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The world’s leading autism advocacy and research organization, Autism Speaks, the Mississippi Autism Board, and autism organizations throughout Mississippi gathered together at the State Capitol today with one goal: to raise awareness about the prevalence of autism and the availability of treatment resources for those on the autism spectrum.
“An estimated one in 68 children are on the spectrum,” said Lorri Unumb, Vice President of State Government Affairs for Autism Speaks, headquartered in New York. “We want to be sure those impacted know about and have access to the best treatment — from birth to adulthood.”
Autism Speaks kicked off World Autism Month on Sunday, April 2, 2017 (World Autism Awareness Day), with its Light It Up Blue campaign. Landmarks, businesses, homes, and houses of worship in more than 150 countries are participating by lighting up buildings in blue, wearing blue, and holding various awareness events.
Organizations present at the Mississippi Capitol press conference included the Mississippi Autism Board, which licenses analysts in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy in the Mississippi; Canopy Children’s Solutions; New Summit School; Autism Center of North Mississippi; Magnolia Speech School; Growing Tree Clinic; Mississippi Centers for Autism & Related Developmental Disabilities; and the Behavior Analysis Association of Mississippi. Community advocates, parents of children with autism, and various university and state agency representatives were also present.
“Mississippi has made significant progress in addressing some of the obstacles individuals with autism face,” said Dr. James Moore, chairman of the Mississippi Autism Board. “There is a lack of awareness, though, about autism generally and about the treatment options available.”
To date, the Autism Board has licensed 33 Behavior Analysts and one Assistant Behavior Analyst in ABA therapy, a highly-successful process used to improve socially significant behaviors among individuals with autism and other developmental disorders. This year, the Autism Board has pledged to focus on enforcing licensure requirements and advocating for policy which encourages ABA analysts licensed by the Autism Board to stay in Mississippi.
“More than 10,700 Mississippi children have been diagnosed with autism. Working together, we can make a difference in their lives and the lives of all of those struggling with this disorder,” Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said.
For more information about Light It Up Blue, including opportunities to fund cutting-edge research and empower the autism community with new options and opportunities, visit www.autismspeaks.org/LIUB. Take the Light It Up Blue Quiz, and share results on social media to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism.
