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Understanding Students with Autism. Chapter 11. Definition. Autism is a developmental disability that affects children prior to the age of three in three areas: Verbal and nonverbal communication Social interaction Academic performance. Pervasive Developmental Disorder (also used).
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Understanding Students with Autism Chapter 11
Definition • Autism is a developmental disability that affects children prior to the age of three in three areas: • Verbal and nonverbal communication • Social interaction • Academic performance
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (also used) • Spectrum disorder : runs the continuum of mild to severe • Rett syndrome • Childhood disintegrative disorder • Asperger syndrome • Pervasive developmental disorder
Asperger syndrome • Significant challenges in social and emotional functioning • Do not have delays in language development or intellectual functioning • Boys are identified 4 to 1
Prevalence • U.S. Dept. of Ed. 2005 reported • 132,333 student with autism • Asperger syndrome is 2.5 children in every 10,000 • CDC 2008 reports 1 in 150
National Facts and StatisticsAutism Society of America -2007 • 1 in 150-166 births (1) • 1 to 1.5 million Americans (2) • Fastest-growing developmental disability • 10 - 17 % annual growth • Growth comparison during the 1990s (3) : • U.S. population increase: 13% • Disabilities increase: 16% • Autism increase: 172% • $90 billion annual cost (4) • 90% of costs are in adult services4 • Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention (4) • In 10 years, the annual cost will be $200-400 billion (5)
More questions on trends • Are we over identifying ? • No, there is evidence we are still under identifying in early years.. • Are other states finding the same rates ? • Yes and some at much higher rates • Will the ASD Child Count continue to increase? • Analysis of MDE Child Count and NIH data predicts continued increase. • What forecasts or estimates can be made ? • 1/500 to 1/166 births (NIH, 2004 and CDC, 2006) • Increase of secondary-age students 2x by 2010
Communication Characteristics • Focus attention on one topic only • Limit a communication topic to fewer than a couple of interactions • Use limited gestures to supplement verbal skills • Reverse Pronouns (you want to have a snack now vs I want to… • Look away from the speaker - lacks eye contact
Other Characteristics • Echolalia • Atypical social development • Repetitive behavior • Self-injurious behavior • Aggression • Need for environmental predictability
Sensory and Movement Disorders • Under or overresponsiveness to sensory stimuli • Movement is associated to abnormal posture, abnormal movements and eye movements
Intellectual functioning • 64 - 70 % have MR • Individual’s with Asperger syndrome tend to have higher IQ’s than others with autism • Savant syndrome: extraordinary abilities in calendar calculating, musical ability, mathematical skills, memorization
Historical Causes • 1940s - refrigerator mothers • 1970s - biochemical dysfunction • Current: possible biomedical - abnormalities in brain development, neurochemistry, and genetic factors
Determining the Presence • Early childhood years by interdisciplinary team • Assessments can be same as children with MR • Others include: Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Diagnostic Interview
Issues for Classroom Teacher • Carefully structured environment • Predictable routines • Visual cuing • Implementing a communication system • Emphasizing communication, socialization, and functional academics in the curriculum
Behavioral Strategies • Conduct a Functional Behavioral Analysis • Determine the cause of the behavior • What are they trying to get out of the behavior • In what contexts does the behavior occur • What are the antecedents and consequences • What are the communicative functions of the behavior
Mnemonic Strategies • Keyword (link a keyword to a new word to be learned) • Pegword (for numbered or order) • Letter (acronym)
Promoting Friendships • Include students in all areas • Use peer buddy programs • Use person-centered planning models that involve peers • Ensure peers learn about the goals of inclusion
Video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnylM1hI2jc