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Main Autism Spectrum Disorders and their Symptoms

Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that there is a wide degree of variation in the way it affects people, Gifted People Services wants to bring below some common concerns parents are always wondering about:

1- Where does your child fall on the autism spectrum?

The three autism spectrum disorders share many of the same symptoms, However they differ in their severity and impact:

Classic Autism: is the most severe of the autism spectrum disorders and sometimes called autistic disorder.
Asperger's Syndrome: it is a milder disorder and sometimes called high-functioning autism.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder or not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).

Note: The average majority fall in the middle range of the spectrum and only 20% of them have classic autism.

2- What are the signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders?

Social Skills: such as lack of interest in other people, difficulty in making friends with children same age and unusual body language and facial expressions.
Speech and Language: such as delay in learning or talking, doesn't understand simple words or phrases and difficulty communicating needs and desires.
Restricted Behavior and play: such as repetitive body movements, a strong needs for routines and odd ways of moving.

3- The road to an autism diagnosis can be difficult and time consuming and this is due to high concerns about labelling or incorrectly diagnosing the child.

4- Some cases need more than one specialist to be involved in diagnosing your child autism such as:

Child psychologists
Child psychiatrists
Speech pathologists
Developmental paediatricians
Paediatric neurologists
Audiologists
Physical therapists
Special education teachers

5-The last but not the least, there is no single medical test that can diagnose it definitively, it needs multiple evaluations and tests in order to detect the child problem.

Source: http://www.helpguide.org

Ten things to know about autistic children

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has no medical detection or cure yet, however specially trained physicians and psychologists can decide autism specific behavioural evaluations.

Gifted People Services wants to share the top 10 things about Autism facts and symptoms according to “Centres for Disease Control and Prevention”

1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Children with ASD will have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all.
Children with ASD have a tendency to repeat actions over and over again
ASD is not subjective to race or a specific groups of people , it occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
Children with ASD will have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions commonly used by the children within their age groups.
ASD is five times more common among boys than among girls.
Children with ASD have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings.
Children with ASD will not point at objects to show interest.
Children with ASD will not look at objects when another person points at them.

If you think your child might have ASD or you think there could be a problem with the way your child plays, learns, speaks, or acts, contact your child’s doctor, and share your concerns.

Light Blue Stars Shining for Autism

Last Saturday, over 250 spectators enjoyed a talent show organized by Gifted People Services in celebration of Autism Awareness Month. They gathered at the Fairview Library Theatre in Toronto where they were entertained by numerous performances presented by a variety of young artists with special needs showcasing their wonderful talents.

The purpose of the show was to increase our awareness of the effects of autism as a growing global health concern that has an immense impact on the lives of many families within our community

The show featured elaborate group dances, beautiful piano solos, and inspiring sports videos performed by children and young adults from several nonprofit organizations from Toronto. This year, young artists from Gifted People Services were joined on stage by performers from Community Living Toronto, Reach for the Rainbow, Bloomy Music Therapy, and The Chinese Culture Training Centre.

We were honored to host several important guests, such as Consul Mr. Hongruo Zhong, Councillor Chin Lee, Ms. Ying Yu, and special assistant of MPP Soo Wong, who joined audience to show their support for Autism Awareness Month. The whole show was led by our amazing MC’s: Ms. Grace Pan and Mr. Joseph Tsang.

The show could not have happened without our generous supporters - SilverCity Fairview Mall, HK Dental, Hope Centre, Charming China and McNally Piano Movers.

We hope that both the spectators and the performers had a lot of fun during our Light Blue Stars Talent Show. We’ll see you next time!

Prevalence of Autism Rises: One in 68 American children living with autism

One in 68 American children living with autism; Autism Speaks calls for immediate national action plan

Washington, D.C. (March 27, 2014) – Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on the prevalence of autism in the United States. This surveillance study identified 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Autism Speaks has visited all 535 Congressional offices, organized statements from Republican and Democratic leaders in support of a national plan of action and has scheduled a 1:30pm press conference in the U.S. Capitol Visitor’s Center, Room HVC-215, with leaders from the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to address the urgent and long-term needs of people affected by autism.

