In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Day. Above all, they urge governments to raise awareness of the diagnosis. But the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) community established April as the month to publicize the reality that these people live. And to share the lack of opportunities, human rights, and even acceptance. The goal is for more people to educate themselves and understand the challenges and opportunities of the autistic community.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incidence of autism in the United States is 1:42 for boys and 1:189 for girls. While most of these people can aspire to live independently, their chances of doing so are still meager. The lack of an early diagnosis and treatment does not favor developing these children’s communication skills and social behavior. However, South Florida is no exception; public and private sector support is scarce. The scholar system doesn’t have trained professionals committed to developing and supporting neurodiverse children in schools. Furthermore, there’s a great need for vocational schools to continue their education and companies that hire their services.

Neurodiversity is a competitive advantage if we consider these individuals have extraordinary skills like pattern recognition, memory, and mathematics. The issue is they are not receiving appropriate education and stimulation to grow and fully develop their capacities. There are even cases where families are unaware that their kids can learn and aim for an independent life. A change of perspective can be beneficial for these kids and families. By focusing on the positive ways they grow and learn, we can build a more inclusive and diverse system.

Two significant issues the autism community faced:

The first is the lack of a specialized system that supports their learning path and manages their behavior without secluding them from traditional and high-quality education. Schools must have an educated and specialized group of teachers that understand how neurodiverse children learn, interact, and behave. They would support their emotional path and teach them the social and life skills they need to build a life. The system’s structure would be respect and acceptance of everyone’s differences and the fact that we are all differently-abled. It may sound like a utopia, but for inclusion and diversity to become a reality, autistic children need real opportunities.

The second one is the insufficient commitment of companies in offering neurodiverse talent more opportunities inside their organizations. Moreover, they need to understand that neurodiverse individuals may bring new perspectives and solutions, but they open up to hire them and create an atmosphere where they can thrive. Therefore, the first step is to change the recruit process. Neurodiverse individuals may struggle with traditional procedures.

Equality, inclusion, and diversity continue to be a utopia in today’s society, and South Florida is not the exception. In conclusion, we must understand the need for acceptance, kindness, and opportunities and take action to provide the support and accompaniment our neurodiverse kids need to develop their skills and capabilities and put them at society’s service. When neurodiversity is accepted and embraced, children and adults have a successful social and academic life; their abilities are recognized and used for society’s good. This allows them to build and enjoy an independent and autonomous life.

 *Original version was published on the Sun-Sentinel Op-ed on April 8, 2021 

About the author:

María Alejandra Mejía has a Bachelor’s Degree in Exceptional Student Education from Nova University (ESE), a Master’s Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Ball State University, and another Master’s Degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. She is the founder and director of EIBS, an education program based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to train and foster South Florida children and youth development.

World Autism Day

The United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the need to improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.

April is a month where different organizations seek to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The intention is to raise awareness about the inequality, challenges, and issues of the autistic community. People with a diagnosis of autism still lack the support, acceptance, fundamental rights, and opportunities they deserve.

There are two key things to guarantee a better future for people with autism:

First, an early diagnosis. Secondly, a team of specialists who bet and believe in the future and the child’s development. For families, it is key to have the appropriate information and support to give their kids the tools they need. It is also imperative to have a supportive government that creates an inclusive and diverse educational system and programs. Private companies have the responsibility of creating inclusive workplaces. By first adopting new recruitment policies and procedures. And also by training their teams on topics such as tolerance, diversity, empathy, and, of course, neurodiversity.

One of the things that differentiate EIBS from other institutions is that we understand that a child with autism needs a specialist to help them identify and develop their abilities. Still, more than that, they need a person who believes in them. We need to know that these kids can learn, develop and grow to have an autonomous and independent life. It is necessary to stop talking about disabilities and understand that neurodiversity is a reality. Furthermore, we need to review the educational system and offer a healthy and challenging environment to these children and young people where they can develop mentally and socially.

April is a month to raise awareness and accept that neurodiversity is not a disability but an opportunity to nourish ourselves with different ways of learning, thinking, and solving problems. That is why providing an education focused on the child’s academic and behavioral development is only the beginning. For these young people’s lives to gain sense and purpose, it is necessary that once they finish high school, they can count on institutions that believe in them, train them, and put their skills at the service of the community.

Here is a short message from our Founder, enjoy!  

This can be one of the more important conversations a family may have; giving kids information on their diagnosis, how their brain works and the nature of their differences will allow them to understand themselves and others better. A child who understands how their mind and body works will have the tools to embrace difficulties and face any challenges, and if the information comes from a reliable and lovable source much better.

