Did you know there are over 200 National Health Observances (NHOs) throughout the year that mark special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics?! 

April is Autism Awareness Month!

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex "spectrum condition" developmental disability that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Signs typically appear during early childhood and affect a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness, early diagnosis/intervention, and access to appropriate services/supports lead to significantly improved outcomes. Please visit http://www.autism-society.org/ to learn more, access service providers, and connect with an invested community full of support and advocacy.

 Joining Autism Awareness month, April is also....

National Facial Protection Month & Sports Eye Safety Month

This month, spread the word to remind both children and adults: as you suit up for outdoor activities this spring, don't forget to protect your face, mouth, eyes and head. Spring often brings a flood of patients suffering with head, mouth and facial injuries that can be easily prevented with the use of sports safety equipment like helmets, protective eyewear, and mouth guards. For more information, visit https://www.aaoms.org/media/april-is-national-facial-protection-month and https://www.preventblindness.org/sports-eye-safety. Click the graphic below for a short video!

 

April 22-26: Every Kid Healthy Week

Every Kid Healthy™ Week is an annual observance that shines a spotlight on the great efforts schools are making to improve the overall health and wellness of their students and the link between nutrition, physical activity, and learning – because healthy kids are better prepared to learn! For more information visit http://www.everykidhealthyweek.org/.