1. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)

2. WHAT IS AUTISM?
Autism spectrum disorder is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorder.
It varies in character and severity
It occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group
Estimation of 3:6 children out of every 1,000 will have ASD (MALES ARE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE ASD)

3. Impacts 3 Areas of Development
Language and communication skills
Social skills
Behavior, interests and activities
Many children with ASD are identified in their
Elementary years but children actually develop
ASD much earlier.

4. AUTISM CHARACTERISTICS
Social impairments
May avoid or lack eye contact
May not imitate others
May prefer to be alone
Communication difficulties
May not speak at all
May be severely language delayed
May not be able to initiate conversation
Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior
May line up their toys
May spin or spin objects
May be angry or upset in daily routines
May focus on a small part of a toy only

5. Early Indicators of ASD
No babbling
No single words by 16 months or two word phrases by age 2
No response to name
Loss of language or social skills
Poor eye contact
Excessive lining up of toys or objects

6. Later Indicators of ASD
Impaired ability to make friends with peers
Impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation
Stereotyped, repetitive use of language
Preoccupation with certain objects or subjects
Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play

7. Assessments Observations: Assessment tools:
Developmental and medical history
Cognitive abilities and academic achievement
Social competence and social perception
Emotional and behavioral functioning
Communication and language skills
Perceptual-motor/visual-spatial ability
Assessment of attention and memory as indicated
Assessment tools:
Autism Diagnostic observation schedule
Systematic observation for Red Flags for ASD in young children
Checklist for autism in toddlers
Gilliam autism rating scale
Childhood autism rating scale
Each assessment tool should be individualized depending ton the child’s skills and needs.

8. Causes and Preventions
It is normally genetic
Unknown
Preventions:
Insist on early screening if any behavioral problems
Ask for genetic testing if lack of communication skills
Schedule metabolic testing to prevent the onset of autism
Investigate the possibility that vaccinations might have a role in autism
Avoid eating foods that have high levels of mercury during pregnancy
Communication with your doctor about the latest research in autism

9. Educational approaches
ABA-applied behavioral analysis
Teacch
Picture exchange communication systems
Floor time
Social stories
Sensory integration
Facilitated communication

10. Monitoring Academic Progress
Current level of performance is determined
Identified goals
Academic performance is measured on a regular basis (weekly or monthly)
Progress toward meeting goals (compare expected and actual rates of learning)
Based on these observations teaching is adjusted.
The student’s progress is monitored and instructional techniques are adjusted to meet their needs.

11. Community resources Autism society of Illinois
The autism program metro-Chicago
Have dreams
Autism research institute
Autism society of American Appeal
More resources can be found at m.html

12. http://www.ehow.com/how_2052076_prevent- autism.html
al_approaches
utism.htm
cafe.com/characteristics-for-autism.html