AUTIM Spectrum DisordersAUTIM Spectrum Disorders

By Irina LarossaBy Irina Larossa

Who is Irina Larossa???Who is Irina Larossa???

Irina is a 24 year old girl who lives in Canada and Irina is a 24 year old girl who lives in Canada and has Asperger’s Syndrome, or high-functioning has Asperger’s Syndrome, or high-functioning autism. She has read many books on autism autism. She has read many books on autism and works with low-functioning children who and works with low-functioning children who have autism. She has great faith that people have autism. She has great faith that people will see the light and become accepting of these will see the light and become accepting of these wonderful children some day and she hopes to wonderful children some day and she hopes to make it as soon as possible. Her main message make it as soon as possible. Her main message is as follows:is as follows:

Autism cannot and should not be cured. People should Autism cannot and should not be cured. People should love and accept autistic people and cherish their love and accept autistic people and cherish their differences. Knowledge and understanding of this differences. Knowledge and understanding of this condition is key. So, research it and promote condition is key. So, research it and promote awareness so others can learn too. awareness so others can learn too.

What is an Autism Spectrum What is an Autism Spectrum Disorder???Disorder???

An Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is An Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that is ranked on the a condition that is ranked on the Autism Spectrum.Autism Spectrum.

This spectrum ranges from very high This spectrum ranges from very high functioning, low functioning people functioning, low functioning people with AUTISM and those who have one with AUTISM and those who have one or two of the criteria, but not full or two of the criteria, but not full blown autism.blown autism.

My View on the My View on the autism spectrumautism spectrum

Green: highly sociableGreen: highly sociableNot autisticNot autisticRed: less sociable, butRed: less sociable, butStill sociableStill sociableNot autisticNot autisticBlue: may scrape by as an NT,Blue: may scrape by as an NT,But also may have a PDD-NOS, orBut also may have a PDD-NOS, orAutism Spectrum Disorder diagnosisAutism Spectrum Disorder diagnosisPurple: Atypical autism, higher Purple: Atypical autism, higher functioningfunctioningIn autism criteria.In autism criteria.Pink: ‘severe autism’ diagnosis.Pink: ‘severe autism’ diagnosis.Meets all autism criteria easily.Meets all autism criteria easily.

The CriteriaThe Criteria

In order for someone to get an Autism In order for someone to get an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, they must Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, they must meet at least one of the three criteria.meet at least one of the three criteria.

This criteria is: social impairment, This criteria is: social impairment, communication impairment and communication impairment and behavioral/play skills impairment.behavioral/play skills impairment.

A person with AUTISM must meet all three, A person with AUTISM must meet all three, to get an Autism Spectrum Disorder, they to get an Autism Spectrum Disorder, they must meet one to two and usually for PDD-must meet one to two and usually for PDD-NOS, two.NOS, two.

PDD-NOSPDD-NOS

PDD-NOS stands for Pervasive PDD-NOS stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorder.Developmental Disorder.

This is usually a temporary diagnosis when a This is usually a temporary diagnosis when a practitioner is unsure of the exact practitioner is unsure of the exact diagnosis because the child seems autistic diagnosis because the child seems autistic but they do not meet all three criteria. but they do not meet all three criteria. Most often, this is given to a young child Most often, this is given to a young child who will likely progress or regress quickly who will likely progress or regress quickly so the practitioner wants to wait to make so the practitioner wants to wait to make sure he/she gets the diagnoses correct. sure he/she gets the diagnoses correct.

Autism Spectrum DisordersAutism Spectrum Disorders

There are many ASD diagnosis’. A few common There are many ASD diagnosis’. A few common ones are:ones are:

Sensory Overload Disorder (SOD)Sensory Overload Disorder (SOD) Nonverbal Language Disorder (NLD)Nonverbal Language Disorder (NLD) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Retts DisorderRetts Disorder Anxiety DisorderAnxiety Disorder

People with an ASD do not have autism, but they People with an ASD do not have autism, but they are on the spectrum. are on the spectrum.

