person who is raising an autistic child.  It’s tough enough to raise kids these days, and autism makes that job even more difficult. It should come as no surprise that this is the fastest-growing disability. The good news is that kids are being diagnosed and treated, so they can grow up with proper understanding and care.

I’d like to share some of the other facts, in case you haven’t been participating in the whole blog hop, because this is important for everyone to know.

• Difficulties with  transition can lead to social isolation, mental health problems &  continued dependence on parents. Parents of young people with autism have  described transition to adulthood like falling off a cliff-edge
• Service dogs are now available that are specially selected and trained to support autistic people, to be their unfailing friend and companion, safeguard them and improve their independence. Unfortunately such dogs are very expensive.
• Many parents of  children with autism feel they’ve been wrongly accused of poor  parenting.
• Autism  affects over 700,000 people in the UK (more than 1 in 100). 1 to 1.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder.
• Only 56% of students with autism finish high school.

Did you have any idea of how widespread this disorder is? I didn’t. I’d like to thank RJ Scott for giving me the chance to share the facts.

I’m giving away a $25 gift certificate to your choice of Amazon, ARe or Dreamspinner Press. Or, you can choose to have the $25 donated to an autism research organization recommended by RJ Scott.

Please leave a comment below to be entered for the gift certificate: Has autism affected your life?

Thanks for  participating, and please be sure to visit the other authors’ pages.

 

I’d also like to invite you to read an excerpt of my next release: Out of the Gate comes out from Dreamspinner Press April 21.

It’s the story of Wes Tremayne, a British actor in Hollywood who falls for a race  horse trainer. Just one problem: Wes is in the closet. Will coming out mean the end to his blossoming career?

Excerpt