Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role Of The Individualized Education Program Team

                

 

The fastest growing diagnosis within the disability of Pervasive Developmental Disorders is Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder are from all socioeconomic groups, as well as cultural, racial, and ethnic populations. More students with Autism Spectrum Disorder will be found in every community and neighborhood due to the increased identification of the disorder. Estimated annual cost of educating and caring for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder is to be around 90 billion dollars according to the Autism Society of America. Early diagnosis and intervention is a key factor in reducing treatment costs by two-thirds.

There are five related developmental disorders placed under the umbrella category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders. They include:

1.Autism Spectrum Disorder
2.Asperger?s Syndrome
3.Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
4.Rett?s
5.Pervasive Developmental Disorder ? Not Otherwise Specified

Specific Aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorder

?Autism Spectrum Disorder affects the neurodevelopment system. The results are distinct learning and behavior characteristics
?Autism Spectrum Disorder has an underlying biological/genetic cause that produces organic and/or physical changes during brain development. This results in atypical cognitive and social development and behaviors
?Autism Spectrum Disorder affects individuals uniquely
?Autism Spectrum Disorder does not result from poor parenting
?Autism Spectrum Disorder affects the individual?s ability to integrate sensory information and regulate their emotions

There are five deficit areas to consider as diagnostic criteria for identifying individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, they are:

1.Communication
2.Socialization/Social skills
3.Restricted interests
4.Sensory integration
5.Behavior

Individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder exhibit varying degrees of difficulties in these five areas.

Recent research shows students with Autism Spectrum Disorder exhibit the same early symptoms that include:

?Lack of eye contact
?Lack of joint attention (attention to the same item or topic as another person)
?Atypical sensory/motor processing

Goals and Objectives for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The general education teacher must ensure that students with Autism Spectrum Disorder have goals and objectives designed to promote the development of independent living, academic skills, and appropriate social behaviors and skills.

It is essential that these goals be introduced early and addressed annually in the individualized education program. If these goals are not addressed until the child reaches secondary school, there is a higher potential for many students with Autism Spectrum Disorder leaving school not able to live independently, succeed academically or be gainfully employed.

In order to help provide a smooth transition to a post-high school setting, the responsibilities of the IEP (individualized education program) team may include:

?Developing goals and short-term objectives that promote self-monitoring and independent living skills

Secondary individualized education program teams have the responsibility to identify the long-term supports these students will require for academic, economic and social independence. They must ensure students with Autism Spectrum Disorder have long-term goals that specify the need for explicit instruction in the essential social skills necessary for all post-secondary academic, social, and/or vocational settings. Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder must be given multiple opportunities in a variety of social, academic, and vocational contexts to practice these skills.

Of highest priority is ensuring that students with Autism Spectrum Disorder acquire the essential social and daily living skills they need for a responsible integration into the community.

Transition Goals and Objectives of the Individualized Education Program team may include:

?Providing students with Autism Spectrum Disorder vocational and career exploration
?Experiences to assist them with learning which careers or college majors can accommodate their uneven academic and/or social development while at the same time utilizing their unique abilities and interests
?Opportunities to acquire vocational and/or work-related behaviors and skills required for successful employment and/or educational settings

Source: The Autism Society of America

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

Written by: Connie Limon. Visit us at http://www.about-autism.info for more information about Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Role Of An Autism Support Group

                

 

Having an autistic child or dependent adult is very draining on both caregivers and relatives. Knowing how to advocate and care for you your loved ones, while increasing general awareness, and caring for yourself are essential day to day necessities that require your immediate attention. the best resource to help you cope with an autistic child or dependent adult is an autism support group. These groups bring together professionals that are experts in the field of autism and those who interact with autism on a day to day basis. Together they use this forum to swap ideas, and encourage, and educate each other. An autism support group to be effective must play five critical roles on a day to day basis.

Partnership and Comprehensive Support

An autism support group must help bring people together and aid in the formation of partnerships to encourage interaction and growth between all involved. This support will provide a foundation upon which the groups members will grow and participate in the educational opportunities that are available and help match the needs of the autistic dependents with the needs of their families and caregivers. The support group should also provide Comprehensive support that is directed towards the objective that all autistic dependents receive a complete or traditional education designed specifically to the needs of the autistic.

Positive and Educational Support

Another major function of an autism support group is to offer positive support to the autistic child, and their caregivers by providing an atmosphere of encouragement and a safe environment to vent and express one?s emotions without fear of reprisal or judgment. This positive support will help break down barriers, and allow positive accomplishments to flourish and be recognized.

All the positive support in the world will accomplish nothing without building a solid foundation for education and the support group must promote educational programs to increase the knowledge of its members and prepare them with the information needed to be able to care for and support their loved ones. As an educational resource the support group becomes tasked with the responsibility for disseminating information about the disability, its symptoms, and treatments, and to provide support for the family's with autistic dependents.

Advocacy

The final and most critical function of an autism support group is their role as an advocate to protect and educate those that do not understand autism and often neglect the needs of the autistic patients as a result. An autism support group must represent the autistic community and push for the needs of the autistic community at large..

Kerry Ng is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Autism Info Blog. Click here for more helpful information on Autism: http://www.autisminfoblog.com/autism-books-are-a-tool

Autism Understanding Furthered By International Genetic Study

                

 

Autism understanding begins when a person realizes that autism is a disorder that affects people differently. Although autism affects the normal functioning of a person?s perception, attention and thoughts, autism is not characterized by one type of perception, attention and thought. Instead, it covers a broad spectrum of disorders that may be mild or severe. Due to the fact that autism is such a complex disorder, medical research is still in the process of understanding how it develops and why it affects certain individuals.

