Blog Feed: A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools

The topic of autism was prominent in the media headlines for 2012. Public awareness was one again heightened by news from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that more children than ever before are being diagnosed with autism sp

Impact of ADHD Symptoms on Children with ASD

Published on 2012-12-24 17:32:00

One of the most controversial comorbidities in children with ASD is the co-occurrence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Comorbidity refers to the presence of more than one diagnosis occurring in an individual at the same time. Altho

Do Pets Help Children with Autism?

Published on 2012-12-15 16:29:00

DSM-5 ASD Criteria Unlikely to Exclude Many Individuals

Published on 2012-12-10 10:36:00

The American Psychiatric Association voted to approve the revised fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Effectiveness of Popular Autism Therapy Questioned

Published on 2012-12-08 19:29:00

Unusual sensory responses are relatively common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and often one of the earliest indicators of autism in childhood. Although not among the diagnostic criteria for autism, when present, sensory issues may

Book Review: Autism and Asperger's in Schools

Published on 2012-12-06 17:24:00

Book Review: A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools by Lee A. WilkinsonI have had to read many research-based guides during my professional career and most of them were well written yet very t

American Psychiatric Association Approves DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Category

Published on 2012-12-03 18:33:00

The American Psychiatric Association’s

Autism and Inclusive Education

Published on 2012-12-02 06:52:00

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) (P.L. 108-446) (http://idea.ed.gov/) guarantees a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) for every student with a disability.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) and ASD

Published on 2012-11-23 16:08:00

Emotional intelligence (EI) is broadly defined as the ability to identify, assess, and control the emotions of oneself, of others, and of groups. The interest and research relating to EI has grown dramatically over the past decade. Currently, there a

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Strategies for Students with Autism

Published on 2012-11-04 18:31:00

The problem behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are among the most challenging and stressful issues faced by schools and parents. The current best practice in treating and preventing undesirable or challenging behaviors utilize

My AS Daughter

Published on 2012-11-01 19:05:00

College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-10-25 18:22:00

The recognition of more capable individuals with autistic disorder has shifted our conceptualization toward a dimensional perspective of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Surveys focusing on a broader definition of ASD (or broad phenotype), of which autism is a single form, have reported progressively rising annual incidence and prevalence estimates markedly higher than in early studies. This group of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, and pervasive [..]

School Psychologists Need More Training to Meet the Needs of Students with ASD

Published on 2012-10-07 19:20:00

More children than ever before are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that 1 in 88 eight year-old children has an ASD. The occurrence of autism is also evident in the number of students with ASD receiving special educational services. Data collected for the Department of Education indicate that the number of children ages 6 through 21 identified with autism served under the Individuals With Disabilities Ac [..]

What is Pragmatic Language?

Published on 2012-10-07 19:18:00

What is Pragmatic Language? SynonymsNatural language; social communication; social discourse; social language; social skillsDefinitionPragmatics is broadly defined as the ability to understand and use language in social-communicative contexts.DescriptionPragmatics is the area of communication function that involves the use of language in social contexts (knowing what to say, how to say it, when to say it, and where to say it).

Test Review: Children’s Communication Checklist (CCC-2)

Published on 2012-10-01 16:59:00

As a group, higher functioning students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to demonstrate strength in formal language, but a weakness is pragmatic and social skills. As a result, they often fail to qualify for speech-language services because they present strong verbal skills and large vocabularies, and score well on formal language assessments. Nevertheless, significant and severe deficits in the ability to communicate and interact with others can limit their participation in mainstream [..]

Research: Savant Skills in Autism

Published on 2012-09-21 17:50:00

What are “savant skills?”There is a long history of reports of individuals who despite having severe intellectual impairments, demonstrate remarkable skills in a particular area. The term “savant” has been variously defined as those individuals who show (a) normatively superior performance in an area and (b) a discrepancy between their performance in that area and their general level of functioning. Some researchers have differentiated “prodigious” savants (e.g., individuals possessi [..]

Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-09-19 13:58:00

Although it would seem obvious that children with ASD will eventually transition to adolescence and adulthood, there is a paucity of information about effective interventions for these age groups compared to data for younger children. Even though the core symptoms of ASD (impairments in communication and social interaction and restricted/repetitive behaviors and interests) may improve overtime with intervention for many individuals, some degree of impairment typically remains throughout the life [..]

Autism and the Nature of Anxiety

Published on 2012-09-11 15:36:00

Anxiety Disorders are a frequent co-occurring (comorbid) problem for children and youth with ASD. Although prevalence rates vary from 11% to 84%, most studies indicate that approximately one-half of children with ASD meet criteria for at least one anxiety disorder. Moreover, rates of anxiety are reportedly higher than those in children with language disorders, conduct disorder, or in clinically anxious typically developing children. Despite promising advances in the research and practice literat [..]

Mindblindness and Autism

Published on 2012-09-06 16:56:00

What is Mindblindness?Synonyms:Empathizing; Mentalizing; Mindreading; Perspective taking; Theory of mindDefinition:The inability to attribute mental states such as thoughts, desires, knowledge, and intentions to self and others, and to make sense of and predict another person’s behavior.Description:Mindblindness theory proposes that children and adults with autism spectrum disorders are delayed in the development of what is termed “theory of mind” (ToM). ToM is a cognitive (attribution) co [..]

Psychiatric Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-08-31 15:21:00

Children with ASD frequently have co-occurring (comorbid) psychiatric conditions, with estimates as high as 70 to 84 percent.

Self-Management: An Evidenced-Based Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-08-26 17:19:00

The dramatic increase in the number of school-age children identified with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has created an urgent need to design and implement positive behavioral supports in our schools’ classrooms. Only 3% of children with ASD are identified solely by non-school resources. All other children are identified by a combination of school and non-school resources (57%), or by school resources alone (40%). As a result, schools today face the challenge of providing appropriate service [..]

Sleep Problems in Children with ASD

Published on 2012-08-17 17:06:00

It is well documented that in addition to the core symptoms of social/communication deficits and restricted repertoire of behaviors, children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often experience other comorbid (co-occurring) conditions. In fact, studies estimate that approximately 70 to 84 percent of children with ASD might meet the criteria for a comorbid psychiatric disorder. Co-occurring conditions include mental health (anxiety, depression), neurological (seizure disorder), physical (cerebr [..]

Key Learnings of Autism Thought Leaders

Published on 2012-08-11 15:12:00

Meet author, educator, researcher and autism expert, Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson. In this "Key Learnings of Autism Thought Leaders" Feature Program interview, Dr. Wilkinson describes his efforts in preparing this new "best practices" book.A best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools continues to the most comprehensive gold standard autism resource available for parents and practitioners. Written by a practicing school psychologist, this authoritative, [..]

Transitioning Back to School: Tips for Parents

Published on 2012-08-07 14:31:00

School districts throughout the country will soon welcome back students for a new academic year. This includes an increasing number of special needs children identified with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Since Congress added autism as a disability category to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990, the number of students receiving special education services in this category has increased over 900 percent nationally. The beginning of a new school year is an exciting yet [..]

Autism and Parent Psychological Acceptance

Published on 2012-07-28 11:51:00

Parents are often overwhelmed by the challenges presented by a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Rise in autism related to changes in diagnosis, New study suggests

Published on 2012-07-21 13:28:00

Over the past 10 years the prevalence rates have risen steadily, from one in 150, to one in 110, and now to one in every 88 children. This represents a 78 percent increase in the number of children identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over the past decade. What are the reasons for this dramatic increase in the prevalence of ASD? A new study suggests that the rise in the number of cases of autism may be related to changes to autism diagnostic criteria.The criteria for assessing autis [..]

UCLA Program Improves Social Skills for Teens with Autism

Published on 2012-07-15 18:44:00

Severe impairment in social reciprocity is the core, underlying feature of ASD. Socialization deficits are a major source of impairment, regardless of cognitive or language ability and do not decrease with development. In fact, distress often increases as children approach adolescence and the social milieu becomes more complex. Evidence accumulating in the empirical literature indicates that in general, social skills interventions are likely to be appropriate for some children and youth with hig [..]

