{{

Children with Children with Autism Spectrum Autism Spectrum DisordersDisorders

Presented by: Caitlin McGowan Presented by: Caitlin McGowan January 2014January 2014

Autism is a lifelong developmental Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that is best described as a disability that is best described as a collection of behavioral symptoms.collection of behavioral symptoms.

The extent and severity of those The extent and severity of those symptoms provide a range of diagnoses symptoms provide a range of diagnoses referred to as autism spectrum referred to as autism spectrum disorders.disorders.

Autism was identified as a special Autism was identified as a special education category in 1990.education category in 1990.

Defining AutismDefining Autism

““Classic” or Kanner’s AutismClassic” or Kanner’s Autism Asperger’s syndromeAsperger’s syndrome PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental

Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified)Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified) Rett’s disorderRett’s disorder Childhood disintegrative disorderChildhood disintegrative disorder

Autism Spectrum Autism Spectrum DisordersDisorders

Defined as: children who exhibit severely Defined as: children who exhibit severely disordered verbal and nonverbal disordered verbal and nonverbal language and unusual behavior patterns.language and unusual behavior patterns.

““Classic” or Kanner’s Classic” or Kanner’s AutismAutism

This is one of the most common autism This is one of the most common autism spectrum disorders.spectrum disorders.

Approximately 1 in 500 school-age Approximately 1 in 500 school-age children are diagnosed with Asperger’s.children are diagnosed with Asperger’s.

Individuals with Asperger’s may have Individuals with Asperger’s may have many of the social and behavioral many of the social and behavioral characteristics of autism but, importantly, characteristics of autism but, importantly, withoutwithout any marked delays in language any marked delays in language and cognitive development.and cognitive development.

They experience difficulties in social They experience difficulties in social functioning and relationships, but not in functioning and relationships, but not in intelligence or language skills. intelligence or language skills.

Asperger’s syndromeAsperger’s syndrome

Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise SpecifiedOtherwise Specified

Also called “high functioning autism” or Also called “high functioning autism” or “atypical autism”“atypical autism”

Defined as: children who experience Defined as: children who experience nonverbal language difficulties but do nonverbal language difficulties but do not meet the criteria for other PDDs such not meet the criteria for other PDDs such as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or as autism, Asperger’s syndrome, or Rett’s disorder.Rett’s disorder.

PDD-NOSPDD-NOS

A rare genetic neurodegenerative A rare genetic neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects girls, disorder that primarily affects girls, resulting in the loss of social skills, resulting in the loss of social skills, language, and motor development, language, and motor development, accompanied by distorted hand accompanied by distorted hand movements. movements.

Rett’s disorderRett’s disorder

After a few years of normal development, After a few years of normal development, children regress progressively in all children regress progressively in all areas, including language, social areas, including language, social development, and motor development. development, and motor development.

Childhood Childhood disintegrative disorderdisintegrative disorder

“What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?”

Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Disease Control and Prevention identify around 1 in 88 American identify around 1 in 88 American children as on the autism spectrum.children as on the autism spectrum.

An estimated 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in An estimated 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls are diagnosed with autism in 252 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States.the United States.

ASD affects over 2 million individuals in ASD affects over 2 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide. the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide.

How common is How common is Autism?Autism?

As we learned in the YouTube video, every As we learned in the YouTube video, every individual on the autism spectrum is unique.individual on the autism spectrum is unique.

They exhibit different kinds of behaviors, They exhibit different kinds of behaviors, from mild to severe.from mild to severe.

Many have exceptional abilities in visual Many have exceptional abilities in visual skills, music, and academic skills.skills, music, and academic skills.

About 40% have average to above average About 40% have average to above average intellectual abilitiesintellectual abilities

Others have a significant disability and are Others have a significant disability and are unable to live independently. unable to live independently.

About 25% are nonverbal but can learn to About 25% are nonverbal but can learn to communicate using other means. communicate using other means.

What does it mean to What does it mean to be "on the spectrum”?be "on the spectrum”?

The next few slides will cover websites The next few slides will cover websites that can be used as resources for that can be used as resources for gathering information and providing gathering information and providing services within the community.services within the community.

Useful Resources Useful Resources

Autism Speaks was founded in 2005 by Bob and Autism Speaks was founded in 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism.

Their friend donated $25 million to help financially Their friend donated $25 million to help financially launch the organization.launch the organization.

Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the world's Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization.leading autism science and advocacy organization.

The mission of Autism Speaks is to change the future The mission of Autism Speaks is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders.

They are dedicated to funding global biomedical They are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a possible cure for autism. possible cure for autism.

They also raise public awareness about autism and its They also raise public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society. effects on individuals, families, and society.

Autism Speaks

The Autism Society of America is a The Autism Society of America is a national organization for parents, national organization for parents, professionals, and individuals with autism.professionals, and individuals with autism.

Their mission is to improve the lives of all Their mission is to improve the lives of all who are affected by autism.who are affected by autism.

