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
Many autistic individuals have behaviors that may benefit from behavior modification. When used in a psychological sense, reinforcement and punishment are not meant to be upsetting. Simply, the purpose of reinforcement is to increase desired behaviors, while punishment hopes to decrease maladaptive behaviors.View Resource
Just as each autistic person is unique, each relationship that they form will also be one of a kind. Autistic people bring their own unique perspectives and qualities to their friendships, which might be a little different than those of typically developing people. If you become friends with an autistic person, your friendship can be made even stronger if you understand some of the differences in how autistic people communicate and relate to people socially.View Resource