Organizations for Autism

There are many different organizations that help people with autism. Some of these organizations include the US Autism and Asperger Association, the Autism Treatment Center of America, the Cure Autism Now Foundation, and the Autism Society of America, which all help to provide support for people with autism.



The US Autism and Asperger Association is a nonprofit organization for autism and asperger education, support and solutions. Their goal is to provide the opportunity for people with these disorders to reach their full potential. USAAA provides: solutions for families through guidance and support, information and resources to make life easier for autistic patients, education on treatment and services, and networking opportunities for parents and educators involved with these disorders (USAAA).



The Autism Treatment Center of America is the treatment center for the Son-Rise program, an effective treatment for children and adults with autism. They also provide training programs for parents and professionals caring for autistic children (Treatment Center).



Cure Autism Now, also known as Autism Speaks, is a program dedicated to funding research for the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism. Autism Speaks works to advocate for the needs of autistic patients, and raise awareness of the disorder (Autism Speaks).


The Autism Society of America helps to improve the lives of people with autism by raising awareness about the daily issues autistic people face. The Autism Society also provides information about the latest treatments, education, and research (Autism Society).


These are only a few organizations out there that support autism; there are many different specialized programs all over the world. All of these groups were created to help the lives of those with autism, and help families dealing with autism to understand their autistic family member and communicate and provide for them better.



Sources:

Autism Treatment Center of America. Web. 20 October 2010.

Autism Speaks. Web. 20 October 2010.

US Autism and Asperger Association. Web. 20 October 2010.

Autism Society of America. Web. 20 October 2010.

A Concoction of Causes

Autism is a disorder that plagues many children and adults across the world. Being able to prevent this disorder would be a huge step for everyone around the globe, as they could take precautions to avoid it. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that there is no know, distinct cause of Autism. Many experts are likely to say that the disorder is merely a product of various environmental or genetic factors. What exactly those factors are is simply speculation and is not even concrete enough to distribute to the public as possible causes. The origin of this disorder, however, is extremely controversial. Though an abundance of research has been done but yielding no definite results, various doctors and individuals have come up with their own theories. One common belief is that Autism is a result of a certain vaccination given to most babies at a very young age. This vaccination is the MMR (Mumps-Measles-Rubella) vaccine, and is thought to create intestinal issues that essentially lead to the development of Autism. Another common theory is that a mercury-based preservative, Thimerosal, is tied to the disorder. Though no distinct cause has been nailed to the development of Autism, most experts can agree on the idea that it is genetic. Families who have any type of history with Autism are more likely to continue to deal with it then those families who have never experienced it before. Thankfully, the interest in finding a cause and cure for this disorder has skyrocketed, so the possibility of uncovering an answer looks bright.

Rudy, Lisa J. "What Causes Autism?" Autism - Signs, Symptoms, Treatments, Resources, Support for Autism. 11 Mar. 2009. Web. 12 Oct. 2010. <http://autism.about.com/od/whatisautism/p/autismcauses.htm>.

-Chandler Hodo

"I Love You, Good Morning"

People with autism usually have a hard time keeping up with the social aspect of their lives. When a person has autism, they have trouble communicating with others in many different ways. Some may have slight speech delays, or other troubles with speaking, and some just have a hard time starting up or maintaing a conversation with a peer ("Autism Society"). A few other problems an autistic person may have with communication are keeping eye contact with the person they are talking to, using hand gestures "such as pointing to an object they want", and repeating phrases that might not make sense to other people ("ComeUnity").

I know a six year old girl, Bella, who has autism. Bella has a hard time making friends with other children because it is difficult for her to keep a conversation going. Her mother, Denise Studstill, explained to me that Bella tries to be social, but it really has to be on her own terms. Like most autistic children, Bella will "make eye contact and hug people when it is comfortable for her to do so. However, if she doesn't want to participate in a social exchange she will shut down completely and close people out" (Studstill). This is common for autistic people, and it makes it extremely hard for them to make friends, because sometimes they have almost no interest in being social. Bella doesn't really have any friends. She goes to an autism therapy school with a few other kids in her class, but it is still hard for her to talk to them and make friends. "Bella will play near other children and try to copy what they are doing, but because she can't have a two-way conversation it is hard for her to develop friendships" (Studstill).

