The purpose of this presentation is to give an understanding of autism spectrum disorders: * What is autism? * What are some potential challenges of autism? * What are some potential indicators of autism?

1. Autism Spectrum Disorders:
Personal and Family Factors
Dr. Mary Ann Winter-Messiers, Ph.D.
University of Oregon-Laos Inclusive Education
Project
July 2015
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Personal and Family Factors

2. Personal Factors for
Children with Autism
2
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

3. Not Feeling Well
Children with autism often do not feel
well
Stomach and abdominal issues
Little sleep
Sensory sensitivity
3
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

4. Low Self-Confidence
Children with autism usually
lack self-confidence
Face struggles and fail often
Are unlikely to try new tasks
Are hard on themselves
Are sure they “cannot do
anything right”
4
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

5. Depression and Anxiety
From young age, children with autism
tend to have depression and anxiety
Worry a lot about many things
Don’t enjoy doing activities
Are easily discouraged
Carry worries for a
long time
May hurt themselves
5
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

6. Bullying
Children with autism are more likely to
be bullied, mistreated, and abused
physically and verbally by others
6
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

7. Lack of Friendships
 Children with autism usually
have a hard time beginning
and keeping friendships.
 They do not know how to
 talk to other children
 play games with others
 show interest what others
care about
7
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

8. How Can We Help?
 Listen
 Help child to
 discover what he or she
does well
 focus on positive
achievements
 Praise and encourage
child with specific
feedback
8
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

9. Family Life with Autism
9
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

10. Family Life and Autism
 “Normal for us”
 Global impact on the
family
 Positive impact
 Negative impact
10
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

11. Family
 Impact on cross
relationships within a
family
 Marriage
 Siblings
 Grandparents
 Extended Family
11
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

12. Parents
 Potentially especially hard on marriage
 Parents
 Find it difficult to have time together
 Worry about impact on finances
 Are concerned about siblings
 Fear for the future of the child
12
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

13. Stress on Mothers
 Mothers of children with autism experience
chronic stress consistent with the level of
soldiers in combat
Mothers of children with autism feel much more
tired and experience many more stressful events than
mothers of typical children.
13
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

14. Stress on Fathers
Fathers tend to
worry about the stress on
their wives
worry about family
finances
worry about the futures of
their children
14
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

15. Siblings
Siblings
 Notice others reacting to their
sibling(s) with autism
 Are afraid to upset parents with
questions
 Are afraid autism is catching
 Love and resent sibling (time
commitment, money, sacrifices)
 Feel protective
 May experience higher parental
expectations
15
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

16. Grandparents
Double burden of worry
May be anxious about how to help, may
be in complete denial, may be really
engaged with family
16
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ

17. How Can Educators Help Parents?
 Listen to them
 Learn about autism
 Value insights of parents/
caregivers
 Communicate clearly with
parents
 Support child
 Flexible
 Open
17
University of Oregon – Laos Inclusion Project • 2015 ໂຄງການການສຶກສາຮຽນຮ່ວມລະຫວ່າງ ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ
ໂອເຣກອນ ແລະ ລາວ