Buy rose for a solitary, lonely child
The floral display marked the start of Rose Week, the annual fundraising campaign for the Irish Society for Autism, which runs until October 13.
Every year, 100 new cases of autism come to light. People with autism suffer from a devastating life-long mental disorder, locked into a world of their own, unable to express their own ideas and emotions. “The condition affects their ability to interpret and understand words, gestures, numbers, signs and even love,” said Rose Week co-ordinator Seán Prunty.
There are between 1,200 and 2,000 children and young adults with autism in Ireland. The condition occurs four times more frequently in males than females. Recent studies in Ireland found an incidence rate of 15 per 10,000 births.
However, a 1997 British report suggested the prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders was closer to 1% of the population. The most common symptoms or autism include: avoiding eye contact; lack of interest in people or play; unusual fears (for example, certain colours).
There may also be inappropriate use of toys, obsessive spinning of objects or attachment to inanimate objects.
The person with autism may reject physical contact and strongly resists change.
Outstanding characteristics of autism are extreme aloneness; difficulty in relating to other people and severely impaired or no speech.
Sometimes the intellectual impairment in can be accompanied by normal or superior skills in other areas, such as arithmetic, music, art or memory.
“We started Rose Week in 1989,” said Mr Prunty. “Someone came up with a solitary rose for a solitary child, a rose for a lonely child.
“Different charities were going for different emblems at that stage. You have Daisy Days and Daffodil Days and so forth. We went for the rose and have been using it every since.”
The Irish Society for Autism has developed specialised services in Wexford, Galway, Meath, Westmeath and Kildare.
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