Report for Autism Speaks Walk
On Sunday of Sep. 17, I participated Autism Speaks Walk in Manhattan with thousands of other families to support and advocate for people with autism. Autism Speaks run the nation’s largest autism walk fundraising event. It is dedicated to promoting solutions across the spectrum and throughout the life span for the needs of people with autism and their families; and increasing public awareness and understanding of autism spectrum disorder; and supporting continuous research into causes and better treatments for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. (Autism Speaks, n.d.).
This is the 13 years since Autism Speaks has been founded by Bob Wright, the former chairman of National Broadcasting Company, and his wife when their grandson was diagnosed by Autism. Facing this sudden arrival tragedy with puzzling cause and condition, and the fear of it is the fastest growing developmental disorder with no cure worldwide, Mr. Wright pouples were inspirited to initiate a national campaign of searching a cure for autism and supporting people with autism (Autism Speaks, n.d.).
Today, Autism Speaks becomes the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It partners with families, professionals, advocacy groups and governments in more than 70 countries. It also works with the United Nation and the World Health Organization (WHO) to help nations create self-sustaining public health programs and research networks that address the needs of children, adults and families affected by autism (Autism Speaks, n.d.)
As a nurse, I fully understand that how difficult to take care of autistic person from my knowledge and practice. And I had also witnessed my colleague was exhausted and desperate to take care her only child with autism. Fighting with autism, I truly believe is an obligation should not only be constrained to the health care field and families suffered from this disease, all nations are counted. Facing the challenge of autism affects 1 in 68 kids in the U. S. (Center of Disease Control and Prevention, 2016), everyone should get involved in this national campaign, advocating for increasing social funding dedicated to autism research and evidence-based best practice in medical care; supporting the equal opportunities for people with autism and their families to access diverse services for health caring, education, employment, housing and community living across their lifespan. Even though today’s scientific research on autism is still developing slowly, Autism Speaks is already shining a light on autism worldwide to improve their lives today and promoting a spectrum of solution for tomorrow (Autism Speaks, n.d.).
Reference
Autism Speaks. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.autismspeaks.org/advocacy/about-us
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). CDC estimates 1 in 68 school-aged children have autism; no change from previous estimate. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0331-children-autism.html
