Our Vision Is A World In Which All People On The Spectrum Can Reach Their Full Potential
Autism Speaks is enhancing lives today and accelerating a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow. We are dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
Through the years, weve worked tirelessly to provide crucial autism research, advocacy, services and support to help people with autism and those who support them thrive. Here are some of our proudest accomplishments to-date.
What Are The Signs Of Autism
The autism diagnosis age and intensity of autisms early signs vary widely. Some infants show hints in their first months. In others, behaviors become obvious as late as age 2 or 3.
Not all children with autism show all the signs. Many children who dont have autism show a few. Thats why professional evaluation is crucial.
The following may indicate your child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder. If your child exhibits any of the following, ask your pediatrician or family doctor for an evaluation right away:
Where Do I Find Aba Services
To get started, follow these steps:
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Our Deai Vision And Purpose
At Autism Speaks, we are working to achieve a world where all people with autism, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, can reach their full potential – inclusive of all abilities, ages, races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, socioeconomic status, and belief systems.
Potential is unique to each individual and we strive to serve everyone with autism and their families by improving the representation of this diverse community in our content, expanding the reach of our resources and increasing inclusive practices in our workplace.
Deeply ingrained in the Autism Speaks mission is a commitment to creating a more equitable and accessible world for those we serve. By enhancing our solutions, embracing culture and elevating diversity inside and outside of our organization, we can guide individuals and families to more relevant resources that can help them overcome obstacles they may encounter and reach their full potential. This work will address biases and disparities that create obstacles, champion equity-focused innovations and further advance the lives of people on the spectrum.
Is Aba Covered By Insurance
Sometimes. Many types of private health insurance are required to cover ABA services. This depends on what kind of insurance you have, and what state you live in.
All Medicaid plans must cover treatments that are medically necessary for children under the age of 21. If a doctor prescribes ABA and says it is medically necessary for your child, Medicaid must cover the cost.
Please see our insurance resources for more information about insurance and coverage for autism services.
You can also contact the Autism Response Team if you have difficulty obtaining coverage, or need additional help.
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How Has Our Understanding Of Asperger Syndrome Evolved
1944: Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger described four strikingly similar young patients. They had normal to high intelligence. But they lacked social skills and had extremely narrow interests. The children also shared a tendency to be clumsy.
1981: British psychiatrist Lorna Wing published a series of similar case studies. In it, she coined the term Asperger syndrome.
1994: Asperger syndrome listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders .
2013: Asperger syndrome and other previously separate types of autism folded into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in DSM-5.
Big Brain Energy: The Problem With Autism Speaks
Scores of Autistic people vehemently denounce the organization, you should know why
When neurotypical people think of Autism Spectrum Disorder , they often think of organizations such as Autism Speaks, which is one of the most internationally recognized autism groups. However, as an organization, Autism Speaks remains one of the most hotly debated aspects of the autistic community, given the questionable actions of those who run the foundation and what it fundamentally stands for.
In 2009, Autism Speaks released a three-minute which depicted Autism Spectrum Disorder as a stalker that knows where you live and is constantly watching you. Perhaps even more concerning: The advertisement suggested ASD is far worse than cancer and AIDS and is guaranteed to make your marriage crumble. Dont believe me? Read an excerpt from the transcript below.
I work faster than pediatric AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined. And if youre happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails. Your money will fall into my hands, and I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain, the excerpt reads. I dont sleep, so I make sure you dont either. I will make it virtually impossible for your family to easily attend a temple, birthday party or public park without a struggle, without embarrassment, without pain.
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What Does Autism Speaks Do
Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
We do this through advocacy and support increasing understanding, acceptance and inclusion of people with autism and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions.
Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright, vice chairman of General Electric, and his wife Suzanne, a longtime advocacy leader for children with special needs.
Make The Most Of The New Year
For those who are eager for the new year to arrive, there are some ways to make sure the opportunity doesnt slip past.
It shouldnt be a surprise that a rock-solid plan is the foundation of it all, rather than fortune-cookie-style wishful thinking.
