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Autism AwarenessAutism Awareness20112011
bybyLinda DonnellyLinda Donnelly
True or False?There is only one type of autism and
most people diagnosed with it exhibit the same types of behavior
False
Autism is an umbrella diagnosis for 5 specific types of the disorder; these are known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)
The 5 Categories of ASDsAsperger syndrome (high-functioning
autism)
Kanner’s syndrome (classic autism)
Pervasive Developmental Disorder—Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Rhett’s disease (Female only)
Internet Special Education Resources
What is Autism?What is Autism?Autism is a neurological condition that
affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills
From the Greek root autos meaning “self,” autism literally means “alone.”
All individuals on the autism spectrum suffer from anxiety issues
There is no blood test, no scan, and no image that can detect autism. Diagnosis relies on behavioral observations
Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)(ASDs)
Symptoms of ASDs usually appear during the first three years of life
ASDs persist into adulthood and remain a lifelong challenge for individuals with the diagnosis
There is no known cause for autism, although there are many theories, including environmental factors, genetic predisposition, and even diet
There is no “cure” for ASDs
True or False?One in four (25%) of people
diagnosed with autism will also suffer from a seizure disorder
TrueAbout one in four autistic individuals
begin to have seizures during puberty. The exact reason for the onset of seizures is not known, but it is likely that the seizure activity may be due to hormonal changes in the body.
www.togetherforautism.org
Facts about ASDsFacts about ASDs
Across the decade of 1993-2003, statistics revealed a 657% increase in the nationwide diagnosis of autism (Department of Education)
Autism now affects 1 in 110 children (Autism Speaks)
Only 1 in 10 autistics are “savants” (extraordinary skills); In reality, mental retardation occurs in 75-80% of persons with autism (New England Center for Children)
The Cost of AutismAutism costs the nation over $35
billion per year and is expected to increase during the next decade (Autism Speaks)
In 2011, autism is now more common than childhood cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined (CDC) but receives the least amount of federal funding
Most private insurance doesn’t cover the cost of treatments related to an autism diagnosis
True or False?More children from Caucasian, middle-
class families with college-educated parents (one or both) are diagnosed with autism than any other population
False
Autism is an equal opportunity disability (other than gender); there is no correlation between race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, religion, nationality, etc.
www.autismspeaks.org
Who is Affected?
Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
Siblings of those with an ASD are at greater risk for being on the spectrum
Approximately 67 million people worldwide are affected by autism
www.autismspeaks.org
True or False?Many people with high-functioning
autism have normal to high intelligence
True
Individuals with high-functioning autism typically have a normal or even high I.Q., often have a large, impressive vocabulary, and are usually mainstreamed in regular classrooms. Some even graduate from college
Asperger’s syndromeAsperger’s syndromeIndividuals with high-functioning autism are
often diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome
Those with Asperger’s syndrome may excel in fields such as computer programming and science
Individuals with Asperger’s syndrome are able to take care of themselves and usually able to live alone as adults; some marry and have children.
True or False?People with autism prefer to be left alone
most of the time and don’t really care if they have friends
False
Most individuals with autism, especially those high-functioning autism, desire friendships and want to “fit in” with their peers, but their social awkwardness, rigidness, and emotional immaturity make those goals very difficult to achieve
High-functioning autismHigh-functioning autism Obsessive Behaviors Obsessive Behaviors
Areas of interest may be quite narrow, such as an obsession with one topic or area
Individuals with high functioning autism will present many facts about their subject of interest, but there will seem to be no point or conclusion.
They often do not recognize that the other person has lost interest in the topic.
Are not flexible about routines or rituals; seem very rigid and have difficulty with sudden change
High-functioning autismHigh-functioning autismIsolation/Social ProblemsIsolation/Social Problems
Problems interpreting body language, facial expressions, or social cues
Often respond inappropriately in social settings
May be emotionally immature
Difficulty making eye contact
May appear cold or rude at times
May be singled out by others as "weird" or "strange."
High-functioning autismHigh-functioning autismCommunication ProblemsCommunication Problems
May have difficulty engaging in natural conversational exchanges
May speak in a monotone
Difficulty interpreting humor and figurative language; sarcasm and exaggeration is especially difficult to process; difficulty understanding jokes
Do not recognize the need to change the volume of their voice in different settings
TreatmentsTreatmentsIndividual
psychotherapy/counseling
Parent/Peer education and training
Behavioral modification
Social skills training
Educational interventions
Medications
True or False?Albert Einstein probably had high-
functioning autism
True
Given what is known about autism now, Einstein’s quirky behavior and social deficits would qualify for an autism diagnosis if he were alive today
Famous Individuals Famous Individuals on the Autism Spectrumon the Autism Spectrum There are many famous people who display
autistic characteristics with or without having a formal diagnosis:◦ Bill Gates—Creator of Microsoft
Systems◦ Mark Twain—Author◦ Emily Dickinson--Poet◦ Ludwig von Beethoven--Composer◦ Vincent Van Gogh--Painter◦ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart--Composer◦ Thomas Jefferson—Politician and author
of “The Declaration of Independence”◦ Thomas Edison—Inventor◦ Temple Grandin—Leading Animal
Behavior Expert◦ Bob Dylan—Singer/Songwriter◦ Mark Zuckerberg—Creator of Facebook
www.autism-behavior-strategies.com
Autism: MoviesAutism: MoviesAdd to your Netflix queueAdd to your Netflix queue Temple Grandin AdamWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape?Mozart and the WhaleRain ManThe Black BalloonLittle Man TateI am SamRadioParenthood (TV)
Autism in LiteratureAutism in LiteratureThe Curious Incident of the Dog in
the Nighttime by Mark Haddock
House Rules by Jodi Picoult
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robinson
All Cats have Asperger syndrome by Kathy Hoopmann
True or False?In the 1950s, mothers were blamed if their child was diagnosed with autism
True
In the 1950s, a mother’s failure to bond with her child was blamed for the condition, regardless if she had other normal children. These mothers were labeled “refrigerator mothers” because they were considered to be emotionally cold
Linda & Jack DonnellyFebruary 3, 1995
Linda & Jack DonnellyApril, 2011
Works Cited
www.autismsocietyofamerica.org www.autismspeaks.org www.cdc.org www.departmentofeducation.gov www.newenglandcenterforchildren.com www.togetherforautism.org