ASD Awareness ASD http www eani org uk

ASD Awareness ASD? http: //www. eani. org. uk

Learning Intentions � Today we hope to: � Develop an awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder and the associated difficulties. Sensory Triad of Impairments

Fact or Myth? 1 1. Autism affects more than 1 in 100 people.

FACT � Over 700, 000 people in UK are diagnosed with ASD, which means that 2. 8 m people have a relative on the autism spectrum. � Over 30, 000 people in NI with a diagnosis

Fact or Myth? 2. People tend to 'grow out' of autism in adulthood

MYTH � It's a lifelong condition – children with autism become adults with autism.

Fact or Myth? 3. Autism affects both boys and girls

FACT � There is a popular misconception that autism is simply a male condition. This is false.

Fact or Myth? 4. Some people with autism don’t speak

FACT � Some people with autism are non-verbal and communicate through other means. However, autism is a spectrum condition, so everyone’s autism is different.

Fact or Myth? 6. All people with autism are geniuses

MYTH � Just under half of all people with an autism diagnosis also have a learning disability. Others have an IQ in the average to above average range. 'Savant' abilities like extraordinary memory are rare.

Fact or Myth? 7. Everyone has autism

MYTH � While everyone might recognise some autistic traits or behaviours in people they know, to be diagnosed with autism, a person must consistently display behaviours across all the different areas of the condition. Just having a fondness for routines, a good memory or being shy doesn’t make a person 'a bit autistic'.

2008/09 2018/19 The autism prevalence rate: 1. 2% 3. 3% The autism prevalence rate for males: 1. 9% 5. 1% The autism prevalence rate for females: 0. 4% 1. 5% Department of Health The Prevalence of Autism (including Asperger Syndrome) in School Age Children for Northern Ireland 2019 Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

The Autism Spectrum Autism Asperger's Syndrome Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

“The Difference Between Us…” (Harold Stone) Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

The ‘Whole Child’ Strengths � Strong visual ability � Technical ability � Ability to focus when interested in subject � Detailed factual knowledge � Strong memory & rote learning skills � Truthful and honest Impairments � Social Interaction � Social Communication � Social Imagination � Sensory Issues � Associated Difficulties

The Triad of Impairments Wing and Gould, 1979 Social Interaction Triad of Impairments Social Communication Social Imagination & Rigidity of Thought Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

The Triad of Impairments? The Triad of Impairments consists of three areas of difficulty which all people with autism share: � Social Interaction: understanding how to behave and interact with other people � Communication: the ability to communicate effectively with other people � Imagination & flexibility of thought: deficits in flexible thinking regarding interest, routines, perspectives and rules. May have difficulty coping with new, unfamiliar or unexpected situations.

Impaired Social Interaction � Difficulty making and keeping friends. Often a solitary player/very withdrawn � Simple social actions are often a complicated process (lining up, personal space, dialogue) � Difficulty in understanding different social situations Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Impaired Social Interaction � Find it difficult to understand the thoughts and feelings of others (Theory of Mind) � May not cope in a group � Difficulty with sharing or taking turns Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Impaired Social Communication � Varying expressive language abilities � Varying receptive language abilities � Delayed and/or immediate echolalia Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Impaired Social Communication � Unusual voice characteristics e. g. volume, tone, accent � Difficulty with social aspects of language � Manipulates conversation to topic of interest Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Impaired Social Communication � May not read or understand facial expression, gesture, body language or vocal intonation � Literal interpretation of language (idioms, sarcasm) Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

ASD Website - www. wrongplanet. net � Profile ◦ ◦ ◦ Page Name: Alex Plank Age: 14 Height: 5 feet 7 inches Eyes: blue Hair: blonde Build: athletic Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

� Four things I can't live without: breathing, eating, sleeping, exercise � Ideal match: one that lights up right away, without needing to strike it again. (Obviously wooden, not paper ones that come in those cheap matchbooks you get from Chinese restaurants) � Perfect first date: January 1 st Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Impairment of Social Imagination � Difficulty with Change ◦ We have a substitute teacher today. I hate substitutes because they never know what to do. At 9 o’clock she told us to get our maths books. Everyone knows that 9 o’clock is spelling time so I refused to get out my maths book. �This is Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Impairment of Social Imagination � Difficulty with sequencing, organisation, cause and effect (Executive Functioning) � May have difficulty playing ‘let’s pretend’ games � May display unusual mannerisms/vocalisations Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Impairment of Social Imagination � Repetitive / restricted behaviour � Limited range of imaginative activities i. e. special interests and obsessions � Difficulty in creative writing tasks – may need concrete or real-life examples � Focus on irrelevant information without seeing the ‘big picture’ (Central Coherence Theory) Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Sensory Social Interaction Triad of Impairments Social Communication Social Imagination & Rigidity of Thought Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Sensory Sensitivities Hypersensitivity and/or hyposensitivity ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Visual - Sight Auditory - Hearing Gustatory - Taste Olfactory - Smell Tactile - Touch Vestibular - Movement, balance and gravity Proprioception - Body position Interception - The feelings inside Autism Advisory and Intervention Service

Associated Difficulties Overly sensitive to loud noises, light, smells and touch. Has difficulty paying attention Bumps into people in line. Problems with handwriting Always “on the go” Only likes certain types of clothing Has difficulty with hair washing and brushing Picky eater Clumsy

Other challenges � Sleeping � Difficulty � Fears � Poor and eating difficulties developing independence and phobias spatial awareness and poor motor skills � Limited awareness of danger � Heightened anxiety

Who do you know? Dan Aykroyd Peter Sellers Bill Gates Gary Numan Daryl Hannah Lionel Messi Chris Packham Albert Einstein Temple Grandin

Top Tip 1 Be prepared

Top Tip 2 Be Visual

Top Tip 3 Be clear and concise

Top Tip 4 Create routines

Top Tip 5 Say what you mean and mean what you say!

Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew By Ellen Notbohm (Future Horizons) 1. I am first and foremost a child. I have autism. I am not primarily autistic 2. My sensory perceptions are disordered 3. Please remember to distinguish between won’t(I choose not to) and can’t(I am not able to) 4. I am a concrete thinker. This means I interpret language very literally 5. Please be patient with my limited vocabulary 6. Because language is so difficult for me, I am very visually oriented 7. Please focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can’t do 8. Help me with social interactions 9. Try to identify what triggers my meltdowns 10. If you are a family member, please love me unconditionally