Autism Toolkit of Georgia
Autism Toolkit of Georgia
Over the years, doctors and researchers have devised different ways of describing the support needs of autistic people. For a variety of reasons, some of those systems have fallen out of common use and others have found their way into popular culture. These days, doctors usually describe autism using levels of severityView Resource
Many autistic people have difficulty communicating with others. This can include difficulty with social interactions and communicating basic individual needs. Assistive technologies help people with differing needs express themselves and communicate their needs and wants. These technologies can amplify the skills that a communication-impaired person has, and can therefore promote independence and improve their quality of life.View Resource
In the past, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Asperger Syndrome were considered to be two separate diagnoses. With the release of the Diagnostic & Statistical Manuel-5, or DSM-5 in 2013, Asperger Syndrome has been grouped into ASD. However, many autistic people feel that Asperger Syndrome is the best description for their autism and identify with the Asperger label.View Resource
Repetitive behaviors are common features of autism, but they can present differently from person to person. Repetitive behaviors are simply behaviors that a person does repeatedly or insists on doing the same way every time. These behaviors can include asking about the same thing several times in a row, lining up objects (toys) in a particular way, spinning objects, and obsessively closing and opening doors or drawers.View Resource
As you learn more about autism, you might come across the terms “high functioning” or “low functioning” autism. Talking about autism as high or low functioning is a dated way of talking about the ability levels of autistic people.View Resource