One particular medical project with the aim to find better autism understanding by identifying the gene that causes autism, is the 5 year Autism Genome Project (AGP). So far, phase I of the AGP has identified a gene and parts of a chromosome to be linked with the occurrence of autism. The findings of this particular autism study was published online in the Nature Genetics February 18, 2007 issue.

The Autism Genome Project is a global research consortium that is funded by Autism Speaks and the National Institute of Health. Autism Speaks is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to raising the awareness of autism and raising funds to help research it.

The AGP involves more than 120 scientists from 50 institutions in 19 countries around the world. The researchers who have collaborated on the project combined their autism expertise, and shared all of the data and samples they had to help identify autism-related genes.

As was mentioned, phase I of this project began 5 years ago in 2002, and it allowed the team of medical experts to gain autism understanding by identifying a single specific gene known as neurexil 1, and part of chromosome 11 which could likely be the cause of autism in children. These findings are based on the largest autism genome scan that has ever been done.

Scientists have known for many years that autism is a genetic disorder, but only until the AGP have they been able to use special ?gene chip? technology to search for genetic similarities in autistics. Genetic similarities were found in practically all of the autistic individuals within each of the twelve hundred families that that were made part of the project. The scientists also checked the DNA of each family to look for copy number variations that are believed might be connected to autism and similar disorders.

What the researches discovered in their study was that one particular gene known as neurexin 1 plays a significant role with glutamate; a neurotransmitter that has been formerly linked to autism. Researchers also uncovered an area of chromosome 11 that is suspected to contain a gene that may be involved in the occurrence of autism. However, this particular gene in chromosome 11 has yet to be identified which is required for further autism understanding.

Based on previous research, and the research that has been uncovered by the study so far, scientists speculate that there may be as many as 6 main genes and 30 additional genes linked to autism. However, these numbers are only theories, as scientists point out that the actual number of genes could exceed their theory. Nevertheless, despite the number of genes that may be involved, researchers admit that it is still far too early to dictate how these genes may be responsible for autism.

Currently, phase II of the Autism Genome Project has been announced. The promising discoveries found in phase I makes scientists hopeful that discovering the genes that cause autism will provide new steps toward autism understanding. With greater understanding, more effective methods of diagnosis, preventing and treating the disorder can be taken.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter and discover more about understanding autism.

Some Facts about Autism

                

 

Autism, according to child psychologist Leo Kanner, is a disorder present at birth or soon after birth characterized by withdrawal from reality. Here are some facts about the possible causes of child autism...

Autism is one of the mental and behavioral disorders classified under the Pervasive Developmental Disorders or PDD. This is a group of disorders characterized by severe and pervasive abnormalities in social-interaction skills, presence of stereotyped behavior, interest, activities or lack of imaginative play.

What is Autism?

Autism, according to child psychologist Leo Kanner, is a disorder present at birth or soon after birth characterized by withdrawal from reality. This developmental disorder can usually be diagnosed when the child is about 2 years of age. Generally, a child at this age should demonstrate an interest in others, communicate verbally, and possess ability to learn from the environment while an autistic child couldn?t manifest them. This disorder is more common in boys than in girls.

A child with autism usually appears aloof and indifferent to the people around him. Socializing with other people does not come easy for an autistic child. There is great difficulty in either verbal or non-verbal communication. Consequently, the child refuses to play with other kids, and would rather play alone. One of the major symptoms of autism is the inability of the child to make eye contact with other people.

However, it is difficult to diagnose a child below 2 years old.

The causes of autism are the following:

1. Between 1940 to 1960, psychiatrists believed that mothers were primarily the cause of this disorder. They believed that it happens in children with ?refrigerator parents? who are cold, aloof and indifferent to their children.

2. Now, it has been studied and agreed to by the experts that the cause of autism is multifactorial. These factors include: genetic or chromosomal abnormality, viral agents, metabolic disorders, immune intolerance and perinatal anoxia.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

The author, Jose Feliciano, is personally involved with autism having a family member with this disorder. To get more information about autism, visit his website at MyAutisticBoy.com. This article may be freely published as long as the author's info including the link remains intact.

Disparities among African-Americans with autism syndrome

                

 

Autism syndrome is a complicated disorder which affects every race, ethnic group and socioeconomic status and it can be diagnosed in children as 18 months old. A parent becomes concerned when his child may lack eye contact, be deaf or avoids interacting with others and by going to a doctor he will learn that he has a child with autism syndrome. A child can show this behaviors after birth or when he grows older.

Parents and care givers must ensure a brighter future for the children with autism syndrome because there are clear social disparities in healthcare and education. Studies have consistently reported black autistic children were diagnosed later or received more misdiagnoses than whites. If the children have different colors that doesn't mean that autism syndrome symptoms are different.

Behavior treatments and enrollment in a classroom are available for all children with autism syndrome including black children. Whites are more likely than African-American children with autism syndrome to see the same doctor.

If a African-American family has a child with autism syndrome and have lower incomes or limited education they will have more difficulty in taking him to a doctor and we know that early diagnosis and early intervention is critical for a better prognosis.

Minority children with autism syndrome experience unnecessary isolation from their non disabled peers. Also, African-American students are twice likely ass white students to be educated in a restrictive and separate educational setting.

We can start to overturn these disparities by helping African-Americans with autism syndrome to reach their full potential. Parents and caregivers have an important role, meaning that they must be persistent and get their child's healthcare providers to listen and act in response to their concerns.

It is also important for parents to know their child's rights and to learn about the federal special education laws and state regulations and make sure that their child with autism syndrome receives an individualized education plan.

Every child with autism syndrome has the right to a free and appropriate public education. There are advocacy and educational advocates accessible to help you get this program. Another way to make your voice be heard and to help your child with autism syndrome is by joining a national autism organization and get involved.

