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what is ASD in terms of legal definition?

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what is ASD in terms of legal definition?

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"Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now k
now that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.

The term 'spectrum' reflects the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism. "

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Under the DSM-5 was published in 2013, there were five types of specific disorders which are,

1.  Autistic disorder, autism

2. Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD)

3. Asperger’s syndrome

4. Rett syndrome

5. Pervasive developmental disorder -- not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)

Later on, DSM-5 changed the focus from types of ASD to three levels of severity, but many professionals and advocates continue to use terms like Asperger’s syndrome and PDD-NOS. Severity levels are based on support needs.
Here are the DSM-5 categories of severity for ASD.

·       Level I - Requiring Support

·       Level II - Requiring Substantial Support

·       Level III - Requiring VERY Substantial Support

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About 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

ASD is about 4.5 times more common among boys (1 in 42) than among girls (1 in 189).

Studies in Asia, Europe, and North America have identified individuals with ASD with an average prevalence of between 1% and 2%.

About 1 in 6 children in the United States had a developmental disability in 2006-2008, ranging from mild disabilities such as speech and language impairments to serious developmental disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and autism.

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A person with ASD might:

Not respond to their name (the child may appear deaf)

Not point at objects or things of interest, or demonstrate interest

Not play “pretend” games

Avoid eye contact

Want to be alone

Have difficulty understanding, or showing understanding, or other people’s feelings or their own

Have no speech or delayed speech

Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)

Give unrelated answers to questions

Get upset by minor changes

Have obsessive interests

Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles

Have unusual reactions (over or under-sensitivity) to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

Have low to no social skills

Avoid or resist physical contact

Demonstrate little safety or danger awareness

Reverse pronouns (e.g., says “you” instead of “I”)

Have unusual interests and behaviors

Have extreme anxiety and phobias, as well as unusual phobias

Line up toys or other objects

Play with toys the same way every time

Like parts of objects (e.g., wheels)

Become upset by minor changes

Have obsessive interests

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1.autism occurs when a child has trouble communicating and understanding what people think and feel. This makes it very difficult for autistic children to respond to gestures, facial expressions, touch and even language.

2. A person with autism feels love, happiness, sadness and pain just like everyone else. Just because some of them may not express their feelings in the same way others do.

3. Autism is a disorder that makes it hard for a person to deal with the world around them.

4. is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.

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1.What Is Autism? (2012, May 31). Retrieved March 28, 2018, from https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
2.Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). (2016, July 11). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
3.Signs of Autism. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2018, from http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/signs-of-autism/
4.Autism Spectrum Disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2018, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml
5.Watson, J. (2013, April 10). Beyond autism awareness: Explaining autism to your child. Retrieved March 17, 2018, from http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/989077/explaining-autism-to-your-child
6. Fukunaga, L., Simonelli, S., & Sperry, L. (n.d.). Individualized Educational Support Strategies for Students with Autism in Inclusive Classroom Settings. Retrieved March 17, 2018, from http://www.sig.hawaii.edu/products/briefs/EPB_Autism.pdf

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1. Teaching communication and social competence.
2. Including personalized IEP goals into the natural flow of classroom instruction.
3. Teaching and providing opportunities for independence.
4. Creating a classroom environment that includes all children.
5.Generalizing and maintaining new skills.

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1. Early treatment for ASD and proper care can reduce individuals’ difficulties while helping them learn new skills and make the most of their strengths.
2. Many national and local advocacy organizations provide information, resources and support to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families, such as Autism Society, National Autism Association,Organization For Autism Research.
3. There is no medical test for autism. It is diagnosed based on observing how the child talks and acts in comparison to other children of the same age.
4. April is the World Autism Awareness Month. April 2nd is the World Autism Awareness Day.