Oprah and Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month. With the new study in 2007 from the CDC stating that 1 out 150 children will be diagnosed with some form autism this is certainly something that needs more attention. Today Oprah Winfery spent the hour discussing autism and the complexities of this type of disability. Having parents of young children, doctors and segments from a new documentary produced by Autism Speaks.

What she has done is fantastic, yet the mistake that has been made by her and many others is again doomed to repeat itself. While it is critica to look at young children, autism spectrum disorder as a disability is something that lasts throughout the lifespan. It is hard for me to continually see talk shows like Oprah and Larry King discussing autism without really delving into the 'lifespan question'. Now, what is the lifespan question you may ask. It is ostensibly stating that while early intervention is a MUST - how can we as a society (i.e those in the medical field, therapists, parents, educators and many others) look at focusing on lifecycle needs? What are the tools that we must be equipped to handle areas like being a teenager, young adulthood into older adulthood. There are many hurdles that need be tackled. It is time for major media outlets to broaden its focus and show this type of disability on a broader palette.