Autism affects 1 in 88 children according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most of the information here is from the Autism Speaks website. It is an excellent resource for parents that are new to the diagnosis or even years into it.

Are you concerned that your child could be on the Autism Spectrum? Here are some of the symptoms to watch out for...

SYMPTOMS:

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by social-interaction difficulties, communication challenges and a tendency to do repetitive behaviors (like rocking or flapping). But, symptoms and their severity vary widely across these three areas. Taken together, they may result in relatively mild challenges for someone on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum. For others, symptoms may be more severe, as when repetitive behaviors and lack of spoken language interfere with everyday life. Click HERE for more information on symptoms.

DIAGNOSIS:

The process of diagnosing a child is fairly complex. Here is some information on how it is diagnosed. Click HERE.

TREATMENT:

There are all kinds of treatment options out there for children with Autism.Everything from Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy (ABA), Speech Therapy, Social Skills Therapy and more.

• Early Intervention--CLICK HERE.
• Occupational Therapy. PROVIDERS--CLICK HERE.
• Physical Therapy. PROVIDERS--CLICK HERE.
• Pivotal Response Therapy--CLICK HERE.
• Social Skills Therapy. PROVIDERS--CLICK HERE.
• Speech Therapy. PROVIDERS--CLICK HERE.
• Verbal Behavior Therapy--CLICK HERE. PROVIDERS--CLICK HERE.
• Floortime Therapy--CLICK HERE. PROVIDERS--CLICK HERE.
• Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy--CLICK HERE.  PROVIDERS--CLICK HERE.
• Training and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children or TEACCH Therapy--CLICK HERE. PROVIDERS--CLICK HERE.
• Other therapies and an overview of treatment. CLICK HERE.

****A Note from Heather--do not be overwhelmed by all the treatment options there are. The most important thing is getting a diagnosis as early as possible and then working with your pediatrician, school system and the state on getting the right therapy for your child. Early intervention can make a huge difference. My son started pre-K totally non-verbal at 3, and now he will talk your ear off at 8. It is amazing. I am so proud...

AUTISM SERVICES AND FUN STUFF:

• Advocacy--CLICK HERE.
• Early Intervention Providers--CLICK HERE.
• Local Autism Organizations--CLICK HERE.
• Music Therapy--CLICK HERE.
• Texas Early Intervention Services--CLICK HERE.

Camps--

• Spectrum Social has social skills camps for all ages. CLICK HERE.
• From the Heart Therapy Services Camps--CLICK HERE.

SCHOOLS:

• Quest Academy of Austin--has summer camps and classes. For info, CLICK HERE.
• Emerson Academy--infants through Kindergarten. For info, CLICK HERE.

***A note from Heather--it is tough to find a camp that *really* is equipped to deal with your Autistic child. Be careful of all the camps that tell you they can handle all disabilities--especially is your child is like mine--tendency to flee.

HAIRCUTS--

• Cool Cuts 4 Kids
• Snip-Its
• Malihini Salon

BOOKS
Look Me In the Eye--by John Elder Robison This book is great because it is a first-person perspective about life with Asperger's Syndrome. Mr. Robison has a great sense of humor, too.	Be Different--by John Elder Robison This is the follow-up book after Look Me in the Eye. Robison went through the first book and did some explaining on how he, as an Aspergian adapted his behaviors. It is pretty amazing.	The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime--by Mark Haddon
Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew--by Ellen Notbohm	Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism--by Temple Grandin	The New Social Stories Book--by-Tony Atwood Autistic children can't always understand behavior with just simple explanations--so teachers often use what are called "Social Stories" to help the kids get it. This book has social stories for 150+ situations.
Mockingbird--by Katherine Erskine This is a GREAT book about a fifth grade girl with Asperger's Syndrome. It is told from her point of view.	A Mango Shaped Space--by Wendy Mass Mia, 13, has always seen colors in sounds, numbers, and letters, a fact she has kept secret since the day she discovered that other people don't have this ability. Then she discovers that she has a rare condition called synesthesia, which means that the visual cortex in her brain is activated when she hears something. From then on, she leads a kind of double life-she eagerly attends research gatherings with other synesthetes and devours information about the condition, but continues to struggle at school, where her inadvertent pairing of particular colors with numbers and words makes math and French almost impossible to figure out.	Carly's Voice--an amazing book about a girl who found her voice with an augmentative device.

MOVIES
Autism: The Musical  This is a great, painful to watch documentary about a group of Autistic children putting on a musical. It includes commentary from the parents and a lot of behind the scenes information. ****Note from Heather--I bought this DVD for all the grandparents in my life, to help them understand a little of what our life is like.	Mozart and the Whale It is a heartwarming story of the challenges of a romance between two people with Asperger's Syndrome.	Adam The death of his father leaves Adam (Hugh Dancy, Confessions of a Shopaholic) living alone in the apartment they shared. When a friendly young woman named Beth (Rose Byrne) moves into the building, Adam doesn't know how to express his attraction--he has Asperger's Syndrome. So he invites her into his apartment to experience his homemade planetarium and takes her to the park in the middle of the night to look at raccoons.
A Mother's Courage:Talking Back to Autism A Mother's Courage does not sugarcoat Autism, or celebrate it, or cure it. The movie's strength lies in that it shows the heart-wrenching reality of what families have to go through to get assessments, diagnosis and advice. This film is a good resource for promoting community awareness that families can share with their relatives and neighbors.	The Horse Boy An intensely personal yet epic spiritual journey, The Horse Boy follows one Texas couple and their autistic son as they trek on horseback through Outer Mongolia in an attempt to find healing for him. The Horse Boy is part travel adventure, part insight into shamanic healing and part intimate look at the autistic mind. In telling one family's extraordinary story, the film gives voice to the thousands who display amazing courage and creativity everyday in the battle against this mysterious and heartbreaking epidemic.

OTHER WEBSITES/RESOURCES:

• Social Thinking--this site is the home of Michelle Garcia Winner, one of the foremost experts in cutting edge Autism/Asperger's treatments and therapy.
• Natural Learning Concepts--a great resource for books and therapy items
• Special Needs Neighborhood--a site that lists all kinds of resources and service providers right here in our area.

***Another note from Heather--this can all be very overwhelming. Autism is not what you expect to deal with when you have a child. As a parent of two kids on the spectrum, I want you to know--one of the first things you need to do is get in touch with other parents of Autistic kids in your area. Chances are they are feeling all that you are feeling and they will listen with empathy. You are always welcome to email me...heather@kvet.com and I will be happy to listen, too.