“Behind each of these numbers is a person living with autism,” said Autism Speaks President Liz Feld. “Autism is a pressing public health crisis that must be prioritized at the national level. We need a comprehensive strategy that includes the research community, policymakers, educators, and caregivers coming together to address our community’s needs across the lifespan.”

Data also show that differences in autism prevalence continue to be seen along race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic lines, reminding us that disparities in awareness and access to care continue to be an issue. "Autism knows no racial, ethnic, or socio-economic boundaries,” Ms. Feld went on to say. “That’s why we’ve got to ensure that every family, from every community in America has access to quality, affordable health care treatment and services."

“This report also sheds light on other key issues facing the autism community today,” said Autism Speaks Chief Science Officer Robert Ring. “Though autism can be identified and diagnosed as early as age two, the average age of initial diagnosis continues to hover around four and a half years. This means that many individuals are missing out on the transformative outcomes that intensive early interventions can offer. If we’re going to make a direct and meaningful impact in the lives of these children, reducing the average age of diagnosis must be a priority moving forward.”

Autism Speaks is currently driving a federal policy agenda that would have a direct impact on the autism community. This includes reauthorizing the Combating Autism Act, which would continue to secure funding for autism research and promote accountability in how these dollars are spent; passing the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which would provide tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities; and urging Congress to improve TRICARE and increase access and coverage of evidenced-based treatment services for military families.

Mac autism researcher gets $2.5 million grant

By Carmela Fragomeni

A McMaster University researcher has been granted $2.46 million to study ways to correct brain abnormalities in people with autism.

Laurie Doering, a professor of pathology and molecular medicine at the university, was in Montreal Thursday when Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that the federal government is helping to fund five research projects.

Some, like Doering's, are aimed at discovering new treatment and prevention strategies for autism while others focus on Alzheimer's.

The federal funds are part of a public-private partnership that involves the Brain Canada Foundation, the Azrieli Foundation and the Chagnon family.

For Doering's work, only the Brain Canada and Azrieli foundations are involved in funding, he said in a telephone interview following the announcement.

The five-year grant gives him the opportunity to track the activity, in mice, of molecules made by stem cells called astrocytes, which control how neurons communicate in the brain. The idea is to apply the astrocytes to replace missing proteins and restore function in specific neural pathways.

He said the research also involves Fragile X, the leading gene that causes autism.

Doering called the grant extremely significant.

"It's a huge amount of money. I can expand my lab, bring in new people and equipment."

Doering will lead a core group of six researchers, including one each at McGill, the University of Toronto and Baylor University in Texas.

As far as he knows, it's the only research of its kind in the world.

"It's very exciting. I can do experiments I couldn't have done with the budget I had before."

cfragomeni@thespec.com

905-526-3392 | @CarmatTheSpec

Ontario eliminating wait lists for developmental service

Apr 12 2014, The Toronto Star

The Wynne Liberals are prepared to spend $810 million over three years to help children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities live more meaningful lives in their communities.

More than 21,000 adults and children are languishing on waiting lists for direct funding that would allow them and their families to pay for personal support workers, respite, day programs, training or other support that best meets their needs.

The proposed new funding, “the single largest infusion of support to the developmental services system ever,” would eliminate those waiting lists within two years for children and within four years for adults, Community and Social Services Minister Ted McMeekin told reporters in Hamilton Friday.

It would also provide residential care for more than 1,400 adults and children in urgent need and help more than 4,200 young adults access transition supports to help them leave school, move out of the family home or get a job.

“Our government is acutely aware that thousands of individuals and families are waiting for programs and services they need. This is not acceptable to me or to our government,” McMeekin said.

