By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
April 2 was World Autism Awareness Day. To honor the day and proclaim that April is World Autism Acceptance Month, several members of the Pilot Club of Great Bend attended Tuesday's Barton County Commission meeting to share some of their efforts in raising awareness for autism. Pilot Club President-Elect Betty Schneider said many strides have been made in recent years.
"The early diagnosis has helped a lot, getting people started at the beginning when they're young," she said. "The school systems now are doing a lot more in the schools to help these people learn to do the things that they can calm themselves."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism or autism spectrum disorder affects an estimated 1 in 36 American children, and 1 in 45 adults. Symptoms vary greatly, though sensory overload is one common problem. Items like fidgets, noise-canceling headphones, and sensory blankets can help quiet those overloads. Pilot Club Secretary Ros Neeland wants to make those items available in the event of emergencies.
"We know that sometimes there are emergencies that require first responders, so we're going to try to put together a kit," she said. "If we can get the funding for everything, we'd like for every emergency vehicle in Barton County to have a kit."
On Oct. 5, the Great Bend Pilot Club, Sunflower Diversified, and Barton Community College are partnering for the Make a Difference Across the Lifespan autism workshop. Kerry Magro, an award-winning speaker and best-selling author who was diagnosed with autism at the age of four, will be the main speaker at the event.