R 281525Z MAR 12

ALCOAST 147/12
COMDTNOTE 1754
SUBJ: WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
1. LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PROCLAIMED 2 APRIL OF EACH YEAR
AS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY AND CALLED UPON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT AUTISM AND TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE SUPPORT OF
INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THIS DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITION.
2. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) SYMPTOMS RANGE FROM MILD TO SEVERE
AND THE CONDITION MAY POSE SIGNIFICANT COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIORAL
CHALLENGES FOR PERSONS AFFECTED BY IT. TO DATE, THERE IS NO CURE FOR
AUTISM, BUT RESEARCH SHOWS THAT EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND EARLY
INTERVENTION CAN GREATLY IMPROVE A CHILDS DEVELOPMENT.
3. ACCORDING TO AUTISM SPEAKS, INC., THE LARGEST ORGANIZATION
COMMITTED TO AUTISM RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 67
MILLION CHILDREN AND ADULTS WORLDWIDE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY ASD AND ONE
OF EVERY 110 AMERICAN CHILDREN IS IDENTIFIED TO BE ON THE AUTISTIC
SPECTRUM.  THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS A 600 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE
IDENTIFICATION OF THIS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY WITHIN THE LAST 20
YEARS WHICH ACCORDING TO THE SAME SOURCE IS ONLY PARTIALLY CAUSED BY
IMPROVED DIAGNOSIS AND AWARENESS. CONTINUOUS RESEARCH ON AUTISM IS
NEEDED TO IMPROVE TREATMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WHO SUFFER
FROM ASD AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.
4. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AUTISM AND AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER MAY
BE OBTAINED AT HTTP://WWW.HHS.GOV/AUTISM/ (MUST BE TYPED IN
LOWERCASE) AND FULL TEXT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION IS
AVAILABLE AT
HTTP://WWW.WHITEHOUSE.GOV/THE-PRESS-OFFICE/2011/04/01/PRESIDENTIAL-PR
OCLAMATION-WORLD-AUTISM-AWARENESS-DAY.
5. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SUPPORT TO COAST GUARD PERSONNEL WHO
HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS DIAGNOSED WITH ASD. OUR FAMILY RESOURCE
SPECIALISTS IN EACH HEALTH SAFETY AND WORK LIFE (HSWL) REGIONAL
PRACTICE ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL TO LOCAL
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN RESOURCES AND SERVICES.
6. MY POC FOR THIS MATTER IS MS. MARTA DENCHFIELD, SPECIAL NEEDS
PROGRAM MANAGER.  SHE MAY BE REACHED AT 202-475-5156 OR BY EMAIL AT
MARTA.E.DENCHFIELD(AT)USCG.MIL.
7. RADM MAURA DOLLYMORE, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WORK LIFE
SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.