UTISM PECTRUM EWS TM A YOUR TRUSTEDS SOURCE OF SCIENCE-BASED AUTISM EDUCATION,N FALL 2014 INFORMATION, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES VOL. 7 NO. 2 Exploring Relationships and Social Skills A Developmental Map to Social Success By Alyson H. Sheehan, PhD valleys (Baron-Cohen, 1988; Bhatia, Ra- and Monica Arevalo, MS, MHC jender, Malhotra, Kanwal, & Chaudhary, ASPIRE Center for 2010; Orsmond, Krauss, & Seltzer, 2004; Learning and Development White, Keonig, & Scahill, 2007). However, conceptualizing the interpersonally-based impact of ASD as stemming from differ- nusual, strained, or scarce so- ences rather than deficits serves to thwart cial interactions often constitute obstructive myths, facilitates realization of many of the visible and distinct individual strengths, and serves as a primer indicators of Autism Spectrum for applying evidence-based strategies to UDisorder (ASD). Formal diagnostic de- promote social learning. scriptions, professional resources, and An individual’s profile of assets and firsthand accounts delineate innumerable challenges must be assessed, construct- examples of ASD-associated interperson- ed, and integrated within the frame of the al behavior. Yet, if prompted to synthesize dynamic social world so that skills may the general challenges faced by individu- be cultivated in a way that consistently als on the spectrum throughout the years matches potential. For example, social mo- leading up to adulthood, responses from tivation varies immensely across children, caregivers, service providers, and indi- adolescents, and adults with ASD. The viduals with ASD would inevitably reflect common perception that individuals on the stark variations. In the absence of a uni- spectrum are invariably devoid of empathy form trajectory to guide expectations and and experience minimal desire for social interventions, how might one gauge the so- Furthermore, is it even possible for indi- Across levels of language development, connectedness is misleading, if not out- cial implications of ASD when it comes to viduals with ASD to acquire the founda- cognitive ability, and age, the journey of right inaccurate. Differentiation must be daily functioning, educational attainment, tion of social understanding that precedes social development within the context of career aspirations, and overall wellbeing? meaningful interactions and relationships? ASD is riddled with pronounced peaks and see Developmental on page 20 Autism Spectrum News to Honor Dr. Joseph Buxbaum and Alison Singer at Annual Leadership Awards Reception ¶¶ You Are Cordially Invited to Attend! See page 36 for Details ¶¶ Staff Writer be a networking cocktail hour and a silent event, which will help us raise the funds techniques of molecular genetics and neu- Autism Spectrum News auction. Proceeds will go towards en- needed to expand the reach of Autism Spec- robiology to identify, and ultimately char- hancing autism education and awareness trum News and continue to provide vital acterize, genes that contribute to autism by expanding the free print distribution autism education to the community. I want susceptibility. His laboratory has identi- ollowing on the success of last of Autism Spectrum News and providing to give a special thanks to EmblemHealth fied common and rare genetic variants that year’s first annual event, Autism free access to the Autism Spectrum News for donating the event space and also to our underlie autism spectrum disorders and Spectrum News is very pleased online library of science-based autism ed- indispensable Event Committee Members has developed model systems in which to announce the honorees of this ucation, information, advocacy, and vital who include Susan Cortilet-Jones, Judith novel therapeutics can be tested. In addi- Fyear’s Annual Leadership Awards Recep- resources in the community. Please con- Omidvaran, Theresa Pirraglia, Patricia tion, Dr. Buxbaum has taken a lead in sev- tion. Please join us on Thursday, Decem- tact David Minot with any questions at Rowan, and Dianne Zager, all of whom eral international consortia, most recently ber 4th at 5:30 PM at the EmblemHealth [email protected] or (508) 877-0970. are also dedicated members of the Autism the Autism Sequencing Consortium aimed Building located at 55 Water Street in New According to David Minot, Publisher of Spectrum News Editorial Board.” at sequencing 20,000 exomes, dedicated York City as we honor Joseph D. Buxbaum, Autism Spectrum News, “We are so excited Dr. Buxbaum is the G. Harold and Lei- to advancing research in autism spectrum PhD, Director of the Seaver Autism Center to be honoring such outstanding leaders of la Y. Mathers Professor of Psychiatry, disorders. Dr. Buxbaum is the author of at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount the Autism community at this year’s Lead- Neuroscience, and