Once you have established an understanding of why your resolution is important, the next step is to create a strategy and to identify the tools that will help you manifest what you want, said Author and Speaker Tony Robbins. Without a plan, your resolution will remain a pipe dream. To make your goal reality, put pen to paper. Commit yourself even further and write it down for yourself to review every day this year,
A bit of rational optimism can go a long way, according to some leaders in the business world. Theres no denying that the new year offers a chance to reset, recharge, and get to work.
If youre going all-in on a new years plan, you might as well make it detailed and give it your best effort, said Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce. Set up a daily schedule if that helps, and self-audit to make sure youre minimizing wasted time. Map out goals for each week and month, and reflect on what you did well or where you need improvement. Treat it as a serious project, because thats what your life is! If we prioritize our well-being and personal goals as highly as our work and family responsibilities, wed all be happier and healthier people.
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Asperger Therapies And Services
Find the following services near you using the Autism Speaks Resource Guide.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help address anxiety and other personal challenges.
Social skills training classes can help with conversational skills and understanding social cues.
Speech therapy can help with voice control.
Physical and occupational therapy can improve coordination.
Psychoactive medicines can help manage associated anxiety, depression and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder .
What Are Some Common Myths About Autism
- Myth: People with autism dont want friends. Reality: If someone in your class has autism, they probably have problems with social skills, which can make it difficult to get along.
- Myth: People with autism cannot feel or express emotions, happy or sad.
- Myth: People with autism cannot understand the emotions of others.
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What Is Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is an autism advocacy organization in the United States that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. It was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright, the vice chairman of General Electric, and his wife Suzanne, a month after their grandson Christian was diagnosed with autism. Its current president and CEO is Angela Geiger.
In 2006, Autism Speaks merged with the Autism Coalition for Research and Education , and combined forces with Cure Autism Now , a scientific research organization founded in 1995 by parents of children with autism.
The organizations annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks fundraising campaigns take place in more than 80 cities across the United States. In May 2015, Autism Speaks launched an innovative toolkit to assist first responders when interacting with an individual with autism during an emergency situation.
There Are Other Organizations That Help Individuals With Autism That You Can Support
The Autism Self-Advocacy Network, according to their mission statement, work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us.” The Self-Advocacy Network does not receive the same criticism as Autism Speaks because by putting people with autism in charge of the conversation, the communitys needs are actually being communicated and met.
Paul Robison was Autism Speaks’ highest ranking autistic employee before he left the science advisory board. Paul Robinson left his post after Suzanne Wright published the op-ed Autism Speaks Point of View, which contained many messages highly offensive to the autistic community. Paul Robison describes in his letter of resignation that he choose to leave, not only because of Suzanne Wright’s insulting speech, but also because no one would address his repeated concerns about seeking a cure and the lack of representation while he was employed at Autism Speaks. Robison perfectly summarizes the problems the autistic community has with Autism Speaks with these two quotes.
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Awareness Media And Events
Autism Speaks sponsored and distributes the 2006 short film Autism Every Day, produced by Lauren Thierry and Eric Solomon. Autism Speaks staff member Alison Singer was reportedly criticized for a scene in which she said, in the presence of her autistic daughter, that when faced with having to place the girl in a school that she deemed to be terrible, she contemplated driving her car off a bridge with her child in the car. Thierry said that these feelings were not unusual among non-autistic mothers of autistic children. According to the book Battleground: The Media, Thierry instructed the families she interviewed not to do their hair, vacuum or have therapists present, and appeared with her film crew at homes without preliminary preparations, in order to authentically capture the difficulties of life with autistic children, such as autistic children throwing tantrums or physically struggling with parents.
In December 2007, Autism Speaks’ founder Suzanne Wright met with Sheikha Moza bint Nasser of Qatar to urge the country to sponsor a United Nationsresolution recognizing World Autism Awareness Day. Qatar introduced the resolution, and the resolution was passed and adopted without a vote by the United Nations General Assembly, primarily as a supplement to previous United Nations initiatives to improve human rights.
How To Help Your Nonverbal Child With Autism Speak
- Go to your sons level. If you are sitting, sit in front of or in front of the child.
- Create a suitable learning space for your child. I like to call this room Progress Corner or Autistic Game Room.
- Teach your child the language you love with toys.
