09-24-2007, 04:14 PM
This is a news article, it seems unbiased, but because it has used Autism speaks as one of it's resources I haven't put the link. ( also it calls Autism a disease but otherwise it seems OK)
Quote:
LIFE GUIDE: SARAH LINDNER
Understanding autism
With diagnoses on the rise, it's time to learn more about this complex disorder.
Listen to this article or download audio file.Click-2-Listen
Sunday, September 23, 2007
One in 150.
That's how many U.S. children have autism or a related disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With diagnoses on the rise, attention is also growing. Shows like "24" and "House" have had plot lines involving autism. Last week, actresses Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete appeared on "Oprah" to talk about their sons with autism.
Expect to hear even more about it in Austin, where the University of Texas Autism Project (a research and service program) is getting a new home at the renovated north end of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
But autism is not just something you'll read about or see on TV. If your life is not already directly affected by autism, it will be. Mine is. A child in your family might be diagnosed, or your neighbor's child, or your child's classmate. Whatever the case, here are a few ideas for relating with compassion to children with autism and their families. The smallest kindness you or your child shows can have a huge impact.
This column draws on discussions with Shelly Grabe, Kim Stockenbojer, Ann Hart and Stacey Quisenberry, mothers of children with autism, as well as another mother who asked that we not use her name. At Zilker Elementary School, where Grabe's son Colter is in first grade, I spoke with Principal Brenda McCullar, assistant principal Jane Kronke, special education teacher Nilsa Quintanilla and Colter's classroom teacher, Stacey Shapiro. I also drew on my own experiences, as well as those of close friends and family, and research on the Web sites listed in the sidebar below.
What autism is
According to the Autism Society of America: "Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain." The key areas it affects are communication and social interaction. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning there is wide variation in how it affects people. A severely affected child might be unable to speak; a child on the other end of the spectrum might seem mostly "normal" but eccentric. Asperger's Syndrome is sometimes considered a mild form of autism, but it's officially a separate disorder. Autism-spectrum disorders are four times more common in boys than in girls. Scientists don't know what causes autism, and there's no cure. We'll talk more about specific symptoms, but it's important to remember that kids with autism are more like other kids than they are different, and that autism is only a part of who a child is.
What autism isn't
It isn't the same in every person. A case you see in the media — whether it's renowned animal researcher Temple Grandin or an aggressive teen boy on a talk show — represents only part of the spectrum.
It doesn't automatically mean that a person is mentally challenged. Children with autism can have average, above-average and even genius-level IQs.
And it doesn't necessarily mean that a person is a savant like Dustin Hoffman's character in "Rain Man." Grabe, tongue firmly in cheek, says she tells people her son's "special talent" is burping on command.
It's not a made-up diagnosis. You've probably heard people rant that "every kid has a disorder now." Autism is diagnosed only after extensive tests. It's not a copout by parents trying to justify a child's difficult behavior.
Wired differently
"Why won't he hug me?" "Why is he scared of that noise?" "Why did he throw a fit when we left early?" Children with autism process the world very differently than most people do.
Think of all the subtleties of social interactions that are second nature to you: interpreting body language, making eye contact, listening empathetically. To children with autism, these things seem like a foreign language. Just as you couldn't learn, say, Japanese all at once, they can't learn social interactions automatically. Though your other loved ones might hug you instinctively, a child with autism might still be figuring out when exactly it's appropriate to hug someone. Or he might not know when you're joking because he can't interpret your facial expressions.
Children with autism can be very literal and make blunt remarks. They don't know how to put themselves in other's shoes and imagine how their words might hurt someone's feelings.
Sensory issues are common. A noise that's innocuous to you might be unbearable to children with autism, or a common task, like tooth-brushing, might be painful. They can get overstimulated in a noisy or chaotic situation. If a child with autism comes to a gathering at your house, he or she might need to take breaks for chill time.
Kids might also use repetitive behaviors, like hand-flapping, to regulate their emotions.
Some children can be very attached to order and routine. They don't like surprises.
