Autism Acceptance Month, Financial Literacy Month and more

Hope you all took the opportunity to get out and vote on Tuesday, despite the snowy weather that made a person want to do anything but leave the house. At least for me, I just wanted to curl up in bed and take a nap. But, this too shall pass. -We are just a few days into a new month and with that comes a slew of new holidays and observances, courtesy of NationalToday.com. I will share just a few that piqued my interest.

For one, April is Autism Acceptance Month. As of 2020, approximately one in every 54 children in the U.S. had autism. There are approximately 70 million recognized cases of autism worldwide. With that degree of prevalence, it’s important we have at least a base level of understanding of this condition and can show empathy to those who are affected.

Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD is a brain developmental disorder caused by genetic mutation and sometimes, by environmental triggers. A simple definition of autism is “a complex developmental condition affecting the person’s ability to interact, communicate and progress.” Some of the common signs of autism are sensory sensitivity, difficulty understanding emotions, communication difficulties, social skill deficits and highly specialized interests. However, because it occurs on a spectrum, the signs of autism can vary widely from person to person.

Some fast facts about autism: -- The word “autism” is derived from the Greek word autos meaning self. The literal meaning of autism is “alone.”

-- Symbols for autism include the puzzle piece and rainbow infinity ribbon.

-- ASD is four to five times more likely to occur in boys than in girls.

-- There is no “cure” for ASD, but there are several interventions that can help children diagnosed with ASD learn important skills that improve everyday life.

-- Many individuals with ASD have difficulties with communication. For some people this can look like significant challenges with spoken language and for others it can look like challenges with social communication.

-- Co-occurring medical conditions in ASD are common and may include allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, sleep disorders, sensory integration dysfunction and others.

-- Hyperlexia, or the ability to read above one’s age or grade level in school, commonly accompanies ASD.

-- Individuals with ASD may be very creative and find a passion and talent for music, theater, art, dance and singing quite easily.

-- Autistic people are up to 40% faster at problem-solving, and appear to use perceptual regions of the brain to accelerate problem-solving. Autistics have been found to be superior in processing complex patterns.

These facts just go to show that although autistic people may face unique challenges, there are also many areas in which they may excel beyond a neurotypical person. I know a few people with autism, and they all experience it differently and it affects each of them in different ways. Like anyone, each of them has different strengths and weaknesses. The important thing is to remember every person is an individual and meet them where they’re at.

To support people with autism in our community, consider volunteering with Tractors for Autism and Disabilities (TFAD) or shopping at Second Chances Thrift Store in Loyal, which benefits TFAD. They offer afterschool tutoring for kids with autism and other disabilties, as well as life skills classes to teach individuals skills they need to be successful. You can find them on Facebook by searching for “Tractors for Autism & Disabilities.” - April is also Financial Literacy Month. Being financially literate enables people to make wise decisions when it comes to spending, saving and investing. Recently, Wisconsin legislators made financial literacy a priority, as Act 60 was signed into law on Dec. 6, requiring all students graduate with a half-credit of personal financial literacy starting with the Class of 2028.

This is an important step considering the following statistics: -- In the U.S., it is estimated that one out of every five students lack the basic skills of financial literacy.

-- Fifty-four percent of student loan holders didn’t know about their future monthly payments before taking out their loans.

-- According to a national survey, 20% of U.S. adults have participated in financial education.

If you haven’t been as wise with your fi- nances as you would have liked to have been in the past, it’s never too late to start. Consider this your sign to take stock of your finanical situation and plan steps to improve. Good news: there are lots of free resources out there like budgeting apps and fi nancial inventory worksheets to help you on your way. Saving a little every paycheck or every month can add up to big dividends over time. - Finally, April is Stress Awareness Month (and coincidentally, also National Counseling Awareness Month). Of course, while stress is in an inevitable part of life, too much stress with no outlet can lead to negative health outcomes, affect personal relationships and become a much bigger problem over time.

There are several ways to combat stress, including exercise, journaling, mindfulness, doing an activity you enjoy, eating well, getting enough sleep, spending time outside and practicing deep breathing, just to name a few. Another tip is to take time to connect with someone and share how you’re doing, even if just for a few minutes.

This year’s theme for Stress Awareness Month is “Little by Little.” The idea is that small changes over time add up to a significant difference. While you won’t be able to incorporate everything in the above list into your life all at once, you can pick one thing and aim to do it intentionally every day. As I heard recently, a 1-degree shift every day – whether it’s a new habit or change in attitude or perspective – results in an 180-degree shift, or complete about-face, in just six months.

Here’s to a happy and healthy week – and life!

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