At Little Star we often say, “When you have met one child with autism, you have met one child with autism.” What most anybody who has had the privilege to meet more than one person with autism could tell you is that while these individuals are so unique they still seem to be so similar.
Some common autism characteristics that are seen are over-sensitivity to light, sound, smell, taste, texture and temperatures. High pain thresholds are often reported in people with autism as is resistance to change and difficulty transitioning from one activity to another.
Unusual preoccupations or obsessions (special interests, as we call them at Little Star) with objects is common as well. Some people with autism will develop a life-long interest in something while others have serial interests, meaning they move from one obsession to another. Often, individuals with more advanced language skills tend to talk about a limited range of topics and tend to have a hard time understanding abstract concepts.
Lack of pretend play (imagination) or the inability to imitate others can be an early indicator of autism, as are unusual speech patterns or scripting (repeating words, phrases or sounds heard previously).
Other common characteristics of autism include lack of eye contact, the inability to interpret social cues or engage in or initiate a conversation. Often they will prefer to be alone or play by themselves.
About 50% of people with autism will not speak at all, however; this does not mean that they don’t have meaningful, functional communication; they simply use signs, electronic devices or pictures to communicate their wants and needs.
It is not uncommon for individuals with autism to insist on sameness, line up objects, flap their hands or have other odd body movements. This could include rocking or banging their head. Spinning themselves or objects is frequently observed as is focusing on only a small part of a toy or object.
People affected by autism can differ considerably with respect to their behavior, abilities and intelligence.
© 2012-2013 Little Star Center, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Understanding Autism
[caption id="attachment_515" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Adrian Bramlage, group coordinator teaching a group session at Little Star Center Carmel"][/caption] Little Star Center is featured on the cover of the May 8, 2012 issue of the Current in Carmel newspaper! The cover story, “Understanding Autism,” shares some things ”those in the know want the rest of us to know about the disorder.” The article highlights experiences by a parent of a child with the disorder and a school teacher, noting that people who don’t understand autistic behavior think the parent allows “bad behavior” in the child. The parent said people need to understand that the child doesn’t “get” the world and requires certain guidance in how to deal with situations and learn how to... (Read more)
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LSC Discusses Swim Safety for Children on the Spectrum on Indy Style - WISHTV 8
Pool Safety Tips: wishtv.com Swim season is about to start and drowning is the leading cause of death for children and young adults with autism, due to pool incidents or wandering-related episodes, according to statistics. Mary Rosswurm, executive director of Little Star Center in Carmel, discusses safety tips, such as life vests, arm bands and ankle monitors. Mary can also talks the importance of swim lessons and how parents can be vigilant about protecting their child with autism this summer.... (Read more)
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Little Star Lafayette Featured on WFLI 18 for Autism Awareness Day
Check out their news story here.... (Read more)
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Tips for an Easy Flight Alone for Individuals on the Spectrum (A Mothers Point of View)
My son, Brad, travels several times a year to Boston to visit his father and has been doing this for three years now. Although Brad is an adult with autism, I feel comfortable allowing him to fly by himself, but more importantly, Brad feels OK with traveling unaccompanied. I wanted to share some “tips” that I have learned that others may find useful as well. The first is, of course, that the flight must be a non-stop. I know that it is often difficult to find non-stop flights these days, but I would not feel comfortable having Brad try to navigate an airport by himself. Perhaps someday, though. Next, I always go to the counter (not the gate) at the departure airport. I simply tell the airline employee that my child has a disability and that I will need to accompany him throug... (Read more)