There are local parent support group meeting to learn what issues are important and what steps are necessary to address to your children. There are also local and congressional lawmakers and if you call or write to them to report your issues and concerns they will help you and your children with autism syndrome.

We must know that autism syndrome is not hopeless and parents aren't either and for that we can advocate for our loved owns and for all the persons with autism syndrome.

More informations about autism causes or about autism symptoms can be found by visiting http://www.autism-info-center.com/

Children with autism syndrome and dental anesthesia

                

 

A surgical procedure can be a frightening experience for any parent and their child, specially for a child with autism syndrome. If your child needs a surgical procedure with anesthesia, you must know that anesthesia can be broken down into three basic types: general anesthesia, regional anesthesia and sedation anesthesia. There are some suggestions and information for parents that have children with autism syndrome.

First of all you must schedule a preoperative visit with your child's anesthesiologist or call him. You may speak with the anesthesiologist that will take care of your child or ask that child's anesthesiologist could call you before the date of surgery. To reduce stress and anxiety you must discuss about your child's particular needs, fears, communication level and ability to understand what is happening so that your child with autism syndrome and dental anesthesia can be prepared for the event.

If your child with autism syndrome is on medication, the anesthesiologist will have some directions for your child. It is important for a child with autism syndrome and dental anesthesia not to have food before surgery.

Also a story and visual picture you learn of the preoperative visit at the anesthesiologist will help your child with autism syndrome and dental anesthesia.

Once you arrive to the consulting room you must ask lots of questions so that you know what will happen with your child with autism syndrome and dental anesthesia during surgery.

It is important to ask about the sequence of events leading up to the surgery, if your child will go into a holding area or induction room so that you can be present. You must know if your child will have an injection or a mask because some children are afraid of needles. Also, you must ask if you will be there when the child wakes up or when can you visit him after surgery.

If your child with autism syndrome has a favorite blanket, toy or stuffed animal bring them to him because it will help pass the time during the wait.

Children with autism syndrome need sameness and continuity in their environment. A gradual and slow exposure to the dental office is therefore recommended.

More informations about autism symptoms or about autism symptoms checklist can be found by visiting http://www.autism-info-center.com/

Autism - What Causes Autism and How Can You Prevent It

                

 

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes delays in social interaction, language as used in social communication, and/or imaginative play, that orginates prior to 3 years of age, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

What causes Autism? This question is still answered with open-ended possibilities. Autism in laymen terms is an otherwise healthy person that cannot either speak in a given

Language format, interact with others in a social setting, or becomes emotionally triggered by very normal functions of others around them.

Autism studies have found a distinctive link with people diagnoised with autism and their unusually high heavy metal content in their blood. Mercury and lead seem to read high in their blood count. The body's ability to defuse or expunge certain metals causes a build up or high concentration of these metals and the link suggests that this build up of heavy metals seems to block certain social solving skills in the brain.

Retention of these heavy metals in the body creates a severe imbalance in the ratio of active to inactive glutathione, the body's most important tool for detoxifying and excreting metals. Glutathione works as an antioxidant, which regulates the potentially destructive process of oxidative stress caused both by normal metabolism and environmental contaminants. Autistic children showed a significant impairment in every one of five measurements of the body's ability to maintain a healthy glutathione defense.

Autism has increased 10-fold from 6 in 10,000 in the 1980s, to about 60 in 10,000 today. Boys are higher candidates than girls of having autism. Since the discovery link of heavy metals in autistic people, there are some studies that suggest that if you can reduce or aid in expunging metal content from the body through the skin's pores using a special cr?me, testing has shown to produce some very significant, almost immediate results.

So how does these heavy metals get into the body? One very elusive method that we seldom hear about is through vaccines. The preservatives that were placed in the vaccines were found to have adverse affects that could account for some of this metal build up. As of 2002 these preservatives have been removed.

Our food supply is also a big contributor of metals. Fish and shellfish can contain high levels of mercury. Women would are of child bearing age are warned to avoid these foods if they are anticipating pregnancy. Green leafy plants can retain levels of lead from the soil. So, basically you can come in contact with several ways of ingesting these offensive metals.

The intake is not as much the problem, as the releasing of these essential minerals. If a person cannot release these minerals, then the build-up appears to cause or at least contribute to the symptoms of autism. Autism is not something to be ashamed of, understand that your child is relying on you to get the help they need asap, for a more responsive life.

Bottom line is to have a child tested as soon as you notice certain behavioral problems that just aren't normal. For instance,

- autistic children will avoid eye to eye contact

- they don't interact with other children well, they like playing alone

- they don't form words, or mimic your coaching words

- they can be sensitive to normal sounds, like that of a vacuum cleaner

- they tend to want to line up there toys in straight lines and become upset if they are rearranged

- they can indicate they are hungry, yet when food is given, they reject it

- they may want an item but not accept it from you by hand, they prefer to pick it up themselves when they decide the time is right

While some of these symptoms, done separately, may not suggest autism, it's the collection of a larger group of items listed that tend to send signals that testing would be advised. When asking your doctor if they think your child is okay or normal, please alert the doctor to have your child tested for high levels of heavy metals and explain some of the child's odd mannerisms. Doctors don't have the same perceptions as you simply from a doctor's visit. Being more verbal with your concerns for your child as soon as you notice their different behaviors could greatly improve by treatments as early as possible.

Doctors in general do not consider testing for autism before the age of 3 years, but if you have seen some of the behaviors listed above, remember, you can suggest to the doctor to do some testing for autism earlier than your child's 3rd birthday.

