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