Ontario now spends more than $1.7 billion on developmental services. If approved in the budget, expected early next month, the new funding would boost total spending to more than $2 billion by 2016-17.

Community agencies helping people with autism and other developmental services praised the announcement and hoped that all provincial parties would support the new money, should the Liberals’ budget fail and the province face a spring election.

“This is fantastic news,” said Margaret Spoelstra of Autism Ontario. “The investment has been so needed.”

Waiting lists and the lack of funding in the sector generally has meant that agencies have been focused on crisis care, said Chris Beesley of Community Living Ontario, which serves about 12,000 developmentally disabled Ontarians, including about 9,000 in group homes.

“This hopefully will ease the crisis, so we can start to address the community needs list,” he said. “If we can invest more money in the upfront planning, helping people connect with community resources and system navigation, then that’s going to avert crises.”

At least four separate bodies have been looking into services for children and adults with developmental disabilities, including autism, over the past year as desperate parents fight daily battles on behalf of their kids.

In its interim report released in March, the Select Committee on Developmental Services listed a litany of problems, including the lack of day programs, respite and group homes as children finish school and transition into adulthood. The committee’s final report is due in May.

A chronic shortage of services for toddlers, school-age kids, teens and adults was documented more than a year ago in the Star’s Autism Project, as rates of the neurodevelopmental disorder have skyrocketed. The U.S. Centres for Disease Control is now reporting as many as one in 58 American children have the disorder.

In the fall of 2012, provincial Ombudsman Andre Marin, began looking into both individual and systemic problems as children with developmental disabilities become adults. To date, he has received more than 1,000 complaints from families in crisis. A spokeswoman said McMeekin’s announcement Friday was “unexpected” and that Marin would consider it in his report, expected later this year.

Meantime, a special blue-ribbon panel of experts is advising the government on evidence-based best-practices for children with autism. Provincial Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s annual report last December found autism treatment programs for children are plagued with inconsistencies and lack of accountability.

Parent Lillian Wagman, who has two teenage sons with autism and has struggled since they were toddlers to get the support they need, said families can’t wait another two to four years.

“Bread crumbs and morsels thrown our way to allegedly eliminate the years-long wait list are not helpful for the here and now,” the Toronto mom said.

“Families are in crisis. How many more drop-offs at government front doors are needed to prove that fact?” she asked. “Families are on the edge of survival.”

Toronto advocate Janis Jaffe-White, co-ordinator of the Toronto Family Network, wondered how the ministry will prioritize which children and adults waiting will receive funds, when now families can’t even find out where they are in the queue.

She also wanted to know how much of the designated money announced Friday will go directly into the families’ pockets.

Single mother Gloria Noseworthy is pleased the province is planning to spend more money on direct funding to parents of children with developmental disabilities. But in her Innisfil community north of Barrie, there are few programs for children like her son Zachary, 23, who has autism and numerous medical problems.

“Communities and businesses need to be more open to our kids as they become adults,” she said. “I hope some of the money will help make that happen.”

Noseworthy is looking for a business partner to help her open Just the Spot for Us, a storefront with seasonal supplies and decorations where adults with developmental disabilities could work with support. At the back half of the shop, she would like to provide day programming as another option for them.

MPP Monique Taylor, a member of the Select Committee on Developmental Services, urged the government to act quickly.

“Ontarians with a developmental disability and their families have faced years of underfunding, long wait lists, and inadequate supports,” said Taylor, NDP member for Hamilton Mountain.

“New Democrats will be closely tracking the government’s implementation of this promise, and their up-take of the committee’s recommendations, to ensure that families needing developmental services finally receive the supports they need,” she said in a statement.

If approved in the provincial budget, the proposed funding would help about 9,000 adults waiting for funding through the Passport program as well as an additional 4,000 expected to apply over the next four years.

About 8,000 children waiting for funding through the Special Services at Home program would receive help.

