April is Autism Acceptance Month. Blue is the color of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) awareness, so please wear blue to honor the cause.
Autism is a complex mental developmental condition characterized by difficulty speaking and interacting with others. It can be present from birth or during early childhood and has no known cause.
Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person on the spectrum has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. How they learn, think and problem solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some on the autism spectrum may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.
The Autism Society recognizes that the prevalence of autism in the U.S. has gone from one in 125 children in 2010 to one in 59 in 2020. The most current estimate is that about one in 36 children have been identified with the disorder.Â
While no two people on the spectrum have the same set of symptoms, many don’t have adequate playing or speaking skills. Those on one end of the spectrum may exhibit clumsy behavior, can be out of sync with those around them and use inappropriate or offensive language. At the other end, there is little interest in interacting with others.
Those on the spectrum may find it harder to show empathy to others, although they can be taught to acknowledge the feelings of others. In some cases, they avoid physical contact such as hugs, tickling or physical play and often display repetitive behavior in performing the same action many times over. Any change in their behavior or routine can be unsettling. Other characteristics of autism include an unpredictable learning rate, obsessions and physical tics.
For more information about Autism Awareness Month, visit autism-society.org.
Finding township resources
Township residents are invited to visit the Lions Lake Complex on Thursday, April 23, for convenient access to several important services.
The Motor Vehicle Commission will be on site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with services that include REAL ID (appointment required), registration renewals, non-driver IDs, duplicate or replacement titles and registrations. A representative from the office of state Sen. James Beach will also be on hand to provide information about state resources, including property tax relief for seniors.
Utility assistance representatives will also be available, with South Jersey Gas from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and New Jersey American Water from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please bring copies of your household verification, proof of income, identification for all household members and related correspondence.
For more information, visit the township’s social media.
Also in town
Voorhees will host its annual rabies clinic on Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lions Lake Complex. For more information, visit the township’s social media.
The police department’s K-9 unit and the township police foundation are sponsors of a benefit car Show on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Town Center. Enjoy music, food vendors, K-9 Unit demos and a tactical vehicle display. Entry fee is $20 and registration closes at 11 a.m. on the day of. For more information, call Lt. Ryan Brennan at (856) 882-1111.
