Rj's Annual Autism Awareness Blog Hop 2017

I’m extremely proud to be taking part in Rj's Annual Autism Awareness Blog Hop 2017 .

This year’s blog hop theme is animals, and I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be blessed with a farm filled with animals over the years. I can personally attest to how our livestock have helped me and my family through difficult times. Many a day has been spent outside just hanging out with the chickens who never judge or scoff at anything I say. They also think every story idea I bounce off of them is brilliant!

We all know that the animals in our lives bring us untold joy and love, but what’s even more captivating and endearing is how some people with an autistic spectrum disorder respond to animal interactions. Here’s a wonderful article on the Psychology Today website about the beneficial effects of animals on children with autism:

Animals and Autistic Children

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” 

Martin Buber

Autism Facts & Stats

• Autism now affects 1 in 68 children
• Boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls
• About 40% of children with autism do not speak. About 25%–30% of children with autism have some words at 12 to 18 months of age and then lose them. Others might speak, but not until later in childhood
• Autism greatly varies from person to person (no two people with autism are alike)
• The rate of autism has steadily grown over the last twenty years
• Comorbid conditions often associated with autism include Fragile X, allergies, asthma, epilepsy, bowel disease, gastrointestinal/digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, PANDAS, feeding disorders, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, OCD, sensory integration dysfunction, sleeping disorders, immune disorders, autoimmune disorders, and neuroinflammation.
• Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder, yet most underfunded
• A 2008 Danish Study found that the mortality risk among those with autism was nearly twice that of the general population
• Children with autism do progress – early intervention is key
• Autism is treatable, not a hopeless condition

If you’d like to share your experiences with animals that have touched your life, please leave a comment below. I'll pick one random winner from the comments to win a digital copy of any of my backlist books. 

Thank you for stopping by. Please make sure to visit all the bloggers and authors who are participating in the hop daily.

Hugs,

V.L.