Primeras señales del autismo, ¡presta atención!

Debes estar atento a las pequeñas señales relacionadas a este trastorno que pueda dar tu hijo.  

Diversos estudios se han centrado en buscar el método ideal para detectar el autismo tan pronto como sea posible en las personas. Pero, lamentablemente, no todas las personas toman la decisión de acudir a un especialista cuando es necesario, muchas veces por no saber cómo se manifiesta la condición. ¿Sabrías identificar las primeras señales del autismo en un niño?

Cuanto más pronto identifiques la condición en tu hijo, más fácil será permitirle encontrar desde temprana edad las herramientas para llevar una vida plena. Para esto, debes saber que apenas entre los 12 y los 24 meses puede comenzar a manifestar señales a las que debes prestar atención. ¿Tienes idea de cuáles podrían ser estos síntomas?

Las primeras señales

Debes estar atento a cuando un niño dice sus primeras palabras y, al poco tiempo, deja de hablar por completo o deja de interactuar con su entorno. La regresión en cuanto al balbuceo, gestos o habilidades sociales, podrían ser una señal clara del autismo u otra condición del espectro.

Por otro lado, hay señales aún más determinantes y puntuales ante las cuales debemos tomar medidas; algunas de estas son:

• No hace contacto visual.
• No responde a las muestras de afecto.
• No realiza peticiones básicas.
• No responde ante una voz familiar.
• No responde a una sonrisa empática.

Si tu hijo presenta alguna de estas señales, es importante que consultes con especialistas. Ellos te ayudarán a identificar si realmente es un trastorno dentro del espectro autista lo que hace a tu hijo tener estas conductas.

Tu responsabilidad como padre

Esta condición se hace presente desde la infancia, por lo tanto puede causar retrasos en el desarrollo del habla o la interacción social. Es importante saber que las señales varían de un niño a otro y que no en todos los casos se manifiesta de la misma manera. También es importante resaltar que el autismo puede ser leve o severo y, por ende, los pequeños detalles en las conductas son importantes.

Es deber de los padres buscar la ayuda necesaria para la asistencia de los niños con esta condición. Nadie mejor para conocer a un niño durante sus primeros años que sus familiares, quienes pueden identificar cualquier alteración en su conducta. El autismo involucra no solo al individuo que lo vive directamente, sino a todos a su alrededor; especialmente a los familiares, a quienes desde Autism Soccer intentamos informar cada día. No temas buscar ayuda, informarte es ayudarlos a ellos.

Ante las primeras señales de autismo, busca un especialista.

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Who Does Autism Soccer Help With Their Projects?

The organization makes sure to create something unique for these children.

More than 5 years ago, a project was born. It started as a way to help children with autism spectrum disorder, by giving them a space in which they could exercise, make friends, and have fun. Over time, it evolved and started to include children with other intellectual and physical disabilities. Since then, Autism Soccer (AS) has benefited the lives of 2000 kids in the U.S. It has grown to become an organization with an immense potential, which works with fundraising campaigns and volunteering so everyone can add to this incredible experience!

Today, Autism Soccer successfully provides its services to children with autism spectrum disorders, Asperger’s syndrome, PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified), learning disabilities, and Down syndrome. By teaching them soccer skills for a whole year, AS helps many children grow up in an environment full of support, trust, and love, as well as to develop their motor skills and fight childhood obesity.

Soccer is a team sport, so whatever our kids do in Autism Soccer, they won’t be doing it alone. They’ll be welcomed to a place where they’ll have to communicate with their teammates and interact, improving their social skills and boosting their confidence. Parents and families will also benefit from this experience and will be able to see their children empowered while having fun, exercising, and being kids!

In Autism Soccer, we believe in sports' power to liberate our minds from all worries and limitations we push into ourselves. With training and consistency, our kids will be capable of doing things you might never think they could do before. They’ll learn discipline, how to make friends, improve their behavior, and to listen and pay attention.

Exercising and learning how to play soccer will also give them an idea of what they like. Maybe their experience won’t end with us, and they’ll find in soccer a hobby that could last a lifetime. Our goal is also to help them explore their personalities and define which things they enjoy, building a stronger sense of individuality and strengthen their characters.

What truly matters is that, at the end of the day, Autism Soccer opens a door for children to be themselves, relax, have fun, and enjoy the best days of their childhood. We’re currently based in Miami, but we’re looking to expand all across the U.S., and even internationally. Want to help us? Head to our website and learn more about how you can change many special children’s lives. This magical experience of sharing our time with these wonderful kids, while we see them accomplish things by themselves and be happy, is the greatest reward we can think of!

This organization is not only for autistic children, as they help a vast array of children with disabilities.

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15165 NW 77 Ave Suite 1005 Miami Lakes FL 33014

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Get your Message Across: Reaching out to People with Disabilities

Communicating effectively is the key to create a good rapport with people with disabilities.

