Autism Blog

As a new blogger I have learned so much over the past few months. Based on my experience I would encourage companies in the autism field to create a blog to enhance their brand. BUT, before a company creates a blog they should have the manpower to be able to maintain it. I have three recommendations the would help companies in the autism field leverage the power of blogging:

Recommendation 1: Have a blog strategy!

Set goals and objectives for your blog so you have a guide to what types of posts should be on your blog. These goals and objectives will give direction to your blog writers on what to post and not to post. Make sure your goals are similar to your social media marketing and overall marketing goals. Your blog should support both your social media and marketing goals.

You should think about the following question while thinking about your blog strategy:

• What does your company want to get out of the blog?
• Who is your target market?
• How will the blog support your overall marketing strategy and goals?
• Who will be posting on your blog (all your employees or a select few)?
• How will you measure the success of your blog?

 Recommendation 2: Make sure your information is accurate and not offensive!

It seems like a no brainer but many organizations have people working for them that may not have autism knowledge. Make sure a professional in the field has review any posts with information or scientific facts. I have read many blogs, Facebook posts and even websites that have incorrect information.

The information on your blog should also not be offensive. Before starting your blog you should come up with some guidelines that align with your companies values. These guidelines will make sure you are not offending anyone. For example, your blog writers should use ‘individuals with autism’ not ‘autistic people’.

Nothing will kill your brand like more then seeming stupid or offensive! People will not trust your brand even if you have one post with incorrect information or offensive content.

Recommendation 3: Have an individual with autism write posts for your blog.

Who knows autism better then an individual with autism? Your companies can ask one or more individuals with autism to create posts for your blog. They can be a continuing writer or just post about their story. The most powerful blogs about autism I have read are written by individuals with autism.  This will enhance your brand as individual with autism are the centre of the autism field.

Tip:  Get the individual with autism to post about how your services or programs have positively affected their life.

If you follow these three recommendations you are on your way to creating an awesome company blog in the field of autism.

Good luck!

I currently cannot talk do to a nasty infection in my neck….It is great timing to make a video! Since I do not have a voice I thought I would take a different approach to a vlog.

Communication takes many forms. We normally think of communication as talking. But not all communication is done through spoken words. You do not need to speak to have a voice!

Technology has made a big difference in the way non-verbal individuals with autism communicate with the word around them.To learn about the use of technology to improve learning outcomes check out these scientist studies.

Here is a story about a girl with autism who found her voice with the help of a technology:

Carly Fleischmann was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. She was not able to communicate until the age of 10 when something wonderful happened. Carly typed “help teeth hurt” on a laptop. This started regular conversations with her family through the computer. She even helped right a book called Carly’s Voice.  Carley is active on social media and helps the world take a look into her life. Check out Carly’s Café video!

Also check out Philip’s blog. Like Carly, Philip cannot talk so he uses typing to communication with the world.

The Autism Society of BC (ASBC) be taking over social media with the hashtag #30DaysOfAutism – this is your chance to get involved and help make a difference in the lives of those affected by autism!

How can you help?

1. Join the Autism Awareness Month Campaign, by using the hashtag#30DaysOfAutism throughout the entire month of April.
2. Complete the autism awareness tasks posted on the ASBC social media accounts throughout the campaign (Examples: wearing blue, handing out ASBC pamphlets, recipes using the colour blue, create a human A, hold a bake sale/raise funds for ASBC, etc.), and ASBC will re-post, re-tweet, and share your creativity for the world to see!  ASBC will share daily activities through the campaign – and you get to make the difference!  Be sure to use the hashtag#30DaysOfAutism in your posts and don’t forget to tag @autismbc!
3. Donate.
4. Purchase ASBC’s chocolate A’s!  All chocolate purchases are by donation!

Below is a list of the top 10 myths about autism that I have encountered. I think it is important to de-bunk these myths so more people are better educated on autism. This list is just some of the myths about autism floating around in the world wide web.

1. Myth: Autism only affects children. 

Fact: Autism is a lifelong condition.

It is usually diagnosed in children, but some high functioning people with autism can go undiagnosed until later in life when the demands of life reveal deficits. With the increased knowledge and awareness of autism adult diagnosis is on the rise.

If you would like to learn how autism is diagnosed across all ages contact an Information Officer at the Autism Society of BC.  They can help guide you through how to get diagnosis as an adult or how to get your child diagnosis.

2. Myth: Autism has no treatment. 

Fact: There is treatment!

Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) is a scientifically validated form of treatment for individuals with autism. Early intervention in the form of ABA can improve a child’s chance of reaching their full potential. ABA has shown to provide significant improvements in children, youth and adults with autism.

“ABA is the process of systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree, and to demonstrate that the interventions employed are responsible for the improvement in behavior.” – Autism Support Network (http://autismsupportbc.ca/parents-2/aba/)

Listen to Laurie Guerra, Vice -President of ASBC, talk about how finding out autism had treatment gave her hope for her son and how it was the best choice she made.

You may also want to listen to Bohdanna Popowycz Kvam, educator and Behavioural Consultation, talk about autism treatment.

3. Myth: Treatment for autism is covered under Medicare.

Fact: Autism treatment is NOT covered by Medicare

As Canadians we enjoy having universal health care, until we find that it is not as universal as we thought. The Federal Government of Canada provides NO funding for autism.

Depending on the province there may be some funding for autism treatment. Check out Today’s Parent article on autism funding by province.

 In BC, there is the Autism Funding Programs which assists parents in purchasing intervention services for their child. There are two different programs: Autism Funding Under Age 6, which provides families up to $22,000 per year, and Autism Funding Ages 6-18 which provides families up to $6,000 per year. Both these programs do not cover the total cost of running an ABA program.

