Autism Sunday

Autism Sunday is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of February. It is also known as the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. The holiday originates in Great Britain and has been celebrated since 2002. Two years earlier, British citizens Charika and Ivan Corea initiated a public campaign to raise public awareness about autism and Asperger's syndrome. The couple became involved in activism after their son Charlie was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. In addition to raising awareness among citizens, they insisted on more active research into the causes of the disease. With the assistance of a number of public figures, 2002 was declared the UK's Year of Autism Awareness. On February 9 of the same year, the first Autism Sunday took place. It was marked by a service dedicated to this disorder, held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It was attended by government officials, public figures and media representatives. Since then, Autism Sunday has been included in our calendar. It is supported by a number of influential politicians and many church leaders around the world. Organizers and participants call on the world community to pay attention to the problems of people with autism spectrum disorders. The diagnosis of autism refers to a disorder of the brain. The reasons for its occurrence are still not known for certain. It has only been proven so far that the disorder is associated with genes that affect the maturation of synaptic connections in the human brain. A number of researchers believe that it is provoked by the interaction of many genes. Other scientists cite genetic mutations as the cause. But there is no exact answer yet. The only thing in which world medicine has advanced is in diagnosing autism spectrum disorders. If a few decades ago such people were simply considered strange or having some other mental illness, today they receive a diagnosis and properly selected therapy. A characteristic feature of people with autism is a rejection of social relationships and, in general, an inability to build social connections, that is, to interact with other people. They demonstrate a deficit in emotional expression. Autism today is most often diagnosed in childhood, between 3 and 5 years of age. It is at this time that deviations in the child’s behavior become obvious. The disease has a number of symptoms, including: • Avoidance of eye contact. • Reluctance to communicate with peers. • Avoidance of touch. • Increased sensitivity to certain loud sounds. • Frequent tantrums of the child for no apparent reason. • Delayed speech development, incoherent or absent speech. • Lack of reaction in the child to his name, turning to it.• Increased concentration on one activity.• Formation of daily rituals or drawing up routes from which you cannot deviate.• Repetition of the same type of movements. In some cases of autism, intelligence is not affected, in others there is mental retardation. Selective intelligence is also often observed in patients. These are great successes in a certain field, concentration on a certain branch of science, subject or any activity to the detriment of other areas of life. There is no cure for autism today; we can only talk about eliminating the symptoms. Sometimes specialists prescribe drug therapy to correct the condition. But in most cases, behavioral treatment is sufficient. It involves developing communication and self-service skills.