Is betterhelp goodDoes BetterHelp accept insurance? No, BetterHelp does not accept insurance. Insurance companies have been slow to catch up with advances in offering online therapies. In addition, BetterHelp clinics cannot make a specific diagnosis of diseases, which is a requirement for billing an insurance company.Is there any free therapy?Free online consultation and therapy are free. Its a service people nee
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Autism Speaks Uses Disgusting Marketing Techniques
Autism Speaks says that they are all for spreading awareness of autism, but in reality, they are spreading only fear.
Over the years they have produced some really terrible videos to market their organization that portray children with autism as something to fear.
One of their videos is a commercial called I Am Autism which you can find on youtube here.
It shows like a horror movie including lines like I know where you live and If youre happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails and You are scared, and you should be.
They also made a movie called Autism Every Day where mothers talk about how difficult their lives are because of their children with autism with their children in the room.
Including a mother who says that she contemplated driving off a bridge with her child with autism, but only didnt because she also had a neurotypical child.
Seriously. She says it. You can watch here.
Overall, I just cannot in good conscience support autism speaks as the mother of an autistic child or as an autistic person myself.
I know that these arent common knowledge facts, but as you know more, you can do more.
Please do not support this organization. If you are looking for autism organizations to support, please check out the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network.
And if youd REALLY like to support more acceptance and understanding of autistic people, grab this free Autism Signs Cheat Sheet to share with others!
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There Are Better Organizations You Can Support
There are better organizations than Autism Speaks. For example, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to “organize the community of Autistic adults and youth to have our voices heard in the national conversation about us.” There are many others like ASAN, so take time to research carefully and stop supporting Autism Speaks!
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Autism Speaks Doesnt Help Autistic People
Only 4% of their huge budget goes towards actually helping individuals with autism and their families with their family grants.
Autism Speaks is arguably the largest autism organization in the country, and yet they really arent focusing at all on helping families who actually experience autism.
For a comparison, 22% of their budget is spent on fundraising efforts.
I simply cant support an organization that pays their CEO such an obnoxious amount while they ignore the real needs of the families the organization claims to support.
How Autism Spectrum Disorders Are Described
Psychiatrists and other clinicians rely on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to define autism and its symptoms. The DSM-5 definition recognizes two main symptom areas:
- Deficits in social communication and interaction
- Restricted, repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities
These symptoms appear early in a childs developmentalthough diagnosis may occur later. Autism is diagnosed when symptoms cause developmental challenges that are not better explained by other conditions.
The definition of autism has been refined over the years. Between 1995 and 2011, the DSM-IV grouped Aspergers Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified with autism. Aspergers syndrome was an autism spectrum disorder marked by strong verbal language skills and, often, high intellectual ability. PDD-NOS was a more general diagnosis for people who did not fit clearly into the other two categories.
However, the DSM-5 no longer recognizes Aspergers syndrome or PDD-NOS as separate diagnoses. Individuals who would previously have received either of these diagnoses may now receive a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder instead.
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Is A Catalyst For Life
- Advancing research into the causes of autism, including identifying new autism-linked genes
- Focusing on accompanying medical conditions and personalized treatments that enhance quality of life
- Funding and advocating for research
- Launching highly promising pre-doctoral students into careers in autism research
Autism In Pop Culture
Movies and books featuring characters with autism have helped bring autism spectrum disorder into the public consciousness. Some have ignited controversy others have increased the publics general understanding of autism. A few have done both. At ARI, we hope that people will rely on evidence-based research to understand autism spectrum disorder better.
Learn more about autism spectrum disorder by watching one of our expert-led webinars. They help you learn about ASD from clinicians, researchers, and therapists who research autism and support individuals with ASD.
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They Include Everyone On The Spectrum
Everyone on the spectrum is included at Autism Speaks, people with low support needs, people with higher support needs, and everyone in between. They also provide support to caregivers of autistic people. As someone with level 1 autism, raising a child with level 3 autism, I find this representation very important. Just take a look at the diversity of profiles and stories shared on the Autism Speaks page. No one is left out and thats amazing!
What Questions Should I Ask
Its important to find an ABA provider and therapists who are a good fit for your family. The first step is for therapists to establish a good relationship with your child. If your child trusts his therapists and enjoys spending time with them, therapy will be more successful and fun!
The following questions can help you evaluate whether a provider will be a good fit for your family. Remember to trust your instincts, as well!
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