Karen L. Simmons - The Official Autism 101 Manual

Copyright 2006, 2018 by Autism Today

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Jacket design by Rain Saukas

Jacket photograph: iStockphoto

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-2253-8

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-2255-2

Printed in United States of America

CONTENTS

by Karen L. Simmons, Founder/CEO Autism Today

by Karen L. Simmons

by Janine Flanagan, MD, FRCPC

by Janine Flanagan, MD, FRCPC

by Autism Speaks

by Jonathan Simmons

by Lawrence P. Kaplan, Ph.D.

by Jonathan Alderson, Ed. M.

by Karen L. Simmons

by Ellen Notbohm

by Karen Siff Exkorn B.A., M.A.

by Karen L. Simmons

by Terri Duncan, S.L.P., Founder/CEO C.A.S.E

by James B. Adams & Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.

by Lawrence P. Kaplan, Ph.D.

by Keith Goulden, MD, FRCPC

by Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

by William Shaw, Ph.D.

by Julie Matthews, C.N.C.

by Barry M. Prizant, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

by Doreen Granpeesheh, Ph.D., BCBA-D

by Laura Cook

by Arnie Gotfryd, Ph.D.

by Valerie MacClean

by Billie Thompson, Ph.D.

by Arnold Miller, Ph.D.

by Sally Brockett, M.S.

by Jennifer Buchanan, MTA

by Toni Flowers

by Pat Wyman, M.A.

by Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D.

by Stephen M. Shore, Ed.D.

by Jonathan Alderson, Ed.M.

by Heather McCracken

by Jed Baker, Ph.D.

by Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D.

by Eustacia Cutler, B.A.

by Ellen Notbohm

by Karen L. Simmons

by Karen L. Simmons

by Jonathan Alderson, Ed.M. & Gordon Mac Scott

by Michelle M. Guppy

by Lori Ernsperger, Ph.D.

by Mary Wrobel, SLP

by Darold A. Treffert, M.D.

by Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

by Jonathan Alderson, Ed.M.

by Teresa Bolick, Ph.D.

by Lyn Dunsavage Young & Joanne Lara, M.A., CTC, Ed Specialist

by Carol Simpson, Founder and CEO, Focus Inc.

by Nicholas Martin, M.A.

by Lisa Simmons

by Sandra L. Harris, Ph.D.

by Anne Addison, MBA

by Debbie Irish & Linda Zaretsky, Ph.D.

by Sharon A. Mitchell, BA, BE.d, MA

by Veronica York

by Jessica Jazz Summers

by Daniel Hawthorne

by Taylor Cross

by Terri Robson

by Mary De Mauro

by Stephen Shore, Ph.D.

DEDICATION TO THE REAL STARS OF AUTISM

I dedicate this resource first and foremost to my children, Kimberly, Matthew, Christina, Jonathan, Stephen, and Alex. They are all my favorites! This book sets out to share the wealth of information and resources I found and used to help my two special needs children, Jonathan and Alex. Though there have been many challenges over the years, I wouldnt have my children any other way. They are who they arewhole, loving, and completeexactly as they are. Jonnys humor and wit make me laugh. His ability to focus and concentrate enables him to hone in on what he enjoys most while offering him hope for the future. Alexs persistence will carry him far in life and certainly keeps us all on our toes! So much for growing old quickly!

I also dedicate this resource to all of Jonny and Alexs peers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or autism. You are the real shining stars of autism, and you offer a unique perspective that enriches the fabric of humankind. I like to say we must all discover the awesome in autism, and this is what Autism Today is all about. In fact, many leading individuals may have had high functioning autism, including Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and Thomas Jefferson, to mention a few. Our world is much better because of your contributions.

A great big thank-you goes out to all the wonderful authors and presenters who have contributed to this resource. Your commitment and perseverance in discovering help for this special group of people is what is moving the entire field forward. One of my goals is to facilitate the change of views and attitudes that people have about autism around the world. It is important to help people see that autism is a unique condition, with many symptoms that can be overcome through intervention, rather than as a negative affliction, as it was viewed in days past. Regardless of our circumstances, we can choose to see peace within it. By doing so, the quality of everyones lives will become more positive and loving. The person with autism is in your life for a reason. Perhaps this person is there to teach you love, patience, and understanding. If you are the person with autism, you also have your lessons to learn. Maybe they are to accept yourself, explore your strengths, and learn to love and laugh more easily. No matter what we are all here to experience, I challenge each and every one of you to look into your hearts and ponder what you are here to learn and then seek to fulfill your true gifts and strengths.

THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!
Karen L. Simmons, Founder, CEO Autism Today

INTRODUCTION: WHY THIS BOOK?

Note: Further information and links for the authors and contributors in The Official Autism 101 Manual can be found at www.autismtoday.com.

S ince the release of Autism 101 in 2008, a first of its kind publication that received the Independent Publishers Gold Medal Award in the Medicine category, so much has changed in the world of autism. In this revised edition, starting at the core, Dr. Janine Flanagan discusses the very definition of this diagnosis, redefined in the latest version of the DSM 5, in which Aspergers is no longer a recognized disorder.

Over the past decade, newsflashes abound: Researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, using one of the worlds largest supercomputers have identified several hundred genes associated with the epigenetics of autism. And in 2014 results from a 17-year-long study were published being the first to conclude that as many as 9 percent of participants diagnosed with ASD had developed past the fundamental challenges associated with autism and no longer qualified for the diagnosis. It is now hard to deny that recovery, at least from the diagnosis, is possible.

From advances in biomedical and nutritional medicine as discussed by Julie Matthews to new research driving innovative interventions such as Jonathan Aldersons Multi-Treatment program and Arnie Gotfryds MaxiMind Learning Program, and the proliferation of iPad apps specifically designed for autism treatment, the autism field has evolved.

As the mother of a wonderfully unique son diagnosed with autism, I know first-hand the importance of staying abreast of the most up-to-date information I can find. Through my work at Autism Today, my mission has always been to empower parents with evidence-based information that leads to enhanced development of their children.