AUTISM 101…

FOR ENGLISH 306Laura Aspinall-Disability Specialist, SRJC

Disability Resources Department… DRD provides advising, services,

academic accommodations and classes for students with any kind of disabilities.

We have daily drop in times for students who think they might benefit from our services or would like to learn more

We serve approximately 3000 studentswww.santarosa.edu/disability_resources

Santa Rosa: 527-4278Petaluma:778-2491

Tell me what you already know… Write down two things you know

about autism.

What’s in a Name? autism Asperger’s Sydrome Pervasive

Developmental Disorder (PDD)

Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD)**

Autism = Spectrum Disorder(ASD)

Here are some facts… Around 1 in 110 children are

diagnosed with ASD in the U.S. Boys are 4 to 5 times more likely to

have ASD ASD is more prevalent than juvenile

diabetes, childhood cancer and pediatric AIDS combined

The average age of diagnosis is 2-5, however diagnosis can occur earlier.

Facts continued… The origin of ASD is yet undetermined,

however:Parents that have one child with ASD are more

likely to have a secondChildren with other medical conditions such as,

Fragile X, Down’s Syndrome, Tuberculosis and chromosomal disorders are more likely to have ASD

Currently there is no research that proves a correlation between vaccinations and ASD

Researchers believe there to be both environmental and genetic factors that could contribute to a child being more likely to have ASD

Vocabulary You need to Know…. Expressive language= language or

communication going out Receptive language=language or

communication going in Pragmatics= the rules for how language is

used socially:Using language for different purposes (exs: greeting vs.

informing vs. demanding)Changing language according to the needs of the listener

or situation (ex: speaking to friends vs. teachers)Following the rules (ex: conversational turn taking,

staying on topic, interrupting)

Vocabulary You need to Know…. Executive Function=The ability to

link past experience to new/novel experiences and then make a decision or plan based on that past experience (ex: last semester I didn’t take any notes in my Math 155 class and I failed all the tests, this semester I think I’ll take notes)

Autism vs Asperger’s Syndrome…Autism

Delayed onset of language Deficits in receptive and

expressive language Deficits in ability to

interact socially/use or interpret pragmatics of language

Restricted range of interest/can be perseverative or obsessive

Issues with Executive Functioning

Self Stimulatory and/or repetitive behavior

Desire/demand for sameness of routine

Asperger’s Syndrome “Precocious” language

development Deficits in ability to

interact socially/use or interpret pragmatics of language

Restricted range of interest/can be perseverative or obsessive

Issues with Executive Functioning

Average to above average intelligence

Other Common Symptoms Fine motor difficulties “Visual Thinking” Hyper focus on details Heightened senses

VisualTactileOlfactoryAuditory

How do Autism and Asperger’s Differ?

How expressive language develops and is used

Desire for social connectedness/ understanding of “otherness”

Cognitive function

Other ways to think about ASD… A disorder of the nonverbal “One at a time” thinking, or an

inability to split focus “Sensory problem” An executive functioning

impairment (the ability to organize, plan, strategize, generalize or relate past experiences to present)

Think of ASD as a ballpark…

It gives a name and context to have a conversation, but it’s a big place….

A Matter of Perspective…"What would happen if the autism

gene was eliminated from the gene pool? You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and socializing and not getting anything done." -Dr. Temple Grandin

A Matter of Perspective… With ASD can come great areas of

strength and achievement Disability varies by context and

environment Disability can simply mean

difference In college one must be a “jack of all

trades”. This can be troublesome for students with ASD, but in other areas of their life be a strength.

Treating ASD… Early intervention is critical, and been

shown to dramatically improve outcomes

Dietary changes and some medications have have been helpful for some individuals in managing sympoms

The is no “cure” Therapies for ASD include:

○ Speech Language ○ Sensory Integration ○ Physical ○ Occupational○ Behavioral

Asperger’s…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0xgjUhEG3U&p=C7B9AC4F9B090CFC&playnext=1&index=2