Seven Autism Truths Most People Don’t Know

Submitted by Jenna on Thu, 10/14/2010 - 19:02

Because I work in the field of autism, I often get questioned by strangers which reveal that the current knowledge about autism is not widely understood by the general public. With statistics and myths all over the place, sometimes it is tough to separate the truth about autism from fiction. Here is what we know:

1) There are many theories as to what causes autism, but no cause has been scientifically proven

It seems like everyone has an hypothesis about the cause of autism. Fact is, we don’t know the cause yet. While there have been a number of studies that have disproven some ideas, we will just have to wait to find out the definitive cause. Researchers know that genetics are involved, and they speculate that a genetic predisposition, combined with some unknown environmental exposure act together to cause autism. The cause of autism is still largely a puzzle.

2) Autism occurs far more frequently in boys than in girls

In fact, autism occurs at a 4 to 1 male to female ratio. Much like the cause, the reason why autism is more frequent in boys is also unknown.

3) The prevalence of Autism is now 1 in 110

The number of individuals with an autism diagnosis has drastically increased in the past 30 years. Experts aren’t sure if this is due to increasing awareness of the disorder by both parents and doctors, the widening of what falls under the autism “umbrella”, or if it’s a true increase. For example, Aspergers is now considered to be an autism diagnosis.

4) Autism is characterized by deficits in three areas

We know that Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a range of disorders and individuals with ASD have varying degrees of deficits in social skills and verbal or nonverbal communication, and have restricted, repetitive patterns of interest.

5) Autism has a strong genetic component

We also know that autism has a strong genetic component, and that a sibling of a person with autism is anywhere from 20 to 40 times more likely to develop the disorder. A more mild form of autism that could actually be undetected in a family member may show up in a child as a more severe form of autism. It’s more complicated than other genetic conditions, such as Down’s syndrome, which have a single chromosome missing.

Researchers have found that autism affects many genes however they can’t yet determine a pattern among those affected. Of course, researchers also suspect an environmental issue plays into this as well, but as mentioned earlier that is as yet unknown. What we know now is that there is a genetic component to this disorder.

6) Autism is a spectrum disorder

Autism is not a one size fits all diagnosis. There’s a saying: If you’ve met one person with autism, then you’ve just met one person with autism. In reality, there are many different levels of functioning in people on the autism spectrum. Some are indistinguishable from typical functioning adults with mainly small undetectable social skills differences, while others are unable to talk and suffer from many more severe symptoms. Each child does share the key deficits in social, communication, and restricted patterns of interest, but there is wide variation withing the term “autism”.

7) There are many forms of treatment, but there is no "cure" for autism

Just as there are many different levels of function for people with autism, there are also different forms of treatment. There are rare cases of children that can become “indistinguishable from their peers” after many hours of early intensive behavior intervention, but still, there is no known cure and autism remains a mystery.

http://autismdvds.com/

Transitions

How To Help Your Child Transition Well

Submitted by Jenna on Tue, 10/05/2010 - 17:22

Transitions are part of everyday life, but they can be difficult for a student with Autism because of their preference of predictability. Yet, with the right supports and modifications in place, a student can easily make a meltdown-free transition. Here are a few strategies you can try. You may find that some work better than others but test them out, and use the ones that work for your child.

1) Use a visual schedule
Not all kids with Autism are visual learners, but many respond well to visual supports. This can help make the environment predictable and decrease your child’s anxiety about what comes next. It can also increase independence, as your child can check their schedule periodically to complete tasks. A visual schedule is a simple list of pictures that describe which activity comes next. Usually these are made with icons, but if you can get pictures of your child doing each activity, it is preferable. Laminate each picture and place them in order each day. Show your child which activity you’re transitioning to when you prompt them to switch activities.

2) Familiarize your child with their new environment
This can be done by visiting the place where the field trip will occur, showing them a videotape of a new place, or making a social story about a particular transition. You can do this for routine transitions, like going to lunch, P.E, or recess, but also for one-time events like field day. Use as many mediums necessary to prime your child about an upcoming transition. Talk about what will happen during the transition at down time, read the social story if you anticipate it will be a difficult transition, and use videotapes if needed. Give your child as much preparation as possible to learn what comes next.

3) Give a cue before transitioning
This is especially important if you are transitioning from an unpreferred activity to a preferred activity.

Verbal cue: Say, “Ok Mark, you have 5 minutes to play.” and then remind him again at the 1 minute mark. Give your child as much time to prepare as possible.

Visual cue: A timer (either a visual timer or an electronic timer) can be particularly helpful when given with these warnings. Additionally, you could keep a bell or other noise maker as a signal that transition is near. Here is a great example of a visual timer http://www.timetimer.com/.

