SCARBOROUGH — I am proud to be joining my colleague, Rep. Richard Farns-worth, D-Portland, as the lead co-sponsor of a joint resolution recognizing April as Autism Awareness Month.

It is estimated that nearly 1.5 million people in the United States are living with autism. In 2014, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the prevalence of autism in U.S. children has increased by nearly 120 percent since 2000. That’s an increase from 1 in 150 births to 1 in 68 births. Autism spectrum disorders are clearly not an isolated issue, but affect many families.

Autism is a very personal issue for me, as my oldest child, Dylan, was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, at the age of 8.

In many ways it was a blessing to finally have a diagnosis that made sense. Although it was preceded by years of bouncing from expert to expert, Dylan’s diagnosis helped us get him the professional help and educational support he needed. However, he missed out on all the early interventions that experts now recognize as critical for those on the autism spectrum.

Thankfully, things have changed in the 15 years since Dylan was diagnosed, and parents are now more aware of autism and have better access to advocacy groups and trained professionals. However, while the conversation about autism and the autism spectrum has grown and improved in recent years, we can still do more to make sure folks have the support they need and the general population understands these disorders.

Autism can be especially difficult to understand and to cope with, as it is a spectrum disorder, so no two people with autism are affected the exact same way.

Dylan has grown into an impressive and independent young man. He no longer lives in Maine and is able to live on his own 2,000 miles away. He struggles to keep a job, but is not afraid of hard work.

Dylan applies for work and is easily able to get a job; however, he does have a hard time keeping one. I admire his persistence in continuing to seek employment – many of us could use a dose of the tenacity he has shown!

For a long time, Dylan has wanted to become a comedian. He has recently taken the steps to make that dream a reality, releasing a series of comedic videos on YouTube.

While I may not always agree with the content of the videos, I’m glad to know he is doing something that he loves and he is doing it independently. As with many comedians, he sometimes broaches topics and uses words I don’t approve of, but he is expressing himself, and it has helped him become more confident in himself.

Dylan has even recently joined my husband, Derek, in speaking publicly about autism and how Dylan’s diagnosis and struggles have affected each of them individually, as well as their father-son relationship. I am so proud of Dylan for being willing to stand up and share his story. He has also contributed to a book written by my husband about his experience raising a son on the autism spectrum.

It is my hope that sharing our family’s experiences and urging others to do their best to fully understand the spectrum of autism disorders will help others to face this challenge head on and not be afraid to reach out for help and support.

If you need information, support or any other resources, I encourage you to reach out to the Autism Society of Maine. In addition to providing information, they host support groups and regularly have conferences and fundraising events that are a lot of fun and a great way to meet people who are struggling with the same issues you may be coping with. Their website is: www.asmonline.org.

We also found the Asperger’s Association of New England to be a helpful organization. You can find them at: www.aane.org.

 

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