Presented to Hamilton Park UCC, Lancaster, PA October 16, 2014 by Beth Mull, Psy.D. Licensed Psychologist Samaritan Counseling Center

1. AUTISM SPECTRUM
DISORDERS
HAMILTON PARK UCC
OCTOBER 16, 2014
PRESENTED BY BETH MULL, PSY.D.
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST

2. What are autism spectrum disorders?
 Neurodevelopmental disorders (delays in normal development due to
brain functioning )
 Disorders of social communication/interaction, restricted interests,
repetitive behaviors
 Severity ranges from mild to severe, requiring various levels of support
 Previously terms included classic autism, high functioning autism, Asperger’s
 1,8% boys (2008) cdc.gov
 .4% girls (2008) cdc.gov; ranges vary greatly between regions

3. Early signs that may reflect ASD
 Not respond to his or her name by 12
months of age (e.g., appear to not hear).
 Not point at objects to show interest by 14
months of age (e.g., not point at an
airplane flying over).
 Not play “pretend” games by 18 months of
age (e.g., pretend to “feed” a doll).
 Avoid eye contact and want to be alone.
 Have trouble understanding other people’s
feelings or talking about his or her own
feelings.
 Have delayed speech and language skills
(e.g., use words much later than siblings
or peers).
 Get upset by minor changes in routine (e.g.,
getting a new toothbrush).
 Repeat words or phrases over and over.
 Give unrelated answers to questions
 Have obsessive interests (e.g., get “stuck”
on ideas).
 Flap his or her hands, rock his or her body,
or spin in circles.
 Have unusual reactions to the way things
sound, smell, taste, look, or feel.
Adapted from www.CDC.gov

4. The Anatomy
of Autism
http://www.nature.com/scientificamerican/journal/295/n5/box/scientificamerican1106-62_BX2.html

5. How is a diagnosis made?
 Behavioral observations for diagnosis in DSM-5
 Social Communication problems – difficulty using or understanding language.
Some children with autism focus their attention and conversation on a few topic
areas, some frequently repeat phrases, and some have very limited speech
 Difficulty relating to people, things and events – trouble making friends and
interacting with people, difficulty reading facial expressions, may not make eye
contact
 Repetitive body movements or behaviors – hand flapping or repeating sounds
or phrases

6. DIAGNOSIS (cont’d)
 Neuropsychological testing to look for patterns consistent with ASD
 Slow processing speed
 Weaknesses in either verbal or non-verbal abilities
 Language deficits, especially pragmatics (social communication)
 Visual-Spatial deficits
 Social comprehension deficits
 Other associated features
 Language delay
 Motor clumsiness
 Head-banging; tip-toe walking; wrist-biting

7. What are the treatments?
 GOAL: To reduce symptoms and accommodate disabilities; there is no
current cure.
 According to reports by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the
National Research Council, educational interventions that provide
structure, direction, and organization for children are thought to help those
with ASDs.
 Early intervention is important, but intervention at any age can be life
changing.

8. WHAT CAN FAMILIES DO TO HELP?
 Get an accurate diagnosis
 Be an advocate for your child at school and in the community
 Treatments can include intensive skill-building and teaching educational
sessions (applied behavior analysis or ABA). Treatment may also involve
special training and support for parents, speech and language therapy,
occupational therapy, and/or social skills training.—www.psychiatry.org
 Provide consistent structure and routine
 Connect with other parents of children with autism
 Take time for yourself and other family members

9. HOW CAN CHURCHES SUPPORT
FAMILIES?
 Raise awareness in your congregation (educational opportunities, pamphlets)
 Offer assistance with completing Medical Assistance applications
 Keep a list of resources (included at end of presentation hand-out)
 Include children with ASD in Sunday School, Youth Groups, etc. These are great social skills
opportunities (with supervision) Allow support person to be present to assist in redirection.
 Provide an alternative to attending services with the congregation (e.g., nursery, Sunday
School, 1:1 or small group time with a religious educator.
 Provide support during a crises/aggressive behavior (e.g., childcare for siblings to remove
them from the situation)

10. HOW CAN CHURCHES SUPPORT
FAMILIES? (CONT’D)
 Respite care
 For parents’ night out - date night or weekend
 For parents’ night IN - sometimes parents just need some catch-up time at
home without interruptions or SLEEPING would be real treats for families living
with Autism.
 Errand or chore assistance
 shopping, ironing, cooking, house and garden maintenance,
 transportation, accompanying the mother or caregiver to doctor’s
appointments or therapy appointments,

11. HOW CAN CHURCHES SUPPORT
FAMILIES? (cont’d)
 An autism-friendly Sunday School Environment
 Check the lights in each room, especially fluorescent ones – any flickering ones?
Please replace them
 A tent, under the table
 Floor play/learning
 Transition objects and advance notice of transitions
 Learning with pictures
 Extra staff for support.
 Teaching the order of service – where to sit, stand and sit, what to say at each
point?

12. HOW CAN CHURCHES SUPPORT
FAMILIES? (cont’d)
 An Autism-friendly worship service
 Recognize that noise levels of music may be over-stimulating. Persons with ASD
may benefit from wearing ear plugs to attend the full service.
 Understand that shaking hands (greeting or sign of peace) may be physically
painful.
 Provide permission (formally or informally) to step out of church during service.

13. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL?
 Once informed of an ASD diagnosis, the child’s education team can develop an
IEP (Individualized Education Plan), which can include:
 Accommodations for learning
 Behavioral interventions
 Protections from disciplinary action for disability-related behavior.
 Placement in “least restrictive setting”

14. Community resources
 Lancaster County MH/MR (717) 393-0421 (OT/PT/speech services up to age 3 years)
 Lancaster-Lebanon IU-13 (717-606-1600 (OT/PT/speech services over age 3)
 http://www.autismspeaks.org/ See Family Support Toolkits
 Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) 717-771-4407 (employment
readiness/placement)
 Schreiber Pediatric 717-393-0425 (private OT, PT, speech therapy, social skills group)
 Philhaven’s CADD program 717-735-1920 (diagnostics, psychiatric evaluations,
psychotherapy)
 Aaron’s Acres 717-917-6101(recreational programs)
 Lancaster County Assistance Office 717-299-7411 (for Medical Assistance/Medicaid
application)
 Samaritan Counseling Center 717-560-9969 (psychotherapy, neuropsychological
evaluations)
 Grisalano Center for Neurodevelopment (neuropsychological evaluations)

15. References
 http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/documents/addm-2012-community-report.
pdf
 http://www.psychiatry.org/autism
 http://www.autismspeaks.org/
 http://www.nature.com/scientificamerican/journal/v295/n5/box/scientific
american1106-62_BX2.html