The Autism Society is a great resource The Autism Society is a great resource that includes education, services, that includes education, services, research, and support. research, and support.

Autism Society of America

This is a blog about a day in the life of a This is a blog about a day in the life of a single mom raising a teenager and a child single mom raising a teenager and a child with autism. with autism.

Her goal is to give away all that she has Her goal is to give away all that she has learned and experienced in hopes that it will learned and experienced in hopes that it will help families raising a child with autism.help families raising a child with autism.

Throughout the blog, she opens up her Throughout the blog, she opens up her world and share her joys, knowledge, world and share her joys, knowledge, lessons, disappointments, challenges, lessons, disappointments, challenges, frustrations, fears and successes - one day frustrations, fears and successes - one day at a time.at a time.

Autism - Day by Day

“I Want to Say”

The next few slides touch on various The next few slides touch on various devices in assistive technology that can devices in assistive technology that can help an individual with autism manage help an individual with autism manage successfully within the community.successfully within the community.

Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology

TapToTalk is an app that displays a page of TapToTalk is an app that displays a page of pictures on the screen. pictures on the screen.

When you tap a picture, TapToTalk plays a word When you tap a picture, TapToTalk plays a word or sentence and displays another page of or sentence and displays another page of pictures. pictures.

Each of those pictures can lead to another page, Each of those pictures can lead to another page, and so on.and so on.

For example, a picture representing Food can For example, a picture representing Food can lead to a page with pictures of Fruit, Vegetables, lead to a page with pictures of Fruit, Vegetables, Sandwiches, Snacks and other foods.Sandwiches, Snacks and other foods.

Overall, this app can be used to give nonverbal Overall, this app can be used to give nonverbal individuals with autism a voice.individuals with autism a voice.

TapToTalkTapToTalk

This app can be very beneficial for an This app can be very beneficial for an individual with a developmental disability, individual with a developmental disability, like Autism.like Autism.

It allows you to create visual supports such It allows you to create visual supports such asas First Then boardsFirst Then boards Visual schedulesVisual schedules Task analysesTask analyses Social storiesSocial stories Choice boardsChoice boards Video modelsVideo models

First Then Visual First Then Visual Schedule HDSchedule HD

Kids with autism often have difficulty Kids with autism often have difficulty recognizing emotions and facial recognizing emotions and facial expressions.expressions.

This app, created by TouchAutism.com, This app, created by TouchAutism.com, uses social stories and simple illustrations uses social stories and simple illustrations to show what different feelings look like. to show what different feelings look like.

It also explains why people may feel a It also explains why people may feel a certain way. certain way.

It's excellent for use in special education It's excellent for use in special education classrooms and could even be beneficial classrooms and could even be beneficial during speech therapy sessions. during speech therapy sessions.

Emotions and Emotions and Feelings - AutismFeelings - Autism

““What it’s like to have What it’s like to have a Brother with Autism”a Brother with Autism”

Not all siblings will experience these stressful Not all siblings will experience these stressful issues, but here are some to be aware of:issues, but here are some to be aware of:

Embarrassment around peers Embarrassment around peers Jealousy regarding amount of time parents Jealousy regarding amount of time parents

spend with their brother/sisterspend with their brother/sister Frustration over not being able to engage or Frustration over not being able to engage or

get a response from their brother/sisterget a response from their brother/sister Being the target of aggressive behaviorsBeing the target of aggressive behaviors Concern regarding their parents' stress and Concern regarding their parents' stress and

griefgrief Concern over their role in future caregivingConcern over their role in future caregiving

SiblingsSiblings

The recommended focus of curriculum The recommended focus of curriculum and instruction for individuals with and instruction for individuals with autism varies greatly depending on each autism varies greatly depending on each child’s abilities and needs.child’s abilities and needs.

Teaching Strategies Teaching Strategies and Accommodationsand Accommodations

"Effective use of "Effective use of Teacher Supports"Teacher Supports"

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong developmental disability that is best developmental disability that is best described as a collection of behavioral described as a collection of behavioral symptoms.symptoms.

It greatly affects the areas of communication, It greatly affects the areas of communication, cognition, and social behavior.cognition, and social behavior.

Early intervention is a key factor for Early intervention is a key factor for improving the prognosis of children with improving the prognosis of children with autism.autism.

Technology plays an increasingly important Technology plays an increasingly important role in the interventions used to teach social, role in the interventions used to teach social, vocational, and independent living skills to vocational, and independent living skills to individuals with autism.individuals with autism.

OverviewOverview

““Exceptional Children” and Youth by Exceptional Children” and Youth by Nancy Hunt and Kathleen MarshallNancy Hunt and Kathleen Marshall

http://www.autismspeaks.org/http://www.autismspeaks.org/ http://www.autism-society.orghttp://www.autism-society.org http://www.feat.orghttp://www.feat.org http://researchautism.nethttp://researchautism.net http://autism.healingthresholds.com http://autism.healingthresholds.com

ReferencesReferences

Thank you Thank you