Sunday, April 25, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Come on Honey, let's go up those hills!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Autism Myth Buster
Want to understand more about autism? Sort the truth from the fiction with our autism myth buster.Myth: Autism (including Asperger syndrome) is a rare condition.
Fact: Autism (including Asperger syndrome) is no longer a rare condition and is thought to affect about 588,000 people in the UK today.Myth: All people with autism have a extraordinary ability like the Dustin Hoffman character in the film Rainman.
Fact: People with autism who have an extraordinary talent are referred to as 'autistic savants'. Savants are rare: Between 2 and 3% of the UK population have some degree of learning disability, but only 0.06% of these were initially estimated to possess an unusually high level of specific ability. Savant ability is more frequently associated with those having some form of autism rather than with other disabilities. Current thinking holds that at most 1 or 2 in 200 individuals with an autism spectrum disorder might have a genuine savant talent. However, there is no reliable frequency estimate as yet as there is still no register of people with autism in the UK.Myth: Asperger syndrome is a middle class malady made up by parents to excuse their badly behaved children.
Fact: Asperger syndrome is a very real and very disabling condition that has its own set of diagnostic criteria. It is often diagnosed slightly later than autism at around 11-13 years but its effects are just as real and can be devastating if people's needs are not met.Myth: Only children have autism and they can get better or grow out of it.
Fact: Autism is a lifelong developmental disability with no cure. Children with autism grow up to be adults with autism.Myth: Autism is the result of emotional deprivation or emotional stress.
Fact: Autism is a complex developmental disability involving a biological or organic defect in the functioning of the brain.Myth: Autism is a new phenomenon.
Fact: The first detailed description of a child we now know had autism was written in 1799 by Jean Itard in his account of The Wild Boy of Aveyron.Myth: A person with autism cannot be educated.
Fact: With the right structured support within and outside of school, individuals with autism can be helped to reach their full potential.Myth: People with autism wish to avoid social contact.
Fact: People with autism are often keen to make friends but, due to their disability, find this difficult.Myth: Autism is due to parental rejection or cold, unemotional parents.
Fact: Autism has nothing whatsoever to do with the way parents bring up their children.More information about autism can be found on the National Autistic Society website
Young, Autistic & Stagestruck