4. Myth: Autism only affects boys. 

Fact: Autism affects both boys and girls.

Autism is 4.5 times more common among boys than girls. According to the CDC, 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are identified as having autism.

The prevalence rate of autism is currently 1 in 68 children.

5. Myth: Vaccines cause autism.  

Fact: There is NO link between vaccines and autism.

Many scientific studies have been done and all have reached the same conclusion: THERE IS NO LINK BETWEEN VACCINES AND AUTISM.  The Public Health Agency of Canada has also said that there is no link.

If you are looking into this please make sure you are reading real scientific research, not an article with someones personal opinion.

Parents please get your children vaccinated. Vaccines prevent serious illnesses like measles and mumps.

6. Myth: All individuals with autism are the same.

Fact: Every individual with autism is unique.

Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means it affects each individual differently. Symptoms and behaviours vary from individual to individual. Intensity of the symptoms also vary  from individual to individual. Some characteristics are consistent with autism. Persistent social communication deficits, repeated behaviours and unusual responses to sensation are some characteristics that many individuals with autism have.

7. Myth: Asperger's Syndrome is different then Autism Spectrum Disorder.  

Fact: Autism Spectrum Disorder is the official diagnosis. Asperger’s Syndrome is no longer a diagnosis.

In 2013, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-IV) removed Aspergers Syndrome and merged it with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

You may still here people refer to themselves or others as having Aspergers, but technical it is ASD.

8. Myth: All individuals with autism have intellectual disabilities. 

Fact: Autism does not cause intellectually disabilities.

Autism affects a person’s communication, social relationships, and behaviour, not their intelligence. Some individuals with autism may have co-morbidities, such as intellectual disability or epilepsy.

9. Myth: Autism can be cured. 

Fact: Autism can NOT be cured. It is a lifelong condition.

As mentioned in Myth #2, there is treatment for autism. This treatment can help child, youth and adults reach there potential but it can not cure autism. Unfortunately there is no medication or treatment that can cure autism.

10. Myth: People with autism cannot feel or express love.

Fact: Individuals with autism are capable of feeling and expressing love.

Individuals with autism have a hard time communicating. They love just like you and I but they may show their love in different ways.

Sources:

http://www.autismcanada.org/living-with-autism/autism-through-the-lifespan/

http://www.autismbc.ca/learn-2/about-autism/

http://www.autismsupportbc.ca/parents-2/aba/

http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/autism/funding_programs.htm

http://www.asdfunding.com/bc-funds/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/vs-sv/vs-faq20-eng.php

http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/diseases-conditions-maladies-affections/disease-maladie/autism-eng.php?_ga=1.219670111.792075381.1456641508

http://www.autismcanada.org/about-autism/diagnosis/diagnostic-criteria-dsm-5/

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/02/aspergers-syndrome-dropped-psychiatric-dsm

A company that aligns with the theme of my blog is the Canucks Autism Network (CAN). CAN provides high quality, adapted sports, recreational, social & arts programs for families living with autism, while spreading awareness and providing training in communities across BC.

They have positioned themselves as the sports organization for autism.  They use this positioning across their social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. This approach is good because their name is a hockey team and most of their program are sports-related. On all platforms of social media there are pictures of kids in gyms, playing hockey, swimming, skiing and being active. Even pictures of the staff are active. One of their recent Facebook hosts is a picture of their staff skiing. There are also posts related to sports actives, jersey giveaways, and sports ticket giveaways. They successfully use their social media to positively impact their brand positioning.

Positioning themselves as the sports organization, CAN has differentiated itself from all the other autism organization in BC. Most autism organization offer similar programs and services, but through their brand positioning CAN has been able to use social media to stand out from the rest of the autism organizations. CAN has over 7,000 Facebook likes. Almost 6 times as much as its competitors.

By strategically positioning themselves as the sports organization they have created a second target market that other organization do not have, sports fans. This helps them get donations and support from sports fan regardless if they are affected by autism.

Canucks Autism Network has great brand positioning that is marketed using social media.

CAN Twitter Post

CAN Instagram Post

CAN Facebook Page

CAN YouTube Page

CAN Facebook Post

Do you know anyone with autism?

With a diagnosis rate of 1 in 68 children you probably know someone with autism. You may not know they have autism. It could be your child, your cousin, your granddaughter, your neighbour, your classmate, or your coworker. It could even be you.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also known as autism is a complex neurological condition that impacts normal brain development and affects a person’s communication, social relationships, and behaviour.

Every individual with autism is unique! This is why autism is a spectrum disorder. The severity or developmental impairment is different for each person. Individuals with autism may have some characteristics in common but their symptoms, severity, age of onset, functioning level, abilities, skills and needs are different. There is no standard person with autism.

You may think autism will not affect your life. But it will. Everyone should understand autism and know that there is treatment. You heard right, there is treatment for autism.

I am passionate about autism and spreading awareness. I have a family member with autism, worked with a child with autism and now I currently work for the Autism Society of BC (ASBC). In the year that I have been working at ASBC I have learned a lot about autism and meet many people affect by autism. I would like to share my insight and stories with the world wide web!

It is surprising how little people working with children know about autism. Teachers, childcare providers, nurses, dentist and anyone working with the general public should understand autism!

There are many things we can do to help people with autism. I will share some stories with you throughout the blog that will demonstrate how you can make a difference!

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/addm.html

http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/autism/

http://autismcanada.org/about-autism/

https://www.autismbc.ca/