Special Needs Students Bullied More Than Others

Published on 2012-07-06 09:48:00

Students with special needs continue to face a number of challenges in our nations’ schools and communities. A recent study published in the Journal of School Psychology found that students receiving special education services for behavioral disorders and those with more noticeable disabilities are not only more likely to be bullied than their general education peers, but are more likely to engage in bullying behavior themselves. Participants in the study were 816 students, 9 to 16 years of ag [..]

Autism Continuing Education Courses

Published on 2012-06-29 19:23:00

Recent studies indicate that the prevalence rate for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is 78% higher than just 10 years ago. The pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) category, also commonly referred to as ASD, represents one of the fastest growing disability categories in the world. In the United States, ASD is more prevalent in the pediatric population than cancer, diabetes, spina bifida, and Down syndrome. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now estimates that 1 in 88 eig [..]

Diagnosing Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Published on 2012-06-27 08:23:00

How are adults on the autism spectrum diagnosed? Although there is a wealth of information regarding the assessment of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), little is known about the identification of adults on the higher end of the autism spectrum. This is due to the fact that there is no single set of clinical criteria for diagnosing high-functioning autism spectrum disorders in adults. The diagnostic criteria were principally developed to identify ASD in children, with no adjustments [..]

Summer Book Giveaway

Published on 2012-06-17 17:08:00

Since being published in 2010, A best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools has become a gold standard autism resource for parents and practitioners. Written by Lee A. Wilkinson, PhD, a practicing school psychologist, this authoritative, yet accessible award-winning text provides step-by-step guidance for screening, assessing, and educating children at-risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Grounded in the latest research, special features i [..]

Book Review: Respecting Autism: The Rebecca School DIR Casebook for Parents and Professionals

Published on 2012-06-16 15:19:00

Respecting Autism: The Rebecca School DIR Casebook for Parents and Professionals by Stanley I. Greenspan, MD and Gil Tippy, PsyD describes the mission and program of

Best Practice in the Assessment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-06-03 18:41:00

Assessment and diagnosis are only of value when they provide access to the delivery of appropriate intervention and educational services. The primary goals of conducting an autism spectrum assessment are to determine the presence and severity of an ASD, develop interventions for intervention/treatment planning, and collect data that will help with progress monitoring. Professionals must also determine whether an ASD has been overlooked or misclassified, describe coexisting (comorbid) disorders, [..]

What Are The Most Effective Treatments for Children with Autism?

Published on 2012-06-01 17:30:00

Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that one in every 88 school-age children in the U.S. has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Over the past 10 years the prevalence rates have risen steadily, from one in 150, to one in 110, and now to one in every 88 children. This represents a 78 percent increase in the number of children identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) over the past decade. Families, educators, and service providers are faced [..]

Test Review: The Pragmatic Language Skills Inventory (PLSI)

Published on 2012-05-30 18:48:00

The assessment of communication skills is vital component of a comprehensive assessment for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). A best practice communication assessment should provide information about the child’s communicative abilities in both the verbal and nonverbal domains, and should not be limited to the formal, structural aspects of language (e.g., articulation and receptive/ expressive language functioning). Particular attention should be given to the pragmatic, social comm [..]

A Parent's Guide to Evidence-Based Practice and Autism

Published on 2012-05-26 11:23:00

Autism is a disorder with no known cause or cure. Parents of children with ASD will understandably pursue interventions and treatments that offer the possibility of helping their child, particularly if they are perceived as unlikely to have any adverse effects. Unfortunately, families are often exposed to unsubstantiated, pseudoscientific theories, and related clinical practices that are ineffective and compete with validated treatments, or that have the potential to result in physical, emotiona [..]

Key Components of Educational Programs for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-05-26 09:49:00

There has been a dramatic worldwide increase in reported cases of autism over the past decade. Today, autism spectrum conditions affect approximately 1 to 2 % of the school-age population. Mental health professionals, educators, and policy makers recognize that educational programs are essential to providing effective services to children with ASD. Behavioral and educational interventions are currently the benchmark interventions for autism. However, educators are faced with some unique challeng [..]

