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May Featured Topic: Anxiety in Individuals with ASDs

During the month of May we are going to be exploring the topic of anxiety in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). We will be presenting current research related to the treatment of anxiety and recommending books on this topic. In addition to this, we are asking you to share your personal stories in relation to autism and anxiety (i.e. how are you as an individual with an ASD, your family member, or your students affected by anxiety). You can share your story by posting it as a comment below. What is anxiety? There are many varieties of anxiety disorders including ...

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects people in just the way the label states. Every person is impacted to a varying degree of intensity in a variety of areas; therefore, it is difficult to describe in a singular definition. It is important to remember that autism isn’t something a person “has”, it’s not a disease that can be cured. Rather it is a different way of being that is neither bad nor aberrant…it’s just different. People with ASD may have different ways of moving, sensing the world, communicating, socializing or learning. They may also express their interests or fascinations in a way ...

A Higher Rate of Autism – 1 in 100?!?

Many of you have probably heard the news about the two government studies which concluded the rate of autism is probably closer to 1 in 100, not the 1 in 150 previously reported. This number includes all spectrum disorders including classic autism, Asperger's, PDD-NOS, Rett's Syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. These findings are very interesting because they indicate the rate of autism spectrum disorders is continuing to rise. This is very important especially when considering public policy, health care, and research. If the rate of ASDs are continuing to rise, there needs to be more research into the genetic ...

Treating Anxiety in Adolescents with ASD

[caption id="attachment_1443" align="alignleft" width="289" caption="From: http://anxietyagoraphobia.info"][/caption] In a pilot study by Susan W. White, Thomas Ollendick, Lawrence Scahill, Donald Oswald and Anne Marie Albano, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, the authors were evaluating the efficacy of a modified cognitive-behavioral treatment program to address anxiety and social skills in adolescents with ASD. Prior to treatment the participants were evaluated to assess their specific anxiety-related characteristics. They all had anxiety around social interactions and each had another form of clinically diagnosable anxiety disorders (i.e. generalized anxiety disorder, specific triggers, etc.). The treatment included individual sessions to address specific anxiety ...

Children with autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder affects 1 in 150 children. It is 4 times more common in boys that in girls. Many children are diagnosed by the time they are 2 1/2 years old. ASD affects peoples social interactions and communication, and is typically characterized by repetitive behaviors. ASD, like it's name implies, is a spectrum disorder which affects people in different ways and to varying degrees. Children with autism are children first and should be treated accordingly. Unfortunately, this is not always the case in many school settings and in the community. Many attributes of people ...

Celebrating the little accomplishments

When teaching in the classroom, keeping an eye on the big picture, sometimes we forget to celebrate the little accomplishments that are students make. This is unfortunate, and often detrimental, because for some of my students the little accomplishments in our eyes are sometimes some of the biggest for them. We need to learn to step back and celebrate every little accomplishment through the use of positive reinforcement so the children with whom we are working will continue to be successful. [caption id="attachment_296" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Celebrate the little things"][/caption]Positive reinforcement is the addition of a stimulus in response to a ...

Show me what I need to do – Visual Schedules

For children with autism, visual schedules can be the key to success. Rather than telling them what to do, many times its important to show them in the form of visual schedules. Visual schedules can vary widely depending on the ability level of the child. They can be all text, symbols, pictures or objects. They can show the schedule for the entire day or for a single activity. The most important thing to realize is that even if the first form of a visual schedule doesn't seem to work well, that doesn't mean that visual schedules won't work. [caption id="attachment_253" ...

Inclusion…are we doing everything we can to make it work?

As many of you know there is a movement within the schools to ensure that children with autism and other disabilities are included in the general education classroom. As a teacher in a school district I find myself asking the question: Are we actually doing everything we can to make it work? The answer that I keep finding is: No! We are most definitely not doing everything we can. Unfortunately, there are presently many barriers that are making true inclusive education impossible. There are the issues of: inadequate funding, ineffective structuring of caseloads, extremely high caseloads for teachers, and untrained ...

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism: The Musical

Autism: The Musical was produced by HBO. It is a documentary of 5 families and their children with autism who work together to put on a musical. It is beautiful and inspirational movie and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. Autism: The Musical Website