President Bush recently signed the Combating Autism Act of 2006 bill on December 19, 2006. This bill, widely applauded by autism activists groups, authorizes nearly $1 billion over the next five years to combat autism through research, screening, early detection and early intervention. The new legislation will increase federal spending on autism by at least fifty percent. Please support their efforts whenever and wherever possible.

http://wealthsmith.com/autism-symptoms-autism-cure.htm

Jim has found a disorder that has touched him on a personal level and he is becoming a strong advocate for a cure of autism. To have so much knowledge available the cure is within our grasp. http://wealthsmith.com/autism-symptoms-autism-cure.htm

Autism Anxiety Overload

                

 

The renowned autism expert Tony Atwood is fond of putting it this way: ?Autism is anxiety looking for a target.? Autism and anxiety go hand-in-hand. Autism affects a person?s ability to communicate with others or to understand the world around him, and that?s bound to cause anxiety and panic sometimes.

Anxiety becomes even worse when there is a change in the autistic child?s routine. Even positive and ?fun? changes, like a school field trip or a visit to the zoo, can increase anxiety and aggressive behaviors.

For parents, the best course of action is to anticipate upcoming changes and help your child prepare for them. Many parents find it helpful to use stories and pictures to prepare children for impending disruptions. If it?s a field trip to the zoo, for example, use pictures to show your child what he?ll see at the zoo, what the zoo will be like, and what sort of things to expect. Do this each day for three or four days prior to the trip. That way, when the trip actually happens, the child won?t be entirely out of his element, but will already understand and appreciate some of what will be happening.

Other changes in the routine are less enjoyable but still necessary. Getting a new teacher can be traumatic, as can moving to a new house. If at all possible, try to spread out the major changes. If you move to a new house, try to do it during the summer, so that your child won?t have to deal with the added anxiety of getting a new school and new teacher mid-year.

You can also introduce your child to the concept of ?change? in a positive way by practicing with non-negative things. For example, just for practice, give him a little extra TV time instead of homework time one night, to show that changes in the routine can often be fun and good. Then practice with a neutral change (homework after dinner instead of before dinner), then with a negative one (changing play time into chore time). This process can help your child grow accustomed to the idea of change and learn to adapt without becoming anxious.

For continual, ongoing anxiety, many parents have begun using anti-anxiety medications for their autistic children. Usually, the medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and are also used for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft and Anafranil are all common for anxiety in autistic children.

For behavioral problems, antipsychotics such as Haldol, fluphenazine and chlorpromazine can be prescribed. These can reduce aggression in autistic kids, but sometimes also cause sedation and muscle stiffness.

All patients are different. You and your doctor should monitor your child?s progress very closely, using the lowest dose of medication possible, to see if what improvements it makes and whether there are any adverse reactions. Medication should be the last resort for autism, not the first one. There are a number of natural remedies available if you don?t want to go down the drug route. But try behavioral and dietary modifications first, to see what improvements can be made naturally.

Rachel Evans has an interest in Autism. For further information on Autism please visit Autism or Autism Symptoms .

How To Identify Autism In Your Child

                

 

Let's start at the beginning with discussing what is Autism?

Autism is a disorder of the brain and one in every two and a half thousand children are born with it. Children who are Autistic will show signs of being withdrawn from their environment and will have problems communicating. Often it is confused with Asperger's Syndrome and, although similar in many ways, they are two different diagnoses.

Signs of Autism can be displayed in a child as young as twelve months and it is usually prominent by the age of three. Autism is also called spectrum disorder or autistic spectrum disorder, and statistics show more males than females have been diagnosed with the neurological abnormality. Often, a child can seem very normal until up to three years of age, then suddenly they begin to change as their speech and social development is impaired. They will exhibit strange behavior and movements, have trouble communicating, some even become deaf and mute and will not like being held. Some will move compulsively and prefer to occupy themselves rather than play with toys or people. Every case is individual, so each child has a different combination of symptoms.

With communication being so difficult for those with spectrum disorder, it is common for their IQ to be below average. About a quarter of these cases excel in certain areas like math, art or music and their IQs are well above average. It is much harder to diagnose Autism in adults from any physical symptoms, but they have problems with understanding other's feelings, forming friendships, recognizing fear and behaving appropriately in social situations. Often, they will be self-destructive in their habits and are unable to understand the consequences of their actions.

Asperger's Syndrome is a mild form of Autism, with most of the symptoms being the same. Where Autism is clearly diagnosed by about age three, Asperger's onset is usually much later. Children with Asperger's will prefer isolation, exhibit eccentricities, will have strange inflections in their way of speaking, can be uncoordinated and clumsy and single minded in their interests.

High functioning autism is where a person has been diagnosed with the disorder but is still able to continue with a relatively unaffected life. Asperger's disorder is considered milder than this type of Autism, so they can usually maintain a fairly uninterrupted existence. Someone with Asperger's may not be viewed any differently in society, but with Autism, they will be noticeably unique in their movements and speech and can have more trouble learning. This means they can experience more difficulty fitting in and possibly even discrimination.

There is no cure for Autism or Asperger's and no way to return their normal functions and abilities. However, much progress is always being made in ways to manage the disorders. Speech therapy, special diets, music therapy, sensory integration, art therapy, behavior modification and auditory training are all ways to assist in handling Autism so they can lead a life as close to normal as is possible. Since it is specific to the individual, treatments are tailored to each case. Some may need drug therapy for hyperactivity disorders or anger control.

