What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability;that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.
A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified , and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder.
How Is Autism Diagnosed
Diagnosing ASD isnt as simple as a blood test or physical medical exam. Instead, doctors rely on your descriptions of your childs behavior and development, along with their careful observations of your childs behavior in order to evaluate whether they exhibit ASD. Early detection and diagnosis of ASD are important because they can help you get the support your child needs as early on in their development as possible.
To evaluate for ASD, your pediatrician may ask questions about your childs development and behavioral patterns such as how they play, communicate, learn, and act. This can happen over the course of several visits with the pediatrician, or it may be a quicker process, depending on your childs unique circumstances and developmental progress. As a parent, its up to you to voice your concerns about any developmental or cognitive issues you observe in your child so their pediatrician can help you form a treatment and support plan.
Since autism is a broad spectrum disorder , a diagnosis can include the following disorders, all included within the autism spectrum:
- Aspergers Syndrome
- Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified
Successfully Receive Social Security Disability Benefits With Autism
Families can often make sacrifices to support their children and make sure they live joyful and productive lives. When a family has an autistic child, sometimes those sacrifices financially increase in order to improve their childs quality of life through needs such as doctor visits and therapy. Luckily, the Social Security Administration offers disability benefits
Families can often make sacrifices to support their children and make sure they live joyful and productive lives. When a family has an autistic child, sometimes those sacrifices financially increase in order to improve their childs quality of life through needs such as doctor visits and therapy. Luckily, the Social Security Administration offers disability benefits to help those families with the medical and living costs of getting help for autism. As the application process can have its ups and downs, fully understanding it can be extremely useful to successfully file a disability claim.
Disability Benefit Programs
The Social Security Administration offers two types of disability benefits programs to help families and individuals: Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income.
For Adults:
- They cant do the type work that they did before;
- They cant do other types of work because of their medical condition; and
- The condition will last for at least one year.
How to Prepare
Application Process for Autism
Now Its Your Turn
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If You Take Medication Or Have Treatment For Your Disability
The legal test is that you should look at the impact of your impairment without any medication or treatment. Treatment includes things like counselling as well as medication. For example if you have arthritis and use a walking stick, think about how hard it would be for you to walk without it.
If you have a sight impairment which can be cured by wearing glasses or contact lenses, youll need to think about how your day-to-day activities are affected when youre wearing them.
What To Say & Not To Say
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People with intellectual or developmental disabilities may find it hard to do many things most of us take for granted.
These disabilities can mildly or profoundly limit their ability to learn, socialize and take care of their everyday needs.
You may not be able to know that someone has this disability unless you are told, or you notice the way they act, ask questions or use body language.
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Can People With Autism Receive The Disability Tax Credit
Autism is a developmental disorder that exists on a spectrum. From mild to severe, and everything in between, each diagnosis of autism is unique.;This is why autism, as a disability, does not automatically make one eligible for the Disability Tax Credit Certificate. The spectrum is broad and the symptoms of this condition are sporadic in some cases.
Social skills, language abilities, and behaviour are common symptoms of autism. This can affect how a person with autism interacts with other people. In addition, sensory issues may cause tremors or constant movement.
It can be challenging to know whether or not a person is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. By reviewing the qualifying factors and exploring a few examples, it may clarify if an individuals case ought to qualify for the benefits program.
Is Autism Considered An Emotional Disability
Previously, we discussed emotional behavioral disorder and what kinds of disorders qualify as EBD as well as what their symptoms are. Autism and EBD are not the same, but they are easily confused because students who suffer from EBD and autism are frequently placed in the same classes in school, and some of the symptoms are similar. Here, we discuss broadly what autism is and how it can be distinguished from EBD.
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that falls on a spectrum, so not every autistic individual will suffer from the same symptoms or level of impairment. Getting the correct diagnosis can prove difficult, especially if autistic individuals also have EBDboth disorders include problems with social interaction, behavior, and communication. Doctors may diagnose one condition but not the other or diagnose the wrong one, either of which could hamper appropriate treatment.