Auditory cue: Use a song to initiate the end of an activity for little ones that will signal a transition is near. Ensure the song is age appropriate. It can be the “Clean Up” song for little ones, or any song you prefer. Just make sure to only use the song during transition times.

4) Build behavioral momentum Give your child easy demands BEFORE you give them a difficult one
If transitions are hard for your child, give them several “easy” demands that they are likely to follow, and THEN give them your transition demand. You might say, “Give me high 5”, “Give me high 10”, and then follow those by “Put up your toys”. Your child will have built a momentum of being successful, hopefully to make a tantrum-free transition more likely.

If a student is are able to transition with ease, they can spend more time with their peers, have sense of control over their environment, and have less challenging behavior in school, home, and in the community. For transitions to be successful in all settings, you might have to give some of these strategies to your child's teacher, so that everyone is on the same page. Transitions are a part of everyone's daily schedule, but often you don't even think twice about them. Teaching your child to transition well as early as possible will help him/her in multiple environments for the rest of their life.

http://autismdvds.com/

Social Groups

Social Groups Through Behavior Matters LLC

http://behaviormattersllc.com

  8-Weeks- Week of June 4, 11, 18, 25 July 9, 16, 23, 30

week of June18

Primary T-ball Firelake El.- Bowling Alley ER Skill:

Tween- Coastal Trail Picture Scavenger hunt and Yoga Rain: Bowling on Base Skill: Gather items on list, approaching strangers

Teen- Swimming at HS $$

week of June25

Primary T-ball Firelake El.- Bowling Alley ER Skill:

Tween- Geocaching on Coastal Trail Rain: 5^th Ave Mall Scavenger hunt Skills: Following directions

Teen: Geocaching on Coastal Trail Rain: 5^th Ave Mall Scavenger hunt Skills: Following directions

week of July 9

Primary-Treasure Hunt Nature Center Rain: Ice Cream Social $1 per child Following directions on a list with a partner

Tween- Bear Paw Festival and The Crave

Teen- The Crave

week of July 16

Primary- Geocaching Scavenger Hunt Rain: Ice Cream Social $1 per child

Tween- Egg Drop- Water Balloon Cottonwood Park Rain: Library Card Tournament

Teen: Battleship/ Card Tournament UAA Library

week of July 23

Primary: Kites Rain: Pump It Up

Tween- Fishing location

Teen- Fishing location

Wed. August 1

Combined Group- H2Oasis

9-10:30 Itty Bitty’s- Aiden, Noah, Kayli, Spencer, Jacob, Tristan, Keegan

July 13

July 20

July 27

Social Groups resume week of Aug 20

August 10-11 Contractors Weekend!!!

Social Groups  8-Weeks- Week of June 4, 11, 18, 25 July 9, 16, 23, 30

Tuesday Group (1:30-3:30 pm), Intermediate group ages 8-12 "Tweens Coordinator: Jenna, Rebeka BCBA

Wednesday group (1-3 pm)- Teen Group ages 13-16 Coordinator: Chad, Rex BCaBA

Thursday group- (1-3 pm) Primary Group ages 5-7 Coordinator: Sara, Maya BCBA

Friday group "Itty Bitty's" 9-10:30 ages 3-6

Family Field Trips- All families are invited to these trips.  Please let your tutor know if you need them.

June 22 9-12 Zoo Point of Contact is Sara Mansilla 504-884-2679 (If you own a Behavior Matters T-shirt Please wear it)

June 29 10-12 Reindeer Farm Palmer

Friday July13 11am-2pm (July 11-15 Bear Paw Festival)www.bearpawfestival.org  We are going to have a float and would love to have some of the kids ride :)  They need to be dresses up as a zoo animal.I need to know if you would like for your child to ride on the float, walk along side (age 6 or older) or if you (parents) would like to ride on the float or walk along side (along with your shirt size).

July 27 U-pick Farm Butte www.pppfarm.net

July 28-29 Air Show

August 3-5 Camping Weekend  Location TBA

  

9-10:30 Itty Bitty’s- ages 3-6

Will meet at the Clinic and with a music and movement based theme

         12836 Old Glenn Highway

         Eagle River, AK 99577

July 13

July 20

July 27

Social Groups resume week of Aug 20

Financial Assistance Sources

Financial Assistance Sources

Got this from Yahoo Group Military Families Autism Support

Autism Research Institute offers a military family web page at http://www.autism.com/fam_military.asp with the following benefits.