Awareness has truly done some wonders in today’s society. People today are more aware of how words can affect others, and how some delicate subjects are to be treated with care. Disabilities are getting a big deal of attention and old methods of approach are starting to lose strength. If you’re one of those who came here looking for a new way of reaching out to autistic people, you should be proud of yourself. Hopefully, this guide will be useful for you!

Back in the day, archaic categorizations were a commonplace. Doctors used them to diagnose and sort disabilities cases. The first example of these misused terms is “mental retardation” as a way to refer to intellectual disabilities. Nowadays this concept is seen as a terrible insult to a variety of different conditions, and people organized campaigns to “end the word.” Same happened with physical disabilities (whether caused by accidents or by birth).

Luckily, these perceptions are changing, and now there are many initiatives to properly approach disabled individuals in a way that’s comfortable for them. Let’s take a look into some of the proper ways of reaching out to and bond with people who might be in need of support.

1.- Don’t address the disability: there might be some people who are okay with talking about their condition and sharing their experience with you. However, others might not feel the same way. Avoid questions about their conditions at first. Focus on the person, not the disability!

2.- They need accommodations, not fixing: perhaps you might consider it’s natural to desire to be “normal,” but this doesn’t necessarily apply to them. If you’re considering communicating and understanding them, forget about that idea of “normal.” What’s it anyways? It sounds like the type of thinking ableism is based on, and we are trying to stay away from that.

3.- Don't ask. Listen!: bear in mind they’ve been through a lot of judging and discrimination because of their disability. Don’t expect them to talk to you about their lives openly, but engage them in casual conversations that will help them feel comfortable.

4.- “Mental age” doesn’t exist: often people catalog others by their academic capabilities, like reading or math skills. This outdated concept defines people as being “childlike” because of their intellectual disability. Adults with mental disabilities are as equally mature as any other regarding emotional thinking. Be careful with associating intellectual skills with maturity. These two are not related whatsoever.

5.- Offer them spaces: to provide accessible environment should be everyone’s goal. It’s not about changing the environment (which should be ideally made for all) but creating spaces where they’re comfortable enough to develop and open up. Reaching out is also about the creation of welcoming places for people with disabilities.

Each individual has its way of living with their condition. Be considerate of them, and they’ll find an open door whenever you’re around. Also, don’t let this knowledge get to you only, be sure to share it so others can understand as well. From the sum of little actions comes significant changes. Be a change factor for a better tomorrow!

You can reach out to people with disabilities if you learn how to get your message across.

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What is Ableism and how to Curb it Successfully

Ableism bases on the discrimination against people with dissabilities through conscious or unconscious acts that damage their independence and confidence.

We live in times where information is so easy to find. One click and you can know what’s happening almost everywhere. However, although we have so much knowledge at hand, plenty misconceptions and discriminatory attitudes still abound out there. Ableism could be considered, if not the worst, one of the fears that have plagued disabled people society’s conception.

This form of hate and discrimination causes people with disabilities to be rejected, denied of accessibilities and the limited in their most necessities. You might be thinking the word “ableism” is a recent term, but it can be traced back to 1981, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

There are lots of people out there fighting against this false way of thought. If you’re one of those, it’s a good thing you came to our blog. Here I’ll be adding some ways to curb ableism for good.

1.- Don't be patronizing

Addressing people with disabilities, as if they were less than you, it’s completely wrong. If there’s something worse able-body people could do is to perceive people with disabilities as if they were less intellectually.

Don’t ever assume someone’s intellectual capacity is based on superficial details like these. Patronizing could mine their confidence and perception of their condition. If you see someone attempting to do so, stop them.

2.- Avoid asking them what or how it happened

Questioning people with disabilities about how they ended up like that can be rude. If you want to know how it happened, let them be the ones to tell you, if they feel like doing so, of course. Some of the histories behind disability are not especially pleasant for them to talk about, so if you’re not looking for an awkward moment, just hold your horses, Sherlock.

3.- Do not assume they want to be “normal”

Assumptions about what’s normal are just out of context. Don’t assume they want to be like you because it could turn out they could have already accepted their condition as their "normal" or maybe never even questioned about being another way.

Ableism bases on imposing standards that, instead of helping them to be accepted, create labels that only cause harm. Their disability must not be considered as an “abnormal” condition, but a different way of living that demands support and assistance.

Prejudices are an old enemy, but with awareness of your side, the odds will turn against ableism. Fighting discrimination will be a definite solution and a way to change the way the world is shaped. From little details, like developing adapted venues, to major factors, like job accessibility, people with disabilities will earn the equality of rights they deserve.

There’s nothing to fear when your children are surrounded by people who understand and see their potential. Autism Soccer is aware of how important they are, and continue to work non-stop into the development of their future and skills. Remember that, above all, they’re humans who need a hand to succeed. With these professionals, they’ll definitely have it.

This is one of the most nocive behaviors towards people with dissabilities.

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15165 NW 77 Ave Suite 1005 Miami Lakes FL 33014

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