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

Did You Know These Facts About Autism?

                

 

There have been many conditions thought history that have been mistaken for something else, and before the human mind was understood, many with mental disabilities were placed in jail. They were deemed a threat and were then heavily medicated. Today, we have a greater understanding of what some people go through, and although different from everyone else, we know there is an underlying reason for it. We know do our best to help people like this instead of persecuting them. When looking back through the history of autism, it is obvious that though it was given a name in the early part of the 1900s, it was largely misunderstood by people for a long time.

Some believe that autism was first noticed as a condition around 1911, but it wasn?t really anything other than a theory at that time. A Swiss psychiatrist by the name of Eugen Bleuler is thought to be the first to use the term. The word ?autism? meant ?an escape from reality? and was based on behaviors he observed in adults and it was attributed to schizophrenia. Though that was false and misleading, it was a step closer to putting a name to a condition that was largely misunderstood.

New information was found from one of the earliest recorded studies of children with autism. From 1938 to the year 1943, a doctor by the name of Leo Kanner studied the behaviors of eleven autistic children. The children he chose to study were ones that seem to withdraw from interaction with others as early as age one. The type of autism that he recorded and named was what would be considered ?classic autism? and is often referred to as Kanner?s Syndrome.

These children were thought to have different characteristics than those classified as mentally retarded. However, at this time it was still largely misunderstood. Some believed parents were to blame, and these children were often removed from the home and placed with others to see if they would ?recover.?

It wasn?t until the 1960s when the disorder was finally being studied and understood for what it really is and the impacts it has on a person. The finger pointing at parents of autistic children reduced as understanding grew, but there was and still is in some cases a lot of misinformation about autism, and many parents feel the need to defend themselves, as if they?ve ?done something? to their child.

Higher functioning autistic children and adults are often said to have Asperger?s. This condition was documented by Hans Asperger in 1944, but was not something that gained wider awareness until later in the 1980s. He described this condition as ?autistic psychopaths? and some of the blame was put on the mothers of these children, claiming that they were cold and heartless. Though we know today that this is not true, it was widely accepted at the time.

Since then, PDD (pervasive development disorder) has been studied and is now more understood. PDD is a blanket term for the spectrum of autistic disorders that are now known today.

The history of autism is a rough one, but that can be said about many of the conditions that affect the mind and the personality. Though more understanding exists today, there is much that is still misunderstood.

Perhaps the most important thing is that parents are no longer blamed for the conditions of autism, and that more treatments are available to help a child with this condition. Recently thinking suggests Autism is an auto-immune condition, and that it can be genetic. There is no cure, but there are programs that can increase communication and socialization skills in some children and adults.

Hopefully by understanding the history of autism we can take steps to progress treatment programs further.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans' brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about autism strategies

Child Autism

                

 

For nearly all parents, the most important things in the world to them are their children. They will probably do everything in their power just to keep them safe and make them feel loved. It would especially heartbreaking if your child is suffering from autism. What would you do? Studies have now found ways to reverse child autism and keep them from being distant forever.

According to experts, child autism is considered as an all-encompassing brain disorder. It is technically labeled as pervasive developmental disorder or PDD. Most children with autism find it difficult to communicate and interact with others. They also have an impaired ability when it comes to having close relationships. Talking or listening can also be difficult.

Autism is difficult to spot early on because the distinction of it being a medical condition or simply shyness is too fine. Generally, it is best to have your child checked for autism if, by the age three, you see that he is not interested in any kind of social interaction, having trouble communicating or is not reacting to direct stimuli, such as hugs.

It is also hard to diagnose child autism, as it has varied effects on different children. Some are autistic since birth while some start to show signs by the age of three years old. Children with severe autism are incapable of functioning on their own. It is important to do everything you can to reverse the effects of autism.

Things You Ought To Know To Help Your Child with Autism

There are now many ways to reverse child autism. Many books and printed materials that deal with this specifically are widely available. These reading materials mostly have suggestions and guidelines on how to educate and teach your child. Dietary suggestions are also included.

The Internet also provides hundreds of sites containing information about child autism. These web pages include proper care guidelines, symptom analysis, diagnosis and treatment. They may also help you find great schools that have the facilities and trained professionals that can cater to your child's needs.

