Regional Autism Advisory Council of Southwest Ohio (RAAC-SWO) RAAC Training Committee 2011 The Basics of Autism Spectrum Disorders Training Series

Training Series Modules Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence and Primary Characteristics Module One: Autism Defined, Autism Prevalence and Primary Characteristics Module Two: Physical Characteristics of Autism Module Three: Cognition and Learning in Autism Module Four: Getting the Student Ready to Learn Module Five: Structuring the Classroom Environment Module Six: Using Reinforcement in the Classroom

Training Series Modules Module Seven: Autism and Sensory Differences Module Eight: Sensory in the Classroom Module Nine: Communication and Autism Module Ten: Communication in the Classroom Module Eleven: Behavior Challenges and Autism Module Twelve: Understanding Behavior in Students with Autism

Training Series Modules Module Thirteen: Social Skills in the School Environment Module Fourteen: Functional Behavior Assessment Module Fifteen: Working Together as a Team Module Sixteen: Autism and Leisure Skills to Teach Module Seventeen: Special Issues of Adolescence Module Eighteen: Safety and Autism Module Nineteen: Special Issues: High School, Transition, and Job Readiness

Training Series Modules Module Twenty: Asperger Syndrome: Managing and Organizing the Environment Module Twenty-One: Asperger Syndrome: Addressing Social Skills

Autism Spectrum Disorder Defined An Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a brain-based or neurobiological disorder of development. ASD causes differences in the way the brain processes ASD affects understanding and use of language to interact and communicate with people.

Big Idea ASD is a brain-based disorder that results in differences in the way individuals understand and interact with their world.

Affects of ASD on Individuals ASD effects:  the way a person relates to people, events, and objects in the environment.  the way a person responds to sensory stimuli such as pain, hearing, taste, smell, etc.  the way a person learns and thinks.

Different Types of ASD

Autistic Disorder Biggest Challenges:  Difficulties with social interaction.  Difficulties with communication.  Restricted interests and activities that they like to do over and over again.  Repetitive behaviors, such as rocking or arm flapping.

Autistic Disorder Continued Other Characteristics:  Usually behaviors can be seen by three years of age.  Some children develop regularly the first years, then begin to lose their learned skills.

Asperger Syndrome Biggest Challenges:  Difficulty with social interactions.  Individuals appear to understand directions even when they don’t. For example, we may think they are being uncooperative.  Individuals like to talk a lot about things that really interest them.

Asperger Syndrome Continued Other Characteristics: Intelligence ranges from average to well above average, so they may appear really smart, but cannot do everyday things independently.

PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified) Diagnosis often made when a person does not meet the criteria for a specific diagnosis (i.e. Autism, Asperger).  There is generally an overall impairment in communication, social interactions, and individuals may have restricted interests.

Who gets ASD? All races, nationalities and socioeconomic groups Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ASD More common within families

Prevalence of ASD Leukemia1 in 25,000 Muscular Dystrophy1 in 20,000 Pediatric Aids1 in 8,000 Childhood Cancer1 in 7,000 Polio (1952 peak rate) 1 in 4,000 Hearing Impairment1 in 900 Visual Impairment1 in 800 Down Syndrome1 in 800 Juvenile Diabetes1 in 500 Cerebral Palsy1 in 400 Autism (per Center for Disease Control (CDC) March 2011) 1 in 110

Why are more people diagnosed with autism today? Better rules for diagnosis Asperger Syndrome added to ASD in 1994 Increased awareness of ASD People believe there are more services for an individual if the person has a diagnosis of ASD. Wrong diagnosis There are more persons with autism.

There are no two persons with autism exactly alike “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” Stephen Shore, Adult with Autism

Quick Facts about Autism Autism is the most common developmental disability, affecting 1 in 110 births … most recent Dec Center for Disease Control (CDC) study A decade ago, the rate was thought to be 4-5 in 10,000 4 children with autism are born in the USA every hour … 35,000 per year Autism is 4 times more common in boys than in girls. Autism is often under-diagnosed in children – typically diagnosed by age 3-7

Autism Facts Continued Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the US, growing 10-17% per year Cost of autism is estimated at $35-$90 billion – 90% of that is spent on adult services Recent estimate (by Harvard) is that cost is $3.2M/person over their lifetime The costs are expected to more than double in the next decade For more information, see: or “The greatest underserved disability group”