*FREE "Recovering Autistic Children” book*, a 468 page paperback book, which normally costs $24.00. To order- print, complete and fax or mail in the form at the web link of

http://www.autism.com/pdf/families/militarybookrequest.pdf, along with a copy of the front of your military ID card. Please fill out all the blocks, so we can start a database on what services military children with autism may be getting from TRICARE. Fax the form to 619-563-6840 with a

copy of your military ID card along with your name and postal address, or mail it to Autism Research Institute, 4182 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116. There is a strict limit of one copy per family. Recovering Autistic Children, edited by Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D. and Bernard Rimland,

Ph.D. is the extensively updated and enlarged revision of Treating Autistic Children, which was published in 2003.

*25% discount on Autism Research Institute's (ARI) conferences. * You will need to show your military ID when picking up your materials at the on-site

registration booth at the conference. More info on this offer is at www.defeatautismnow.com

*Possible Funding Resources:*

4-A Healing Foundation at http://www.4ahealingfoundation.org can provide financial assistance for children that require biomedical treatments.

Advantages Online Private Schools at

http://www.advantagesschool.com/tuition.php offers 15% off private school tuition for military families.

Aid for Autistic Children Foundation at http://www.aacfinc.org.

Air Warrior Courage Foundation at http://www.airwarriorcourage.org

Angel Flight at http://www.angelfli ghtmidatlantic. org or Mercy Medical at

http://www.mercymed ical.org, and Patient Travel at

http://www.patienttravel.org offer free air travel for special needs families.

Autism Escapes at http://www.autismescapes.org arranges air travel on private jets for families in need of medical care for their children.

Autism Care and Treatment (ACT) Today at 

http://act-today.org provides grant money for families that cannot afford or access the treatments their

autistic children need.

Autism Cares at http://www.autismcares.org helps families to cover costs associated with critical living expenses.

Autism One offers a $49 conference fee for the entire week to military families at http://www.autismone.org.

Autism Relief Foundation at assists

http://autismrelieffoundation. comfamilies financially.

Believe In Tomorrow Children's Foundation offers adventure programs, respite housing and vacations at

http://www.believeintomorrow. org/housing_ military. html.

Conover Company at http://conovercompany.com/grants has iPad grant opportunities.

Danny’s Wish and Let’s Chat Autism at

http://www.letschatautism.com/ipads-for-autism-application is for a possible iPad donation.

Disabled Children's Relief Fund at http://www.dcrf.com helps physically-challeng ed children.

Easter Seals Champions for Children at http://www.championsforchildrenga. org

First Hand Foundation at https://applications.cerner. com/firsthand helps children with health-related needs when insurance and other financial resources have been exhausted.

Friends of Disabled Adults and Children at http://www.fodac.org is a national provider of mobility aids and daily living devices for people with disabilities

Friends of Man at http://www.friendsofman.org/index.php.

Generation Rescue family grants at

http://www.generationrescue.org/rescue- family-grant.html.

Hannah’s Helping Hands grants at http://www.hannahandfriends.org/grants.html

HollyRod Foundation at http://www.hollyrod.org is a source for an iPads donation.

Houston Enzymes at http://www.houston-enzymes.com offers a military discount of 30% off retail price of enzyme products. This offer is for enzyme products only, and not in combination with other offers or discounts.

iHelp for Special

Needs<http://www.ihelpforspecialneeds.com/iHelpWelcome /Need_An_ iPad_App. html>at

http://www.ihelpforspecialneeds. com provides help in raising funds to purchase the assistive technology you need.

iTaalk Autism Foundation <http://itaalk.org/> at http://itaalk.org is a possible source for an iPad donation.

Kirkman Labs at http://www.kirkmanlabs.com provides a 25% discount on all of their own products.

Laurel Springs School at http://www.laurelsprings.com/ home offers 15% off private school tuition for military families.

Lee Silsby Compounding Pharmacy at http://www.leesilsby.com is offering a $20 savings for first time military customers (active and retired) and they

accept TRICARE. More info is at

http://www.autismsalutes.com/2008/11/autism-salutes-lee-silsbycompounding.html

.

K¹² Schools at http://www.k12.com/who-we-help/military- families offers 15% off private school tuition for military families.

Lend4Health facilitates community-based, interest-free "micro-loans" as a creative funding option for individuals seeking optimal health at

http://lend4health.blogspot.com.

Loud Mommy at http://loudmommy.com provides some iPad's for families in need. Finances and child's condition are the deciding factors for Loud Mommy.

Master Supplements provides a $10 discount per bottle of their Theralac High Potency Probiotic Supplement by calling in an order to (800) 926-2961,

extension 3. More info is at http://theralac.com.