Some children with Asperger's have areas of intense interest. They devour information about the solar system, or trains or sports statistics. They love to talk to you about these topics but can't tell from your body language if you're bored. It's helpful to remember that this is the child's way of reaching out to you.
They're not 'bad'
Wherever a child falls on the spectrum of autism, there are challenging behaviors to deal with.
If a child has trouble communicating verbally, he may express his needs in other ways, like screaming or throwing a tantrum.
A behavior that could seem rude, defiant or spoiled isn't deliberate. The child isn't trying to make you mad. The behavior makes sense in terms of how he's processing the world.
If you're wondering why a parent doesn't correct a child with autism over a certain behavior, keep in mind that the parent's focus might be on another area. Tackling everything at once would be overwhelming.
None of this means that children with autism have a "free pass" to get away anything. Their parents want them to learn the behaviors they need to be independent. But that's a longer process for a child with autism, and parents have to teach and discipline differently (for example, the child might not understand the idea of consequences).
Don't give the "you're a bad parent" stare when you see a child having a tantrum, touching items on a store shelf or acting out in other ways. "Most parents find this the hardest thing," Stockenbojer said. "The looks of disapproval and the remarks about your parenting or why your child behaves this way. Know that we are trying to exist in a world with a child who struggles every day with the things most people take for granted."
For kids
Being around children with autism (or other special needs) can teach your own kids compassion, teamwork, patience and sensitivity. You don't have to explain to them in clinical detail what autism is, but you don't have to pretend that nothing is different, either. Simple explanations of specific behaviors (like 'His brain is telling him it's really loud in here. That's why he took a break outside') will probably do the job with younger children. You could also remind a child that we all take longer to learn certain things: 'Brandon is taking longer to learn how to talk. It's like how you worked extra hard to learn to swim.' Instead of admonishments to 'be nice' or not talk about any differences, a better approach is specific, positive reinforcement: 'I like how Emily is showing Brandon how to play her game.' In Colter Grabe's classroom, as well as Zilker Elementary as a whole, educators said they place an emphasis on appreciating everyone. Finally, there are many books to help explain autism to children. One of the best-known is 'Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism' by Laurie Lears and Karen Ritz.
Understanding autism
With diagnoses on the rise, it's time to learn more about this complex disorder.
Listen to this article or download audio file.Click-2-Listen
Sunday, September 23, 2007
One in 150.
That's how many U.S. children have autism or a related disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With diagnoses on the rise, attention is also growing. Shows like "24" and "House" have had plot lines involving autism. Last week, actresses Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete appeared on "Oprah" to talk about their sons with autism.
Expect to hear even more about it in Austin, where the University of Texas Autism Project (a research and service program) is getting a new home at the renovated north end of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
But autism is not just something you'll read about or see on TV. If your life is not already directly affected by autism, it will be. Mine is. A child in your family might be diagnosed, or your neighbor's child, or your child's classmate. Whatever the case, here are a few ideas for relating with compassion to children with autism and their families. The smallest kindness you or your child shows can have a huge impact.
This column draws on discussions with Shelly Grabe, Kim Stockenbojer, Ann Hart and Stacey Quisenberry, mothers of children with autism, as well as another mother who asked that we not use her name. At Zilker Elementary School, where Grabe's son Colter is in first grade, I spoke with Principal Brenda McCullar, assistant principal Jane Kronke, special education teacher Nilsa Quintanilla and Colter's classroom teacher, Stacey Shapiro. I also drew on my own experiences, as well as those of close friends and family, and research on the Web sites listed in the sidebar below.
What autism is
According to the Autism Society of America: "Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain." The key areas it affects are communication and social interaction. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning there is wide variation in how it affects people. A severely affected child might be unable to speak; a child on the other end of the spectrum might seem mostly "normal" but eccentric. Asperger's Syndrome is sometimes considered a mild form of autism, but it's officially a separate disorder. Autism-spectrum disorders are four times more common in boys than in girls. Scientists don't know what causes autism, and there's no cure. We'll talk more about specific symptoms, but it's important to remember that kids with autism are more like other kids than they are different, and that autism is only a part of who a child is.
