Overview of ASD in an Indian Context: Policy, Culture, and Society
In India alone, it is estimated that approximately 2 million people have some form of
ASD, although, it is difficult to accurately assess the disorder’s true prevalence as it is often under-diagnosed and under-reported. As autism researcher, and parent of a son with ASD, Adam
Feinstein phrased it, “It is now widely accepted that autism knows no geographical or social boundaries. The rates are virtually identical in most parts of the world…What is certainly true, however, is that the cultural attitude to autism is dramatically different in the developing nations, where in some cases the condition was not acknowledged until the early 1990s.” (2011,
n.p.) People living with ASD in India, like any developing nation, face a
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However, it is not currently possible to get a disability certificate specifically for ASD, but rather
Autism with MR (Mental Retardation). (Action for Autism) Currently, there are no government schemes which specifically address ASD, leaving non-governmental organizations responsible for providing the bulk of ASD-related services and resources.
Beyond the lack of government support, a number of social, economic, and cultural factors also make the experiences of individuals with ASD in India, and the experiences of their families, exceedingly difficult. There are very few resources available, much less accessible, to individuals with ASD and their families. Certain sociocultural factors also make it very difficult for individuals with ASD and their families to access appropriate treatment. ASD only really entered the public’s attention ten or twenty years ago, and has yet to gain wide recognition.
There are few resources available, and the majority of India remains unaware of what ASD is.
The condition is widely stigmatized and attributed to bad parenting or superstition. Although
Asperger syndrome belongs to a group of childhood disorders commonly known as pervasive developmental disorders or PDD's. The disorder is recognized as a less severe case of autism. Children who have the disorder have a difficult time in social settings but excel in other areas of inteligence. The disorder is usually a lifelong struggle but has few cases where the patent recovers in adulthood. The disorder is not widely understood by the population but it is becoming a more well known disorder. There is currently no cure for this disorder.
The cause of AS is still very much unknown.Children with Asperger syndrome start to show signs as early as one to two years old; however a diagnosis is rarely given until later, usually around the ages of th...
Tens of millions of people have been diagnosed with Autism worldwide, effecting both genders, all races, ethnicities and people from all socioeconomic classes. In 2010 a Surveillance Summary was conducted in the United States, where it identified that one in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). It has been recognised within this study that Autism has a higher likelihood to be identified in males, where one in 42 are diagnosed, than females, where one in 189 are diagnosed.
Dr. Hans Asperger was the first to describe Asperger’s Syndrome, also known as AS, in 1944. He explained that AS causes clumsiness, poor motor skills, and an inability to walk or run smoothly (Miyahara, Tsujii, ...
The prevalence of ASD ranges between 3.3 and 10.6 for every 1000 children with a general mean prevalence of 6.6 per 1000 children. There is significant higher prevalence among white non-Hispanic kids compared with black non-Hispanic kids (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007). The male-to-female ratio varies from 3.4 to 6.5 boys per 1 girl. The population of children who are diagnosed with autism continues to rise significantly with statistics from the United States Department of Health indicating the number of children diagnosed with autism growing at a rate of 20% annually in America. Additionally, one in every a hundred and seventy five 175 elementary learners is diagnosed with autism (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007).
There are many signs and symptoms of ASD; however, most people will not have every sing...
Wallace, S., Fein, D., Rosanoff, M., Dawson, G., Hossain, S., Brennan, L., Como, A. and Shih, A. (2012), A Global Public Health Strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism Res, 5: 211–217. doi: 10.1002/aur.1236
...n between the ages 1-5 showed some initial gains in cognitive and language functioning, which includes but not limited to communication, self-care, imitation, and play skills, and were placed in regular classroom settings. Although many strives have been made, some results suggest significant racial and ethnic disparities in the identification of children with ASD. There have been studies comparing behavioral approaches to general electric approached have found them to be lacking, but some of the programs were community based. When it comes to making treatment plans, some think that specific behavioral profiles may be useful in identifying which children are likely to respond to a particular treatment. While positive results have been made towards treatment, there are no ASD treatments that currently meet criteria for well-established empirical supported treatment.
So far, the causes of ASD remain a mystery. However, researchers say that autism may
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that effects the brains development. It is characterized by affecting communication, cognition and social interaction. The spectrum of the disorders ranges from a mild condition called Asperger’s syndrome to a more severe form, which severely impairer’s development. The Office of Communications and Public Liaison states that the disorder affects one and eighty-eight children, however ASD effects boys more frequently than girls (Office of Communications and Public Liaison, 2013). ASD emerges in all age, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The significant varied character and severity of the disorder is why ASD is considered a spectrum that poses a broad range of symptoms.
What is Autism? People are quick to label people as Autistic but very rarely understand what it means though they may nod their head and say "ohh makes sense". Autism - also know as ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder- is a complex developmental disorder affecting primarily ones communication and social interaction skills. Meaning they have difficulties communicating effectively or even at all. They struggle in social setting and don 't typically excel in social games or activities.
...of ABA, which has “demonstrated efficacy in…reducing inappropriate behavior and in increasing communication, learning, and appropriate social behavior” (Satcher, 1999, as cited in Brams, 2008, p. 6). Because all skill domains have the ability to be effectively addressed through the use of one multi-method ABA model, the process of confronting the many debilitating issues of ASD is simplified. There is still room for advancements within ABA and the Autism community, but the continual expansion of programs and dedication to ABA research is leading to more promises for the struggling ASD community. For the future of ASD, the hope is not only to keep individuals in their homes and out of institutions, but more importantly to provide them with the possibility of independence and the ability to thrive far beyond all of Autism’s previous restrictions (Blane, 2011, p. 6).
Autism is a very broad word used to describe disorders in brain development. Another word used to describe the wide variety of disorders is Autism spectrum disorder or ASD for short. Autism spectrum disorders are split up into different categories depending on the symptoms. The different categories are categorized with the following criteria; difficulties with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and verbal and nonverbal communication. (What is Autism?) One out of every eighty-eight children are affected with ASDs in the United States and it is more in males. (Autism Spectrum Disorders)
Autism is most common and most missed diagnosed disease. Autism is considered as a spectrum because each person have their own personal trait and characteristic. “Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be difficult, since there is no medical test, like blood test, to diagnose the disorders. They look at the child’s behavior to make a diagnosis” (www.cdc.gov). Some parents are in denial with this disease and will not get the early intervention that could help. We need to educate as much as possible about autism. Autism is a lifelong condition and with early detection, intervention and therapy. This can help to increase skills and abilities to help children grow and reduce the symptoms cause by this
Powell says that it is important to understand how children with ASD learn, before their inclusion into the mainstream. He states,