Evidence-Based Practice and Autism in the Schools

Published on 2012-05-25 17:45:00

School professionals are now expected to participate in the identification and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) more than at any other time in the recent past. Practitioners must be prepared to recognize the presence of risk factors and/or early warning signs of ASD, engage in case finding, and be familiar with assessment tools and interventions in order to ensure that students are being identified and provided with the appropriate programs and services.There continues [..]

What Families Want You To Know About Autism Awareness

Published on 2012-05-22 18:36:00

Autism (autistic disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically appears during the first three years of life. It affects development of the brain which causes difficulty with communication, learning, and social interaction. It is one of several autism spectrum disorders or ASD that include Asperger’s disorder (syndrome) and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that one [..]

Behavioral Challenges in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-05-18 19:24:00

Students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who demonstrate serious and persistent behavioral challenges should be provided with an individual behavior intervention plan. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) stipulates that a functional behavior assessment (FBA) be completed and a behavior intervention (or support) plan (BIP) implemented for students with disabilities when they are the subject of school discipline proceedings or being considered for an alternative placement. [..]

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) for Autism

Published on 2012-05-17 18:42:00

Early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) is considered a central feature of intervention programming for children with autism. EIBI programs are among the most and best researched of the psychoeducational interventions. Several research publications and meta-analysis indicate that early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) may improve the quality of life and level of functioning for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). EIBI programs are based on applied behavior analysis (ABA [..]

Social-Pragmatic Skills and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-05-08 17:47:00

Book Review: Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools

Published on 2012-05-06 16:18:00

Book Review: A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention For Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools

Autism Florida: Your First Source for Autism Information

Published on 2012-05-06 12:37:00

Florida’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU CARD) has announced the launch of Autism Florida.

DSM-5 Changes for Autism: Final Call for Comments

Published on 2012-05-03 18:59:00

The American Psychiatric Association's (APA) new diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) for autism has been widely publicized. While final decisions are still months away, the recommendations reflect the work of many of the nation’s best scientific and research minds and are supported by more than a decade of intensive study and analysis. The proposal by the DSM-5 Neurodevelopmental Work Group recommends a new category cal [..]

Best Practice Autism Guide: "Gold Standard" Resource

Published on 2012-04-22 08:48:00

A best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools continues to be a gold standard autism resourcefor parents and practitioners. Written by Lee A. Wilkinson, PhD, a practicingschool psychologist, this authoritative, yet accessible award-winning textprovides step-by-step guidance for screening, assessing, and educating childrenat-risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Grounded in the latest research,special features include illustrative case exampl [..]

Autism Primer (Part 2): Q & A with Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson

Published on 2012-04-15 13:17:00

In Part 2 of this AutismPrimer, Dr. Wilkinson offers introductory answers to frequently asked questionsabout identification and educational planning for ASD. Resources are alsoprovided that will guide you to further information. The content is intended tobe informational only and does not constitute professional advice. Question: What is thedifference between DSM-IV-TR and IDEA?Answer: It is important torecognize that there is a difference between the clinical and the educationaldefinitions of a [..]

Autism Primer: Q & A with Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson

Published on 2012-04-08 09:21:00

Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson, award-winning authorand autism specialist, offers introductory answers to frequently askedquestions about autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Resources are also providedthat will guide you to further information. The content is intended to be informationalonly and does not constitute professional advice.Question: What is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?Answer:

Autism Spectrum Disorders on the Rise: Inside the CDC Report

Published on 2012-04-02 18:33:00

More children than everbefore are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).The Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released the most comprehensive U.S.investigation of autism prevalence to date. The current CDC report, Prevalenceof Autism Spectrum Disorders — Autism and Developmental Disabilities MonitoringNetwork, 14 Sites, United States, 2008, provides updated ASD prevalenceestimates from the 2008 surveillance year, representing 14 Autism andDevelopmental Disabili [..]

