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
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified
How Can Employers Best Work With Autistic People
Under the ADA, businesses with 15 or more employees cannot discriminate against someone with autism. These rules apply in every aspect of employment, from job applications and hiring to training and privileges and leaving the job.
Employers must also provide reasonable support to employees with autism, including any special equipment that allows them to do their job. Employers don’t have to provide accommodations that would be extremely difficult or costly, however. No matter the support the autistic person needs, they still must perform their job effectively.
Working with adults with autism can be an enriching experience for employers if they work to overcome potential challenges in the workplace.
Examples of helpful practices:
- Clarify expectations of the job: Be explicit about expectations and explain any unwritten rules.
- Provide training and monitoring: Informal, clear and well-structured training is invaluable.
- Ensure instructions are concise and specific: Offer clear instructions and don’t assume an autistic person can infer.
- Ensure the work environment is well-structured: People may appreciate help to prioritize and organize tasks and set break times. Let the person know in advance of any changes.
- Provide direct feedback: Be sensitive but honest, constructive and consistent. Give positive feedback when appropriate.
- Ask aboutsensorydistractions: Screening and noise-canceling headphones can be helpful.
Your Autism Disability Case
If you are disabled because of Autism or a related autistic disability that prevents you from working, you may well be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits. Although total disability based on childhood Autism can be met by meeting the conditions of the SSA listing for that condition, total disability for adult-diagnosed Autism can be somewhat more difficult to prove.
It is therefore very important that you work closely with medical professionals and a qualified Social Security Disability attorney or advocate to collect to present the most appropriate and complete documentation possible in front of the Disability Determination Services to help to ensure that your Autism disability case will have the highest possible chance of success.
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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.
Eeoc V Northwest Petroleum Lp And Burger King Franchisee Travis County Investments Lp
A Burger King franchise offered a job as a dining room and bathroom attendant to an applicant with intellectual disabilities after an interview attended by a representative from Community Access Inc. which provides services to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in Oklahoma. When the Community Access support person asked that a job coach provide onsite support to the individual , the offer of employment was withdrawn. The individual filed a complaint with EEOC but when no settlement was reached with the franchise, the EEOC filed a lawsuit in federal court arguing that failing to hire an individual based on the disability or the need for a reasonable accommodationsuch as a job coachwas discrimination under ADA. Burger King agreed to pay the applicant $30,000 and implement ADA training for all employees.
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Finding Help And Support
Each autistic person is different, and the impact their condition has on their life will depend on many factors. These will include the severity of their condition, any additional diagnoses, such as a learning disability or a mental health problem, and whether they display any challenging behaviours.
While some autistic people will need very little extra support, others will need more specialist, even 24 hour, help. Each autistic person is also an individual in their own right, and will have their own likes, dislikes and characteristics just like everyone else, which will also affect the kind of support they want and need. Support and coping strategies need to be tailored to each individual.
For some parents, planning ahead for the future is key, while other families prefer to take life a day at a time. There is no right or wrong way of doing things, the key is to work out what works for your son or daughter, and to help them achieve the things they want from life.
Once your son or daughter has received a diagnosis, the next step is to think about the services and support your family will need for the future.
What Causes Autism In Children
While there is no one definitive cause, scientists agree that genetics can be a factor in some cases. A child who has a sibling with autism has a higher risk. Also, a child born prematurely, having low weight at birth, or having been exposed to lead can have a higher chance of developmental issues, and it is thought they should be screened for ASD.
There are a variety of developmental screenings for ASD. In some cases, a checklist of milestones may be used with input from parents, grandparents, and early childhood caregivers. Also, the pediatrician should look for any delays at the childs well-visit. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends doing a behavioral, as well as a developmental screening at 9, 18, and 30 months, while also doing a specific screening for ASD at 18 and 24 months.
If a child has any of the risk factors mentioned previously, or if a child shows any signs during the developmental screening, additional screening may be recommended. This could be an evaluation with a developmental pediatrician, a child psychologist or psychiatrist to check brain development and for behavioral issues, a neuropsychologist for any neurodevelopmental issues, and/or a speech-language pathologist to see if there are any communication difficulties.
The earlier a child is diagnosed, the better, since studies show that early intervention can provide help with communication and life skills while building upon the strong qualities the child already has.
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Registered Disability Savings Plan
The Registered Disability Savings Plan is an excellent way for friends and family to help build up a trust fund that will help support your child in future years. Its quick to build, because the Government of Canada actually pays 300% of your own contributions up to a maximum of $3,500 per year, and youre usually guaranteed a five percent return.
What does that mean? If you or your family and friends put in $1,000 each year, the government will add $3,000 for a total of $4,000 per year. If started at infancy, that could amount to $80,000 by the time your child is just 20 years old an excellent foundation on which to build their life.
Up until the age of 40, the government will match your deposits in this manner which is an excellent way to save quickly. The only catch, is that the account must have no further contributions for eight years before a withdrawal can be made.
Starting Your Childs Ssi Application
All SSI applications must be completed in person at your closest Social Security office. There are more than 1,300 SSA offices located across the country, so youll likely have more than one option when scheduling an appointment. Before applying in person, be sure to review the SSAs Child Disability Starter Kit. This online resource outlines exactly what paperwork youll need to have on hand to successfully apply for SSI on behalf of a child.
