The Difference Between Autism And Learning Disabilities
In autism, individuals have different symptoms such as difficulties in communication, problems in perception, impairment in learning, speech difficulties, inability to understand emotions, unresponsiveness to events, problems in physical development, disabilities in act of writing, reading writing differences etc.
Autism, which is a neurodevelopmental disorder, is a disorder whose symptoms can be relieved with the right treatment and training methods. Also, individuals with learning disabilities can express themselves better and can communicate with their surroundings in a healthier manner by using signs and symptoms.
Tips For Teachers And Parents
Multiple dynamics factor into effectively educating children with autism. Both NICHCY and Oklahomas State Department of Education advise giving directions one step at a time, utilizing various cues to reiterate instructions. For example, give directions on how to fold a piece of paper by verbalizing the steps while demonstrating how to do so do each step individually, followed by the student imitating each step do not integrate all the steps until each is mastered.
Assistive technology can reduce communication issues. Teachers, to combat disinterest, learn what intrigues your student so that you can grab his or her attention. For instance, if a student is heavily fixated on airplanes but uninterested in math, write word problems that incorporate situations relating to airplanes.
Teachers, getting to know a student can help you avoid disruptive behavior. Find out what calms your student and what riles up him or her. Parents you can assist here by providing such knowledge to your kids teachers. After all, who is better suited to help teachers to learn about your child?
In Honor Of World Autism Awareness Day Villakey Launches Its Vacation Rental Website For Families Traveling With Children Who Have Autism
MIAMI According to the CDC, 1 in 68 U.S. children has autism spectrum disorder , and 11 million children have a developmental disability. Unfortunately, the rate of ASD is on the rise each year and occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
Although research has shown that travel and activities away from home are therapeutic for children with ASD, few hotel and lodging options are tailored to fit their families requirements.
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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.
How Do Doctors Make A Diagnosis Of Autism
When a doctor diagnoses autism, there are no blood tests or imaging studies they can use. Instead, they have to observe the adult or child with autism to see if their behavior and development meets the diagnostic guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
Doctors look for what’s known as the autism triad when they diagnose someone. If someone has difficulty with social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication and demonstrates rigid thoughts and repetitive behaviors, an autism spectrum diagnosis is likely.
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Registered Behavior Technician Online Training Opportunity
Due to course maintenance the fall 2021 session has been postponed. The RBT course will begin January 5, 2022. Application for next RBT course will open at 9:00 a.m. on December 6, 2021.
Online Para-Educator Training
If you simply want more information around behavior and instructional strategies, but do NOT want/need the RBT credential, please take the Online Para-Educator Training.
So What If Autism Is A Disability
So weve answered the question Is autism a disability? And if it is, then what? What does this mean? Well here are 2 important things you should know. First, know that disability doesnt mean inability. Secondly, you should know that advocacy, accommodations, and assistance are readily available.
Disability doesnt mean Inability
Somehow our culture has arrived at a very skewed understanding of persons with autism. Unfortunately, when discussing disabilities, an over-emphasis is often on what these individuals cant do. In the minds of some, disability equals inability.
However, this couldnt be further from the truth. The reality is, there are countless examples of persons with disabilities making significant accomplishments. And not only this, the variety of fields where they are making an impact is nothing short of amazing! Some of these I included in a previous post found here.
Some of these include persons such as Susan Boyle, Dan Akroyd, and Noah Britton. These individuals have all had made significant social contributions, yet in their own unique way. This demonstrates that individuals with disabilities are more than capable!
So one of the more helpful ways to grasp the meaning of a disability is to understand it as a differing ability. In other words, its not that these individuals are incapable. Its more so that they have a different way of accomplishing the task at hand. So disability does NOT equal inability.
Accommodations could include things such:
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Blindness And Low Vision
A person is considered legally blind if they cannot see at six metres what someone with normal vision can see at 60 metres or if their field of vision is less than 20 degrees in diameter .
A person is said to have low vision when they have permanent vision loss which affects their day to day and cannot be corrected with glasses .
Blindness and low vision can occur as a result of a number of different diseases, conditions, or accidents. Some eye conditions are congenital , while others are caused later in life. Some specific causes of vision loss can include an injury to the eye, eye defects, albinism, macular degeneration, diabetes, glaucoma, cataracts, and tumors.
Whilst some forms of vision loss can be prevented and even reversed, others may develop as people age it is more common in those over the age of 65.
