ABOUT AUTISM AND YOUNG CHILDREN

© Project ACCESS - Updated July 2006

Autism is...

• a developmental disability
• a life-long disability
• a neurophysiological disorder
• treated through good educational programs
• behaviorally defined
• variable in its severity across individuals
• a communication and sensory and interactional disability
  

Autism is not...

• a mental or emotional illness
• simply a behavior disorder
• curable
• the same set of behaviors in all individuals
• diagnosable by any type of medical procedure
  

Autism occurs in approximately 1 out of 166 live births. Savants like "Rainman" (played by Dustin Hoffman) make up about 1-3% of persons with autism. Four males have autism for every one female with autism.

About 40-50% of individuals with autism are also retarded (IQ of less than 70). That means that approximately 50-60% of individuals with autism have normal IQ's (70 and above).

Approximately 50% of persons with autism are functionally nonverbal. This means that even if the person has speech, the speech is not used in a meaningful way.

The main goals of education for persons with autism are EMPLOYABILITY and INDEPENDENCE. These goals can best be met through heterogeneous educational settings, i.e., significant integration of persons with autism into settings with normal peers.

Instruction centers around four life domains:

• self help
• play/socialization
• readiness/pre academic

• community integration

The following skills are embedded within the four life domains:

• social interaction skills
• generalization skills
• communication skills
• compliance
• work behaviors
• how to play
• problem-solving/critical thinking skills
• toileting, dressing, and eating skills
• self-management coping skills
• attending to instruction
• desensitization to community activities (doctor, haircuts, restaurants, grocery store, etc.)

Originally developed by Edna A. Smith, Ph.D. & Susan C. Hawkins, M.A.