April is Autism Awareness Month, which means that individuals with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) can be recognized and feel that they have a place to belong. Coined by psychologist Bernard Rimland in 1970 to recognize his son, April is a great time to teach yourself more about the disorder.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how individuals interact with others and the world around them. They may communicate differently than others, behave outside of the neurotypical, and learn differently. This doesn’t make anyone on the spectrum less capable of achieving great things; they may find certain things difficult because of how the world caters to the neurotypical.
Autism is a spectrum, meaning that there are some people at different ends of the spectrum that may display certain tendencies, while other people may display tendencies completely different. Everyone is unique, and that includes individuals with autism. Remind yourself that there are people you pass every day who are on the spectrum while you have no idea.
How many people have Autism?
The CDC states that about 1 in 36 children in the United States of America have been identified with ASD. They also recognize that since 2017, an estimated 5.4 million adults are on the spectrum. This is 2.21% percent of the US population. Worldwide, about 1 in 100 children have autism, according to the World Health Organization.
Gender differences
Boys are diagnosed four times more often than girls, and these diagnoses are typically made much earlier. For example, a young boy may be diagnosed, while a girl may not be diagnosed until she is a teenager or even older. Think about how many people of older generations could have benefited from a diagnosis that they never received. While everyone is different, girls generally display less overtly repetitive behaviors than boys.
It is also possible that their special interests may be more socially acceptable to society than the special interests of boys. Studies also show that girls can be very good at masking, which is a behavior in which they present themselves differently to fit in with others. This can include behavior, facial expressions, tone of voice, etc.
Who is Arizona Autism United?
Arizona Autism United is a non-profit organization that aims to give barrier-free access to individualized support for people with autism spectrum disorder. They help 1,500 families every day, including services within homes, schools, and clinics. AZA United hopes to become a state-wide organization, helping as many people as possible all over Arizona. While the main office is located in Phoenix, AZ, three other locations are located in Mesa, Avondale, and Chandler, AZ.
The main office includes speech therapy, diagnostic evaluations, and family support. The Mesa and Avondale locations offer ABA (applied behavior analysis) therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. The Chandler location offers speech and occupational therapy. AZA United’s official website includes information on autism awareness training, which is a great way for members in a community to learn more about autism and best learn how to support individuals who are part of the ASD community. Training is available for those working in schools, as well as other students who would like to learn and be a support system.
Autism can bring challenges, and having a training system like this is a great way of accepting, supporting, and including students on the spectrum. Teachers will gain insight and information into how they can best support their students, as well as learn important strategies that may better engage students. This training program is available for teachers, staff, and students, but also for first responders and community Centers.
AZA United’s autism awareness training program is FREE for all schools in the Maricopa County for a limited time.
Awards
AZA United is an award-winning organization that recently became a Spring Culture Excellence Top Workplaces Winner. This award umbrella includes mention of leadership, innovation, compensation and benefits, work-life flexibility, and purpose and value awards. In 2024, they came in second place for being one of the best non-profit workplaces for employees. In 2021, 2023, and 2024, AZCentral also listed them as a top workplace. And most recently, AZA United received the 2025 Autism Center of Excellence Designation by Mercy Care (2nd year in a row).
If you or someone you know is looking for support, guidance, or an amazing career, look into AZA United.
