Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder of children that is characterized by impaired communication, excessive rigidity and emotional detachment. Autistic children have impaired social interaction along with restricted and repetitive behavior.
Autism and the Brain
Autism is thought to be the result of genetics. The genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether autism is the result of multi-gene interactions or by genetic mutation. Autism is also at times associated with agents that cause birth defects. Other probable causes include childhood vaccines, the use of drugs and chemicals by the mother and/or father prior to childbirth, or environmental agents, though there has not been any convincing scientific evidence of these relationships.
About one out of 150 people are autistic, with about four times as many males than females. The amount of people with autism has increased dramatically due to changes in the diagnostics, and the push for early diagnosis in order to assist those with disabilities.
Autism affects many parts of the brain and signs of the disorder are usually visible in the child’s first two years. There is no known cure but early behavioral and cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social and communication skills. While the disability community strives for as much independent living as possible for those that are Autistic, many with Autism will always require assistance from others and may never reach full independence. Even though it is a disability, many manage to live independently and some have become successful in the world of business.
Autism Symptoms
The chart on the left shows the signs of autism. Click on the image for a large version. These autistic behaviors will give the parent notice that the child needs to be properly tested and diagnosed. Autism is not distinguished by a single symptom, but by multiple symptoms. Autism’s individual symptoms occur in the general population, so detecting the symptoms requires medical intervention. A full positive diagnosis must include exhibiting at least six symptoms total, including at least two symptoms of qualitative impairment in social interaction, one symptom of qualitative impairment in communication and one symptom of restricted and repetitive behavior. Remember that an early diagnos is is important.
Various scales describe the extent of vision loss. Total blindness is the complete lack of form and visual light perception. Clinically it is called no light perception. Blind is frequently used to describe severe visual impairment with residual vision. Those described as having only light perception only have the ability to tell light from dark. A person with only light projection can tell the general direction of a light source.
working dog Fred, my mom and dad (on the left), Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff (in the center), Congress Woman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (second from right) and Ella Cisneros of the Cisneros Fontenals Foundation (on the right). Over 500 people showed up to support the children with disabilities.
disabilities who can’t paint with their hands. They instead use a tracker (a person who is like their body) to help them. We choose everything from the size of the canvas to the brush or tool, and guide them with our words and a laser. We even choose the color of the paint.
soaring on canvas and reaching places within, that others have never been able to know. The results are stunning pieces for the world to admire, appreciate, and finally, to understand what the inner artist always visualized. This is what CCT-ART enables.
to work with professional artists critiquing pieces, interacting and questioning, gaining knowledge and refining their craftsmanship. The artwork produced is mainstreamed and exhibited alongside the work of other community artists. Pieces are not admired for the artist’s disability, but rather for the quality and depth of their work. Many are spectacular museum quality pieces. CCT-ART increases self-esteem and empowers the spirit. It provides a method of financial gain for the artists who exhibit and sell their work. The power of ART is unleashed and these lives are enriched.
Cerebral Palsy is a disorder usually caused by brain damage and marked by muscular impairment. It’s a disability that affects about 1 million individuals in the United States. Cerebral Palsy can occur at or before birth, or as a result of surgery or other trauma, as in my case. CP is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the brain and statistically it occurs during pregnancy about 75 percent of the time, during birth about 5 percent, or after birth about 15 percent.