Autism
What is autism?
Autism is a pervasive developmental disability which results in significantly impaired verbal and nonverbal communication and social interactions. The condition is generally manifest by age 3. Different systems define autism in different ways, resulting in further confusion as to what exactly autism is. Children with autism are hard to categorize and are often mistakenly labelled as multi-handicapped, especially since many of the speach and language disorders they exhibit resemble those of other disabilities. Children with autism become autistic adults. Unfortunately, this disorder is not outgrown.
What causes autism?
The best answer to this is that no one knows and there is not even a good guess. If you wish to assist in finding the cause, please lobby your congressman or the NIH (National Institutes of Health, the US gov't agency which funds most medical research in the US) to increase research funding for this disorder.
What are some characteristics of autistic children?
Autistic children have difficulty relating to other people, avoid eye contact, and have various other communication problems. They may look "blank" in their facial expression, not wish to be hugged or touched by others, and do "weird" stuff like spend long periods of time spinning jars or making crinkling sounds. Such children have problems expressing themselves, and may cry when happy or hit at others for no reason. An autistic child may have irrational fears of nonfrightening things. Interestingly, autistic children may display unique splinter skills. These skills are found in a very small number of autistic children and may include such things as incredible number skills or unusually savant artistic skills.
How are autistic children educated?
Traditionally, autistic children were confined to special education settings. Recently, autistic children have been more mainstreamed into inclusive classrooms. This often requires appropriate paraprofessional and other supports, but can result in a significant difference in the behavior of the autistic child.
Teachers of autistic children should be members of a team of many professionals helping the student. Intervention strategies should be tailored to that particular child, and the teacher should attempt to learn as much as possible about that child's history, behavior, and other services the child has/is receiving. Typically, an autistic child will need more assistance in some curricula areas than in others. Teachers also should ensure that the entire class understands the nature of autism and does not ridicule or shun the autistic child.
Some specific teaching techniques have been developed to help work with autistic children. These include self-management and facilitated communication. Self-management involves teaching the autistic child how to self-control, and uses behavioral techniques of self-recording one's one behavior and self-reinforcing for good behavior. Facilitated communication is controversial and involves using a facilitator to help the autistic child type or use a computer keyboard for communication purpose. The controversy revolves around whether the facilitator is actually influencing the person with autism and what is being communicated, even if the facilitator is unaware he/she is doing so. Research about this controversy is ongoing.
Links to Autism info
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Autism Children's Resources - useful links to law, advocacy, resources and on-site searches, a brief reviews of the methodologies used for parents and persons with disabilities.
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Autism Conferences - listing of conferences maintained by Future Education.
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Autism Depot, The - resource for parents of austistic children.
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Autism Resources Network - support and information including a checklist, state resources and special education laws and resources for adults with disabilities
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Division TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children) - statewide service, research and training program for persons with autism and their families
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Dotson Family - our life with a child on the autism spectrum, including treatment methods, and things we have found helpful
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Jayna Girl - for anyone living with, or trying to understand, a child with PDD-NOS.
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Omicron's Site - personal experiences of a sixteen year old who has been diagnosed with autism.
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On The Same Page - resources for those with the autism/asperger's, parents, professionals, researchers, teachers, advocates, mentors, tutors, friends, service providers and significant others
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One Mom's view of Autism/PDD - for families of children with autism & PDD. Includes coping with the diagnosis, myths, communication & behavoir.
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OurPlace - deals with dissociation, trauma, autism and aspergers. Includes abuse and non-abuse related links and biographical material on autistic dissociation.
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PDD Support - For parents of children with PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) and Autism.
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Slater, Chris - dedicated to teaching others about autism.
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V. Smith's Autism Page - designed to help the parents of an autistic child understand the disease.
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FAQ - Austism Primer
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FAQ - What is Autism?
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Live Net Events
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Usenet - alt.support.autism
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Usenet - bit.listserv.autism
Links to organizations
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Action for Autism - organisation dealing with education, training, awareness, legal and medical issues, and support for families and children diagnosed with autism or PDD.
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Autism Network International - an autistic-run self-help and advocacy organization for autistic people.
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Autism Society of America (20)
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Autistic Children's Activity Program - provides a program involving life skills training, community integration support, recreational experiences, and family support.
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BLARE, Inc. - devoted to providing a better life for people with autism.
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Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC) - a private, non-profit organization working with services for individuals with autism from the preschooler to the adult.
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CT Families for Effective Autism Treatment - non-profit organization formed by parents to provide information and support to the families of children with autistic spectrum disorders.
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Cure Autism Now - parent-founded organization which supports biomedical research toward interventions and a cure for autism.
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Delaware Autistic Program - offering educational services for students educationally classified as autistic.
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Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation - founded by Doug Flutie in honor of his son, this foundation raises funds for research and provides information to families with children affected with autism.
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High Hopes Ranch Project - non-profit organization dedicated to servicing autistic children and their parents
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Kansas Autism Foundation - nonprofit organization dedicated to children with autism
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Kerry's Place Autism Services - non-profit charitable agency helps children and adults with group homes, Home Life Connections, Day Program, support to schools, diagnostic and treatment services.
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National Alliance for Autism Research - NAAR - national nonprofit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to finding the causes, prevention, effective treatment and, ultimately, cure of the autism spectrum disorders.
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National Autistic Society - in the United Kingdom
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New Horizons In Autism
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New York Autism Network - comprised of four Regional Centers throughout New York whose goal is to facilitate the education of children with autism.