Helpful Resources:
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Adult Vs Child Disability Benefits
Autism can affect both children and adults. If your child is under age 18 and has autism, and you have low income and assets, your child may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits under the Social Security Act. If you are over age 18 and have autism, you may qualify for either Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or SSI benefits.
Autism And Your Ability To Perform Physical Work
Autism does not directly affect your ability to perform physical tasks, but it does generally affect your ability to concentrate on those tasks or to receive the instructions needed to learn new tasks in the first place. While this is sometimes overcome for those with milder autistic spectrum disorders in workplaces where supervisors are trained to deal with employees with autistic disorders, many adults with autism are unable to perform any kind of substantial gainful activity. To be considered completely disabled by autism for Social Security Disability purposes, you must meet the following criteria:
- Obvious and significant impairment in social function.
- Obvious and significant impairment in concentrating.
- Obvious and significant impairment in comprehending communication or communicating.
- Obvious and significant impairment in cognitive functioning.
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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.
What Is Pathological Demand Avoidance
Pathological Demand Avoidance is a form of autism which may also affect the way a person communicates and relates to other people.
People with PDA may experience challenges such as specific learning difficulties, but their central difficulty is that they are driven to avoid everyday demands and expectations to an extreme extent. This avoidance is rooted in an anxiety-based need to be in control.
Mencaps online community is a safe and supportive place to meet others, ask questions about learning disability, share experiences and offer support.
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Common Conditions Among People With Autism
While many people with autism are misdiagnosed with other types of mental illness, many are also appropriately diagnosed with both autism and mental illness. In fact, mental illness is more common among people with autism than it is among the general population.
The most common co-occurring mental illnesses for people with autism include depression and anxiety.
It’s not completely clear why this may be the case. One theory suggests that there is a genetic link between autism and mental illness. Another theory points to the extreme challenges of living in the modern world with autism. The fact is that for many people with autism, it is anxiety-provoking and depressing to attempt to overcome social, sensory, and/or intellectual challenges that are simply part of who they are.
In addition to mental illness, many children and adults with autism receive additional developmental diagnoses. While it can be argued in many cases that the symptoms are associated with autism, it is sometimes helpful to know that a child is both autistic and, for example, diagnosable with ADHD, learning disabilities, hyperlexia, Savant Syndrome, or another disorder.
A secondary diagnosis, while it may or may not be completely appropriate, can sometimes provide direction for therapy, academic support, and services. Hopefully, in doing so, this could correct any potential misdiagnoses moving forward.
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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The Blurred Line Between Autism And Intellectual Disability
Doctors often conflate autism and intellectual disability, and no wonder: The biological distinction between them is murky. Scientific progress depends on knowing where the conditions intersect and part ways.
Soon after Patrick Kelly started school at age 5, his teachers told his parents he belonged in special-education classes. His academic performance was poor, and his behaviors were disruptive: hand-flapping, rocking, hitting his head with his wrists and tapping his desk repeatedly. He often seemed as if he was not paying attention to people when they spoke to him. He would stare off into the distance, head turned to the side.
Kellys teachers assumed he had intellectual disability, known at the time as mental retardation. Then when he was around 9, a routine eye exam at school revealed that he could barely see. With glasses, he went from underperforming to outperforming his peers in every subject but English in just two years. And it turned out that he had been listening in the classroom all along. Finally, at age 13, a psychologist diagnosed him with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, a form of autism.
Adults’ Alternate Method: Residual Functional Capacity
If your condition doesn’t to meet the disability listing for autistic disorders, the SSA will evaluate your residual functional capacity . Your RFC is the most you can perform in a work setting. The SSA will consider various skills, including your ability to sit, stand, and walk, your ability to work with others, and your ability to concentrate on tasks. To be found disabled, you must be unable to perform any jobs given your RFC.
If your autism is severe, then you will likely have problems interacting with the public and with supervisors, and these limitations should show up in your RFC. This will reduce the number of jobs that you can perform. Due to your autism, you may also have problems focusing on work tasks for an extended length of time. If you are unable to perform work at a competitive pace, then the SSA could consider you disabled because you are prevented from performing almost all jobs.
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Support And Disability Tax Credits
There are many support groups and online forums in which you can reach out for emotional support from others going through the same thing. However, disability tax credits offer a different type of support they give you a small discount on lifes expenses, because rearing an autistic child can incur expenses not common to raising other children.
If you are eligible for the tax credit, you could receive up to $2,395 per year, or $199.58 per month.
Eeoc V Party City Corp
An individual with autism applied to Party City for a sales associate job requiring skills and qualifications that he had. However, when the hiring manager learned that the applicant required a job coach, he informed the applicant that past experiences with a job coach had not gone well and the individual was not offered the job. When the applicant complained to the EEOC and no settlement was reached with the company, the EEOC sued Party City for a violation of ADA Title I. The federal district court in New Hampshire ruled that a job coach can be a reasonable accommodation in employment and in favor of the individual with autism. A settlement was reached including an award of $155,000, changes to Party Citys reasonable accommodation policy, training of staff on the new policy, and reports to EEOC on all denials of employment to applicants requiring a job coach.
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