Autism & Learning Disabilities Workshop Mariam Al Rashdi - Anzima – Workshop Organizer Liz Price - Scientific Learning Karl Smith - Accelerations Educational Software

Autism Overview Karl Smith Accelerations Educational Software Mariam Al Rashdi Anzima - Middle East Representative

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Neurological – Environmental Disorder Current Frequency US Center on Disease Control (CDC) 1/150 children born today up from ~1/2500 10 years ago 1/96 boys 3 boys to 1 girl The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Impairments Speech Communication Social Learning Sensory Present range of disabilities at once The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Usually a dramatic developmental regression Seem to be typically developing Starting 1 to 3 years old “Falls off the cliff” Looses Skills Teaching Extremely hard to teach Normal parenting and teaching methods do not work – makes them worse! The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Poor at Observational Learning Mimicking Eye Contact Understanding Language Expressing Language Understanding our world Developing Relationships Generalization Retention of Skills & Knowledge The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Atypical experiences results in atypical and limited (usually) world knowledge and abilities Symptoms Vary Widely between individuals 6 or more of 12 general criteria from the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) Diagnosis from Specialist The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Spectrum Low, Moderate, and High Functioning Aspergers Syndrome PDDNOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified) Information Sources Start with Autism Society of America Autism Speaks Mariam Al Rashdi The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Impacts Children Worldwide regardless of parents Race Social Economic Status Occupation Religion Country This common problem unites parents worldwide The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Strong Advocacy and other Autism Related Groups Autism Society of America Autism Speaks Organization for Autism Research Dan Marino Foundation Dough Flutie Foundation Many others in the US and elsewhere The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Behaviors: Tantrums Self Stimulation Sensitive to: Light Sound Touch Taste Smell The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Biomedical Issues: Large head size Constipation Irritable Bowel Illnesses / Immune System Reflux Digestion Sleeping Problems Sensory The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Causes Genetics + Environmental Trigger Probably not just one disorder but several Substantial Research into causes US: National Institute of Health, Autism Speaks, Organization for Autism Research, … Solutions will prevent new cases & may help inflicted individuals some, but will not automatically give inflicted individuals missing world knowledge & skills. The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Family Stress Emotional Economic High rate of divorce Treatments Biomedical Educational The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Current Biomedical Treatments Diets Enzymes Hyperbaric Chambers Squeeze Machines … The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Intensive Education Good News: Individuals usually makes dramatic improvements with proper intervention Brain is very adaptive with intensity and duration of treatment “Rewiring Brain” Without Intensive Intervention ~80% of moderately to severely impaired individuals would never toilet train or speak The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Behavioral Teaching Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Recommended by US Surgeon General & National Academy of Sciences B.F. Skinner Father of Behavioral Psychology (ABA) Ivar Lovaas Applied ABA Methods to intensive teaching of children with autism The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Ivar Lovaas Showed intensive behavioral intervention drastically improves most individuals with autism IQ Basic Learning Skills Receptive & Expressive Language Social Interactions & Skills Self Care Independence The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Ivar Lovaas In his famous autism study ~50% made huge improvements ~40% made substantial improvements ~10% made little to no improvements The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism Behavioral Teaching Involves Motivation (reinforcement) Not Reinforcing incorrect answers or behaviors Task Analysis (breaking down tasks) Finding a level of success and building from there Prompts & prompt fading Systematic Teaching Intensive Individualized (typically 1-on-1) Data driven The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software

Accelerations Educational Software Autism “Our kids can learn when we figure out how to teach them”. The DT Trainer is targeted to teach individuals with autism and other learning or retention disorders. The educational content is appropriate for students developmentally between 2 and 6 years of age. Accelerations Educational Software