What autism isn't
It isn't the same in every person. A case you see in the media — whether it's renowned animal researcher Temple Grandin or an aggressive teen boy on a talk show — represents only part of the spectrum.
It doesn't automatically mean that a person is mentally challenged. Children with autism can have average, above-average and even genius-level IQs.
And it doesn't necessarily mean that a person is a savant like Dustin Hoffman's character in "Rain Man." Grabe, tongue firmly in cheek, says she tells people her son's "special talent" is burping on command.
It's not a made-up diagnosis. You've probably heard people rant that "every kid has a disorder now." Autism is diagnosed only after extensive tests. It's not a copout by parents trying to justify a child's difficult behavior.
Wired differently
"Why won't he hug me?" "Why is he scared of that noise?" "Why did he throw a fit when we left early?" Children with autism process the world very differently than most people do.
Think of all the subtleties of social interactions that are second nature to you: interpreting body language, making eye contact, listening empathetically. To children with autism, these things seem like a foreign language. Just as you couldn't learn, say, Japanese all at once, they can't learn social interactions automatically. Though your other loved ones might hug you instinctively, a child with autism might still be figuring out when exactly it's appropriate to hug someone. Or he might not know when you're joking because he can't interpret your facial expressions.
Children with autism can be very literal and make blunt remarks. They don't know how to put themselves in other's shoes and imagine how their words might hurt someone's feelings.
Sensory issues are common. A noise that's innocuous to you might be unbearable to children with autism, or a common task, like tooth-brushing, might be painful. They can get overstimulated in a noisy or chaotic situation. If a child with autism comes to a gathering at your house, he or she might need to take breaks for chill time.
Kids might also use repetitive behaviors, like hand-flapping, to regulate their emotions.
Some children can be very attached to order and routine. They don't like surprises.
Some children with Asperger's have areas of intense interest. They devour information about the solar system, or trains or sports statistics. They love to talk to you about these topics but can't tell from your body language if you're bored. It's helpful to remember that this is the child's way of reaching out to you.
They're not 'bad'
Wherever a child falls on the spectrum of autism, there are challenging behaviors to deal with.
If a child has trouble communicating verbally, he may express his needs in other ways, like screaming or throwing a tantrum.
A behavior that could seem rude, defiant or spoiled isn't deliberate. The child isn't trying to make you mad. The behavior makes sense in terms of how he's processing the world.
If you're wondering why a parent doesn't correct a child with autism over a certain behavior, keep in mind that the parent's focus might be on another area. Tackling everything at once would be overwhelming.
None of this means that children with autism have a "free pass" to get away anything. Their parents want them to learn the behaviors they need to be independent. But that's a longer process for a child with autism, and parents have to teach and discipline differently (for example, the child might not understand the idea of consequences).
Don't give the "you're a bad parent" stare when you see a child having a tantrum, touching items on a store shelf or acting out in other ways. "Most parents find this the hardest thing," Stockenbojer said. "The looks of disapproval and the remarks about your parenting or why your child behaves this way. Know that we are trying to exist in a world with a child who struggles every day with the things most people take for granted."
For kids
Being around children with autism (or other special needs) can teach your own kids compassion, teamwork, patience and sensitivity. You don't have to explain to them in clinical detail what autism is, but you don't have to pretend that nothing is different, either. Simple explanations of specific behaviors (like 'His brain is telling him it's really loud in here. That's why he took a break outside') will probably do the job with younger children. You could also remind a child that we all take longer to learn certain things: 'Brandon is taking longer to learn how to talk. It's like how you worked extra hard to learn to swim.' Instead of admonishments to 'be nice' or not talk about any differences, a better approach is specific, positive reinforcement: 'I like how Emily is showing Brandon how to play her game.' In Colter Grabe's classroom, as well as Zilker Elementary as a whole, educators said they place an emphasis on appreciating everyone. Finally, there are many books to help explain autism to children. One of the best-known is 'Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism' by Laurie Lears and Karen Ritz.