What Is A Learning Disability
A learning disability is a neurological condition that interferes with how someone learns. It has nothing to do with intelligence, motivation, or poor parenting. It is a difference in how information is received and processed in the brain.
Some different types of learning disabilities include:
- Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Individuals with dyslexia may have trouble with letter and word recognition, understanding words and ideas, reading speed and fluency, and general vocabulary.
- Dyscalculia is a number-based learning disability. People with dyscalculia may struggle with recalling sequences of numbers, calculating using math functions, organization of numbers, operation signs, number facts, counting, and telling time.
- Dysgraphia is a writing-based learning disability. Individuals with dysgraphia may have problems with neatness when writing, illegible handwriting, copying letters and words, spelling, and organizing their thoughts on paper.
Auditory or visual processing disorders cause problems in understanding language that is heard or seen. With auditory processing disorder, you may have difficulty distinguishing subtle differences in sounds and speaking individual sounds within words. With visual processing disorder you may miss subtle differences in shapes, such as interchanging m and n. You may also reverse letters and numbers and have poor hand-eye coordination.
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Social Security Disability Claims On The Basis Of Autism
Social Security updated its disability listing for autism in 2017. Listing 112.10, “Autistic disorder and other pervasive developmental disorders,” is now titled “Autism spectrum disorder.” The listing requires that all of the following are documented in a child’s medical records:
- deficits in social interaction
- deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication, and
- significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
If all three items are documented , Social Security will look to see whether the child’s functioning is severely limited by autism. The child must either have an extreme limitation in one of the following areas or a “marked” limitation in two of the following areas:
- understanding, remembering, or using information
- interacting with others
- focusing on activities , and
- adapting or managing oneself .
Cognitive and communicative functioning can be measured through the use of standardized testing that is appropriate for a claimant’s age and special tests for language development or speech pattern development. Regarding the measurement of cognition itself, a primary sign of limited function is a valid IQ score of 70 or less.
Focus is the ability to concentrate on a task, to stick with it, and to maintain a pace at the task that would be considered an age-appropriate level. This is measured both by observing the child and also measured by results obtained from standardized testing.
About Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism is considered a spectrum disorder meaning there is a wide range of symptoms and levels of severity individuals with autism can potentially have. Some people with autism experience mild symptoms while others experience severe symptoms.
The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder include but are not limited to:
- Extreme difficulty with social communication and interaction
- Repetitive, obsessive patterns of behavior, activities and/or interests
- Continuous unusual posture and unnecessary movement
- Inability to relate to other people
- Learning or speech delay in children
- Significant impairment in occupational or daily functioning
- Sensitive to sounds, light, smells and textures
The first noticeable symptoms of autism in a child tend to surface before they turn 3 years old and involve the absence of normal behaviors for the given age. Many parents have mistaken the early signs of autism for good behavior because their child is quiet, self-contained and undemanding. The older a child becomes, the more apparent the autistic symptoms will be. Its important to know the early signs of autism because early treatment can help potentially reverse some of the symptoms.
Early signs of autism in children:
- Avoids eye contact
- Wont smile when smiled at
- Wont respond to his or her name or inflection of the voice
- Doesnt point or gesture for communication
- Wont play with others or share enjoyment
- Doesnt make basic requests or ask for help
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Autism Is The Fastest
MIAMI, March 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ According to the CDC, 1 in 68 U.S. children has autism spectrum disorder , and 11 million children have a developmental disability. Unfortunately, the rate of ASD is on the rise each year and occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
Although research has shown that travel and activities away from home are therapeutic for children with ASD, few hotel and lodging options are tailored to fit their families requirements.
We saw an under-served market with a genuine need, says Alice Horn, the CEO of VillaKey, LLC. Children on the autism spectrum are uncomfortable with unfamiliar environments, and many families avoid hotels, or may not go on vacation at all. The children require a familiar and safe environment, which can be best provided in a vacation home.
The VillaKey platform currently features a select assortment of over 100 autism-friendly homes in the Orlando area, with plans to expand to destinations throughout the U.S. over the coming year. The homes include full kitchens to accommodate cooking for special diets the use of fragrance-free cleaning products decor with soothing colors and alarms on exit doors. Service pets are welcome. Both staff and local property managers are certified in the requirements of autism travelers. Over time, VillaKey plans to add services and activities to suit the autism market.