Although she doesn't have friends, Bella is still a happy, giggly girl. She is very loving, and is always giving out hugs and kisses. Bella does something that a lot of people with autism do, which is repeat things they hear. "In the mornings when I wake her up I say to her, 'I love you, good morning.' Now she can't stop saying those two sentences, no matter what time of day it is" (Studstill).

Bella's language is still developing and will continue to grow as she gets older, just like other autistic kids. Autisic children gain communication skills daily, but unfortunately those skills will never get up to a normal level. Having these speech issues is probably the main thing that keeps people with autism from being social. Since autistic children can't act completely normal, other kids notice the way the autistic child acts and may try to avoid them, which makes it even harder for autistic kids to be social and make friends. Once autistic kids get a little older they begin to make friends, and usually live happy, healthy, and successful lives.

Sources:

"What are the Most Common Characteristics of Autism?" Autism Society. Web. 15 October 2010.

"Communication in Autism." ComeUnity. Web. 15 October 2010.

Studstill, Denise. Personal Interview. 17 October 2010.

Picture Source: "Ray's First Day of the Season." DeviantArt. Web. 19 October 2010.

Just Like You and Me

Should autistic children be mainstreamed in a classroom with their non-disabled peers? Autistic children should be allowed access to the same learning environment as those students without disabilities. I have an autistic student in one of my classes. The main difference is that he sometimes needs extra instruction. Our teacher is aware of his learning disability and is able to adjust the curriculum to help him, while still challenging the rest of the class.

Not everyone is pro-mainstreaming; some people believe that autistic students should be placed in a special education classroom. One website said, "While mildly autistic children can do well in regular classroom settings, most autistic children benefit from specially designed classrooms and lesson plans" ("Autism"). It is important to remember "what may work for one autistic child may no help another at all" ("Autism").

Advocates of mainstreaming believe that autistic students should be give the opportunity to be mainstreamed into regular classrooms. The benefits of mainstreaming are more than educational. The social benefits of mainstreaming allow the student to interact with their peers. It also promotes acceptance of the disabled student within their peer group.

Autistic children are just like any other child. They have the same wants and desires. They want to learn just like we do. Because autism affects the way they learn, accommodations must be made to meet their needs. However, it does not matter what we say, the law says that all children with disabilities have "the right to a free and appropriate education" ("The Legal Rights...").

Sources:

"Autism." Love to Know. Web. 12 October 2010.

"The Legal Rights of Children with Autism." Medscape Today. Web. 12 October 2010.

Picture Source:

"Untitled Photo." Love to Know. Web. 12 October 2010.

