Help
Parent Support
The Parent Support Group, ABC, is in Blackpool - Click here.
Pre-School Advice
Read the pre-school booklet. Click here.
Transitions - moving up school
Transitions is about moving from one level of school to another.
Going on holiday - airport autism advice
Manchester Airport have published a booklet for parents.
Autism
An extract from a paper by Mick Connelly.
Autism, Asperger syndrome, infantile autism, these terms and many more are all used to describe individuals with a particular developmental disability.
Collectively they are referred to as Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Despite the range of terminology used there are common features, which include social impairment, abnormal language or communication and an insistence on sameness.
The social impairment is characterised by a level of social detachment and a lack of responsiveness to other people. The communication problems can range from a total lack of language or communication skills to individuals who may speak fluently but with a voice that lacks intonation or expression. They generally find the complexities of language difficult to understand. Individuals are often intolerant of changes in their environment and routine.
Pupils with an autistic spectrum disorder face great challenges when accessing learning alongside their peers Their range of ability is as great as the learning difficulties they face.
Autism and Asperger Syndrome are the most common examples of autistic spectrum disorder to be found in mainstream schools, however, the term' pupils with autism' is recognised as an over-simplification.
The following social skills may need to be taught specifically. turn taking. complimenting. negotiating responding inviting waiting greeting repairing breakdowns joining others accepting answers of others and accepting success of others. taking the lead following others ideas joking and 'teasing'
PECS - Picture Exchange Communication System,
PECS is communication using pictures of items for people who have difficulty communicating with speech. If you see a car you give a picture of a car to someone who you wish to know about it. This provides the possibility of encouraging the usefulness of communication and eventual use of speech.
It was developed as part of the work undertaken on the Delaware Autistic Program. The Delaware program was founded in 1980. At that time approximately 80% of the pre school children on the project were non-verbal.
Read more about how it is used. Click here.
A few Definitions
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A range of disorders with varying degrees of severity.
A condition of an ASD is marked by difficulty or impairments in communication skills and social interactions, and the presence of repetitive or stereotypical behaviors like hand-flapping.
Autism disorder is the term for a severe condition on this spectrum.
Autism spectrum disorders include autism disorder, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegration disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
The term “autism” is usually used to describe disorders included on the autism spectrum.
Autism
A neurodevelopmental brain disorder that is characterised by difficulties in social interactions and communication (verbal and nonverbal).
People with autism often have non-standard patterns of interest or behavior.
The term “autism” is commonly used as a general term to include several disorders that fall under the category of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) which are sometimes also called pervasive developmental disorders (PDD).
Asperger Syndrome
A neurobiological pervasive developmental disorder that is characterised by deficiencies in social and communication skills.
Individuals with Asperger (or Asperger's) syndrome often have average or above average intelligence and typical language development. Asperger syndrome can be difficult to diagnose.
The above is an amended version of a full glossary that is containe d on: ref: http://autism.healingthresholds.com/glossary
We have no responsibility for items on the above website.
date: 25 November, 2009