The Fourth “R” – Teaching Relationship Skills in Our Schools

Published on 2012-04-02 15:59:00

The three R’s - reading,writing and arithmetic - reflect the traditional basic skills approach toeducation which focuses on academic benchmarks, measurable standards, andhigh-stakes testing. However, the school experience is about much more thanmastering the three R’s.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Published on 2012-04-01 08:44:00

April has been designatednational Autism Awareness Month and provides a special opportunity forindividuals across our country to educate and raise awareness in theirneighborhoods, workplaces, schools and local communities. Recent studiesindicate that the prevalence rate for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is 78%higher than just 10 years ago. The pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)category, also commonly referred to as ASD, represents one of the fastest growingdisability categories in the worl [..]

Award-Winning Book on Autism Available for CEU Credits

Published on 2012-03-27 18:55:00

The award-winning book, ABest Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and AspergerSyndrome in Schools, is now available as a CEU course from Ce-Classes.com. Ce-Classes.com provides a wide array of CEU courses including some speciallydeveloped courses to meet specific state re-licensing requirements. CEU coursesand Live Seminars are approved for psychologists, social workers, mental healthcounselors, nurses, therapists and other health care professionals to receiveCEU Credits by [..]

School Personnel's Perceived and Factual Knowledge About Autism

Published on 2012-03-12 10:35:00

Autism spectrum disorders(ASD) affect approximately 1 to 2 % of the school-age population. The majority of children with autism areeducated within the public school system, most often in general education classes,either full- or part-time. Thus, teachers (regular and special education) andother school personnel must be familiar with current best practices for identifyingand treating children with ASD. However, many do not have formal training ineducating and intervening with this group of child [..]

Best Practice in Screening Students for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2012-02-26 17:33:00

There has been a dramatic worldwide increase in reported cases of autismover the past decade. Today, autism spectrum conditions affect approximately 1to 2 % of the school-age population. Yet, compared to population estimates, identificationrates have not kept pace in our schools. It is not unusual for school age childrenwith milder forms of autism (e.g., Asperger syndrome, pervasive developmentaldisorder-NOS, high-functioning autistic disorder) to go undiagnosed. Consequently,it is critical that [..]

Alexithymia, Empathy, and Autism

Published on 2012-02-10 15:39:00

Autism is aneurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in (a) reciprocalsocial interactions and (b) verbal and nonverbal (and pragmatic) communication,and (c) restricted and/or repetitive behaviors or interests. These delays oratypicality in social development, communication, neurocognition, and behaviorvary in severity of symptoms, age of onset, and association with otherdisorders. However, it is deficits in social relatedness that are the majorsource of impairment and the core-def [..]

Autism Litigation Under IDEA

Published on 2012-01-22 08:21:00

There has been adramatic worldwide increase in reported cases of autism over the past decade.Autism is much more prevalent than previously thought, especially when viewedas a spectrum of disorders (ASD).According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 110 children in the United States havean autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or an estimated prevalence of about 1%. The occurrence of autism is also evident in the numberof students with ASD receiving special educational services. Data collectedfor the Departm [..]

Autism Assessment: An Interview with Author Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson

Published on 2012-01-17 19:40:00

Ever wonder why your child received anAutism diagnosis? Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson, Palm Beach County schoolpsychologist, autism expert, and author discusses his award-winning book, A Best Practice Guide toAssessment and Intervention for Autism and Aspergers Syndrome,with autism specialist and educational advocate Andrea Richardson at Thriving with Autism. Don't missthis chance to hear why psychologists ask the questions they do and how theyuse assessments to determine supports for your kids. Listen [..]

Best Practice Review: The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)

Published on 2012-01-15 17:02:00

One of the most widelyused observation instruments for the assessment of autism is the AutismDiagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) (Lord, Rutter, DiLavore, & Risi,2008). The ADOS is a semistructured assessment of social interaction,communication, play, and imaginative use of materials for individuals who mayhave autism or other autism spectrum disorder (ASD), also referred to aspervasive developmental disorder (PDD). The goal of the ADOS is to provide ahierarchy of “presses” (social structu [..]

