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Autism Spectrum Disorders: Selected Readings and Resources

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Autism Spectrum Disorders: Selected Readings and Resources AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: SELECTED READINGS AND RESOURCES Written and Compiled by Kelly Register Brown, MD and The Staff of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children’s National Medical Center 15245 Shady Grove Road, Suite 350 (South Building), Rockville, MD 20850; 301-765-5430 www.childrensnational.org Copyright © 2010 Children's National Medical Center All Rights Reserved This book is designed to be a resource for parents as they navigate the journey of raising a child with special needs. We have found that well-informed parents are their children’s best advocates and teachers. We ourselves have learned many things from parents as they have advocated for their special children in their schools and communities. We hope this book will provide help in this process. This book is dedicated to the families and children who have enriched our lives at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders. This book can be found online at the website of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children’s National Medical Center (go to www.childrensnational.org, search for "Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders,” and click on “Resources for Families”). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Kelly Register Brown, MD; Jenifer Walkowiak, PhD; Laura Anthony, PhD; and Lauren Kenworthy, PhD wrote and compiled this book. We thank the many individuals and organizations who allowed us to reprint their material here. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the Parent Advisory Committee of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Children’s National Medical Center. This project was funded in part by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program (5-T73-06-001) at Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC. The information included in this booklet is for informational and educational purposes only. Children's National Medical Center has made a reasonable effort to ensure the information provided is compete, and where appropriate, based on scientific evidence; however, Children's National Medical Center makes no assurances as to whether the provided information will at all times be current. Furthermore, this document does not reflect the best medical practice for all circumstances. Users of this booklet should not substitute information contained herein for professional judgment, nor should they rely on the information provided when rendering a diagnosis or choosing a course of medical treatment. User agrees that this booklet does not constitute medical advice. Children's National Medical Center assumes no responsibility for any consequence relating directly or indirectly to any action or inaction you take based on the information or other material contained in this booklet. Before undertaking a course of action discussed herein, Users are advised to seek professional counsel on the issues raised by consulting with the appropriate medical professionals. Materials in this booklet that are authored by Children’s National Medical Center may be reproduced for nonprofit, noncommercial educational purposes. TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: OVERVIEW OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS................................................................... 3 Services at the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children’s National Medical Center ....................................4 The District of Columbia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (DC LEND) Program at Children’s National Medical Center ............................................................................................................................6 Autism Overview: What We Know (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development).............................7 Neuropsychological Profiles: Social Cognition, and Executive Functions (Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children’s National Medical Center).........................................................................................................................23 Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview for Friends and Family (Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children’s National Medical Center).........................................................................................................................25 Growing Up Together (Autism Society of America; information for children about autism spectrum disorders) .....26 Advice from Experienced Parents (Parent Advisory Committee, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children’s National Medical Center) ..........................................................................................................................................30 “Forward” to Gravity Pulls You In: Perspectives on Parenting Children on the Autism Spectrum (John Elder Robison) ...................................................................................................................................................................32 Be Your Own Best Advocate (PACER Center, Minneapolis, MN) ...........................................................................35 PART II: INTERVENTIONS............................................................................................................ 37 Principles of Intervention in Autism Spectrum Disorders (Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Children’s National Medical Center) ..........................................................................................................................................38 Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders)....................................................................................................................40 Evaluating Interventions: A Guide for Parents (Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders) .................................................................................................................................................................44 Choosing Professionals and Coordinating Services (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, University of Florida)......................................................................................................................................................................45 Evaluating Autism Websites: A Guide for Parents (Adapted from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health by Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders).................................................................................................................................................47 Evaluating Research Studies: A Guide for Parents (Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders).................................................................................................................................................48 Everyday Strategies to Use at Home and School (Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders) .................................................................................................................................................................49 Behavioral Challenges (American Academy of Pediatrics)......................................................................................53 Visual-Spatial Supports for Children with Autism or PDD (Julie Osterling, PhD).....................................................55 Using Photographs to Teach Language Skills (Carolyn Weiner, MA, CCC)............................................................58 Visual Supports for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders).......................................................................................................60 Social Language Use (Pragmatics) (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) .......................................63 Pragmatic Language Tips (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association)......................................................64 Using Language to Get Results (M. Ann Marquis, MS, CCC)..................................................................................65 Psychiatric Medications (Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders)..................67 Sleep Problems (American Academy of Pediatrics).................................................................................................69 Transition to Adulthood: The Ultimate Outcome (American Academy of Pediatrics)...............................................71 PART III: SCHOOLS .................................................................................................................... 73 Overview of IDEA and Section 504 (Children’s National Medical Center, Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders)74 IDEA versus Section 504: Exploring the Differences (Council for Exceptional Children) ........................................75 What is an IEP? (National Center for Learning Disabilities)....................................................................................77 IEP Meeting Planner (National Center for Learning Disabilities) .............................................................................79 IEP Meeting Conversation Barriers (National Center for Learning Disabilities).......................................................82 Chart Your Own Future: How
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