The most common symptoms of autism include the following: severe language delays; serious delays in early childhood developmental milestones; reluctance to make eye contact; no pretend play; problems making friends; preference to be alone and not interact with peers; appearance of aloofness; requires strict routine; obsessive or repetitive behavior; sensory issues; frequent irrational tantrums; problems with attention; and difficulty understanding verbal instructions.
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Social Interaction Of People With Autism
People with autism often do not relate well with other people, have difficulty learning to play with others, may not imitate well, and have difficulty learning how to respond to social games. Manifestations of impaired social interaction include avoidance of eye contact, lack of interest in simple social activities, impaired awareness of the presence of others, minimal interest in establishing friendships or lack of understanding about rules of social interaction.
Ssdi Vs Ssi Disability For Adults And Children On The Autism Spectrum
Children with autism may be eligible for SSI disability benefits if their family’s income and assets aren’t above the SSI limits. For more information, see our section on financial eligibility for SSI.
An adult with autism syndrome can apply for SSI or SSDI. However, SSDI is available only to those with a work history from jobs that paid Social Security taxes. For adults, keep in mind that satisfying the requirements of a disability listing is not the only way to be approved for disability benefits. Individuals whose claims are not approved on the basis of meeting a listing may still be approved on the basis of what is known as a medical-vocational allowance.
An “adult child” of a parent receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, meaning a child over the age of 18 who has had autism before turning age 22, can get SSDI benefits on the earning record of the parent. For more information, see our article on disability benefits for adult children.
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If Youre Not Sure If Your Impairment Is Substantial Or Long Term
Get advice from your doctor or other medical professional. You could ask them to tell you:
- how long your impairment is likely to last and whether its likely to get worse
- what would happen if you stopped your medication or other treatment
- if there are any activities you should avoid
You doctor might also be able to help you prove you have a disability if you need to later on.
You can also try keeping a diary for a while – write down what you do, what you find difficult and why. This might make it clearer how much your impairment is affecting your normal day-to-day activities. Your friends and family might also be able to help you think of ways youre affected.
Who Has A Disability Under The Ada
To be protected from disability discrimination under the ADA, an individual must meet the disability definition.;The definition of disability under the ADA is as follows:
An individual must meet one or more of these prongs to be an individual with disability under the ADA. When the ADA was amended in 2008, Congress explicitly rejected a series of United States Supreme Court cases that had narrowly interpreted the statutory definition of disability.;Although the 2008 amendments did not substantively change the statutory disability definition itself, they did clarify that it was the intent of Congress that the focus be on whether discrimination had occurred not on whether the person was in fact substantially limited by an impairment.;
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Eeoc V Randstad Us Lp
Randstad US is a national employment referral and placement company. The company refused to hire an applicant for a lab technician position because of his Aspergers syndrome. Initially, the applicant had been fast tracked through the application process but once he disclosed his ASD, he was told the position was on hold and he was not hired although the company continued to recruit for the job. The EEOC attempted to reach an agreement with the company after receiving a complaint from the applicant but when that was unsuccessful, filed in federal court. The consent decree that resulted required that Randstad pay the applicant $60,000 as well as take several remedial steps to comply with the ADA.
Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified
The category of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified is used when the child exhibits impairment in the development of social interaction, or verbal and non-verbal communication or when stereotyped behaviour or activities are present but the criteria for any specific pervasive developmental disorder is not met.
Why should I hire a person with a disability? Can they do the job?
A person with a disability can do the job just like anyone else providing they have been supported with reasonable accommodation.
Will my WSIB premiums go up?
According to the Workplace Safety Insurance Board, your premiums cannot be increased on the basis that some of your workers have disabilities. Workers with disabilities have excellent safety records on the job.
What should I know about interviewing someone with a disability?
Most people are willing to talk about their disability and how it will affect their work. If someone does not disclose their disability, keep the conversation focused on Do you require any accommodation to assist you to be fully productive? Also, if a potential employee is referred by one of the agencies providing employment services for persons with disabilities, a counsellor or job coach can offer to assist with the interview process.
Will they need to take a lot of time away from work?
Actually, most persons with disabilities have the same or better record for attendance on the job. section.
