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Autism
is a neurological disorder that includes impairments in communication,
social relationships, and behavior.
As new reports about dramatic increases in the number of children
diagnosed with autism are issued, we want to bring you up to
date on issues about educating and advocating for children with
autism.
If you are a parent, you need to educate yourself about your
child's disability, effective educational methods and medical
treatments. You also need to learn how to present your child's problems and needs
to school staff so they want to help.
Thanks,
Pamela Wright, Editor
P.S. Will you do us a favor? Use the "Forward to a Friend" link at the bottom of this e-mail so a friend can get acquainted with The Special Ed Advocate? This beats forwarding your own copy -- which may cause your subscription to be unsubscribed if your friend clicks the wrong link. :-)
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This Issue: |
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| Autism
Epidemic Rages On |
| According
to autism advocate Rick Rollens, the autism epidemic continues
to rage on, with no end in sight.
The
California
Department of Developmental Services (DDS) reports that
during the first 3 months of 2007, 886 children were diagnosed
with DSM IV autism. Of 1,570 intakes, 886 (56%) were new autism
cases. This represents the second highest number of new autism
cases in the 38 year history of the California
Department of Developmental Services.
Note:
This does not include children diagnosed with PDD, NOS, Asperger's
Syndrome or other autism spectrum disorders.
In
the 16 years between 1971 through 1987, California had a caseload
of approximately 2,700 persons with autism. During the past
nine months, from July 2006 to April 2007, California added
roughly 2,700 new cases of autism.
Twenty
years ago, 2,700 persons with autism were in the system. Today,
nearly 34,000 persons with autism are in the system. Here are
some facts about these individuals:
- 92%
were born after 1980
- 84%
are under age 21
- 78%
are under age 18
Interested
in learning more about Autism,
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder
(PDD), Asperger Syndrome (AS)?
Our Autism
page includes FAQs, articles, cases, recommended publications,
newsletters, free resources, and organizations that can help.
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| Intensive
Early Intervention Essential for Children with Autism |
| Autism
is a developmental disorder that affects the child's ability to
communicate ideas and feelings, use imagination, and establish
relationships with others. No single known cause has been identified.
Currently there is no cure.
All available research strongly suggests that intensive early intervention
makes a critical difference to children with autistic spectrum
disorders. Without early identification and diagnosis, children
with autism do not learn the skills they need to benefit from
education.
The
National Research Council analyzed intervention models for young
children with autistic disorders and concluded that intensive
early intervention "makes a clinically significant difference
for many children. Children who had early intervention had better
outcomes." (2 pages)
Educating
Children with Autism by National Academy Press (2001).
Although education is the primary form of treatment for autism,
educators are often poorly equipped to deal with these children.
Educating
Children with Autism describes effective educational practices,
programs, and strategies. Learn:
- How
children's specific diagnoses should affect educational assessment
and planning
- How
to support the families of children with autism
- Features
of effective instructional and comprehensive programs and
strategies
- How
to prepare teachers, school staffs, professionals, & parents
to educate autistic children.
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| Special
Education Cases: Autism |
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In
Autism
Caselaw, you'll find links to several important decisions
about educating children with autism. The issues in these cases
include what constitutes a free appropriate public education
(FAPE) for children with autism, ABA/Lovaas therapy, extended
school year (ESY), and LRE/inclusion.
School Bd of Henrico County VA v. Z.P (4th Cir. 2005)
Parents of young child with autism rejected typical generic
preschool program and requested tuition reimbursement for private
program that utilizes one-on-one ABA therapy. Issues include
deference to hearing officer as factfinder and deference to
opinions of professional public school educators.
L.B.
and J.B. ex rel. K.B. v. Nebo UT Sch. District (10th Cir.
2004)
Parents of child with autism reimbursed for ABA/Lovaas therapy
and private preschool that was LRE for child; educational benefit;
impartiality of hearing officer.
T.
H. v. Bd. Ed. Palatine IL (N. D. IL 1999)
Powerful well-written decision in ABA-Lovaas case; discusses
methodology, IEP development process; IEP goals and objectives,
individualization, educational benefit, unilateral placement
by parents, reimbursement, standard of review. (pdf)
For more cases about autism, please visit the Special
Education Caselaw Library.
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Highly Recommended: My Brother Has Autism by Melody
Igafo-Te'o |
 When
a family includes a child with autism, parents are often absorbed
in meeting this child's needs, and have less time and attention
available for their other children.
Sometimes,
siblings feel sad or resentful. They may also feel pride and
joy. 
In My
Brother Has Autism, Melody Igafo-Te'o describes experiences
with her brother Michael who has autism. You may be surprised
when you discover how Melody sees her brother.
My
Brother Has Autism is useful to therapists, teachers, parents,
and others who work with siblings of children with autism. As
children read and discuss this book, they begin to recognize
things they have in common with their sibling - and discover
positive qualities about their brothers and sisters with autism.
Download My
Brother Has Autism by Melody Igafo-Te'o (22 pages, illustrated)
We thank Melody for making this book available. She is a gifted, insightful writer. We hope she will write more books in the future.
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Free Pubs & Resources about Autism |
| One
obstacle in advocating for a child with a disability is finding
the time to do research. We spend hours collecting information
so you can spend your time learning, not searching.
When
you visit our Free
Pubs page, you'll find high-quality free publications about
autism, child mental health, special education, transition,
reading, behavior, IEPs, discipline, high-stakes testing, retention,
No Child Left Behind, and more. We are continually adding new
publications, so the contents of the Free
Pubs page changes often.
Here
is a short list of free publications about educating children
with autism.
Centre
of Excellence for Early Childhood Development's Encyclopedia
on Early Childhood Development: Autism
This
40 page document includes a synthesis of autism, the impact
of autism on child development and the impact of early intervention.
Special
Education: Children with Autism
The Government Accountability Office published this report to
answers questions submitted by Congress about special education
for children with autism.
Autistic Spectrum
Disorders: Best Practice Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis
and Assessment
This publication provides professionals, policymakers, parents
and others with detailed "best practice" recommendations
and rationale for screening, evaluating and assessing individuals
suspected of having autistic spectrum disorders. These guidelines
are the product of nearly a year's work by experts in the field
of autistic spectrum disorders and are based on validated scientific
evidence, clinical experience and clinical judgment.
Autism
101: Free Online Course from the Autism Society of America
This online course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
The course includes: Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders,
Treatment Options, Treatment Assistance, Transition to Adulthood,
and More Information and Resources. After you complete the course,
you can download a certificate of completion.
More
Free Pubs & Resources.
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Recommended Resource: Schafer Autism Report |
If
you are interested in Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders,
we encourage you to subscribe to the Schafer
Autism Report. SAR
monitors major news sources, websites, and the latest scientific
research for practical news and developments, with a balanced,
no-spin presentation.
Learn
more about the Schafer Autism
Report. You may subscribe by filling in the form on the
website.
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Last Week's Poll Results: School Safety |
Last week, we
asked: Do you worry about your child's safety at school?
Of the 721 responses,
82% of respondents were often or sometimes worried about their
child's safety, while 18% indicated that they rarely or never
worried.
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| Special Education Law
& Advocacy Training |
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We are scheduling programs for
2007 and 2008. If you are interested in bringing a Wrightslaw
program to your community, please read our
Conference
Information page.
Upcoming programs are listed on the left top side of this newsletter.
You can also check the
schedule to see where Wrightslaw programs are being held.
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