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Recap of Autism & Education Series

Autism Awareness Month is coming to a close, but there is so much more to learn.

We looked at some of the possible causes of Autism, especially genetics and toxins, but new information and studies are revealed daily.

In fact, NewsmaxHealth just published the results of a study showing a definite link between mercury and an increased risk of autism.

“A newly published study of Texas school district data and industrial mercury-release data, conducted by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, indeed shows a statistically significant link between pounds of industrial release of mercury and increased autism rates. It also shows — for the first time in scientific literature — a statistically significant association between autism risk and distance from the mercury source.”

Now you know that behavioral therapy techniques, including Applied Behavioral Analysis, have shown positive results. We learned that families are generally the first to suspect that developmental problems are occurring and that early intervention is critical. That early intervention demonstrates that intensive repetition is one form of improving outcomes.

We know that intervention must continue as children enter school, and that Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy can be part of that intervention.

Although this series has focused mainly on young children and infants with autism, and the interventions to help them, autism doesn’t just ‘go away’. In November 2006, Newsweek published a story about the impact of teens and young adults with autism.

“Autism strikes in childhood, but as thousands of families have learned–and thousands more are destined to learn–autism is not simply a childhood disorder. Two decades into the surge of diagnoses that has made autism a major public health issue, a generation of teenagers and young adults is facing a new crisis: what happens next?”

“As daunting as that question may be, it’s just the latest in the endless chain of challenges that is life for the dedicated parents of children with autism. Twenty years ago, they banded together–largely out of desperation–to raise awareness of a once rarely diagnosed, often overlooked disease. They are united by the frustration of dealing with a condition that has no known cause and no cure. They have lobbied passionately to get better education for their kids and more money for research into autism, a neurological disorder characterized by language problems, repetitive behaviors and difficulty with social interaction. At the same time, more sophisticated epidemiology has revealed the true magnitude of the problem. Autism is now estimated to affect [statistics effective at time of publication] from one in 500 to one in 166 children–or as many as 500,000 Americans under 21, most male. That includes individuals with a wide range of abilities–from socially awkward math whizzes to teens who aren’t toilet trained–but who all fit on what scientists now consider a spectrum of autism disorders.”

As one of my commenters mentioned, there are varying levels of disabilities involved with autism, ranging from non-communication to actual seriously self-destructive behaviors. Some autistic children will be able to function at optimum levels and yet some will never be able to become self-sufficient.

Autism involves not only a wide range of causes and symptoms, but also diagnoses. Whether it is autism or Asberger’s, or any of the other variations, there is so much to be learned and much to be discovered.

This series of articles is simply the tip of the iceburg. I don’t claim to be a world-renowned autism expert, although I personally exhibited several autistic tendencies as a child, and continue to do so into my old age. All I can do is provide information about what I have learned as a person, a nurse, and a mother, and offer links to further information.

I hope that this series, which is intended to make you aware of the prevalence of autism in our society and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention, will encourage you to learn more about this puzzling condition affecting so many of our young.

Because autism has a major impact on our schools and our society, I hope this series piqued your curiosity to learn all you can about this increasingly widespread disorder.

April is Autism Awareness Month. April is now coming to a close, but I encourage you to continue learning about Autism and learn how you can help. There are many wonderful sites and organizations that will give you information - and many organizations that would appreciate your help.

Autism Resources

Until tomorrow,

Brennan

The Kingsland Plan

Save Our Schools

Filed under: Education News