Discussion 2 – Week 3COLLAPSE

Week 3, Post 2:

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have difficulty with communication and interaction with other people as well as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors (American Psychological Association, 2013). Additionally, they have deficits in adaptive skills, or everyday skills one needed to function and meet the demands of the environment. These characteristics impact the individual’s ability to function properly in school, work, and other areas of life (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). For my final project, I would like to investigate how adaptive skills impact these individuals throughout their lives and identify successful treatments that may assist them and their families to navigate society.

Those environments that with my target audience include are public and nonpublic schools because these settings have students diagnosed with ASD who are transitioning to adult living. In fact, in the non-public school that I am employed, we work with families starting when the child is fourteen years of age to prepare them for life after they graduate. This includes teaching adaptive skills and vocational training. Thus, one place to share the information gained is at meetings to discuss a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Also, information may also be shared with businesses that partner with schools to train those with disabilities vocationally. My school partners with the companies of Old Navy, Michael’s, and K-Mart. We also work with the homeless shelters. The employees at these locations may benefit from understanding the adaptive skills of those with ASD. Additionally, support groups like Autism Speaks and a local center called One World may benefit from gaining better understanding of this topic.

To reach those who would benefit from learning about the impact that adaptive deficits have in individuals’ with ASD and their families, I could employ a variety of techniques. One would be conducting presentation at support groups and school family nights to share with those interested what  has been learned and how to help those with ASD. Handouts may be made and shared with parents at IEP meetings, left at support centers, and I could contact Autism Speaks and see about having an article or blog uploaded on their website. Additionally, because I am a part of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), I can submit my work and possibly present a poster or lecture on the information obtained at a NASP Conference.

References

American Psychological Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental    disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Autism Speaks (2019).  Help and information. Retrieved from: https://www.autismspeaks.org/

National Institute of Mental Health (n.d). Autism Spectrum Disorder. Retrieved from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml.

The One World Center for Autism (2017). Autism help and resources. Retrieved from:http://www.worldforautism.org/autism-help-and-resources/