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Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder (DS-ASD)… al., 2015 ). However, it is important to know that: Like autistic people, people with Down syndrome have a range of skills and vary in achieving developmental milestones The common characteristics of autism may appear differently in people who … When autism occurs in someone with Down syndrome, the characteristics of autism (social and behavioral challenges, communication difficulties and restricted interests) may be observed in addition to the symptoms of Down syndrome … than their peers with Down syndrome Provide access to strategies, interventions and therapies aimed at improving interactions and decreasing behavioral challenges Help access needed educational and community services and social supports …
ASD levels of severity… In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) released the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the handbook used to diagnose of mental disorders, including autism. The … from the APA. Severity levels for autism spectrum disorder Level 3 autism: “Requiring very substantial support” Social communication Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others. For example, a person with few words of intelligible …
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT)… Response Treatment? Pivotal Response Treatment, or PRT, is a behavioral treatment for autism. This therapy is play-based and initiated by the child. PRT is based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Goals of this approach include: Development of communication and language skills Increasing positive social behaviors Relief from disruptive self-stimulatory behaviors The … behavior and learning. Pivotal areas include: Motivation Response to multiple cues Self-management Initiation of social interactions Motivation strategies are an important part of the PRT approach. These emphasize natural reinforcement. For …
Autism symptoms… What are the symptoms of autism? The two core autism symptoms are: Challenges with social communication and interaction skills and Restricted and repetitive behaviors While autism spectrum disorder (ASD) looks different from … autism may have difficulty with social interaction and communication skills, particularly in these three areas: Social interactions Starting and taking turns in conversations Sharing interests or emotions Understanding what others are thinking …
Notes for the school nurse: Common challenges related to autism… Like every other kid, students with autism and other developmental disabilities are likely to visit the nurse’s office with bumps and bruises, headaches and colds and … have a conversation at the beginning of every school year to discuss the student, review needs and establish lines of communication. Additionally, it can be helpful for the school nurse and an autistic student to get to know each other before a medical need, illness or emergency occurs. Scheduling a tour of the nurse’s office or planning some interactions between the nurse and the student early in the school year, can help the student become comfortable with the …
Autism Speaks announces new grant opportunity for autistic scientists… Scientists . Through this fellowship program, we hope to increase autistic representation in the field of autism research and empower a greater number of autistic scientists to pursue long-lasting research careers. The Predoctoral Fellowship … in low resource settings Pre-clinical studies aimed at reducing the most disabling challenges associated with autism Interactions with service systems that can inform systematic policy changes Research that benefits intersectional … Studies that focus on individuals who experience autism with intellectual disability, who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), or those for whom communication solutions are unavailable Letters of Intent are due on or before …
Tips for creating an autism-friendly Thanksgiving… crear un Día de Acción de Gracias respetuoso con el autismo While Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on your blessings and express gratitude for all the wonderful things in life, it can also be very stressful for people with autism and their … saying anything. Once someone starts yelling or acting aggressively, we are out of the boundaries of respect I demand in interactions. Setting up boundaries before I enter a situation gives me guidance on when to leave. Third, identify your … stressful for some people with autism, so it’s important that family members meet them where they are and respect their communication preferences. If the autistic person appears uncomfortable, don’t force them to stay in a certain room, engage …
Social skills and autism… Many children and adults on the autism spectrum need help in learning how to act in different types of social situations. They often have … to be part of the community. What are social skills? Social skills are the rules, customs, and abilities that guide our interactions with other people and the world around us. In general, people tend to “pick up” social skills in the same way … instruction and "teachable moments" with practice in realistic settings Focus on timing and attention Support for enhancing communication and sensory integration Learning behaviors that predict important social outcomes like friendship and …
Autism and eye contact… Today’s answer is by developmental pediatrician Amanda Bennett, behavior analyst Megan Carolan Tomkinson and psychologist Judith Miller. Dr. Bennett is the director of the … – particularly those on the autism spectrum and those who care about them. Using eye contact is an important nonverbal communication behavior that most of us use automatically in social interactions. However, as you describe, making eye contact with others can be very challenging for some people with autism – …
A hopeful future for an overlooked group of the autistic community… Dr. Nathan Call, a researcher at the Marcus Autism Center and member of Autism Speaks’ Autism Care Network (ACNet) , is dedicated to tackling some of the most complex and … the purpose the behavior serves for them. Our research has contributed to the mounting evidence that alternative means of communication can provide autistic people with new skills and coping strategies that help them better express their needs … to be alone for a moment. In response, we taught him to request privacy and helped him understand that sometimes brief interactions with others are necessary. As a result of the intervention, the time he chose to spend with others gradually …