Having a child with Autism can be very stressful and taxing on the family, so strategies for coping will be needed for all who are involved. Autistic children need extra attention and endless supplies of love and understanding. They never truly mature like most of us, but they will have a better chance of being independent if they receive the required training and support therapies.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge, experience, information, and findings. You can read more about Autism, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and Asbergers Syndrome at his web site at http://www.autism-explained.com/

Parenting Autism - Getting Past the Embarrassment

                

 

One of the more difficult parts of parenting a child with autism, and something that can be hard to talk about, is the embarrassment you may feel about your child's behavior. As parents, we're not supposed to feel embarrassed about our children, yet we're also taught that children should behave, and if they don't, it's probably a result of faulty parenting.

This belief system can be very disempowering, especially for a parent of a child with autism, because it's impossible to control everything your child does. At those times when your child is acting strangely or falling apart, you can feel embarrassed or angry about the judgment you may feel from others. As a result, you may feel pressure to do something against your instincts, such as punish your child, just to save face, to look like you're in control, or to assuage your anger.

In reality, just like the sadness issue, how you feel about others' opinions is completely up to you. Believe it or not, you can choose to feel however you like when your child throws a tantrum in the mall. You don't have to feel unhappy just because your child is unhappy, or because others may judge you or your child. It's possible to empathize with your child in the situation while remaining happy and calm, or at least neutral and calm.

Next time you're in such a situation, ask yourself this question- "Which attitude would best serve me, my child, and this situation? Happy and calm, or embarrassed and angry?" My guess is that happy and calm would be the better choice in most situations, but ultimately your mindset is up to you. You cannot be influenced by others' opinions, your child's feelings, or anything else, unless you decide that you can.

Now let's turn for a moment to the person who is judging your child. This is someone who is judging a child with special needs. What exactly does that say about them? In reality, their judgment doesn't define you or your child at all. Instead, their judgment defines them as someone who needs to judge. It has nothing to do with you or your child.

If your child could do better right now, he would. In time he will do better, no matter what's happening at this moment. If you choose happiness instead of embarrassment, you can best support your child when he needs you most, even while he's falling apart at the mall.

Sandra Sinclair is a parent of a child with PDD-NOS. She is author of "Newly Diagnosed Autism Spectrum"- A free mini-course with 7 clear steps you can take to help your child. http://www.autismvoice.com/blog/7StepstoHelpChildrenwithAutism

Parenting Autism ? Getting Past the Embarrassment

                

 

One of the more difficult parts of parenting a child with autism, and something that can be hard to talk about, is the embarrassment you may feel about your child's behavior. As parents, we're not supposed to feel embarrassed about our children, yet we're also taught that children should behave, and if they don't, it's probably a result of faulty parenting.

This belief system can be very disempowering, especially for a parent of a child with autism, because it's impossible to control everything your child does. At those times when your child is acting strangely or falling apart, you can feel embarrassed or angry about the judgment you may feel from others. As a result, you may feel pressure to do something against your instincts, such as punish your child, just to save face, to look like you're in control, or to assuage your anger.

In reality, just like the sadness issue, how you feel about others' opinions is completely up to you. Believe it or not, you can choose to feel however you like when your child throws a tantrum in the mall. You don't have to feel unhappy just because your child is unhappy, or because others may judge you or your child. It's possible to empathize with your child in the situation while remaining happy and calm, or at least neutral and calm.

Next time you're in such a situation, ask yourself this question- "Which attitude would best serve me, my child, and this situation? Happy and calm, or embarrassed and angry?" My guess is that happy and calm would be the better choice in most situations, but ultimately your mindset is up to you. You cannot be influenced by others' opinions, your child's feelings, or anything else, unless you decide that you can.

Now let's turn for a moment to the person who is judging your child. This is someone who is judging a child with special needs. What exactly does that say about them? In reality, their judgment doesn't define you or your child at all. Instead, their judgment defines them as someone who needs to judge. It has nothing to do with you or your child.

If your child could do better right now, he would. In time he will do better, no matter what's happening at this moment. If you choose happiness instead of embarrassment, you can best support your child when he needs you most, even while he's falling apart at the mall.
Sandra Sinclair is a parent of a child with PDD-NOS. She is author of ?Newly Diagnosed Autism Spectrum?- A free mini-course with 7 clear steps you can take to help your child. http://www.autismvoice.com/blog/7StepstoHelpChildrenwithAutism

Autism: An Incurable Developmental Disability

                

 

Developmental disability is an expression employed to refer to serious life long impairment that substantially reduces one or more of one's life functions. Such disabilities might adversely affect one's ability to make an independent living, ability to learn or move or express. One of such disabilities is Autism. If a child is autistic the signs are visible within three years of his or her birth. How pronounced are the symptoms varies from case to case and so the affect of the impairment on one's daily activities.

They have problems expressing themselves through speech and cannot speak well in most of the cases. An autistic child does not like playing with other children. He or she would rather find a small corner for himself or herself and confine to playing his or her own set of games that might appear very strange to any onlooker. They are very sensitive to light and loud noises and react to being subjected to them.

At times, they might behave as though they were deaf. They would not even respond to their own names. On other occasions, you name them and the head turns. It is primarily because on the occasions they do not respond, they are in their own world and have completely shut the rest of the world out. So, they are not receptive to external sounds or inputs naturally.

They can sit focusing on a single object for hours on one end without bothering to look around. It has also been found that some of them demonstrate exceptional fearlessness. For instance, an autistic may not budge even at the sight of a car dashing towards him or her at a very high speed.

The autistic children behave very differently. They do not like being cuddled or even touched. And if you smile at them, they might just keep staring at you unsmiling as though you were a dead wall.

They dislike socializing like anything and wish to live in the world of their own making. There are no known causes or cures for autism. We can only hope that someday we'll be able to find what exactly goes wrong with these people and how can they be cured, if 'cure' is the right term here.

