What is Autism?
Autism is an intellectual disability that presents deficits in social communication and interaction skills, and is also classified by restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities (Hallahan 236). In order to be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, there must be deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication skills used for social interactions, lack of social "give-and-take," as well as a "failure to develop or maintain peer relationships appropriate to developmental level" (Hallahan 236). Further requirements for diagnosis involves two of the following: stereotyped behaviors such as repetitive movements or verbal behaviors, an excessive need for routine, and/or narrowed fixations (Hallahan 236).
IDEA Definition:
Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three that adversely affects a child’s education performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotypical movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences. The term does not apply if a child’s educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the child has an emotional disturbance.(sec. 300.7)
Characteristics of Autism:
• Overselectivity – Pays attention to one detail of the ’larger picture’
• Social Withdrawal – Prefers to play and be on his or her own
• Affect Isolation – Do not respond with a wide range of emotions
• Stereotypic Behavior or Self-Injurious Behavior – Repetitive motor movements
• Impaired or Delayed Speech - (This is where PECS comes in!)
• Low Intelligence – (About seventy percent have IQ’s below 70)
• Gaze Aversion
• An insistence on sameness and elaborate routines – Familiar routines are obsessively important to them – Often items must be arranged in symmetrical fashion
(Wehby 3)
IDEA Definition:
Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three that adversely affects a child’s education performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotypical movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences. The term does not apply if a child’s educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the child has an emotional disturbance.(sec. 300.7)
Characteristics of Autism:
• Overselectivity – Pays attention to one detail of the ’larger picture’
• Social Withdrawal – Prefers to play and be on his or her own
• Affect Isolation – Do not respond with a wide range of emotions
• Stereotypic Behavior or Self-Injurious Behavior – Repetitive motor movements
• Impaired or Delayed Speech - (This is where PECS comes in!)
• Low Intelligence – (About seventy percent have IQ’s below 70)
• Gaze Aversion
• An insistence on sameness and elaborate routines – Familiar routines are obsessively important to them – Often items must be arranged in symmetrical fashion
(Wehby 3)