Autistica’s Post

Report commissioned by Autism Alliance UK and Autistica has found strong economic case for prioritising autism in policy and reform and shows the right support for autistic people and families can have big economic benefits... Read report: https://lnkd.in/eKhzqfBX

No one deserves to be left behind No one, I mean, including children deserves to be left behind Posterity would judge us when we continue to ignore children, particularly when it comes to a sensitive matter regarding their mental health and total wellbeing. The joy of inclusive healthcare goes beyond providing the diagnosis of autism to children without helping their families to understand how to best support the children. Matermental, an initiative led by Dr. Adeola Folorunso is bridging these healthcare disparities in Iwo, Osun state by bringing together all children either diagnosed with a special need like autism or not to provide education on the intersection of dental hygiene and mental hygiene. I know most people would ask how dental is connected to mental hygiene. Let me help you see why this topic is crucial. Lets explore how the mouth is connected to the brain and how oral hygiene connects to mental health . You see, the mouth is often referred to as the gateway to the body. Poor oral hygiene can lead to severe infection that do not just stay in the mouth- they can spread to other parts of the body like the lungs and even affect the brain. This is where it gets interesting. Infections and chronic inflammation in the mouth can alter neurotransmitter function and brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are crucial for mood regulation can be disrupted by oral health issues. More importantly, poor oral hygiene can lead to more than just a tooth decay. It could also lead a host of problems like gum disease and malnutrition. Oral hygiene is beyond maintaining a polished dentition or bright smile. Poor oral health can cause pain, discomfort and even embarrassment which can negatively impact a child's self-esteem, mental well-being, social skills and overall quality of life. Join us in supporting this crusade that would impact 150 children. Our medical outreach is focused on civic engagement for marginalized and underserved communities in Osun state. #medicaloutreach #nigeria #mentalhygiene #oralhygiene #Avisittothedentist #autism #children #matermental #mentalhealthliteracy

☑️Wonderful to see the Autism CARES Act 2024 passed by the US Senate HELP Committee last week! 🤯Moving to the US from Australia, it’s been a steep learning curve understanding how different laws apply in different jurisdictions. ✏️This is the one federal law that aims to specifically provide access to funding for research and training programs to better serve autistic individuals and their families. 📲A notable enhancement is the new Autism Intervention Research Network for Communication Needs, dedicated to better understanding and supporting autistic individuals who use alternative means of communication. https://lnkd.in/eUXeakgs

🐾 How Autism Assistance Dogs Support Healthcare: A Calming Presence for Patients 🐾 Did you know that autism assistance dogs, like Chase, play a crucial role in helping their handlers manage anxiety and sensory sensitivities during medical appointments? These dogs are trained to offer emotional support and stay calm in high-stress environments such as hospitals, making an incredible difference for autistic individuals. For instance, Chase recently accompanied Aoife, one of our handlers, to her hospital check-up. Thanks to Chase’s calm and reassuring presence, what could have been a stressful experience became much more manageable. As Aoife prepares to transition from the children’s clinic to adult care, she knows that Chase will continue to support her through every step of the journey. Assistance dogs like Chase are making a tangible impact in healthcare settings, transforming challenging experiences for autistic individuals. 💼 To learn more about how our Autism Assistance Dog Programme can help individuals and families, visit autismdogs.co.uk #AssistanceDogsInHealthcare #AutismSupport #EmotionalSupport #AutismDogsCharity #HealthcareAndDogs #Inclusion #DisabilitySupport #AutismAwareness

SJOG has developed its autism practice to recognise and understand the needs of the people we support in services, and in doing so, we have aligned our policies and procedures, assessment framework and ongoing service development in line with the good practice framework from the National Autistic Society. To learn more about our autism services, please click the link in our bio. #AutismAcceptanceMonth

Please complete and share ! Please take just a few minutes to complete this short survey to make sure the voice of our autistic community is embedded throughout Hull’s Autism strategy. The survey only open for 4 weeks so don’t miss out on having your input! Have your say on : -Improving understanding and acceptance of autism within society -Improving autistic young people's access to education and transition into adulthood -Supporting more autistic people into employment -Tackling health and care inequalities for autistic people -Building the right support in the community and supporting people in inpatient care -Improving support within the criminal and youth justice system

Currently, Congress is considering the reauthorization of the Autism CARES Act. As funding for autism research has increased over the past two decades, the portion of it that includes people with profound autism has decreased. This disparity has devastating consequences for autistic people who require lifetime, 24/7 care. Unfortunately, most members of Congress are unaware of this. With your help, we can change that. Please take action and share! https://ow.ly/NPms50QUCkb #AutismCARESAct #AutismCARES #ProfoundAutismAdvocate #ProfoundAutismAdvocacy #AutismAdvocacy #ProfoundAutism #ProfoundAutismAwareness

For #AutismAwarenessMonth, we'd like to help raise awareness of autistic masking and it's challenges. Let's try and build more inclusive workplaces and classrooms, so those with autism don't feel the need to mask. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/ePPgTWKu The National Autistic Society

As we approach #AutismAwarenessMonth it is critical that all members of the spectrum are included as we all strive to improve outcomes, accessibility and inclusive efforts. Please consider building that awareness by participating in this #CallToAction for Congress to ensure there are funds to include this community in research. #advocate #autism