April is internationally recognized as Autism Awareness month, and for the next 30 days you will frequently see people wearing the color blue, as well as buildings awash in blue lighting, as corporate citizens show their support for those affected by autism, the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in The Bahamas. But when the blue lights are turned off, and the fanfare diminishes, the children and families affected by autism will continue to face the intense challenges that come with the disability.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication and repetitive behaviors. It is a spectrum condition. While all autistic people share certain difficulties, it affects them in different ways. The most obvious signs and symptoms of autism tend to emerge in toddlers between two and three years of age. The disorder is five times more common among boys than among girls and there is no one cause of autism, just as there is no one type of autism.

REACH is a non-profit organization that has been in the trenches for more than 15 years promoting autism awareness and education in The Bahamas and providing free services and resources for children and families affected by autism.

While specific numbers are not available for The Bahamas, autism affects one in every 68 children according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a sharp increase in the numbers recorded just a decade ago. This staggering number is mirrored in The Bahamas.

In response to the need for autism training, REACH has historically devoted its resources to hosting programs that teach parents and caregivers how to provide quality care to those with autism. This year however, the organization is shifting its focus from training to therapy.

"Research proves that early intervention greatly assists a child diagnosed with autism and significantly increases their chances to be successful, so it's very important to provide therapy at an early age," said Kim Gibson, REACH vice-president, and the mother of a son with autism.

"Right now in The Bahamas there are only four speech therapists employed at the Ministry of Education. There is a very long waiting list of children who need speech therapy and are unable to receive it," she said.

REACH hopes to raise the funds necessary to employ a full-time speech therapist and increase the availability of therapy to those individuals who desperately need it but cannot afford it.

"At REACH we are focused on providing speech therapy for children. We feel that if we put resources into children now, then they will become self-sufficient and will not be such a burden on society later," she said.

The organization is planning several fundraising events specific to this goal. An art themed event scheduled for the fall will be the major fundraising catalyst through which the organization hopes to fund the speech therapist.
In addition to supporting REACH events, there are numerous ways for the general public to get involved.

"You can get involved by volunteering your time to REACH because what we find a lot is that many of our volunteers are parents of autistic children and coupled with raising a special needs child they do not have the time to adequately get the word out," said the vice-president.

During the month of April, the public can support REACH by wearing Autism Awareness T-shirts every Friday during the month. T-shirts can be purchased from the REACH office in the Dewgard Plaza on Bradley Street.

REACH EVENTS

Saturday, April 11
7 p.m. - 10 p.m. -- Partnering with ROTARACT for silent auction at the National Art Gallery on West Hill Street

Sunday, April 12
10 a.m. -- Church service at St. Barnabas, Baillou Hill and Wulf Road

Friday, April 17
10 a.m. -- Special needs concert at Stapledon School, Dolphin Drive

Saturday, April 18
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. -- Autism training for parents conducted by Michael McGinty at Queen's College Primary Hall

Wednesday, April 22
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. -- REACH open house (screening/consultation and registration drive) at REACH office, Dewgard Plaza, Palmdale

6:30 p.m. -- Parent support group meeting

Friday, April 24
9 a.m. -- Autism assembly at Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Boulevard

Saturday, April 25
Fun run and walk in Freeport Grand Bahama

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