Till that time all we can do is try to understand them and make them happy. Though they shun company but they still like being happy as much as any of us. However, it's not so easy to make them smile, for they smile only when they know you understand them and their very own, private world. Therefore, the key is understanding. Forget not, autistic might be similar in behavior but are still different as individuals. So, what works with one may irritate the other. Be careful, cautious and persevering.

To read more articles on disabilty, disability benefits, disability services and disability access visit http://www.about-disability.com/. To get more disability articles visit http://www.about-disability.com/

Child Autism How To Spot The Signs

                

 

This article which you are about to read on Child Autism has been written because I have become aware of a growing concern amongst parents about this disorder, and I want to try and answer a few questions that people have been asking.

Child autism or autistic spectrum disorder is a syndrome that results from the combination of certain traits in a child. There are a lot of ways that you can spot this disorder:

1) Social impairment. This is a childs inability to interact normally with other individuals. We all know how man is naturally a social person. An impairment of the social abilities of a child can hamper a lot of his abilities. This sign of child autism or autistic spectrum disorder can be observed through the following symptoms:

a) No desire to make friends. Children are naturally very friendly individuals. When a child shows no inclination for friendship, it could very well point to child autism or autistic spectrum disorder. However, you should not be alarmed if your child does not want to be friends with someone. After all, children have moods too.

b) Lack of eye contact. Eye contact is an important part of social interaction. A child who does not make any eye contact during conversations may be showing signs of the disorder.

c) Gullibility. Many people would realize that gullibility is a natural trait found in children. However, when coupled with other symptoms, this may point out to child autism or autistic spectrum disorder.

2) Language impairment. We communicate through a variety of ways. However, all methods of communication can be referred to as a language. A childs inability to grasp the different idiosyncrasies of language can be a symptom of the disorder.

a) Monotonous speech. We use intonations and volume to convey our meaning together with words. A child suffering from child autism or autistic spectrum disorder often speaks in a monotonous manner.

b) Overly formal speech. As humans, we are entitled to make small mistakes on grammar. The term slang was invented for a reason. We often improvise words and change terminologies all the time. Someone with the disorder, however, will follow the proper form of language rigidly, not understanding the concept of colloquialism.

c) Taking phrases literally. Those who suffer from child autism or autistic spectrum disorder will not be able to grasp metaphors and take words at face value. Be careful with what you say around them as they will take things literally.

d) Delayed response to questions. When being questioned, someone suffering from this problem will take a long time to respond.

Now before we go any further let me jump in here and say that I really do hope you are finding this informative. At the end of this article I will be giving you some ideas on where you can gather more information on this subject, but for now, lets continue.

3) Impairment of imagination. Imagination is a part of a humans everyday activities. In cases of those with child autism or autistic spectrum disorder, the imagination is impaired and this means they are unable to take things beyond a literal level. It also limits their ability to improvise.

a) Poor understanding of symbolism. Symbolic languages are integrated into our everyday lives. We may not be able to imagine just how it would be like to say things outright. A child with this disorder may interpret things differently. For example, when he or she is asked what the color white means in the story moby dick, he or she may associate it with vanilla ice cream instead of an emotion or mood of death.

b) Preference for routine. A child with this disorder has limited improvisational skills. This means that they would rather stick to a good, solid, routine. They will be confused when presented with an option to do something new.

Let me finish by saying that there is a lot more information out there on this subject just waiting for you to unearth, in your local bookstore, library and the internet.

john savage has a blog devoted to Autism is children and adults. Please Click Here to visit

Dan! (defeat Autism Now)

                

 

In 1995, a group of thirty scientists and physicians were selected to try to get together and defeat autism. These forward thinking researchers were chosen due to their experience working with autism and hailed from the United States and Europe. Not satisfied with the available treatments for autism, this meeting of the minds was created to embark on a new pathway to understanding autism and finding different ways to treat it. Today the group still meets to share what they have discovered and further our understanding of autism.

It took them a year but the DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) conference produced some sterling results. What they were able to come up with was a 244-page manual entitled Biomedical Assessment Options for Children with Autism and Related Problems. This manual was a progressive and cutting-edge approach to the treatment of autism and did not rely on using various drugs to treat autism. It was a more holistic approach that involved various components including diet, intestinal function, vitamin deficiencies, excess proteins, viruses, vaccinations, antibiotics, probiotics, amino acids, and more. Nearly every possible angle was researched in order to come up with the answers that had been obscured by conventional treatment for so long.

Autism is not a well-understood condition. According to research it is a biological disorder that affects the brain. However, the causes of the disorder are not fully understood. There appears to be a variety of causes that are in someway related. Autism usually has a strong effect on social functioning. Cases can range from mild to severe and over the years more and more autistic people, children especially, have been able to attend school in regular classes and thrive in such environments.

DAN! was created in order to address the limitations of available treatments and the understanding of the disorder. The participants wanted to move away from traditional thinking and invent their own paradigm. It seems to have worked! If this approach to the treatment of autism interests you, then you can find out information about how to contact a DAN! practitioner quite easily. The first step is to visit www.autismwebsite for information on DAN! and access to scientifically-researched information on autism. Within the website you will find tons of resources that will give you a better understanding on the mechanizations of autism. There are also a variety of scientific papers and studies that you can review. In addition, there are helpful links to detailed lists of DAN! practitioners in the United States and around the world. There are not just thirty anymore! Since the revelations from the DAN! conference have become public more and more medical professionals around the world have adopted the suggestions the original doctors and scientists discovered.

Not every DAN! practitioner is a medical doctor, although the lion?s share are physicians. However, since the treatments are fairly new there is no information about the competency of the DAN! practitioners. In the future this may become a reality, but the best way to go about finding a DAN! practitioner near you is to do your own research. Ask around. Read up on the topic. This is an important step in helping a loved one with autism and your own education on the topic should come first and foremost. The list of DAN! practitioners can be found at https://www.autismwebsite.com/ari/dan/dan.htm.