A Toll for All

In our lifetime Autism has been termed an epidemic. According to Cecelia McCarton M.D., it’s “actually a family epidemic” (Doheny). When you have an autistic child there is an astronomical effect on family dynamics. The degree of challenges varies depending on the severity of the Autism disorder. For instance my friend, Zach Lauck, has gone to state music competitions playing the saxophone in Southlake Carrol’s band. He has Asberger’s Syndrome which is one of the mildest forms of Autism. He is the youngest of three children and his family looks like any other that attend my church. Families with autistic children look normal, but they must endure struggles beyond what we expect.
The first issue affecting the family has to do with parental expectations. Patricia Wright, an expert on family relations says, “After a diagnosis of autism, parents’ expectations change” (Doheny). Experts tell us that many parents naturally expect their child to go to college or to pursue a career and when they have to consider these things not happening there is a real sense of loss. All the financial and social pressures of raising an autistic child along with the time for doctors’ appointments and therapies place a major strain on a marriage. There has even been an “urban legend” statistic claiming that “parents of children with autism have an 80 percent divorce rate” (Shute). U.S. News Contributor Nancy Shute reports “parents of a child with autism are no more likely to divorce than are parents in unaffected families” (Shute). Mothers often respond to the diagnosis by being “profoundly sad” while “men often retreat into work” (Shute). The sad truth can be avoided if both mother and father make time for each other and learn to be open with their feelings and struggles.
The second family issue is how the autistic child affects his siblings. In a recent study published by the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, researchers found that siblings of autistic children “were better adjusted psychosocially and emotionally than siblings of non-disabled children” (Doheny). It seems that most parents with autistic children understand the intense need to “spend one-on-one time” with their children (Doheney). Often times the siblings take on the role of protector of their autistic sibling and they form a very close bond with each other. However, sometimes siblings do worry about what their friends will think of their autistic sibling when coming to the house for a “first date or sleepover” (Dohoney). Children can be afraid of other kids making fun of their brother or sister with autism and then also have to deal with the guilt for having those feelings.
One area that I had never really considered was the fact that siblings of an autistic child may have worries about having to be the caretaker for their brother or sister later in life. Most of the time our parents will pass away before “we do but our brothers and sisters are present for our whole life” (Evans). Parents need to have an open and honest discussion with their non-autistic children about what their expected role, if any, might be in caring for their sibling (Evans).
There is a lot to be learned about the difficulties of dealing with autistic children and the stress and strain that families must deal with. It would be an invaluable service for teenagers to volunteer to do child care for these families so that parents can get some rest from their demanding routines. Though you may not be personally impacted by autism, don’t be afraid to do your research and help out.

Sources:
Doheny, Kathleen. “Autism and Family Relations.” WebMD. Web. 10 October 2010.


Evans, Rachel. “The Impacts of Autism on the Family.” The Autistic Child. Web. 10 October 2010.


Shute, Nancy. “Autism Doesn’t Doom Parents to Divorce.” U.S. News. Web. 10 October 2010.

Autism Diagnosis

Autism is a condition that affects many people all over the globe. However, the cause of this condition remains a mystery to all, despite the many efforts of scientists and medical researchers everywhere. Thanks to advancing technology and resources, those searching for the cause of this condition have come up with a few different theories. However, since they are not firm and proven, these theories have been viewed as controversial by many. One theory is that autism is formed due to exposure to a certain immunization, the MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine. In 1998, a british doctor, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, suggested that the combination of the viruses can cause many permanent problems in children, one being autism. Another theory is that exposure to a mercury-based preservative caed Thimerosal, which is used in some vaccines, is the culprit. Some scientists suggest that autism is a result of genetics, as they have noticed a pattern of autism or related disabilities in families. The loop whole in this theory is that a single gene responsible for this condition has yet o be identified. Researchers are also investigating the possibility of complications during pregnancy, as well as environmental factors such as exposure to toxic chemicals.
Because there is not a proven, specific cause of autism, there is no cure for the condition. However, studies show that if diagnosed at an early stage and if treated appropriately immediately, the outcomes are significantly greater. Individuals who suffer from autism may lead a different kind of life, but they still have the ability to lead a long, meaningful and healthy life.
-Chandler Hodo

Riding for Success

Autism is a brain disorder that affects millions of people each day. "Today, it is estimated that one in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined" ("Symptoms of Autism"). Autism has not personally affected my life, but it has had an impact on the lives of families that I know. I work at a therapeutic riding center, Haven's Horses. There, we work with children and adults that are either physically and or mentally handicapped. We strive to help them overcome their handicap and live the most "normal" life possible. The most common handicap that we encounter is autism. We treat a seven year old boy with autism. For confidentiality reasons, I will call him Blake.

Blake has been diagnosed with mild autism. He has been receiving therapy at Haven's Horses for a year and he loves it! When he first began therapy, Blake was physically aggressive, yet shy in social situations. This is common for an autistic child; they tend to find social interactions difficult and when placed in strange situations they can become physically violent. Blake absolutely loves riding. In the beginning, when it was necessary to interact with the other riders and the workers, he struggled. He became very shy and would not communicate his needs. Blake would cry because he was so frustrated, and this frustration would lead to aggression. At this point, he would begin to hit us. This posed another problem. Not only did we have to encourage Blake to be more social, but we needed to encourage him not to hit when he became discouraged. Needless to say, we knew this would take quite some time. To our surprise, and to the surprise of his mom, it did not take long at all.

