Autism

Karla Saval, M.Ed. Maryland State Department of Education Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?Your child has been diagnosed

with Autism: Now What? Early intervention Autism Waiver registry Elements of Effective Service

Delivery to children with Autism Resources

“Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first 3 years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development .”

-Autism Society of America

 Video from the Centers for Disease Control (3:38)

http://www.cdc.gov/NCBDDD/autism/videos/whatisautism.html

Three main criteria: Qualitative impairment in social interaction Qualitative impairment in communication Restricted, repetitive, stereotypic patterns of

behavior/ circumscribed interests, activities

Three main categories: Autism Asperger’s Disorder Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not

Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

Interferes with development of reasoning, social interaction, and communication skills

Is a “spectrum disorder” has implications for an array of

social, language, educational, sensory, behavioral, and medical issues

1 in 88 boys will be diagnosed with ASD

The number of children in Maryland identified as having an ASD has dramatically increased from 260 in 1993 to 8,827 in 2010

There are 900 slots for Maryland’s Autism Waiver, and 3,700+ children on the Registry

(CDC, MSDE, 2012)

Self Regulation Executive Functioning Socialization/CommunicationBiomedical Complications/

Comorbid Disorders

Let’s explore each of these…

Produced by the Maryland State Department of Education 4/20/10 9

AcademicBehavioralSocial

As a result of biomedical issues, individuals with Autism may have difficulty with regulating their: Attention Wakefulness Stress Frustration Response to sensory stimuli

Children with Autism exhibit deficits in executive functioning, specifically with reference to these domains: Planning Organization Flexibility Self-monitoring

Youth with Autism have may have difficulty:

Communicating wants and needs Establishing shared attention with peers Monitoring social signals Reading social cues Responding to others’ stress Reading others’ expression of emotion Making social inferences Understanding others’ perspectives

Gastrointestinal problems

Sleep Disturbance Anxiety Depression Seizure Disorder Vitamin Deficiency

…that the average child with Autism Spectrum Disorder is engaged in a minimum of 5 complimentary and alternative medical interventions to remediate his biomedical symptoms? Dietary regimens Psychopharmacological treatment Neurological interventions Vitamin/Nutritional Supplementation Detoxification therapy Physical Therapy Experimental Therapies

(IAN, 2008)

Biomedical Complications Environmental factors Communication Choices Social/Emotional Competence Methodological approach to instruction Setting in which IEP is being implemented

Environmental factors that make youth with Autism “NUTS” Novelty Unpredictability Threatening Sense of control is limited

(Sonia Lupien)

Now What? Contact the Infants & Toddlers Program in your

jurisdiction. Your child could meet the criteria for early intervention services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/earlyinterv/infant_toddlers/directories/local_program.htm

1-800-535-0182 Put your child’s name on Autism Waiver

Registry immediately! Call 866-417-3480 Seek supports and resources for your family!

The State of Maryland, as required by the IDEA, affirmatively attempts to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities at no cost to families.

Mission and focus: To ensure that every child has a place in the community and the best possible chance to succeed.

The Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Administered in collaboration with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)

Serves 900 children with ASDs Provides free services to maintain children with

ASDs in their home and community: Intensive Individual Support Services Respite Care Family Training Environmental Adaptations Therapeutic Integration Adult Life Planning

Comprehensive assessment of skills, needs, and challenges

Clearly defined goals/objectivesEffective teaching strategiesProgress monitoring Comprehensive team approach

“…Educational services should include a minimum of 25 hours per week, 12 months per year, in which the child is engaged in systematically planned, developmentally appropriate educational activity aimed toward identified objectives…”

(National Research Center, 2001)

Autism Society of America Education, advocacy, services, research

and support http://www.autism-society.org/ 1-800-328-8476

Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit Action planning for the first 100 days

after a diagnosis of autism http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/100-day-kit

Pathfinders for Autism We’re newly diagnosed. Where do we

begin? http://www.pathfindersforautism.org/articles/category/newly-diagnosed

This site provides a comprehensive listing of the variety of supports, services, and resources available in Maryland

Maryland State Department of Education AutismConnect This site contains recommendations

made in the Autism Task Force Report, released in 2004, as well as MSDE research, education, and advocacy initiatives and partnerships focused on autism.

www.autismconnectmd.org

Maryland State Department of Education The Early Childhood Gateway A resource for providers and families

with young children with disabilities, birth through five

http://www.mdecgateway.org/home

Maryland has Family Support Services Coordinators in each jurisdiction that assist families of children with disabilities ages birth to 21. A directory of Family Support Services is on the web at www.mdecgateway.org.

For additional information, call:1-800-535-0182

Contact:

Karla M. Saval, M.Ed.Interagency Staff Specialist- Autism, Children’s Mental

HealthMaryland State Department of EducationDivision of Special Education/ Early Intervention Services200 West Baltimore StreetBaltimore, MD [email protected](410)767-0827