Autism Awareness

Miss Minnesota’s Story

Growing up with two brothers diagnosed with Autism has been a blessing. It has been rewarding to see them grow each and every day. Caleb is my chess champion, and Shain is my car fanatic and their unique personalities continuously keep me smiling. A pinnacle in my life was the very first time Shain told me he loved me and I knew he meant it. This was a sign of hope, and I will never forget that moment. I have seen them triumph over challenges and conquer the obstacles facing them on a daily basis. They are truly an inspiration to me and to everyone they meet. I want individuals with Autism to be recognized for their innate strengths and gifts and for society to meet them with understanding and acceptance. Autism is a beautiful difference! I am proud of my brothers and of all their accomplishments. Caleb and Shain make my life brighter, and I know they will shine in whatever they do.

The Puzzle Piece:

The puzzle piece is the universal symbol for autism because it is a confusing and puzzling disability. Until we find the cause for autism, we will continue to put the pieces together in hope that one day we the puzzle will be complete.

“As Miss Minnesota I want to be the voice of those who live with autism everyday . . .”

Jennifer Hudspeth's Mission

Address the educational needs for autism awareness in our schools through the use of a customized age appropriate curriculum for students.

Help Parents and Early Childhood Educators with autistic children develop a plan to address the comprehensive needs of children. Show parents they can learn to view autistic children with hope and high aspirations.

Develop a National Identity... for the Autistic population so that they can act as a well represented unified group of people.

Develop a Post Credit Course for Law Enforcement Officers.in the state of Minnesota. It is imperative they are informed and trained in how to approach autistic youth and adults in crisis situations.

About Autism

::Autism has been defines as a bio-neurological developmental disability that usually presents before the age of three.

:: Autism impacts development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically esperience difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social situations including the ability to enjoy any type of play.

:: People with autism often times are compromised by other physical issues. Those issues include: allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, feeding disorders, sleeping disorders, and more.

:: Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls.. Since autism was first diagnosed in the U.S. the occurrence has climbed to one in 166 people across the country.

:: While there is no cure for autism, with early diagnosis and treatment, autistic individuals can live a long and productive life.

Common Signs of Autism

While the signs of autism can be dramatically diverse from person to person through my personal experiences and education, I have found these to be some of the most frequent:

◦Heightened senses - over or under sensitivity to pain and no concept of danger

◦Wanting to play alone rather than with other children

◦Avoids cuddling or touching

◦Maintains little to no eye contact

◦Highly intelligent in a specific area

◦Frequent behavioral outbursts, tantrums

◦Uneven motor skills and impaired language development

◦Resisting changes to their routine

◦Repetitive actions (flapping arms, turning in circles)

◦High pitched or flat intonations

Jennifer Hudspeth

Miss Minnesota 2007