Autism provides detailed information on Autism, Autism Symptoms, Autism Treatments, Cause Of Autism and more. Autism is affiliated with Dyslexia Testing.

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

Top Ten Ways To Cope When Caring For Someone With Autism

                

 

No matter who you are or what you do, caring for someone with autism is difficult and can often stretch you to your limits. Every now and again you can end up feeling like things are getting on top of you. The trouble is that more often than can become every day.

There is no magic wand to take all the difficulties away but there are many ways to improve the quality of your life so that it is much easier to cope with the day to day caring for people with autism.

This is a list of ten simple things that you can do to help you get back on track and help you cope better:

1 - Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

We all go over the top when it comes to worrying about the minor things that can happen. Really you only need to worry about something that can harm your safety or can seriously affect you in the future. Anything else doesn't really matter. So don't worry about juice all over the floor if it can be wiped up easily - even if it has happened 5 times already that day. You won't solve these problems but stressing about them.

2 - Don't Take It Personally

So your autistic child said - 'I hate you and wish you were dead.' These are almost never words of sincerity but words of insecurity or frustration, and you can't take it personally. As soon as you take things personally they become personal and the bad feelings between each other get worse. Let your child test their frustration and test anger, and show them why it is bad and how to deal with it properly. This is hard to do but remember one thing, as soon as you see red and get angry, you are not in control. So don't take it personally.

3 - Don't Try And Fix Your Child

There is no known cure for autism and if you try and fix your child to behaving and acting like someone that doesn't have autism then you are going to get really frustrated. The best thing you can do is to accept it and try to make things feel better. This can be hard, especially for those people who have a natural instinct to fix problems. The problem is that autism often comes across as bad behavior which can be fixed. Don't be fooled into thinking you can fix autism - just make it better.

4 - Try To Recharge Your Batteries

So many parents continue to deal with the day to day that they don't take time for themselves. Whenever you can or whenever you feel you need to, get some help and take a break. If this means a few hours of sleep or a whole day of retail therapy then do what you need to do to make sure you take a break. Be productive and make sure you come back feeling recharged and ready to cope again.

5 - Get Organised

This is a big one. Organised people get more done. Caring for autistic people takes extra time, so if you organise all the medical papers, routines, school takes then you will become more efficient. If you organise your time effectively then you won't drag your heels doing loads of things that just take up time.

6 - Make Chores Second Nature

There are usually many chores that need to be done, like, helping with exercises, making special meals and so on. If you organise these into a list of chores and carry them out as a set daily or weekly routine then they should become second nature. If you can make them second nature then it is easier to do all those tasks as if they are as necessary as brushing your teeth. Then they don't seem like a chore anymore, they are more like one of those things you do everyday and won't feel like you are taking up time to doing things you don't want to do. It also sets a really good example.

7 - Relax

There are lots of people that will tell you about stress management and even more that would like to sell you something to cope better. This is more than just taking a time out to sit down. It is more like not getting stressed. Getting stressed increases your heart rate and gives you a feeling of uneasiness. This then makes you irritable and less able to cope with what is going on. Caring for autistic people can be very demanding. But people usually get stressed about the same things that happen every day, such as tantrums and broken furniture or shouting. If these things happen every day then they will probably happen tomorrow as well, and so there is no point in worrying about it. Just be ready to deal with it the next day, and if it doesn't happen then rewards all round.

8 - Be Prepared

There is no better way of dealing with difficult things then being prepared. This may mean you put a plastic sheet under the dining room table to catch the mess, or it may mean getting an ID tag for going to the park. What ever you need to do to get yourself prepared will be a step closer to helping you cope better with whatever happens.

9 - Reward Yourself

No matter what you think, you are doing a great job. Caring for autistic people is difficult and take a lot of time and energy. So reward yourself for all your hard work because you deserve it. And when you have coped with a particularly hard day, reward yourself even more.

10 - Talk To Others

Please don't underestimate the benefit of talking to other people who are going through the same thing. There are many people who are dealing with what you are dealing with and many more that are probably dealing with worse. And if you seem to be dealing with a very difficult family situation then there are many people that would love to speak to you. The autistic community is a group of unique people that are probably the best educated and trained people to understand what you are going through. So use them.

Ben Sidman is a Parent of an amazing autistic child and founder of http://www.autism-support-community.com - an informative and friendly web site for parents with autistic children.