Autism

Definition:

• The National Institute if Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) describe the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as "a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior ("Autism fact sheet," 2009)." Autism spectrum disorder is the most severe form of ASD. While milder forms of ASD are known as Asperger syndrome and the rare condition is called Rett syndrome ("Autism fact sheet," 2009).

Characteristics:

• The characteristics for Autism varies in severity and symptoms. This characteristics parents begin to notice in their child between the ages two and six.

Early Indicators:

1. No babbling or pointing by age 1


2. No single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2


3. No response to name


4. Loss of language or social skills


5. Poor eye contact


6. Excessive lining up of toys or objects


7. No smiling or social responsiveness
   

Later Indicators:

1. Impaired ability to make friends with peers


2. Impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others


3. Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play


4. Stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language


5. Restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in intensity or focus


6. Preoccupation with certain objects or subjects


7. Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals

("Autism fact sheet," 2009)

Major federal laws:

• IDEA - gives grants to the state, and organizations in order to support research for the disability, and grants to colleges or non-profit organizations also to support research, advances in technology or parent-training and information centers.


• Section 504 - In 1973 the Rehabilitation Act became the first disability civil rights law to be finalized in the United States. It prohibits discrimination against anyone who has a disability and receives federal financial assistance. Section 504 works with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) “and IDEA to protect children and adults with disabilities from exclusion, and unequal treatment in schools, jobs and the community” (Special Education).


• NCLB - (No Child Left Behind Act) The act was created in order for states and school districts to be held more accountable in making sure that “all students reach certain proficiency standards in a specified amount of time.” If these standards are not met in time, students may switch to a higher performing schools or receive other services such as tutoring. This also points to the school’s curriculum, teacher qualify, and parental rights. Children with disabilities must be included in standardized testing, and this will determine whether the school meets the specified standard; “95% of students with disabilities must participate in the annual testing.”


• FERPA - “This is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. It gives parents certain rights to review and request changes in their child's school records as well as requiring parental permission for the release of education records except under specified circumstances” (Special Education).

Review:

• A child with autism differs from typical children because he/she lack social skills, sometimes communication, and need specific routines. Having these needs stops children with autism from living a social and spontaneous life typical children live. Children with autism have a lack in relationship with not only peers in school but also with their family members. They usually do not like to be hugged or have the intimate relationship parents long to have for with their children. Even though, children with autism love their parents they have a hard time expressing their feelings. Children with autism inability to to express their feelings not only show through expressing love but also frustration. In these circumstances, children with autism may have burst of rage when they are upset.
  

Summary:

• Even though there is no cure for Autism, therapies and behavioral interventions are used to improve the individual’s daily life. “Most health care professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better” (NINDS).


• In order for children with Autism to develop social and language skills, they must have the help of their therapists by having “highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions” (NINDS).


• Counseling for the family and siblings of the child with Autism is highly important when helping families to cope with the difficulties of their day to day lifestyle.

Descriptor:

• OSEP-Used for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. The ages go from birth to 21. This program provides “leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts.”


• NIDRR- (National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research) This organization also “provides leadership” as well as “support for a comprehensive program of research related to the rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.” This program is created to improve the lives, from birth to adulthood, who has a disability.


• RSA- (Rehabilitation Services Administration) encourages grants which are to help people with physical or mental disabilities, in order “to obtain employment and live more independently through the provision of such supports as counseling, medical and psychological services, job training and other individualized services.” The administration’s major grant program provides assistance to state rehabilitation agencies in order to provide them with the correct employment opportunities needed for these individuals with disabilities.


• NICHCY- In 1997, Congress promoted the National Institutes of Health to form the Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC), used to strengthen the quality, pace and coordination of efforts at the NIH, and more importantly, “to find a cure for autism.”


• In 2007 and 2008, NIH began assisting 11 Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE), which were run by the NIH/ACC. Some of the investigations done by the ACE are “early brain development and functioning, social interactions in infants, rare genetic variants and mutations, associations between autism-related genes and physical traits, possible environmental risk factors and biomarkers, and a potential new medication treatment.”

Works Cited Autism fact sheet. (2009, October 19). Retrieved from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm
Autism symptoms checklist. (2009, December 02). Retrieved from http://www.autism-pdd.net /autism-symptoms.html