If you want to find out more information about DAN! don?t fret. There are a ton of resources on the web that discuss the effectiveness of DAN! and how to go about finding someone who understands the group?s findings and can help you apply it to your loved one. You can find personal stories and testimonials, journalistic articles, and many other resources that stand as a testament to DAN!

Rachel Evans has an interest in Autism. For further information on Autism please visit http://www.essential-guide-to-autism.com/autism.html or http://www.essential-guide-to-autism.com/blog/2006/09/05/dan-defeat-autism-now/ .

What is Autism and how can it be discovered and treated

                

 

Autism is a general term that is used to cover a number of disorders known as Autism Spectrum disorders. These disorders affect the ones that have them in their interaction and communication with others. Autism was discovered in 1943, but there were very few cases back then. The number of people that suffer from autism greatly increased since it was first discovered, and so did the doctors' and the media's attention on the illness.

Autism can affect anyone, no matter what age, sex, or race they are, and at the moment millions of people, both children and adults are suffering from one form of autism or another throughout the world. If one member of the family has one of the Autism Spectrum Disorders then the whole family will feel the repercussions, financial and social problems will occur and furthermore, it is a great chance that the children of the person who has Autism will also have it because it is transmitted genetically to the ancestors.

The Autism Spectrum Disorder term covers a wide range of affections with different symptoms and manifestations. For example, someone suffering from autism may be a person that doesn't speak and socialize at all. This was encountered in many cases of autism.
Children with autism don't understand what the others are saying, cannot interact with other children and cannot play with them. The affection seriously affects the behavior, some of the patients developed an aggressive defense against anyone who tried to communicate with them, others appeared to develop a special sensitivity to the environment and its changes.

How can autism be detected, does it have any specific symptoms? Well, it's up to the family and the ones around someone with autism spectrum disorders to discover his/her condition. In the children's case the family or the teacher should be the first to notice that a child has a different behavior. These are the signs that can make you suspect a child of autism:
-the child starts to speak at an older age, later than the other children
-he focuses on one single object for hours sometimes
-he can speak words, but until the age of 2-3 years old he does not say a sentence with more than one word in it
-some of the children with autism spectrum disorders don't even respond to their own name when it is called
-the general behavior of the child indicates that he is withdrawn, indifferent and lonely.

A child that was discovered to suffer from autism must follow a special treatment. He must go to a special school where only children with autism learn. There is no known cure for autism, so the only thing that can be done is to help the ones with autism spectrum disorders live a better life.

Unfortunately, the number of people suffering from autism spectrum disorders is continuously increasing. Until the doctors discover a successful treatment, society and family must do anything they can to help them integrate. There are many websites and support groups that try to help the ones with autism.



More informations about autism causes or about child autism can be found by visiting http://www.autism-info-center.com/

Autism, ADD, ADHA - Vaccine Related

                

 

According to the most recent estimates by the CDC, about 1 in 150 children in the US suffers from an autistic disorder. Recent studies have shown that exposure to mercury in childhood vaccines, not only causes autism but can also result in immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions similar to traits associated with autism.

Thimerosal is a vaccine preservative that was developed in the 1930s by Eli Lilly, and has been regularly used in vaccines ever since. It contains 49.5% mercury. The amount of mercury considered safe for adults, by the EPA is 0.1 microgram per kilogram of weight.

As a neurotoxin, thimerosal, has been linked to the depletion of the protective anti-oxidant, glutathione, which helps rid the body of mercury. People with autism seem to be more susceptible to this effect and most have low levels of glutathione. Therefore, their bodies have difficulty excreting mercury.

In 1999, many drug companies claimed they were reducing the amount of thimerosal in vaccines. Some companies even provided product inserts that claimed that only a trace amount of mercury still existed in the final product. Others claimed to be producing vaccines that were completely mercury-free.

A few months ago the group, Health Advocacy in the Public Interest (HAPI), sent four separate vials of different vaccines to be tested for mercury content by Doctor's Data, an independent lab, which specializes in heavy metal testing.

The testing revealed that all four of the vials contained mercury, despite the claim by 2 companies that their vaccines were completely mercury-free. According to HAPI, all four vaccines also contained aluminum which greatly increases the toxicity of mercury in causing neuronal death in the brain.

In fact, during further investigation of the matter, HAPI discovered that mercury-based thimerosal was still being used to produce most vaccines. The drug makers claimed that after production, they use a process to filter the preservative out of the final vaccines.

However, Scientist, Boyd Haley, Phd, who is the Chemistry Department Chair at the University of Kentucky, told HAPI that its not possible to filter out all of the thimerosal because mercury binds to the antigenic protein in the vaccine and therefore, cannot be completely filtered out 100%.

We are not going to see a drastic decline in autism due to the fact that we have been misled about when thimerosal was actually eliminated from vaccines. Because the FDA has never ordered drug makers to recall all the vaccines previously manufactured and shipped to health care providers, to this very day, several different mercury-containing vaccines remain in the inventories of health care facilities, and some have an expiration date as late as September, 2005.

In addition, pregnant women and their unborn infants, are still being injected with thimerosal in flu vaccines, and a shot to combat the RH negative factor. The FDA and CDC have ignored the tremendous amount of scientific evidence of injury from these vaccines discovered by all the various studies, and have continued to recommend flu vaccines for pregnant women and certain children.

Most flu vaccines recommended for pregnant women contain 25 micrograms of mercury. Which means a fetus, through the vaccination of its mother, receives a dose of mercury that exceeds the Federal guidelines by several hundred-fold.

