What is Autism?

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability. It is sometimes referred to as an Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD. Autism is a neurological brain disorder. The three main areas of difficulty that affect the way in which a person with an ASD relates and communicates with others. These are sometimes known as the “triad of impairment” (Judy Gould and Lorna Wing, 1979). These areas are:

• Difficulties with social communication
• Difficulties with social interaction
• Difficulties with imagination

Each child with as ASD will present with difficulties in these core areas; each child will present in his or her own unique way. While there is lots of research being done throughout the world, the causes of Autism are not yet known. The current research indicates that genetic and environmental factors may account for changes in brain development. At the moment there is no cure for Autism. There are a variety of approaches that are known to help people with ASD learn and develop, including those used in Oasis School; that is, PECs (Picture Exchange and Communication Systems), TEACCH (Treatment of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children) and ABA techniques (Applied Behavioral Analysis).

Remember: All people with ASD can, and do, learn and develop with the right sort of support, this includes the kind that we provide in Oasis School.

Associated Characteristics:In addition to the core areas of difficulty, children with ASD have associated characteristics. these include the following.

Sensory Difficulties: all senses - hearing, vision, touch, smell and taste - can be affected, this might be a hyper (intensified) or hypo (under- sensitive) sensitivity.

Special Interests: children with ASD develop intense special interests, often from a young age.

Learning Difficulties: children with ASD may have difficulties in learning; this can be displayed in many different ways from developing self - help skills to studying at school.

Movement: often children with ASD have a poor understanding of their bodies in space and may have problems with gross and fine body movements, e.g., poor co-ordination. They may present with clumsy body movements and be unable to balance adequately to ride a bike.

Behaviour: Children with ASD may have, as a way of showing anxiety, behaviours that can be difficult to manage, e.g., head bangning or they may have problems with sleeping or irrational fears and phobias or no sense of their own safety