genetic and genomic more than 200 publications, and he is co- Sinai and Alison Singer, MBA, President of ership Awards Reception. The positive Sciences, the Head of The Laboratory of editor-in-chief of the journal Molecular the Autism Science Foundation. For more impact that Alison Singer and Dr. Joseph Molecular Neuropsychiatry, and the Vice Autism (www.molecularautism.com). information and to register, please visit Buxbaum have made in the areas of autism Chair for Research in the Department of Alison Singer is Co-Founder and Presi- www.mhnews-autism.org. science, advocacy, education and philan- Psychiatry at Mount Sinai. Dr. Buxbaum dent of the Autism Science Foundation, a In addition to the awards presentation thropy cannot be understated. We hope is the Director of the Seaver Autism Cen- and remarks from our honorees, there will everyone will come out and support this ter, and his research focuses on using see Awards Reception on page 30 PERMIT NO. 137 NO. PERMIT Effort, PA 18330 PA Effort, MONROE, CT MONROE, 460 Cascade Drive Cascade 460 U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. Mental Health News Education, Inc. Education, News Health Mental ORGANIZATION NON PROFIT NON PAGE 2 www.mhnews-autism.org AUTISM SPECTRUM NEWS ~ FALL 2014 Autism Spectrum News Mental Health News Education, Inc. Editorial Board Board of Directors Cindy Alterson, PhD, BCBA, Principal and Program Director Chairman Devereux Millwood Learning Center Jorge R. Petit, MD, President Joel Bregman, MD, Medical Director and Director of Psychiatry Quality Healthcare Solutions Group The Center for Autism Vice-Chairman Joseph D. Buxbaum, PhD Barry B. Perlman, MD, Director, Department of Psychiatry Director, Seaver Autism Center Saint Joseph’s Medical Center Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Secretary Susan M. Cortilet-Jones, MS, LMHC Peg Moran, LMSW, Vice President, Operations, Center for Regional Healthcare Innovation Life Skills and College Coaching Specialist/Consultant Westchester Medical Center Discovering Your World Treasurer Stephen E. Freeman, LCSW The Freeman Group Debra Pantin, MSW, Associate Executive Director VIP Community Services Lynda Geller, PhD, Founder Members of the Board Spectrum Services, A Cooperative of Independent Practices and Organizations, New York, NY Peter D. Beitchman, DSW, LMSW Behavioral Health Advocate Ami Klin, PhD, Director Marcus Autism Center Constance Y. Brown, MPA, Vice President, Community and Government Relations ICL Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, President Carmen Collado, LCSW Child Mind Institute ICL Cecelia M. McCarton, MD, Founder and Executive Director Jonathan P. Edwards, LMSW, Training Specialist, Parachute NYC The McCarton Foundation NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene The McCarton School (for Autism) Alan Eskenazi, MA, CPHQ, CASAC, Senior Associate Executive Director Department of Psychiatry, Woodhull Hospital Judith R. Omidvaran Autism Parent Advocate, New York Mary Hanrahan LCSW, Behavioral Health, Clinical Services Management New York Presbyterian Theresa Pirraglia, Co-Founder and Board Member FECA, The Foundation for Empowering Citizens with Autism Joseph Krasnansky, LCSW, Vice President and Chief Program Officer Lower Eastside Service Center John C. Pomeroy, MD, Founding Director Judith R. Omidvaran Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities Autism Parent Advocate, New York Stony Brook University Medical Center Theresa Pirraglia, Co-Founder and Board Member Patricia Rowan, LMSW, Consultant and Advocate FECA, The Foundation for Empowering Citizens with Autism Kid’s Connection Janet Z. Segal, LCSW, Executive Vice President Emerita Four Winds Hospital and President, Four Winds Foundation Pat Schissel, LMSW, Executive Director Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association Alan Trager, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer Westchester Jewish Community Services Alison Singer, President Autism Science Foundation Naomi Weinstein, Director, Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies Richard Swierat, Executive Director Kimberly Williams, LMSW, Vice President, Integrated Policy and Program Solutions ARC of Westchester Mental Health Association of New York City Fred Volkmar, MD, Director Dianne Zager, PhD, Michael C. Koffler Professor in Autism Yale Child Study Center Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University Dianne Zager, PhD Executive Staff Michael C. Koffler Professor in Autism Ira H. Minot, LMSW, Founder & Executive Director Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University Mental Health News Education, Inc. Carey Zuckerman, President David H. Minot, BA, Associate Director and Publisher Autism Society of America, Manhattan Chapter Mental Health News Education, Inc. Autism Spectrum News is a Publication