Module on autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders Student Name Institution Professor Name Course Date Autism Spectrum Disorders College of Education – Department of Special Education SPE 461: Typical and Atypical Development Weekly Activity #12 • April 10, 2024 Chapter 18: Autism Task #1: “If you know a child with autism, you know one child with autism.” What do you think of the above quote? Response: This quote emphasizes the fact that people on the autism spectrum are among the most unique and individual of all people. Autism is a spectrum situation, which implies that specific symptoms, motions, and occurrences could vary from person to person (Batshaw et al., 2019). Autism manifests in many different ways, so it is easy to see that it does not necessarily mean the same for everyone. According to the quote, each autistic kid has unique requirements, capabilities, difficulties, and personalities. Often, autism is theorized in general, which then is not all-inclusive because it has a unique pattern of individuality for each person who has autism (Batshaw et al., 2019). The success of what is best for an autistic child could be different from what is effective for another autistic child. Adaptation and intervention must be developed based on individual considerations. This statement reminds individuals that they should refrain from stereotypes and that each autistic child should be treated individually. It strengthens the idea that people need to interact personally with autistic individuals and learn the details of their particular wishlists (Batshaw et al., 2019). People should be able to customize others approaches accordingly. A generic way of addressing all autistic people might not be an effective strategy to achieve their goals. TED Talk #1 – Wendy Chung: What We Know (and What We Don’t Know Yet) After watching this clip, name two things about autism that you did really know about and discuss with concrete examples: Response #1: The Complex Genetic and Environmental Factors that Contribute to Autism Wendy Chung emphasized in her TED Talk that autism results from a complex interplay of multiple genetic and environmental influences, as opposed to a single gene or factor. Chung elaborated that researchers have identified hundreds of alleles as potential risk factors for autism and that environmental factors such as air pollution, maternal illness during pregnancy, and premature birth may also contribute to the condition. In my prior comprehension, the causes of autism were presented more simplistically; thus, this realization proved crucial. I initially attributed its primary cause to inheritance, failing to acknowledge the intricate nature of the underlying factors. According to Chung (2014), autism does not have a single underlying cause; instead, it results from a complex neurodevelopmental process, as Chung’s explanation enabled me to understand. An instance that exemplifies this intricacy is the investigation into the “broader autism phenotype.” Research has indicated that non-autistic relatives of autistic individuals may demonstrate more subtle autistic characteristics or inclinations. This behavior indicates that the genetic predisposition to autism is a continuum, wherein complete autism signifies one extreme. This genetic susceptibility then interacts ...