1. Bilingualism & Autism: Can they Live Together?
Michael Ware

2. Question to Think about
Would you raise your children bilingually?
What are some of the benefits/drawbacks for bringing in a second language early in development?
Would you still raise your children bilingually even if they were diagnosed with autism?

3. Background Information
Concerns of Parents with Bilingual Children
Previous Research
Bullimer
Bialystock

4. Concerns of Parents with Autistic Children
Parents want their kids to be fluent in both languages.
Misconceived notions about career benefits, pride in heritage language, and cultural awareness.
Problems and Outcomes (Semilingualism)

5. Issues in Bilingualism and Heritage Language Maintenance: Betty Yu
10 Children (Ages 3-8): 6 Autistic, 4 with Asperger’s Syndrome
Method:
3 interviews in whichever language the participants preferred (i.e. Chinese or English)
No actual set of questions
Duration: Minutes each
Interviews were transcribed/recorded

6. Findings & Results Priorities of Language
English as a “Language of intervention”
Misconceived notions from professionals

7. Q/A Open Discussion Why did they not interview the children?
Why this age for the participants?
Were the fathers interviewed?
Socioeconomic Status
Did not observe the children-parents interaction(s).
What were some problems you found with this article?
Other questions?