Autism Speaks: Top 10 Research Achievements of 2011

Published on 2012-01-03 12:10:00

Autism Speaks, the world's largest autismscience and advocacy organization, has released its annual list of the 10 mostsignificant science achievements to have impacted autism during the previousyear. Every year, Autism Speaks documents the progress made toward its missionto discover the causes and treatment for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), andidentifies the Top 10 Autism Research Achievements of the year. Autism Speaks’Top Ten list includes discoveries on how frequently autism recurs in f [..]

Free Preview: Award-Winning Book on Autism Spectrum Disorders in Schools

Published on 2011-12-19 16:37:00

A free preview of theaward-winning book A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention forAutism and Asperger Syndrome in schools is now available. Filling acritical void in the autism literature, this authoritative yet accessible bookprovides psychologists, educators, support professionals, advocates, andparents with a best practice guide to screening, assessment, and interventionfor school-age children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Grounded in thelatest research, special features [..]

DSM-5: Rethinking Asperger's Disorder

Published on 2011-12-03 14:44:00

The American PsychiatricAssociation’s recommendation to delete (remove) Asperger’s disorder as aseparate diagnostic category from the fifth edition of the Diagnostic andStatistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has been widely publicized. Specifically, DSM-5 Work Group memberspropose a new category of “autism spectrum disorder,” which subsumesthe current diagnoses of autistic disorder (autism), Asperger’s disorder,childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental dis [..]

What's in a name? Autism or Asperger's

Published on 2011-11-10 17:51:00

To diagnose autismspectrum disorders (ASD), clinicians typically administer a variety of tests orscales and use information from observations and parent interviews to classifyindividuals into subcategories listed in standard psychiatric diagnostic manuals.This process of forming "best-estimate clinical diagnoses" has longbeen considered the gold standard, but a new study demonstrates that thesediagnoses are widely variable across centers, suggesting that this may not bethe best method for making [..]

Social Stories: An Emerging and Effective Intervention for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Published on 2011-10-16 19:23:00

Over the past decadesocial stories have shown promise as a positive and proactive classroomstrategy for teaching social skills to children with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). They continue to be widely discussed, reviewed, and recommended as aneffective and user-friendly behavioral intervention. Social stories allow thechild to receive direct instruction in learning the appropriate socialbehaviors that are needed for success in the classroom setting. The simplicityand utility of social stories [..]

How many doctors does it take to diagnose an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?

Published on 2011-09-29 19:30:00

How many doctors does ittake to diagnose an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? This is a question thatmany parents continue to ask in response to their frustration with thediagnostic process. For example, a survey of more than 1,200 families in theUnited Kingdom found that autism was diagnosed on average at 5.5 years andhigher functioning ASD such as Asperger syndrome at 11 years. Only 8 percent offamilies received a diagnosis for their children upon their first clinicalvisit; 40 percent received a [..]

Best Practice Research: Autism and Joint Attention

Published on 2011-06-28 13:27:00

Although there are no “absolute” clinical indicators of autism, some of the early “red flags” include: • Does not smile by the age of six months • Does not respond to his or her name • Does not cry • Does not babble or use gestures by

The Autism Bookshelf

Published on 2011-06-24 16:44:00

I’m pleased to announce the creation of a new Linkedin group, The AUTISM BOOKSHELF. The objective of this group is to advocate, educate, and inform by providing a selective, comprehensive, and objective review of books and articles dealing with aut

Best Practice Book Review: Pivotal response treatments for autism: Communication, social, and academic development.

Published on 2011-06-24 14:02:00

This comprehensive text describes intervention strategies and outcome data related to Pivotal Response Treatments (PRT) for autism. The PRT approach focuses on normalizing child development for children with autism via a delivery model that uses both

Best Practice Autism: Read it on Kindle!

