In a recent proclamation, Bothell Mayor Mark Lamb proclaimed the month of May as Autism Awareness Month. The proclamation was made in honor of citizens who are facing the challenge of autism, either in their own lives or in the lives of those close to them. In order to highlight the growing need for awareness and early diagnosis of autism, the Mayor is recognizing May as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees.

There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

“The City of Bothell would like to commend two facilities in our City: the Sorenson Early Childhood Center and Tessera for their work in helping autistic children and adults in the City of Bothell and Northshore Region,” said Mayor Lamb. The Tessera Center is opened in Bothell in 2012 serves as a center for life-long learning for people with autism and their families. The Sorenson Early Childhood Center provides a variety of preschool programs for children ages three to five in the Northshore School District, including children with autism.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 88 children have been identified with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Citizens with an ASD benefit greatly from early intervention and treatment, but this is only possible when they receive an appropriate diagnosis. The City of Bothell encourages all parents to ask their pediatrician about developmental milestones at their child’s check-ups. Parents who have concerns should talk to their health care providers and research the early signs of autism at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html and http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/learn-signs.

Currently, the Autism Society estimates that the lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million, and that the United States is facing almost $90 billion annually in costs for autism. For more information visit www.autism-society.org