Contact: Alice Horn or 786-216-3254. Website: www.myvillakey.com
Related Files
Why Is Autism Increasing So Much
Youve probably seen the Autism Speaks ads: Every two seconds a child is diagnosed with autism. As I write this today, the CDC has determined that 1 in a 54 people or 2% of males has an autism spectrum disorder !1Ever since Bob Wright, former president of NBC, became the grandfather of a child with autism and created Autism Speaks, awareness of and research on the condition has skyrocketed. Given this prevalence, you probably know someone who has a child with an ASD.
Welcome to my world. I am a developmental and behavioral pediatrician who has specialized, over the last 30 years, in caring for, diagnosing, and helping literally thousands of children and adolescents with ASD.
Over this time, my patients and their families have taught me so much about what it means to both struggle and grow and accept what cant be changed. I have learned to see through the eyes of the differently abled and their families. I have been witness to the miraculous potential within many of these children and adolescents who become fully functional and even indistinguishable from their peers . Recent research has found that the child with autism who receives intensive early intervention can outgrow their diagnosis.2 In my practice, I have many children who, over time, no longer met the official criteria for an autism spectrum disorder.
with lilacs. The last descendant.
J Child Psychol Psychiatry.JAMA Psychiatry.
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Do Symptoms Of Autism Change Over Time
For many children, symptoms improve with age and behavioral treatment. During adolescence, some children with ASD may become depressed or experience behavioral problems, and their treatment may need some modification as they transition to adulthood. People with ASD usually continue to need services and supports as they get older, but depending on severity of the disorder, people with ASD may be able to work successfully and live independently or within a supportive environment.
Deficits In Social Communication
Children with autism may hyper-focus on their areas of particular interest, essentially ignoring the interests and concerns of others. In autism, this behavior is the result of deficits in social communication in essence, children with autism may be unaware that others have thoughts and feelings different from their own.
This could be another potential area of misdiagnoses, however, since the behavior itself can very much resemble some of the self-obsession that may be present in narcissistic personality disorder.
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When Should I See My Doctor
It’s important to seek help if you are concerned you or your child has autism. Early intervention offers the best outcomes, no matter what type of autism a child has.
There may be different signs of autism in different ages.
In the first year, a baby with autism might not be interested in other people and may not make eye contact with their parents. They may not smile or gesture like other babies.
As toddlers, children with autism might not respond to their name, or might focus on activities like lining up toys. They may not be interested in playing with other children or might speak in a monotone way.
Older children with autism might have difficulties in social situations, following instructions or making friends.
Sometimes people are not diagnosed with autism until they are adults. They may spend their lives feeling like they dont quite fit in. They may have difficulties with relationships, work and social situations. They may also have mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.
Autism Awareness Australia provides information about signs of autism in people at different ages.
Check If Your Impairments Long Term
A long-term effect means something that has affected you or is likely to affect you for at least a year. For example, if you had an operation that will make walking difficult for at least a year, thats long term.
Your impairment will still be considered to be long term if the effects are likely to come and go. These are known as fluctuating or recurring effects.
For example, youve had periods of depression for a few months at a time but then months in between where it doesnt affect you. Each episode of depression lasts less than 12 months, but it can meet the definition of long term if:
- it has a substantial adverse effect when it happens, and
- it could well happen again
Your impairment will also still be considered to be long term if its likely to affect you for the rest of your life even if thats going to be less than a year.
The definition of what is long term is in Schedule 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
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Jeffs Fact Sheet About Having Autism
Jeff, you and over 1.5 million other individuals in the United States have a developmental disability which is called an “autism spectrum disorder or ASD. That is a lot of people! You have the type of ASD that is called autism.
Having this disability means that you are still like everyone else in most ways.
- You eat favorite foods like pizza and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
- You brush your teeth twice a day.
- You have favorite clothes, usually in the color blue.
- You go places such as the grocery store and the Mall.
- You visit your doctor for a check up.
- You enjoy special activities like listening to music or working on the computer.
- You learn to do new things such as playing bowling using your Wii system.
You share personal abilities or traits with many other people but in some cases you excel or do better when compared to others. Every now and then you may need to remind yourself of this. For instance, remember that:
Having an autism spectrum disorder, however, also means that your body and brain sometimes work differently from that of other people. As a result, you do and experience things differently from people who do not have autism.