MyGOAL at http://mygoalautism.org/grantsandpr ograms/index. htm offers enrichment grants to enable families to take advantage of socialization and

educational opportunities designed for individuals with special needs.

National Autism Association at

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/military.php has a list of helpful websites and grants through the Helping Hand Project at

http://www.national autismassociation.org/helpinghand.php and the Family First Project at

http://www.national autismassociation.org/familyfirst.phpfor marriage counseling grants.

National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass - FREE Access Pass at

http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm.

Olive You Foundation at http://www.theoliveyoufoundation.org provides grants to help children who have speech and language disorders.

Patient Advocate Foundation at http://www.patientadvocate.org provides patients with arbitration, mediation and negotiation to settle issues with access to care, medical debt, and job retention related to their illness.

Project Devin (a partner of Abilities Network Project ACT) at

http://www.elevationweb-development.org/abnetwork/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=21

The Puzzling Piece at http://www.thepuzzlingpiece.com/ipad.html donates iPads as part of their sales efforts.

Small Steps in Speech at

http://www.smallstepsinspeech.org/application offers some iPad grants.

Social Security Disability Benefits & SSi Disability Claims at

http://www.disability-claims.net offers assistance with those claims.

Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) has a Family Scholarship program. Scholarships are available for autism conferences, an autism doctor initial visit, and the holiday Adopt a Family program. See www.tacanow.org for details and applications.

United Healthcare Children's Foundation at

http://www.uhccf.org/apply_applicant.html

Washington Access Fund at

http://www.washingtonaccessfund.org/ida_program/at_ida.php offers low-income individuals with disabilities and their families up to $4,000 and receive an equal amount in matching funds to help pay for assistive technologies.

EFMP Overview

EFMP Offices

http://www.operationautismonline.org/autism-and-military-healthcare/dod/exceptional-family-member-program/air-force-efmp/

Use the Resource Directory http://208.112.123.144/search-for-resources/resource-directory/ on this site for contact information on Air Force EFMP offices. For a complete listing, including maps and directions for EFMP points of contact, visit MilitaryHOMEFRONT’s MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory. http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/pls/psgprod/f?p=MI:ENTRY:0

Overview

EFMP is a mandatory enrollment program, administered by AFPC that works with the medical community and the key community agencies to identify Active Duty sponsors who have family members with special educational or medical needs.

The Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is designed to provide support to military family members with special needs. EFMP is offered by all branches of the military, and each Service includes a variety of personnel, medical, and family support functions under the EFMP umbrella. The portions of EFMP support that are provided by the AF Medical Service are known as EFMP-Medical (EFMP-M).  EFMP-Family Support (EFMP-FS) is the community support component provided by Airman and Family Readiness Centers (A&FRCs).  EFMP-M and EFMP-FS work together with the  Assignments  branch at the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) to provide comprehensive and coordinated medical , education, community support, housing, and personnel services to families with special needs.  All three functions work with other military and civilian agencies to enhance the quality of life for families as they relocate around the world with their sponsors.

Additionally, EFMP-FS, EFMP-M, and EFMP-Assignments (EFMP-A) strive to ensure Air Force sponsors are assigned or employed in locations that support both the accomplishment of the mission and the well-being of families.  There may come a time that a sponsor will be required to go unaccompanied.

The Family Member Relocation Clearance (FMRC) is mandatory for all family members traveling OCONUS and for all special needs family members traveling CONUS in conjunction with sponsor’s PCS.  This process is used to ensure specialized care/services are available at the projected gaining location.

The Air Force defines a special medical need as any condition that cannot be resolved by a family practice physician and requires ongoing care or treatment by a specialist. Even if a patient is not currently receiving treatment but has a physical or emotional condition that may require medical care, he/she is considered to have a special need. Children with special educational needs are those from 3-21 whose schools have them on an Individualized Education Program (IEP), those from 0-3 years who have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), or those who are being evaluated for special education, related services, or early intervention services.