Children can receive up to $10,000 annually while adults are eligible for a maximum of $35,000 a year. Average annual funding under both programs is about $12,500 for adults and $3,800 for children.

An estimated 62,000 adults in Ontario have a developmental disability; more than 15,000 of them receive Passport funding. Of an estimated 28,000 Ontario children with developmental disabilities more than 12,5000 receive funding through Special Services at Home.

About 18,000 children and adults with a developmental disability are in group homes.

Vaccines and Autism: Doctor says shots safer than trusting Jenny McCarthy

By Lindsey Riley Published: Feb 3, 2014 at 10:27 AM PST

Source: http://www.kmtr.com

EUGENE, Ore. - Derrick Rust has four children, two of whom are autistic.

"When they were younger, it was very frustrating," he said. "We thought we were doing something wrong. It was very stressful."

His autistic children fall on different ends of the autism spectrum.

"With Kyle, it's easier for him to overcome social interactions," Rust said. "With Sandra, it's kind of the extreme. For the longest time she would not play with someone unless it was her brother or sister. She would play next to them, but that alone was a milestone."

Small accomplishments are big victories for a family like the Rusts.

And with a diagnosis but not known cause, parents like Rust are left to wonder what caused their child to become autistic.

Vaccines have long been villified by some people in the autism community for having a possible link to the disorder.

Actress Jenny McCarthy has been very outspoken about her opinion on the issue.

"Without a doubt in my mind, I think vaccinations triggered Evan's autism," she told CNN.

McCarthy stood by this belief for years, using her celebrity to spread her message.

"Isn't it ironic that in 1983, there was 10 shots and now there's 36 and the rise of autism happened at the same time?" she told Larry King. "Parent after parent after parent says, 'I vaccinated my baby, they got a fever and then they stopped speaking.'"

Through the years, many parents have decided not to vaccinate their kids because of the perceived risk.

Some doctors say that has now put people at risk of contracting diseases that otherwise would have been supressed by the vaccines.

That's one of the reasons so many doctors and pediatricians disagree with the views McCarthy espoused.

"Vaccines work," said Dr. Pilar Bradshaw. "Vaccines are safe."

What's dangerous, she said, is taking a celebritiy's opinon as fact.

"That's just setting you and your child up for troubles because instead of going with research you're going with voodoo belief," she said.

Bradshaw said that years ago a British doctor published data connecting a vaccine to autism. That doctor later admitted his research was unfounded.

New research suggests autism may be linked to the father's genetics, but much remains uncertain.

But opinions on the issue remain as common as a certainty about the cause of autism is rare.

"I think vaccines played a role," Rebecca Middleton said on the KMTR Facebook page. "Not all cases are genetic. It was like night and day with them. One day they were typical developing babies and the next they weren't."

"To say vaccines cannot cause autism is ignorant," Shasta Haley said. "Constantly pharmaceuticals are being removed from treatment based on new found evidence of adverse affects whether slight or great risk."

The Rust family believes the autism in their family is purely genetic. They vaccinate their children.

The most important thing to Rust and his family is for other to understand that people with autism are just looking at life through a different window.

"You can look at a picture, turn it upside down," he said, "and you'll see something totally different."

Welcome to Gifted People Services blog!

Every individual is gifted. People with special needs are also gifted.

Registered nonprofit organization in Ontario, Gifted People Services is a grass root, volunteer led organization, providing training, quality respite services and related resource to families living with developmental disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, ADHD, Epilepsy, etc. It is committed to improve the lives of families with developmental disabilities by exploring potentials of children with special needs and to empower parents with more knowledge and advocacy skills. Our goal is to become the service GPS for families with Children with special needs.

In order for families with individuals with special needs to learn more information, updated treatment, stories and news, this blog can provide a platform for parents, families, professionals, and other people who are interested in this area.

We need your support. Please visit our website for programs and services provided by us.

Dianna Jiang
Executive Director
Gifted People Services