Some of the content of this Question and Answer section is a modification of material from the the web site of the TEACCH program (The Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communications Handicapped Children, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).

Questions and answers about autism
First it is important to note that autism does not impact all individuals in the same way. While there are certain characteristics common to most people with autism, not all people with autism have all of the same characteristics, e.g., many people with autism have extreme difficulty in developing social skills, and others are very comfortable in social situations displaying good eye contact and affection
to others.

What is autism?
Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects an individual’s ability to process sensory information and
causes difficulties in developing communication skills, the interpretation of social relationships, and in learning appropriate ways to relate to people, objects and events.

What are some characteristics of autism?
The degree of severity of characteristics differs from person to person, but usually includes the following:

Significant delays in language development
Verbal language is slow to develop, and in some instances the person is completely non-verbal. Some individuals exhibit peculiar speech patterns or the use of words without attachment to their normal meaning. Those who are able to use language effectively may still use unusual metaphors or speak in a formal and monotone voice.

Significant delays in understanding social relationships
The autistic person often avoids eye contact, resists being picked up, and may seem to “tune out” the world around him. This results in a lack of cooperative play with peers, and impaired ability to develop friendships, and difficulty in understanding other people’s feelings.

Inconsistent patterns of sensory responses
The child who has autism at times may appear to be deaf and fail to respond to words or other sounds. At other times, the same child may be extremely distressed by an everyday noise such as a vacuum cleaner or a dog’s barking. The child also may show an apparent insensitivity to pain and a lack of responsiveness to cold or heat, or touch, or may overreact to any of these sensations.

Uneven patterns of intellectual functioning
The individual may have special skills such as drawing, music, memorizing facts, or math skills, while at the same time having great challenges with everyday life skills such as shoe tying, using eating utensils, toilet training, etc. May persons with autism have average or above average intelligence while others may have some degree of mental retardation.

Marked restriction of activity and interests
A person who has autism may perform repetitive body movements, such as hand flicking, twisting, spinning, or rocking. Persons with autism often display repetition by following the same schedule every day, the same order or doing tasks such as dressing, waking or mealtimes. If changes occur in these routines, the person with autism often becomes very distressed. People with autism often will develop obsessions about certain topics, or people either real or fictional.

What causes autism?
Autism is a brain disorder, which affects the way the brain uses information. The cause of autism is still unknown. Some research suggests that there is a genetic predisposition along with other factors such as exposure to some element which ithe child’s body is unable to process which becomes a toxin in the child’s system, causing abnormal brain development. Autism is not caused by ineffective or cold parenting.

How does autism affect behavior?
In addition to significant language and socialization problems, people with autism often experience extreme hyperactivity or unusual passivity in relating to parents, family members, and other people.

Do all people with autism have behavior problems?
No. Many people with autism have developed ways of coping with some of the challenges presented by their condition. Therapists, teachers and parents work to determine what may be upsetting to the individual. A variety of therapies are often used, as well as special items like weighted vests and environmental modifications, which all help the person with autism to function without anxiety and stress. In autism, behavior problems range from very severe to mild. Severe behavior problems may take the form of highly unusual, aggressive, and in some cases even self-injurious behavior, these behaviors may persist and be difficult to change. In its milder form, autism may resemble a learning disability, usually, however, even people who are only mildly affected may need a significant amount of instruction and support to be successful at school and work because of deficits in the areas of communication and socialization.

Does autism occur in conjunction with other disabilities?
Autism can occur by itself or in association with other developmental disorders such as mental retardation, learning disabilities, epilepsy, etc. Autism is best considered as a spectrum disorder, meaning that the degree that the individual is handicapped by the condition depends on the location on the spectrum from mild impairment to significant impairment.

Can people with autism be helped?
Yes. Although at the present time there is no cure for autism, people with autism can make substantial improvement in their functioning ability when given proper instruction with the necessary level of intensity. You will find information about specific treatment approaches elsewhere on this web site. Many studies have indicated that intensive early intervention (preferable in the early childhood period) can lead to significant positive outcomes for a child with autism. A child with autism does not have brain damage, but rather certain areas of the brain have not developed in a way that is helpful to the processing of sensory information. A child who receives intensive instruction early on has the opportunity of having the needed brain development ot occur which becomes the basis for language development, the understanding of social relationships, imaginative play skills, basic academic skills needed for preschool success, etc.

How can persons with autism learn best?
Since each person with autism has different needs and strengths, it is important that a program of instruction be based on a comprehensive assessment of the person’s present level of functioning. An individualized plan can then be developed taking into consideration the individual’s needs, strengths, fears, physical environmental factors and motivational aspects. Young children often require a period of intensive, individualized, one-on-one instruction, which can be reduced as the child develops communication, socialization and coping skills.

What services are available for people with autism in Indiana?
Children with autism who are under the age of three can access a full range of services through Indiana’s First Steps Program. First Steps evaluations are offered at no cost to the family. When it is determined that the child would benefit from on-going services through First Steps charges for services are based on a sliding fee scale based on household income and number of persons in the household.

Children over age three are eligible for an evaluation through the public school Special Education Department. When a child is determined to be eligible, the public school will make arrangements for the child to receive the services needed at no charge to the family. In Indiana children with special needs are eligible for public school special education services until their 22nd birthday.

When children leave public schools they are eligible for service through the Indiana Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, and there is an option for seeking a community job with the assistance of a community job coach or work in a sheltered workshop setting. The Bureau of Developmental Disabilities, a branch of the Indiana Department of Family and Social Services, can assist individuals to apply for the Medicaid Waiver program. The Medicaid Waiver is a funding source that can pay for case management services, therapies, respite services and other services.

IN*SOURCE, The Indiana Resource Center for Parents, is a statewide program that provides information, advocacy and supports for families of school age children. IN*SOURCE provides training for families on Indiana and Federal Special Education laws, the case conference process, the development of the Individual Education Plan, mediation of disputes and other topics.

The Regional Autism Center has a family support group that meets monthly, and we maintain a list of contact information for other support groups in the region. Many other services are available through area therapy providers, behavioral and mental health centers, hospitals, recreation providers and others. The Regional Autism Center is developing a directory of service providers in Indiana and Michigan. Contact information for service providers as well as the services listed above can be obtained by calling the Regional Center at 574-289-4831 or by email: danr@logancenter.org.