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Repetitive And Restrictive Behaviour
With its unwritten rules, the world can seem a very unpredictable and confusing place to autistic people. This is why they often;prefer to have;routines;so that they know what is going to happen. They may want to travel the same way to and from school or work, wear the same clothes or eat exactly the same food for breakfast.;
Autistic people may also repeat movements;such as hand flapping, rocking or the repetitive use of an object such as twirling a pen or opening and closing a door. Autistic people often engage in these behaviours to help calm themselves when they are stressed or anxious, but many autistic people do it because they find it enjoyable.;
Change to routine can also be very distressing for autistic people and make them very anxious. It could be having to adjust to big events like Christmas or changing schools, facing uncertainty at work, or something simpler like;a bus detour;that can trigger their anxiety.;
Read more about repetitive behaviours and dealing with change here
Can I Work With Autism
Autism is a mental disorder marked by an unusual preoccupation with yourself leading to the detriment of communication, the ability to imagine, and the ability to interact socially with others. Obviously, adults with autism have a difficult time performing any kind of work which requires receiving any kind of instructions or paying attention for extended periods of time.
Sometimes those who suffer from autism are able to adjust to work environments. This is especially true of those with higher functioning conditions such as Asperger Syndrome. Statistically, however, most adults with autism are not able to work full time in meaningful employment or to live on their own unassisted. Even with significant attempts made to encourage employers to create environments in which autistic adults can perform meaningful work, only about 6% of adults with autism are able to maintain full time employment.
The cause of autism is unknown, though it is believed to be genetic. Early detection is key in treating autism. When autism is detected early, it can be treated medically and therapeutically. While a child with autism who receives treatment has a much better chance of being able to function independently as an adult, the chances are still relatively thin.
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Prohibited Conduct In The Workplace And Discipline
Although the ADA protects individuals with ASD from discrimination on the basis of disability in many cases, the ADA does not protect individuals who violate an employers code of conduct even if the misconduct is a result of the disability. If the employees misconduct is not covered by the code of conduct or policies, the employer can still enforce conduct rules that,
are not found in workplace policies, employee handbooks, or similar documents so long as they are: ;job-related and consistent with business necessity, and applied consistently to all employees and not just to a person with a disability. Many times, the proscribed conduct is well understood by both the employer and employees as being unacceptable without being formally written, such as a prohibition on insubordination.
Finally, the EEOC states that employers may prohibit insubordination towards supervisors and managers and also require that employees show respect for, and deal appropriately with, clients and customers.;Employers may also prohibit inappropriate behavior between coworkers .;The EEOC guidance related to discipline of employees for violations of behavioral expectations provides numerous examples to illustrate the legal standards.
Eeoc V Jax Llc D/b/a Golden Corral
The EEOC sued Jax, LLC, which operates the Golden Corral Restaurant, on behalf of an employee with ASD who argued that he was subject to a hostile work environment based on his disability.;Although the employee filed an internal complaint, the company did not investigate, the harassment did not stop, and the employee ultimately resigned. An investigation by the EEOC found that the employee, who had limitations in communication and interaction with others, was repeatedly called retard and stupid by the assistant manager of the restaurant. After failing to resolve the issue, the EEOC filed a federal court complaint. The employer settled and agreed to pay the employee $85,000 and implement training of all managers and employees.;
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How Many People Have Autism
Estimates show that there are around 700,000 people on the autism spectrum in the UK, which is more than 1 in 100. According to the National Autistic Society, there are five times as many males as females that are diagnosed with autism. The reasoning behind this gender split is unclear, although there are many theories which include; underdiagnosis in women and girls due to assessment tools being based on the male profile and genetic differences that mean girls are less likely to inherit autism than boys.
Are You Eligible For The Disability Tax Credit
These tax credits are aimed at families in which one or more of the children have a disability.
In order to be eligible for the Child Disability Benefit , the child must be first eligible for the Canada Child Tax Benefit which is a program geared towards helping all families care for children under the age of 18.
The CDB, or Disability Tax Credit, is not available for all children with disabilities, however autism is generally included. The government states that eligible children must have a disability which is severe and prolonged continuous for a period of at least 12 months which of course, is true for those affected by autism.
In order to apply for the Disability Tax Credit, a qualified practitioner must attest to the childs disability on one of the forms to be submitted for review by the Canada Revenue Agency .
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