Screening

Family Member Relocation Clearance (FMRC) is a mandatory process that the Air Force uses to screen all family members traveling overseas with their sponsors, as well as those family members with previously identified special medical and educational needs who are relocating within the continental United States (CONUS). The FMRC process follows these steps:

1. Airman receives assignment notification and obtains FMRC paperwork during initial appointment with military personnel flight (MPF) for outbound assignments.
2. At least six month prior to travel, Airman completes AF Form 1466(Request for Family Member’s Medical and Education Clearance for Travel) and AF Form 1466D (Dental Health Summary) for each family member over age 2.  (Please note: Viewer Software 6.5 may be required to download Air Force forms. Visit the Viewer Software 6.5 Download Area page for additional information).
3. Airman coordinates completion of DD 2792-1 by school/early intervention staff for each child with an IEP/IFSP.
4. Airman coordinates completion of DD 2792 and appropriate addenda by medical care provider for each child with a special medical condition.
5. FMRC coordinator at MTF meets with airman to review and help complete forms, schedules joint screening interview, and gathers medical records for all family members.
6. Airman and all family members have joint screening appointment at MTF with special needs coordinator (SNC) and medical review officer (only the exceptional family member is required to attend if assignment is in CONUS).
7. If special needs are identified, FMRC coordinator sends facility determination inquiry (FDI) to gaining MTF for determination (in coordination with DoDDS, if overseas).
8. If needs can be met, FDI is returned within two weeks and assignment processing continues; if needs cannot be met at overseas assignment location, FDI is forwarded to the gaining MAJCOM Behavioral Health Consultant to find an alternate assignment.
9. For EFMs not recommended for travel to a CONUS location, the FDI is returned to the FMRC coordinator who notifies the SNC and sponsor and forwards documentation to the MPF.

Enrollment Process

Enrollment in the EFMP is mandatory. Airmen are required to initiate enrollment at their MTF as soon as special needs are known without waiting for the FMRC process. Information on the DD 2792 and DD 2792-1 is used by the SNC in consultation with the medical reviewer to make enrollment decisions. Enrollment criteria is provided by the Air Force Operating Agency and based on DoD guidance. For a service member to become enrolled in the EFMP-M, the SNC must:

Initiate an assignment limitation code “Q” (by forwarding an authorization letter to the Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) via the MPF)

Open a “special needs assignment coordination record” at the MTF

Enter identifying information into an electronic log, “Q-Base.”

To initiate enrollment of an Air Force family from another Service’s MTF, DD 2792 and DD 2792-1 should be completed and forwarded to the SNC at the Air Force MTF where the sponsor is assigned.

AF Form 4380, Air Force Special Needs Screener

AF Form 4380, Air Force Special Needs Screener is placed in the cover of the service member’s medical record at inprocessing is used to alert the SNC at the gaining MTF of a new Q-coded sponsor. The SNC ensures assignment coordination record is transferred in.

Enrollment Updates

The Air Force does not code specific disabilities or require service members to update their enrollment status. Instead, special needs are re-evaluated each time a service member receives reassignment notification. At these times, and also during routine health care, removal of the Q-Code and closure of the assignment coordination record may be initiated if the criteria for special needs is no longer present.

Assignment Considerations

The Air Force will authorize family travel for a Q-coded airman to any location overseas where the MTF, in coordination with DoDDS, indicates that medical and/or educational needs can be met. Reassignments within CONUS are based on the gaining MTF’s assurance that medical needs can be met. Airmen with exceptional family members are not exempt from unaccompanied assignments to remote locations and must remain worldwide qualified. Families whose sponsor takes an unaccompanied remote assignment with a follow-on assignment must be screened prior to the remote assignment and again within six months prior to traveling to the follow-on assignment. Air Force assignment options are sometimes limited by the service member’s occupational specialty. Airmen in this situation will often change specialties in order to better support the needs of their families.

Sources of Information about Air Force EFMP

Air Force families seeking information about EFMP should be referred first to the Air Force Special Needs Web site. For questions and concerns not addressed there, they may be referred to the special needs coordinator at the nearest Air Force MTF.

Task Analysis Part One

You know that awful saying "Those who can do and Those who can't teach!" It is really so awful and when I was a teacher I was would get so angry when someone said that to me. Actually I once told someone that they should remember that when their child sat in my classroom!! So I decided to change it around...

"Those you can do, Those who can't need a task analysis." Don't we all. When you purchase furniture, inside you will find a (good and sometimes not so good) task analysis of all you need to do to put it together. It starts with all the materials required, from the smallest nut to the largest piece. And the instructions go step by small step all the way to how the final product should look. If you were to buy another piece of furniture in the same line, the manufacture, does not assume you already know how to put it together, they again give you a step by step guide on how to put it together. So why is it that when we sits down to teach a skill to a child, we think we can just jump in without a well written plan. From instruction to materials.

Can you really teach anything without a well written, thought out plan?

How much of the skill needs to be explained/ broken down?

How much should you expect the learner to know? What skills need to pre-taught?

Do you need the same plan for every learner?

What are your expectations of the learner?

How will you know if the skills are mastered? And generalized?

Why are we teaching this skill? When and How should the learner use the new skill?