Autism Awareness By Anna Banks

What is Autism? ASD is a complex developmental disability The signs typically appear during early childhood ASD affect a person’s ability to communicate, and interact with others ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum condition” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees There is no known cause of autism Ways to improve the outcome increased awareness early diagnosis/intervention access to appropriate services

Signs/Symptoms Lack of or delay in spoken language Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand- flapping, twirling objects) Little or no eye contact Lack of interest in peer relationships Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j arOSMukfyk Does not babble or coo by 12 months Does not say single words by 16 months Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 months Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months Has any loss of any language or social skill at any age

Diagnosis May appear to have: an intellectual disability sensory processing issues problems with hearing or vision Diagnosis must be made by a Medical Professional Those who may notice Autism signs include: Parents Teachers Or someone who is around the child all the time Differential Diagnosis Other medical conditions or syndromes, such as sensory processing disorder, can present symptoms that are confusingly similar to autism’s.

Treatment Options Non-medical Intervention A treatment plan should come from a thorough evaluation of the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Important Match a child’s potential Match a child’s specific needs Each child is different. It is important to do what works best for each child. A search for appropriate treatment must be paired with the knowledge that all treatment approaches are not equal What works for one, will not work for all.

Family issues Parents/Caregivers Siblings Must now place their primary focus on helping their child with ASD Stresses: Marriage Other children Work Finances Personal relationships Responsibilities Siblings Embarrassment around peers Jealousy regarding amount of time parents spend with their brother/sister Frustration not being able to engage not getting a response from their brother/sister Behaviors Aggression Trying to make up for the deficits of their brother/sister Concerns parents’ stress and grief their role in future caregiving

resources Americans with Disabilities Act The Olmstead decision The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Individualized Education Plan Privacy provisions P&A/CAP Network Rehabilitation Act Social Security As a parent/caregiver known your rights to provide more for your children.

How can I get involved? Search Nationwide Autism-Related Services and Supports With Autism Source Reach Out to Your Local Affiliate Sign Up for Autism Society’s Free E-Newsletter Sign Up for Autism Society Action Alerts Attend an Event Sensory Friendly Films Take a Free Course Donate

How many people live with autism? About 1 percent of the world population has autism spectrum disorder. More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. Prevalence has increased by 6-15 percent each year from 2002 to 2010. Prevalence in the United States is estimated at 1 in 68 births Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability. Prevalence of autism in U.S. children increased by 119.4 percent from 2000 (1 in 150) to 2010 (1 in 68)

How much does autism cost? Autism services cost U.S. citizens $236-262 billion annually A majority of costs in the U.S. are in adult services – $175-196 billion, compared to $61-66 billion for children. Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention. It costs more than $8,600 extra per year to educate a student with autism The average cost of educating a student is about $12,000

Asperger’s Syndrome Asperger’s symptoms are less severe symptoms and the absence of language delays compared to Autism Usually want to fit in and have interaction with others, but often they don’t know how to do it. Children may be: socially awkward not understand conventional social rules show a lack of empathy limited eye contact seem unengaged in a conversation not understand the use of gestures or sarcasm

sources http://www.autism-society.org/ To find out more in depth information please visit the provided website. This website can help lead you in the direction of becoming a voice for autism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jarOSMukfyk