AN INCLUSIVE KIND WORLD

 WHY MUST WE KNOW ABOUT AUTISM? “ Do not fear people with autism, embrace them. Do not spite people with autism, unite them. Do not deny people with autism, accept them. For then, their abilities will shine.” —Paul Isaacs To wrap up this wonderful year, we are covering the topic " why we must know about autism" . Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with signs that exhibit during early childhood years. Yes, autism is not a single disorder but a wide range of complex disorders that affects individuals differently. Some people might have certain symptoms that others don't have! ASD affects a person's abilities to communicate and interact with others. There is no known cause or cure for ASD and it's prevalence rate is on the rise.  You might probably ask " Why should I know about autism when I don't have it or my family members don't have it? ''. It's very simple.  We all need to come together and embrace each

 What is the cause of Autism? A common question after an autism diagnosis is ''what is the cause of autism?''.  The truth is that there is really no definite cause of autism.  Various  research suggests that autism develops from a combination of both genetic and environmental influences. Researchers are trying to figure out whether air pollutants or certain infections can actually lead to ASD. It is also said that autism runs in families.  Changes in certain genes increases the risk that a child might develop autism. If a parent carries one or more of these gene changes, they may get passed to a child. They say that if you have pregnancy and birth complications or multiple pregnancies, you have an increased risk of having a child with autism. I really don't know. What I know is that autism is not caused by the " sins of the parents ". I come from a religious and intensely spiritual background and we tend to think about the possibility that the parents ha

  REPETITIVE BEHAVIOR Repetitive behaviors are  common symptoms  of Autism Spectrum Disorder.   Many parents and caregivers worry about their child or ward whenever they are constantly doing things in repetitive manner.  I can relate to that. My little brother loves to line up bottles of water by the side of his bed. Sometimes, he goes back and forth in walking. It's something really difficult to understand. Repetitive behaviors include arm or hand-flapping, finger-flicking, rocking, jumping, spinning or twirling or head-banging and complex body movements.  This is known as ' stimming' or self-stimulating behavior.  What we don't know is that these behaviors can be used to deal with stress and anxiety.  Many people with autism feel very anxious when asked to change their routine or schedule. My little brother hates it when we change his routine and often reacts in an extreme manner. These behaviors vary from individual to individual. Some people say things over and o

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that causes high level of hyperactive and impulsive behaviors.  People with ADHD may have t rouble fixing their attention on a task or sitting still for a long period of time.   Both adults and children can have ADHD.  A wide range of behaviors are associated with ADHD. Some of the common ones include  being forgetful about completing tasks and   being easily distracted.  Symptoms such as  having problems managing time, hyperactivity, forgetfulness, and impatience can cause problems at work and home. People with ADHD often have issues with self-esteem and are not aware of their behavior or the impact on people around them.  Treatment for ADHD typically includes both behavioral therapies and medication.  Therapy can help with learning on how to manage your behavior. Medication can also be very helpful when you’re living with ADHD, but it is wise to consult a specialist first.  Is ADHD a disability? No, it

MELTDOWNS, SHUTDOWNS AND TANTRUMS In the past, I mistook these three terms as the same, but in reality they are all different.  When a child or an adult is throwing a tantrum , it's usually seen that they are not getting what they want. You've probably heard of the term "temper tantrum". It is usually stopped by the exertion of their willpower.  I always thought that my brother was throwing tantrums, whenever he starts his whole showdown. it's not so. What my brother exhibits is a meltdown.  Meltdowns are caused by overload of sensory.   A tantrum and a meltdown may look very similar but it is very different. Meltdowns is out of someone's control, while a tantrum is to a certain extent, driven by will. Meltdowns  can also happen to anyone, not just individuals with autism.  Tantrums can also be done for attention-seeking. The reality is that, with meltdowns, you don't need an audience. It can happen in the midst of people or while the person is alone. So,

There is a saying that ' 'If you can learn self control, you can master anything ” Patience is required on a different level when dealing with special-needs children and adults.  It is very important to know how far your emotions can take you, especially if you have a child or an adult who doesn’t process information the way you do. How could you exercise control with your sibling or child?  Negative emotions like anger tend to spin out of control. I won’t lie, my little brother annoys me unknowingly and sometimes, intentionally. Most of the time, I’m like “God, give me patience today and don't let me break my brother's head”. I always say something to my mother '' you are allowed to be angry and upset about a situation, but it is important to know what to do with your emotions".   You could hurt people with your words or actions and that's not alright. Don’t react right away. Take a deep breath and try to calm down. Think of the repercussions of you

