It can be a parent's worst nightmare... One moment your child is with you, and the next moment you can’t find them. These concerns can be especially scary when you have a child who has difficulties with communicating, socializing, and other restricted or repetitive behaviors. Together, impairments in these three areas define autism.[1]
Risks
There can be safety risks which accompany an autism diagnosis. For example, children with autism are more likely to wander.[2] Children with autism may also have increased vulnerability to stranger abductions[3], and may be more likely ingest dangerous household chemicals (for example, cleaning supplies) and medicine. Throughout my career, many families have told me about very scary situations in which their children’s safety has been at risk. Parents have shared stories about children who have wandered/bolted, children who have been willing to leave a place with a complete stranger, and children who have tried to drink chemicals at home. Many fathers and mothers are surprised that their children would do these things especially after they've explained common rules to their children (for example, “Don’t go anywhere with a stranger...”, “Don’t leave places without someone you know...”, “This is what you do if you get lost...”, “This is what you should do if a stranger tries to take you...”, “Don’t drink this, it’s dangerous...”). Clearly, telling a child a rule may not be enough. This can be true for children with or without an autism diagnosis.
As a clinician and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) working in the field of autism for over 15 years, empowering children and their families with life saving safety tips is one of my passions. Here are some key tips to help to keep children wit...
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...sented at both provincial and international conferences.
Nancy has appeared as a guest on CP24, CHCH news, Daytime Toronto, Daytime York, and Hamilton Life as an authority on autism. Currently, she is making regular appearances every second Wednesday on the talk show, Hamilton Life, as an expert on autism. Nancy has also been invited to speak and to share her expertise by conducting workshops for the Geneva Centre, Kerry’s Place, and Autism Ontario.
Nancy is the Executive Director and Founder of Breakthrough Autism, offering ABA-based and IBI treatment programs to children with autism. She is also a part-time faculty member at George Brown College in the Behavioral Science Technology program.
Click the image below and visit Nancy's site, Special Appucations to see information and tools to help make the learning process fun and engaging for kids with special needs.
Giving others who do not suffer from autism or caregivers an insight on how the individual may be feeling and what they are going through. This book can also help numerous medical professionals such as speech-language pathologists and pediatric doctors. As Grandin stated in the book that not all sufferers act, think, and feel the same so this novel may not be beneficial to readers who are looking for information on a wide scale of individuals who suffer from the illness. She also stated that there is no cure for autism, however some medications can help with some symptoms such as depression or anxiety. What intrigued me the most about Grandin was that she never gave up and worked on her social skills. Not only did she became a spokesperson for autism, but also became a professor at Colorado State University in which both require public speaking and being comfortable in front of people.
The Case of Temple Grandin paints a picture of a young woman’s determination and hard work while struggling with autism during a time when the disorder was unknown. This case discusses Grandin’s challenges, early diagnosis, growth and development in school, and support from her mother. Temple Grandin could not speak like the other children at the age of two, so because doctors could not find any physical issues she had been subsequently labeled as brain-damaged. To communicate with others, she would throw tantrums and scream. She could speak by three and a half years old with the help of speech therapy. A few years later at the age of five, Grandin was diagnosed with autism so her mother worked with her 30 minutes every day to keep her from being placed in an institution. At her aunt’s ranch, Grandin develops the “squeeze machine” a device used to apply pressure without being stimulating. Grandin excelles in school and receives her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College in 1970. After her graduation from college in 1970, Grandin attends Arizona State University where she earns a master’s degree in cattle in 1975. In 1989, Grandin earns her doctoral degree from the University of Urbana-Champaign in animal science. Grandin has never married, but she is proof that individuals with autism can lead productive and notable lives (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009).
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be detected early in a child’s life. ASD is a developmental disorder classified by problems with social interaction,
Parents of children with autism often suffer from stress and anxiety. Dealing with children with autism places extraordinary demands on the shoulder of parents that can be added over the usual parental daily work and responsibilities. Compounding the needs and work load of the family members to the responsibilities of raising a child with autism can be multiplied and easily create a hectic situation where parents feel the pressure under such circumstances and suffer psychological symptoms that can be overwhelming to both parents and siblings of children with autism.
