Topic 1: Spectrum Disorder

Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means it can present in a variety of different ways. The level of impact on a person and their ability to function varies greatly from person to person, which means the level of support needed varies from person to person as well.

Some people with ASD may need a lot of support in one area of their life, but may need little to no support in other areas. For example, a person with ASD may need a lot of support in communication, but need little to no support in their activities of daily living (like the skills involved in dressing, feeding, hygiene, etc.). Or, a person with ASD may be a genius at math, but may need support with their personal hygiene or organizational skills. Some posit that ASD is actually multiple different conditions.

There is no medical test for ASD, so a diagnosis is made on the basis of a person's history and observed behaviors. There are a number of reliable screening and diagnostic tools that can be used to make a diagnosis. You will learn more about some of them in Topic 2. People's responses to treatment for ASD also vary greatly. As the quote widely attributed to Dr. Stephen Shore, Professor, Adelphi University says, "if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism."

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts About ASDs. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html.