April is Autism Awareness month. Autism, also professionally known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a diagnosis that many children and adults live with. What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? It is a diagnosis that encompasses a grouping of symptoms/behaviors of varying severities and is truly a spectrum. In short, Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person's communication, behavior, and social interactions. A person with ASD can also present with cognitive impairments, but this is not always seen in all cases of ASD. The purpose of this campaign is to share information about this diagnosis and the individuals that live with it. There is a growing number of people that are getting diagnosed with ASD in adulthood, but ASD is something that starts in early childhood. Making information about ASD more available helps ensure that symptoms are recognized early and individuals with ASD can receive the supports are that need to be successful.

Below are links to information about ASD. If you think you or someone in your family may have ASD, a great first step is speaking to your physician.

April is also Stress Awareness month. This is observed each year to bring attention to the causes of stress, it's effects, and ways to manage stress. Today stress and/or anxiety is one of the leading mental health issues reported amongst children and adults. This is a great time for your family to talk about what is causing them stress and looking for health ways to address it. Yes, this includes the little people in your home. Adults tend to think that children do not experience stress, but that is far from true. The causes of their stress maybe different than adults, but have the same affect on their overall wellbeing.

Below are some great resources on how to relieve stress. Let's all use this as time to decrease our stress and increase our self-care.

April 18- Weather Day (All schools and offices closed)

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