  An autistic savant is someone with ​autism who has an extraordinary area of knowledge or ability.  Savantism is often common among autistic individuals.   I had researched about savantism in university for my project and I read somewhere that savants may have experienced an injury in the left part of their brain which somehow lets them exhibit unusual abilities.  I also read about Stephen Wiltshire, a British artist who was diagnosed with autism at a very young age. He was referred to as a "human camera'' because of his ability to draw landscapes from memory after just seeing them once.  Mind-blowing.  Most savants have abilities in musical, artistic or mathematical domains. Some others possess the skill of ‘calendar calculating’, quickly computing the day of the week of any date in the past or future. I have seen this before. During Patrick's speech center's Christmas concert, there was a boy who could mention any day of the week a date falls on. For example,

"Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They are  both  fruits, but taste completely different" - Stephen King  In my last post I put up a number of movies that showcase ASD and someone had asked me “ what about books?’’. Unfortunately, I haven't read so many books on autism, but I have heard of some lovely, educative fiction and non-fiction books and I'm going to recommend some. “ HIGHS AND LOWS OF HAVING A SIBLING WITH AUTISM" by Oluwatoyin Odunuyi.  I wrote this book last year and released it on World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd). This memoir talks about my experience with having an autistic brother and how I have been able to manage the situation properly. In this, I had disclosed some of my personal stories- some are hilarious and very relatable to individuals with special needs siblings.  I know some people would have to agree with me that having a sibling on the spectrum is not that easy, but it's something we can do if all hands are o

 FILMS SHOWCASING AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER I love love loveeeee The Good Doctor and isn't Freddie Highmore a total stud? I'm absolutely swooning! Good doctor is a television show that I have been obsessing over for years. It's about a young surgeon,  Shaun Murphy, who has been recruited into the surgical unit of a prestigious hospital.  My father knows how obsessed I am about this show. Great news, it is also on Netflix.  This television series also talks about Murphy's savant syndrome. Freddie Highmore does an amazing job, showing several characteristics that comes with an autism diagnosis. It's an amazing production and it portrays some of the issues that autistic individuals often go through. It's not just entertaining, but educative, which is the core function of a film.  The film, "A Mother Knows" is a short Nigerian film by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTBank) created in honor of World Autism Awareness Day (April 2nd). The film tells the story o

Can people with autism be in romantic relationships?  Of course, they can. Can people with autism feel love?  Yes, they can.  Some people seem to forget that autistic individuals are just like you and I.  They are also human!   There is a general misconception that these individuals are not deserving of love. It shouldn't be. Love is a beautiful thing that everyone should be able to experience and enjoy. As a neurotypical person, I am fully aware that romantic relationships can be hard, but for people with autism, it is even more complex and confusing.  They struggle with social skills and some have alexithymia, a condition that makes it hard to understand emotions, but i t doesn't mean that they don't  crave intimacy and love.  Younger, I had the opinion that my little brother wouldn’t ever date or get married. Then, I realized that it was the previous situation that made me think so. There’s nothing impossible for my God ( yes, I'm going to talk about God ). Sure, I c

  WE WANT AN INCLUSIVE WORLD: GT BANK 11th ANNUAL AUTISM PROGRAMME Every year, Guaranty Trust Bank organizes a program to spread awareness and to improve the understanding of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Just like every other year, they never seem to disappoint. This year’s theme was called “Life beyond diagnosis”. It was a two-day conference programme. Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the first day, but the second day, I swore that I had to be there. Despite the rush-hour traffic, I was determined to attend. And yes, I don’t really regret spending an unreasonable amount of money on my fare to the venue. Although, my tardiness resulted in my reserved seat being given to someone else and I was forced to stay outside for a while. I loved that the organizers followed the COVID-19 guideline protocol. They ensured that social distancing was practiced and guests showed up in face masks. What is so remarkable about this year’s topic is that it talks about the caregivers and parents; I’m no