Did you know that World Autism Day is one of only 7 official health-specific days designated by the UN General Assembly? This international day was brought to life in 2008 to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Today we try to bring organizations together all around the world to aid research, diagnoses, treatment and acceptance of the disorder.
Before we can discuss what we can do, we have to get a better understanding about Autism and where it comes from. Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD's) are complex, severe, heterogeneous multifactorial pathologies. ASD is not merely the psychiatric or genetic condition that it was previously believed to be.
In many instances, the people with the disorder suffer from a host of medical problems such as gastrointestinal and metabolic dysfunction that are not hereditary and appear to cause the neurological symptoms exhibited. Recent research and number of medical reports suggest that ASD is a biomedical illness that requires and -- in many cases can be effectively treated -- with biomedical intervention and behavioral therapy.
What does R.E.D. Labs do?
We have been developing and performing tests for multifactorial affections like autism for several years now. We offer speciality tests and we focus on setting up tests that are not (or rarely) available elsewhere. This way we try to contribute to the research of autism and other disorders and diseases.
What can you do?
Different organizations celebrate this day by organizing events, fundraisers an other activities. For example: Light It Up Blue is an initiative of Autism Speaks. Every year the international community comes together to transform thousands of landmarks, buildings and homes to turn them blue. And that is exactly what you can do! Spread the word and try to raise as much awareness as possible.
Parents’ testimonial
"We would like to share the journey of our daughter who is suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Her and our journeys has been and still is long and challenging but we are seeing progress.
At the age of 2, our daughter has been diagnosed with severe Autism Spectrum Disorders. Her ATEC score was 110. She was non-verbal and completely non-social. She had also extreme behavioral issues: had many different stereotypes, was isolating herself, non-responding to her name, laying on the floor, screaming a lot, wake-up several times every night and extremely picky eating.
Today she is 6 years old and she has been improving in many areas. She started to speak, responding to her name and likes to play with us and with different toys. She likes to sing and play a bit of the piano. She gained energy a lot to the point that she is now hyperactive. She smiles a lot and is open for learning. She has even started to read a few weeks ago. Her ATEC score is now 50.
Soon after her diagnostic in 2 different Autism Reference Centre in Europe we decided to follow the biomedical approach as well as the conventional behavior & cognitive therapies.
Lead by a group of dedicated experts and pediatricians and thanks to RED Labs biomedical testing, we managed to identify an active Borrelia miyamotoi infection, dysbiosis, gastrointestinal permeability, and a lot of immune disorders. It is only after starting the biomedical approach than we saw the behavior & cognitive therapies making an effect. We started the biomedical approach 2,5 years ago and we will continue until her immune system retake control."
- Maya & Sebastien