Section 1

An Overview of Autism

In recent years, you’ve likely heard the word “autism” much more often. Headlines often read things like, “Prevalence of Autism Continues to Rise,” “MMR Vaccine Does not Cause Autism,” “For People with Autism, Encounters with Police can Turn Dangerous,” and “Sesame Street to Feature Character with Autism.” While the media has created more awareness and familiarity with the word “autism,” many people still have limited knowledge about what actually characterizes autism, who autism impacts most, and most importantly, how to support individuals on the spectrum.

Let’s begin by watching this brief introduction to autism spectrum disorder from MAIER. ➡️

Continue on to learn about the signs & symptoms of autism in the early life cycle…

Birth to age 5… ⬇️

School age… ⬇️

If you’d like to explore the elements of autism further, check out these resources from the IRIS Center investigating different classroom needs and reviewing the characteristics of autism, featuring audio clips from Drs. Wendy Stone and Illene Schwartz.

What causes autism?

The exact causes of autism are unknown. Here is what researchers have discovered so far:

  • Genetics play a large role in the diagnosis of autism 
  • Both maternal and paternal age play a role in the prevalence of autism.
  • Parents who have a child with autism have a greater chance of having a second child who also has autism.
  • Studies have shown that among identical twins, if one child has autism, the other will be affected about 36 to 95 percent of the time. In non-identical twins, if one child has autism, then the other is affected about 31 percent of the time.
  • There has been lots of discussion and buzz about the impact of vaccinations on autism. Extensive research from the Centers for Disease Control indicates that vaccines do NOT cause autism. (Autism Speaks, 2019)
    • Digging Deeper: Read more here about autism and vaccinations

What are your initial thoughts? 

What is autism spectrum disorder and what are the characteristics associated with it?

What should teachers consider when working with students with autism spectrum disorder?

⬅️ Welcome

Section 2: The Diagnosis Process ➡️