In April we host a conversation between Maria Alejandra Mejia, our founder, and Federica Rossi, Psychologist & ABA Therapist, and here are some of the key messages around introducing your child to his or her diagnosis:

3 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD TELL YOUR CHILD ABOUT HIS/HER DIAGNOSIS:

• Giving your child accurate information about himself/herself, can prevent feeling and perceiving themselves as a disappointment or failure.

• So your child won’t come to the wrong conclusion about their perceived differences. They may even wonder if they have a terminal illness and are going to die.

• Autism is a part of who they are; sometimes, finding that missing puzzle can help answer any questions and have a deeper understanding of who they are.

3 BEST PRACTICES FOR WHEN YOU DECIDE TO TALK WITH YOUR CHILD ABOUT HIS/HER DIAGNOSIS:

• It is important to use precise but straightforward words in relation to the child’s age, personality, and emotional maturity. Don’t saturate your child with information.

• Ensure your child is actively listening and comprehending what you are saying; this can be done by constantly asking him/her how he feels and if he has any questions about it.

• Try to provide your child with a list of behaviors and or qualities or traits that make him/her neurodiverse, but simultaneously make a list of all the other things that make your child an ordinary and boring human being.

We create a guide for you with much more information you can download it here. Also, if you want to watch the whole conversation you can watch it here.

Louis* is from Miami, lives in the Netherlands, but wishes to return to his family, city, and friends. He hopes to build an independent and fulfilling career and life in his hometown as he did in the Netherlands, but we know Florida has a long way to go to build an inclusive government and society. Neurodiversity is not on the agenda yet. 

Louis is 31 years old, and for the past years, he has been living in the Netherlands, not because he loves the place, has a family there, or prefers it over Miami. Due to their inclusion system, he decided to leave Miami and move to the Netherlands; it was easier for him to build a career and pursue an independent life there. Louis was diagnosed at seven years old with Autism. Doctors told his mom he was not going to be able to finish school. Against all odds, Louis graduates from High School and college, and he even obtains a Master’s in Hospitality Management.

Netherland is the place Louis has been calling home for the last years, is the country that has provided him with all he needs to thrive and build a career and an independent life. We could say it has also been a fulfilling one, but we wouldn’t tell the whole truth. Even though he found a system that supports and allows him to build a “normal” life, he sacrificed growing close to his family and friends. 2020 was the year when Louis knew it was time to start planning and packing; having a job, an apartment, and a supportive government in the Netherlands was great, but it was time for him to get back to his hometown and build the same successful career and life.

Louis knows he can do a great job and become a vital part of any organization. His work experience includes working for the Netherlands police, airports, and other companies; even though the language has been a challenge, he has grown professionally. Today, his two major fears of returning to Miami are not keeping his independent life and not finding a job to meet his needs.

Autism has the highest unemployment rate of all disabilities, and Florida is not the exception. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is not just a checkbox. People with disabilities deserve a job that embraces their uniqueness, abilities, needs, and challenges, and that at the same time provides an ideal environment to grow and learn: prompt and constant feedback; special accommodations; an inclusive culture, and a place where they can be their authentic selves.

Louis has a bright future in front of him; he is aware of his strengths, abilities, challenges, and needs. He also knows that his hometown needs to work harder on the inclusion and diversity chapter. Still, he is confident that he will find a company that can offer him a safe space to work and challenge him to grow personally and professionally.

It is a story that will have a beginning if he is lucky enough to find a company that hires neurodiverse employees and that counts with an ethical culture and policies to provide them with a challenging and nurturing workplace. And if the government can give him a supportive network for when things don’t go as planned. And the story will have a happy ending if Louis founds here, his hometown, the resources, and support to build a life by his own means.

*Louis name has been changed for security reasons.

Author: Maria Alejandra Mejia

EIBS Summer Camp 2022

We are glad to announce that this year we will have our summer camp again, starting on June 13, until July 29.

Our Summer Camp is especially designed for neurodiverse kids from 3 years old and above. We use Behavioral Principles and Errorless Teaching to reinforce Math, Reading & Language Arts.

One of the things that make us unique is our famous Conversational Club that enhance your kid’s language skills.

We also have fun activities that includes, but are not limited to:

• Gaming Truck
• Mini-Golf & Tennis
• Arts & Craft
• Cooking Class
• Music & Dance
• Beach Picnic & Zoo Visit

Schedule

We will start at 9:00 am until 2:00 pm. Aftercare is available too!

Week 1: June 13 – 17

Week 2: June 20 – 24

Week 3: June 27 – July 1

Week 4: July 4 – 8

Week 5: July 11 – 15

Week 6: July 18 – 22

Week 7: July 25 – 29

Hours: 9 am – 2 pm

*We have a minimum of three weeks per kid.