Autismus

02/25/2007 English German

Edition # 66
San Francisco, 02-25-2007

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Autismus

Angelika As I already mentioned, the institution I currently work for supports preschool-aged autistic children. Smart minds have found that the earlier and more intensive a support program is implemented, the better the chances for the autistic child. For those of you who are not educators, here is a quick summary of what autism is. The professional community understands autism as a severe early childhood developmental disorder that occurs before the age of three. Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction and both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Some autistic children do not speak at all or have a very limited vocabulary. Often, these children do not know how to use language to communicate. Additionally, autistic children show little interest in other people, avoid eye contact, and have difficulty accurately assessing the feelings of others and social situations. They often use toys in unconventional ways or in the same manner repeatedly. For example, the little boy I care for loves to spin objects, from wheels to plates. Many autistic children find it difficult to cope with changes. They often struggle with sensory disorders and therefore either self-stimulate or react particularly sensitively to certain stimuli.

Despite intensive research, the cause of autism has not been found to this day. There is consensus that it involves early developmental issues in the brain. Other scientists emphasize a genetic component, as autism occurs more frequently in some families (but not in all). Autism is found in all cultures and social classes. Boys are four times more likely to be affected than girls. Autism is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders, and scholars naturally debate the reasons for this. One reason is certainly the strong media presence and improved diagnostic possibilities, but also the expansion of the diagnosis to milder cases. In America, experts now refer to "Autism Spectrum Disorder" because autism occurs in very different manifestations.

My employer has now set the goal of helping these children. There are two main focuses: intensive support in the home environment and assistance in group situations. I work with the child at home, from Monday to Friday, for three hours each day. I initially had some concerns that three hours might be too much and too long for a child not even three years old, as I was only familiar with early intervention conducted once a day for an hour, but the program is well thought out and works. Other children who are already in kindergarten-like facilities receive 1:1 support from our organization, meaning someone accompanies the child and helps them navigate group life. Home support often takes place additionally in the afternoon. We serve children aged between 2 and 4 1/2 years not only in San Francisco but throughout the Bay Area. The therapeutic approach is primarily behavioral but is supplemented by other methods. For example, we place great emphasis on a structured environment and visual aids like photos.

Now you might be wondering who pays for all of this. Surprisingly, in the social desert of America, these measures are actually funded by government resources. A law promoting children with disabilities makes this possible ("Individuals with Disabilities Education Act"), which I briefly explained in another newsletter. Rundbrief 05/1998 However, two different agencies are responsible depending on the age of the child. From 0-3 years, it is the so-called "Department of Developmental Services," and from three years onwards, the school authority takes over, which may work better or worse depending on where you live.