Helping Blake become more social and less aggressive took four months (16 riding lessons) to complete. The process was slow at first, but as time went on he became more willing to try new things. Also, as time went on, I became attached to Blake and his family. It became routine for me to be there before his class started so we could talk about the events of the past week. It became routine for me to lead his horse during his lesson. It became routine for me to be the "fun" worker, but also the one who encouraged him to complete his tasks. Blake and I grew close during his therapy and I am so proud of his accomplishments.

At first glance, Blake is an average seven year old boy. He loves to be loud, get dirty and have fun. Over the past year, his mom and I have also become close. I have had the chance to talk to her before and after his lessons. Blake's mom, Sarah, told me, "When we first found out Blake was autistic, we knew we had to do something. We brought him out here [Haven's Horses] in hopes that it would help him overcome his shyness. Look at him now; he is nowhere near the shy and aggressive Blake he once was. He is the new happy and loving Blake." These changes have not come without a cost to the family. They live thirty minutes away from Haven's Horses and must make this long drive each week. That's an hour in the car with a sometimes hyper, sometimes frustrated autistic child. "Yes, it can seem like a long drive when we are either on our way here or leaving, but when he is here with you and the other workers, the drive is worth it!" Sarah told me after one of Blake's lessons.

Working with Blake has been and still is a rewarding activity. I have seen him grow and achieve his goals. In this aspect, autism has had an impact on my life.

Sources:

"Johnson, Sarah." Personal Interview. 16 September 2010.

"Symptoms of Autism." Autism Speaks. Web. 2 October 2010.

A Gamut of Treatments

Treatments for Autism are varied and full of challenges. No single program can be said to work with every child diagnosed with autism. However, one idea that all seem to agree on is that early intervention with young children is the key to making the most progress with this disease. Each person with autism displays different “physical, emotional, behavioral and social issues” (“What’s the Best”). Autism, a once rare disorder, is now gaining attention in the medical community.

Only “two treatments available for autism are scientifically proven” (“What’s the Best”). The first, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), is a therapeutic approach using operant conditioning. It is extremely structured and the “child is not rewarded unless he attempts to behave in an appropriate manner” (“Treatment For.”). This approach is very “labor intensive and the one on one sessions make it extremely expensive to use in our public school system” (“Treatment For”).

The second proven technique is the use of medications such as Risperdal. This drug balances the dopamine receptors so that students can “think more clearly and act less aggressively” (“Autism”). My own father was a pharmaceutical manager for a company that sold this medicine in 13 states. While this medicine helps to regulate behavior and emotion, no medicine has been developed to cure autism.

Most school systems offer parents therapies for their children such as “occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language therapy” (“Treatment For”). The Autism Society requests that all parents look at the strengths and weaknesses of their particular child and “try several approaches to treatment” (“Treatment Options”). No one treatment can be said to be far superior to all the rest. One controversial treatment is the changing of diet and the use of vitamins and supplements to treat children with autism spectrum disorder. This regimen, however, “should not be done without the advice of a health care practitioner, as side effects may be severe” (“Treatment For”).

After researching about the many different treatment options I began to think about my own future family. If I had a child diagnosed with autism I would take the courses necessary to be certified in the ABA therapy, thereby devoting my full energies to helping him function at the highest level possible.

Sources:

“Autism.” The New York Times Health Information. Web. 26 September 2010.

“Treatment for Autism, Autism Prognosis.” Neurology Channel. Web. 26 September 2010.

“Treatment Options.” Autism Society. Web. 26 September 2010.

“What’s the Best Treatment For Autism?” Health's Disease and Condition. Web. 26 September 2010.

Picture Source: “Treatment for Autism/ADHD.” Chimney Rock Medical Pavilion.. Web. 26 September 2010.