Experts Weigh In

To what degree of scientific certainty can the epidemic of autism be blamed on mercury in childhood vaccines? David Ayoub, MD, answered this question for Independent Media TV, I can state that the certainty of the science supporting mercury as a major cause of autism is probably more overpowering than the science behind any other disease process that I studied dating back to medical school, he said.

In 2002, the research team of David and Mark Geier, released a study based on tens of millions of doses of vaccines given to children in the US during the 1990s, that presented the first epidemiologic evidence that associated the increase in thimerosal from vaccines with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Specifically, the Geiers analysis of the Federal government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database showed statistical increases in the incidence rate of autism, mental retardation, and speech disorders in children receiving thimerosal-containing diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccines, when compared with those who received thimerosal-free DTaP vaccines. The VAERS database has only been maintained by the CDC since 1990.

According to the Geiers, the usual course of DTaP vaccine consists of primary immunizations administered at 2, 4, and 6 months, followed up by booster doses at 18 months and at 5 years.

Using the database, the Geiers determined that there were a total of 6575 adverse reaction reports after thimerosal-vaccines, compared to only 1516 adverse reactions reported after thimerosal-free vaccines.

Lisa Blakemore-Brown, a Psychologist in the UK, also maintains that thimerosal is the cause of autism, and suspects it is also the culprit involved in a wide variety of other health problems showing up in children these days.

"The epidemic of health and developmental problems in so called advanced countries is now undeniable," Blakemore reports, "1 in 10 children suffer from gastrointestinal disorders, 1 in 4 have asthma."

According to Blakemore, the current autism epidemic did not occur earlier because children "were given single vaccines with single amounts of mercury, she says, but with the introduction of triple vaccines the amount of mercury contained within the preservative was multiplied and the cumulative effects are only just now being discovered by the public," she adds.

Thimerosal is now also being blamed for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD), which affect millions of children and their families. Currently statistics suggest that as many as 10% of the school-aged children have ADD and another 20% exhibit symptoms of ADHD.

Since they believe vaccines may have caused these disorders, many parents have come to resent the fact that the pharmaceutical industry is now raking in huge profits from the sale of drugs to treat these disorders by the same drug companies that caused the injury in the first place.

Number Of Vaccines Too High

The number of vaccinations given to children before the age 2, has nearly tripled since 1988, according the CDC, which currently recommends vaccination against 12 diseases. Because some vaccines must be given more than once, children get as many as 23 shots by the age of 2.

Under the CDC immunization schedule, here are the vaccines recommended for children before two years of age.

Birth-6 months: Hepatitis B: 2 doses; Diphtheria, Pertussis (DPT), Tetanus: 3 doses; Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib): 3 doses; Inactivated poliovirus: 2 doses; Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): not recommended; Varicella: not recommended; Pneumococcal conjugate: 3 doses. Total 13 doses

12-24 months: Hepatitis B: 1 dose; Diphtheria, Pertussis (DPT), Tetanus: 1 dose; Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib): 1 dose; Inactivated poliovirus: 1 dose; Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): 1 dose; Varicella: 1 dose; Pneumococcal conjugate: 1 dose; Pneumococcal polysaccharide*: 1 dose; and Influenza: 1 dose

Hepatitis A*: 1 dose; Total 10 doses

* Vaccines recommended in selected states and regions and for certain high-risk groups.

The worst example of an unnecessary vaccine being sold to boost drug company profits, is the injection of Hepatitis B into newborns to an adult lifestyle disease contracted through sex and sharing needles with drug addicts. Plain and simple, the industory needed a market for a new vaccine so they got together with their cronies in the FDA and CDC and hatched a scheme to target nations infants using the Federal immunization program.

Prior to the introduction of the vaccine, Hepatitis B among children was almost unheard of. According to the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, in 1986, there were only 279 cases reported in children under the age of 14.

Even in adults, the incidence rate of Hepatitis B has always been low. In 1991, for instance, there were only 18,003 cases within a total population of approximately 248 million people.

Dr Jay Gordon is a pediatrician who was named CBS TV's Medical Consultant for Children's programming and also worked for 5 years on ABC, as the on-air medical correspondent. He has appeared on "Good Morning America" to discuss vaccinations.

On his website, Gordon says, "I also don't like the financial ties that vaccine researchers have to the manufacturers because some of these same experts help make the official decisions about which shots will be approved and/or required."

He is concerned about the needless vaccines being given to children. The diseases against which we vaccinate used to be much more common, Gordon says, but we are now down to an average of one case of diphtheria (the "D" of the DPT) per year in the US, a few thousand cases of Pertussis ("P"), and 30 or so cases of Tetanus each year, he explains.

We have not had a case of "wild" polio in America since 1979 and the entire Western Hemisphere has been free of the disease for some years, Gordon adds. He claims it's highly unlikely that a young child would contract hepatitis B; there are only a few dozen cases of tetanus in this country each year.

"In my opinion, we vaccinate in an unscientific and potentially dangerous way," Gordon says. He believes it would be better to vaccinate children later and slower, The expedient and economically superior method, doesn't serve our babies well, he warns.

In my day, we got a few vaccines. And my children (now 33 & 36) got a few during their school years. Due to the fact that no one from those two generations ever got the 3 dozen vaccines currently mandated, one question keep rolling around in my mind. If three dozen vaccines are really necessary to fight off these highly-contagious diseases, in the 54 years that Ive been on this earth, why have I never met a single unvaccinated person who caught one?

Evelyn Pringle
e.pringle@sbcglobal.net
Miamisburg OH

(Evelyn Pringle is a columnist for Independent Media TV and an investigative journalist focused on exposing government corruption)