AutismAutismThe brains of people with autism work The brains of people with autism work

differently than those of people differently than those of people without autism. Therefore, they without autism. Therefore, they react differently to the world. react differently to the world. Unfortunately for them, this world Unfortunately for them, this world was created by non-autistic people was created by non-autistic people so it is more difficult for them to be so it is more difficult for them to be successful in it. successful in it.

BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE!BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE!

BRAINSBRAINS

There are 4 types of brain wirings.There are 4 types of brain wirings.

1.1. MALEMALE

2.2. FEMALEFEMALE

3.3. NON-AUTISTIC/NEUROYPICAL (NT)NON-AUTISTIC/NEUROYPICAL (NT)

4.4. AUTISTICAUTISTIC

Every person has a combination of two Every person has a combination of two of these. EXAMPLE: Male, NT. of these. EXAMPLE: Male, NT.

What causes an ASD?What causes an ASD?

Nobody knows for sure, but there are Nobody knows for sure, but there are theories. These include:theories. These include:

The MMR vaccineThe MMR vaccine Lack of vitamin DLack of vitamin D GeneticsGenetics Toxins in the environmentToxins in the environment Weak immune systemWeak immune system And others…And others…

Think about this…Think about this…

Do you wonder what made you a male or Do you wonder what made you a male or female?female?

Does it matter?Does it matter?Why/why not?Why/why not?

Apply those answers to the unknown Apply those answers to the unknown answers for autism too. The difference answers for autism too. The difference between males and females is similar to between males and females is similar to that of NTs and autistics.that of NTs and autistics.

Can ASD be cured???Can ASD be cured???

Not definitely, but not definitely not either.Not definitely, but not definitely not either.

NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE.NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE.

There are theories:There are theories:

1.1. Gluten/casein/carbohydrate free, and Gluten/casein/carbohydrate free, and vitamin supplements cure autism because vitamin supplements cure autism because they cure leaky-gut which was caused by they cure leaky-gut which was caused by MMR.MMR.

2.2. ABA uses a ‘dog-training’ effect to train ABA uses a ‘dog-training’ effect to train children to respond to command, and look children to respond to command, and look normal.normal.

What are my rights???What are my rights???

Every person on Earth is supposed to have Every person on Earth is supposed to have the same rights.the same rights.But not everyone does.But not everyone does.By curing autism, you are deciding that By curing autism, you are deciding that your state of being is better than theirs… your state of being is better than theirs… and that is not okay.and that is not okay.All over the world, rights are disputed. All over the world, rights are disputed. Males used to have more rights than Males used to have more rights than females, but now they don’t. At the females, but now they don’t. At the moment NTs have more rights than autists, moment NTs have more rights than autists, but hopefully that will change some day.but hopefully that will change some day.

THEY DESERVE EVERYTHING THEY DESERVE EVERYTHING YOU DESERVE.YOU DESERVE.

THEY HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS THEY HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS YOU.AS YOU.

THEY ARE NOT WRONG.THEY ARE NOT WRONG.THEY SHOULD NOT BE THEY SHOULD NOT BE

CHANGED.CHANGED.AUTISM ISN’T THE PROBLEM, AUTISM ISN’T THE PROBLEM,

IGNORANCE IS.IGNORANCE IS.

Acceptance is keyAcceptance is key

The only way a social change ever The only way a social change ever happens is when people get together happens is when people get together and say THIS IS WRONG! Females and say THIS IS WRONG! Females got together and fought for their got together and fought for their rights and they got acceptance by rights and they got acceptance by males. Many autists are unable to males. Many autists are unable to fight for themselves, so we must fight for themselves, so we must fight for them to get acceptance.fight for them to get acceptance.

How???How???

Raise awareness. Inform Raise awareness. Inform others. Let them become others. Let them become

acceptingaccepting..

Thank you for watching and have a Thank you for watching and have a good day!!!good day!!!

Written by Irina LarossaWritten by Irina Larossa

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