“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” Dr. Stephen Shore. I believe this is a powerful quote that truly defines autism and those who have to experience it every day. People who have autism are often stigmatized that they are not like everyone else. This negative image can be blamed on how TV and media represent those with this disorder, according to Douwe. This idea first begs the question, what is normal? In today’s society, people are trying to be like everyone else if this means wearing the same clothes or acting the same as everyone else just to avoid attention. Well, autistic people are not able to hide behind this false curtain. What disadvantages they have is not something they can change, but rather
Autism is a condition that affects a child’s brain functioning. It is a prevalent developmental disorder, which appears in children before the age of three. A child with autism is not able to express their needs like any other normal child because, this disorder affects their ability to communicate and interact with others. Therefore, this leaves parents and caregivers to play a guessing game on what specifically the child maybe asking for. However, when they cannot establish what exactly the child needs, both parties feel frustrated, the child and the caregiver. The child will feel that the caregiver is not taking care of his/her needs while the caregiver will be frustrated because, he/she cannot be able to determine exactly what the child wants. A child with autism can be frustrated to an extent of becoming aggressive, and even injuring him/herself and this can threaten the child’s life, and that of the entire family.
Children with autism often find comfort in strict adherence to routine. An unplanned visit to the emergency department interrupts their schedule, which may build upon the anxiety that is already present from...
diagnosed with Autism. I, like many others, hope that they find the cause and cure for Autism.
Autism is a developmental disorder that appears within the first three years of a child’s life. It affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. Autism affects 1 out of 68 children. It is also the fastest growing disability in the United States. There are multiple types of Autism, some children are considered high functioning, and some are low functioning. “High functioning” is when a child with autism can function in life, and completes jobs, and chores with little to no help. “Low functioning” is when a child with autism cannot complete simple daily tasks without help, and (or) constant supervision.
Autism is a form of neurodevelopment disorder in the autism spectrum disorders. It is characterized by impaired development in social interactions and communication, both verbal and non-verbal. There is an observed lack of spontaneous acts of communication; both receptive and expressed, as well as speech impairments. A person diagnosed with Autism will also show a limited range of activities and interests, as well as forming and maintain peer relationships. The individuals will display limited interests, which are often very focused and repetitive. He or she is likely to be very routine oriented and may show behavioral symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and self-injurious behaviors.
Somebody Somewhere offers a rear glimpse of the world of autism—from within. Australian born Donna Williams was diagnosed as psychotic at the tender age two, later as deaf, and ultimately as autistic; “Autism had had me in its cage for as long as I had ever known” (p. 5). In her book she describes her escape from “my” world, into “the” world. She talks about “picking up the pieces after a war” and “learning how to build somewhere out of nowhere and a somebody out of a nobody” (p. xi); yet she has something for everyone: “within each of us there is a stranger (or strangers) lurking in the shadows of our subconscious minds” (ibid). The author
Autism is a problem that people have with communicating. It can affect many contrasting types of people in divergent ways and there is not yet a complete cure for it. People need to know about this disability and what people can do with people who have it.
Autism is characterized as a developmental disorder that is seen in children by the age of three years old. Autism affects the brains normal, natural development, and causes many impairments. The major impairments that affect an individual are reciprocal socialization, Qualitative impairment in communication, and repetitive or unusual behavior. Signs of Autism can be seen in early infanthood, with proper awareness and resources. An infant child can appear to be adverse to eye contact early on. Some signs in early infancy appear as being indifferent to affection and physical contact. When spoken to, they can appear to be deaf or ignoring the parent or caregiver. Noticing the early red flags of Autism can provide an early intervention and give the child the best chance at learning to tolerate their environment. Children around three years old will display certain signs and symptoms.
“If I could snap my fingers and be not be autistic, I would not. Autism is a part of who I am,” stated Temple Grandin. (Brainyquotes) People with autism are treated or looked at differently by the population. Autistic people usually experience difficulty in communicating or acting in an appropriate social manner. Most children with autism are diagnosed by the age three, yet there are still adults that might have autism and not know it. People with autism have brains that work in an uncommon way. Yet one very special autistic person is named Temple Grandin used her autism and the strong visual thinking ability that goes along with it, to understand the world around her. Temple Grandin’s characteristic persistency and sharp-wittedness helped
There has been an increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism or other autism spectrum disorders. It is likely as an educator that you will have at least one child with this diagnosis in your classroom. This paper explores some of the methods used to teach autistic children.