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District 'lights it up blue' for autism awareness

| 06 Apr 2017 | 11:21
    The ABA staff at Marshall Hill, dressed in their blue to mark autism awareness. From left, Melissa Teresco, Lindsay Hefferon, Karyn Reinhold, Scarly Elmera, Dorrie Torp and Denise Shorter.
    The ABA staff at Marshall Hill, dressed in their blue to mark autism awareness. From left, Melissa Teresco, Lindsay Hefferon, Karyn Reinhold, Scarly Elmera, Dorrie Torp and Denise Shorter.
    Paradise Knoll staff members were dressed in their autism awareness shirts on Monday.
    Paradise Knoll staff members were dressed in their autism awareness shirts on Monday.
    The high school had its own display to support autism awareness.
    The high school had its own display to support autism awareness.
    Students and staff of the ABA program at Marshall Hill proudly display their 'Light it up Blue' bulletin board, bringing attention to autism.
    Students and staff of the ABA program at Marshall Hill proudly display their 'Light it up Blue' bulletin board, bringing attention to autism.
    Maple Road's ribbon.
    Maple Road's ribbon.
    Apshawa staff.
    Apshawa staff.
    Westbrook school formed their own autism ribbon.
    Westbrook school formed their own autism ribbon.
    Upper Greenwood Lake staff were all in for autism awareness.
    Upper Greenwood Lake staff were all in for autism awareness.
    West Milford's autism awareness t-shirts.
    West Milford's autism awareness t-shirts.

WEST MILFORD — Blue was the color of the day Monday throughout the West Milford School District, marking Autism Awareness Month.
Staff throughout the district wore their special t-shirts for the occasion with the sentiment, "I wouldn't change you for the world, but I would change the world for you."
World Autism Awareness Day was Sunday, April 2. Landmarks throughout the world were emblazoned in blue, from the White House to Rockefeller Plaza to the pyramids in Egypt. It's all about bringing awareness to the needs of the autism community.
In the district, the month is filled with activities to bring attention to autism.
The district's shirts were a fundraiser for the New Jersey group POAC - Parents of Autistic Children, according to Karyn Reinhold, ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) kindergarten teacher at Marshall Hill Elementary School.
In addition, Reinhold said students will be present at the April 18 board of education meeting to speak about autism awareness and the new ABA program in the district.
On April 20, it's Chili's night to support autism awareness. Chili's will donate 10 percent of all receipts that are put in a box at the restaurant to POAC.
And, most importantly, Reinhold said the staff has put together lessons for the general education classes about acceptance and understanding of those with autism. They will be taught throughout the month.
Currently there are three ABA classes in the district, kindergarten and first grade at Marshall Hill and preschool at Maple Road. Next year, there will be four classes.
What is autism?Autism refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. There are many types of autism caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.
Autism’s most-obvious signs tend to appear between 2 and 3 years of age. In some cases, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Some developmental delays associated with autism can be identified and addressed even earlier.
Some facts about autism The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls.
An estimated 50,000 teens with autism become adults – and lose school-based autism services – each year.
Around one third of people with autism remain nonverbal.
Around one third of people with autism have an intellectual disability.
Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias.
Source: Autismspeaks.org