Published on 2011-06-20 15:17:00

“A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools” by Palm Beach school psychologist Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson is now available as an Amazon Kindle e-book. This award-winning book provides a step-by-s

Seizure Treatments for Children with Autism

Published on 2011-06-16 13:31:00

Although the association between autism and seizure disorder is not as yet firmly established, there appears to be a higher incidence of febrile seizures in children with autism compared to the general population. Although a majority of children w

Toddlers At Risk For Autism

Published on 2011-06-14 10:37:00

Researchers and practitioners advise that children identified with autism begin intensive behavioral treatment and receive educational services as early as possible in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. There is clear evidence that the e

Best Practice Review: The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)

Published on 2011-06-05 19:40:00

The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ; Rutter, Bailey, & Lord, 2003), previously known as the Autism Screening Questionnaire (ASQ), was initially designed as a companion screening measure for the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R;

Meet Author and Psychologist Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson

Published on 2011-06-01 17:47:00

WHAT: Author talk and book-signing with Lee A. Wilkinson, PhD WHEN: Thursday, June 23, 2011, 6:30 p.m. Admission to Meet the Author is free and open to the public. WHERE: West Boynton Branch of the Palm Beach County Library System 9451 Jog Road Boynt

Best Practice News: School Psychologist Wins Book Award

Published on 2011-05-13 17:35:00

West Palm Beach, FL: May 11, 2011“A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools” by school psychologist Dr. Lee A. Wilkinson has been named a Winner in the Education/Academic category of the 2011

Best Practice Autism Report: Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Published on 2011-04-30 14:33:00

Autism is a disorder with no known cause or cure. Parents and advocates of children with ASD will understandably pursue interventions and treatments that offer the possibility of helping the student, particularly if they are perceived as unlikely to

Best Practice Review: The Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS)

Published on 2011-04-27 18:26:00

The Social Responsive Scale (SRS; Constantino & Gruber, 2005) is a brief quantitative measure of autistic behaviors in 4 to 18 year old children and youth. This 65-item rating scale was designed to be completed by an adult (teacher and/or parent)

New ASHA Approved Online Continuing Education Course

Published on 2011-04-11 17:58:00

This new 3-hour online continuing education course, Autism Spectrum Disorders in Schools: Evidence-Based Screening & Assessment, is now ASHA-approved and available for credit by Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Please visit:htt

Best Practice Report: Evidence-Based Interventions/Treatments

Published on 2011-04-10 18:03:00

Supporting children with ASD requires individualized and effective intervention strategies. With few exceptions, the evidence base for interventions for students with ASD is in the formative stage. Robust, impartial research is needed to determine wh

Special Educational Needs Book Awards

Published on 2011-04-07 16:43:00

“A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools” has been short-listed by the National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) for their 2011 Special Educational Needs Academic Book o

PediaStaff Resources - Book Review: A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools - featured March 23, 2011

Published on 2011-04-02 15:58:00

PediaStaff Resources - Book Review: A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools - featured March 23, 2011

Autism Awareness Month: Recognize the Signs

Published on 2011-04-02 09:11:00

Intellectual Functioning in ASD

Published on 2011-03-30 17:01:00

A critical domain of a core assessment battery for ASD is intellectual or cognitive functioning. Establishing the level of cognitive ability is important for both classification and intervention planning purposes. For example, the level of intellectu

Best Practice Review: The Gilliam Autism Rating Scale: Second Edition (GARS-2)

Published on 2011-03-16 17:50:00

The GARS-2 is a revision of the widely used Gilliam Autism Rating Scale (1995). It was designed to assist psychologists, teachers, parents, and clinicians in identifying and diagnosing autism in individuals aged 3 through 22 and in estimating the sev

Update: Proposed Changes in Criteria for Asperger syndrome

Published on 2011-03-07 20:00:00

The American Psychiatric Association has updated the proposed draft diagnostic criteria for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Work Group members have proposed a new category of “autism spectr

Autism Spectrum Disorders Continuing Education: Earn 3 CEU Credits Online!

Published on 2011-02-01 18:15:00

A new online continuing education course, Autism Spectrum Disorders in Schools: Evidence-Based Screening and Assessment (3 CEUs) is available from Professional Development Resources. The objective of this course is to summarize the empirically-

Early Intervention for Toddlers With Autism Yields Improved Social Skills - West Palm Beach Asperger & Education | Examiner.com

Published on 2011-01-25 16:55:00

Early Intervention for Toddlers With Autism Yields Improved Social Skills - West Palm Beach Asperger & Education | Examiner.com

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Blog Feed: A Best Practice Guide to Assessment and Intervention for Autism and Asperger Syndrome in Schools

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