Last Saturday my friend Cathy, her daughter Calmerin, Chase and I all took part in the Walk Now For Autism walk. Despite the rain and strong winds ton's of people turned out to walk the gorgeous University of Washington campus. Sponsor's and walker's worked hard all year to raise funding and awareness for Autism Speaks, together we raised $250,000 of the $350,000 Seattle goal.
Raising funds and awareness for Autism is super important!!!!
Did you know Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in 1 in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls?
" The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown." .... did you read that right ... "no known cause or cure"
This is incredibly alarming and should be a hot topic on everyone's mind whether you know someone inflicted with autism or not. This disorder inflicts more US children than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. Although autism is certainly not a new disorder it is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability. Why is this? Doesn't it make you mad that we don't know? Something has to be to blame for the rise and I want to know what it is!
"67 children are diagnosed per day - A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes"
"Autism costs the nation over $35 billion per year, a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade. Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases"
Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000 / Funding: $394 million
Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 20,000 / Funding: $175 million
Autism: Affects 1 in 150 / Funding: $42 million
Do you see those numbers!!!! How does that possibly make any sense? Why is that acceptable to America? I do not have a child with autism or even have a child close to me with it, yet I am outraged by this! We as parents, we as a nation owe it to the children to speak up for autism!
This is why funding and awareness are so undeniably crucial.
Speak up for Autism!
Or at least keep the buzz going, talk about it, blog about it, bring awareness to it because without it our children will continue to be at risk!
Helpful link's: Jenny McCarthy's - Generation Rescue :: Autism Society of America
Thanks for bringing awareness to autism Amanda, definitely learned a lot from your post. It's always such a great feeling to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. LOVE the kids in the raingear! Can't wait to see the other photos you got of them, they look adorable!
ReplyDeletep.s. I so envy your Fall day! Wanna trade?! lol
Calmerin and I were glad to join you and Chase on this cause.
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