Local schools support Autism Awareness

RMS faculty and staff stand outside of the school in their Autism Awareness shirts last week.

Russellville City Schools participated in World Autism Awareness Day on April 2 last week.  The Autism Awareness Day is a global event that tries to raise awareness for autism in order to possibly find new treatments for all types and severities of autism.

WES faculty and staff show their support for Autism Awareness day on April 2.

Some quick facts about autism:

1. Autism’s prevalence has skyrocketed. Ten years ago, autism’s estimated prevalence was at a rate of 1 in 166. Today it’s 1 in 68—an increase of more than 100 percent in one decade.

2. Autism can be reliably diagnosed by age two.

3. High-quality early intervention does more than develop skills. Early intervention can change underlying brain development and activity. It’s also cost effective as it reduces the need for educational and behavioral support in grade school and beyond.

Visit autismspeaks.org for more information.

RES faculty don their Autism Awareness t-shirts.