Lewiston - Niagara on the Lake News
Posted by Ron Danielewicz
YOUTH APPLIES THE 4 WAY TEST TO AUTISM
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Below is an essay written by my son's niece, Zoe Shay, who lives in Pennsylvania that employs the Rotary "Four Way Test" to address her understanding and perspective on how the general public perceives those afflicted with the Autism spectrum. Zoe has been in direct contact with my grandson, Evan, who has lived with autism for his entire 15 years. Zoe has been exposed to the common mistakes that the uneducated direct towards individuals on the spectrum. I found the essay to be insightful and truthful. But most interesting was her use of the Rotary "Four Way Test" to present her ideas below.
Ron Danielewicz, President of Lewiston Niagara on the Lake Rotary
The Four Way Test
One in every sixty-eight children, one in every forty-two boys, forty percent cannot speak, twenty five percent can say a few words but will lose them as they get older. Autism is more common than AIDs, childhood cancer, and diabetes combined. There is no cure, there are treatments like medicines, mental hospitals, and guidance teachers. Although it is this common, people still tend to be unaware, people still tend to laugh, and joke and use rude names and terms and inappropriate references. There is no blood test, or brain scan or x-ray that diagnoses you with autism. It is purely a mental disability, a behavior disorder. Is this truth? Is it fair? Will it build better friendships and goodwill? Will it be beneficial? The Four Way test has shown me that Autism Awareness and education should be spread worldwide.
The test asks, is it truth? Yes, people mock and tease kids who have disabilities. Surveys have shown that sixty-one percent of children with Asperger’s syndrome (a form of autism) are bullied in school. Yes, it effects thousands of lives forever. 36,500 of every 4 million children born each year in the United States will be diagnosed with Autism. Yes, people don’t understand autism or people with autism. Understanding autism is important. Autistic kids are stereotyped as people who have fits, can’t control their movements, rock back and forth and are mentally slow. This is only a small part of the effects of autism, and some don’t affect others. Autistic people can be incredibly intelligent, and/or have multiple other talents. The disability does not limit the possibilities for talent or things to excel at. Autism isn’t always as obvious as it is stereotyped as. Autism doesn’t fall under a category, like the “special ed” kids in assigned classes or the people who sit at the special table at lunch with teachers. A person, cannot tell by looking who or who doesn’t have Autism. That’s why one should be aware, your best friend, your neighbor, the person sitting next you right now. Every person deserves to be treated with respect and understanding. Why only limit that to the people who are just like you?
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The second question is, “is it fair?” my answer is yes and no. No, it is not fair that thousands, millions of kids have to live with autism. It’s not fair that people make fun of them. It’s not fair that parents have to see their child in pain. It’s not fair. But there is nothing to do, but accept it. It happens. So why not be aware and search and pursue a way to at least help. Not make fun and tease. What is fair, is learning. Educating yourself and others on the importance of mental awareness.Thirdly, the test asks “Does it build good will or friendships?” I personally, have made many friends through autism awareness. When I was in second grade, our elementary school had a special education teacher who came to work at our school, which was the beginning of many strong friendships. Many that stand to this day, unfortunately a few people have moved but I still see them at the annual Autism walk held locally in April. Every year, I proudly support Team Evan side by side with family and friends. It fills me with happiness to see how many people walk or run for this cause. Supporting not only your team, but everyone else’s in the race to a cure. It is good for people, to see that they are not alone, that there are many other people like them and understand what they are going through.
The last question or the Four Way Test is whether or not that this is beneficial. Being aware of a mental disability is always beneficial, because now you know and understand why bad words are bad words, why they are so offensive, why it is not okay to laugh and stare and make inappropriate references. It’s hardly funny. Being aware, makes others aware. Spreading the awareness will stop the rude behavior, the name calling, the staring. Kids will stop being bullied, more adults will be treated with respect, and won’t be laughed at, more toddlers will be understood when first diagnosed, and maybe a cure will come.
Through The Four Way test, it has been proven to me that not only Autism Awareness should be spread, but also Education on Autism. Because the lady across the street, the man who bagged your groceries, the cute guy in Biology, are all people whether they have a mental disability or not. And if they do, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be treated like people, or treated with understanding.