Professional Documents
Culture Documents
English 1201
Professor kretzer
19 March 2019
Autism In Society
Autism Spectrum Disorder affects about one in every fifty nine children. So, it is
likely that almost everyone has come in contact or at least see an individual with autism.
This image found on autismspeak.org shows the estimated increased rate of autism in
For anyone who may not know, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a mental disorder
that affects one's ability to communicate, interact with others, comprehend everything
around them. Scientists don’t know exactly what causes autism, but they believe it is a
the severity of their behaviors. This is because autism presents itself uniquely in
everyone who has it, some worse than others.One article by Alex P.A. Donovan and M.
They strived to figure out what exactly in an autistics brain causes their behaviors. They
found, “grey matter volume in lobule VII and CrusI/II in ASD subjects, and demonstrated
a correlation between these changes and the severity of a number of behavioural and
cognitive deficits… [such as] impaired social interaction, communication and increased
repetitive behaviours” (paragraph 6). They also wrote about the findings of a study
social grooming. Hong et al believed that these finding could be associated with the
and amygdala in adolescents. All of the previously listed differences can be read about
P.A. Donovan and M. Albert Basson. Scientist and doctors don’t know for sure what
exactly causes autistic behaviors. However instead of asking what the differences are
the question that should be asked is do these deficits prevent autistics from functioning
well in society. Often times the answer most people assume is yes. Looking solely at
the negative behavior and challenges that autistics face, it would be easy for one to
make this assumption. However, contrary to popular belief, autistics can Function well in
society because therapies, adaptations, and support help them to minimize the
There are many different therapies to help improve some of the mental
therapies do not work. While this might be the case with some behavioral therapies,
there are a plethora of therapies, currently, that have been very successful in helping
autistics function in society. The next two paragraphs address two therapies (1)ESDM
and (2) ABA and there success in helping autistics manage behavior.
The article “Early intervention in Autism Improves language, IQ and social skills”
Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, The Early Start Denver Model
routines. Studies have shown that this therapy is more effective when introduced at a
young age. The article states, that receiving this therapy as early, “as 18 months can
vastly improve [autisics] language, cognition and social skills…(1).This was shown in a
study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry. This study found, “children receiving intensive ESDM in their homes for an
average of 15 hours per week made significantly greater language gains than did
children in the community interventions, and this was true for both children with more
severe delays and those with less” (1). In 2012, ESDM was named one of the top ten
medical breakthroughs by TIME Magazine.This is because the findings showed that
behaviors can be normalized using this method from an early age. This is a huge
success in the world of autism. It just goes to show that with the right type therapy or
The Early Start Denver Model is not the only effective therapy used to treat
autism. Another example is Applied behavior analysis or ABA. This method has been
treating autistic patients. Studies on Applied behavioral analysis have shown that,
“children who receive more than 25 hours per week of Applied Behavior Analysis for
more than 1 year make tremendous gains, with some participants achieving functioning
within the average range for their age” (ugando 3). ABA has been shown to improve,
“language and communication skills… [as well as] attention, focus, social skills,
memory, and academics “ (“Applied Behavior… a parents guide” 2). All of these are
common areas in which autistics tend struggle. This makes Applied behavior analysis a
considerable option for autistics trying to improve their functionality. While Applied
behavior is not a therapy itself, it uses the principles of behavioral and learning sciences
to help minimize undesirable or challenging behaviors. Once the patient's behavior has
been analyzed a plan is developed. This plan typically consists of different therapies
directly lined up with the specific behavioral needs of the individual. This being said, no
Applied behavior analysis program will look the same. Some of the therapies used
teaching, verbal behavior, Pivotal response training, and Natural Language Paradigm.
Discrete trial learning uses drills to intensely teach a specific behavior. Incidental
teaching, also referred to as Natural Environmental training, teaches the individual skills
and how to apply them where they will naturally use them. Verbal behavior Therapy
teaches language by connecting words to their meanings and focusing on how to use
the words functionally. Pivotal response training uses opportunities and consequences
that occur naturally to teach to replace negative behaviors with positive functional
opportunities for language to be used. All of these ABA-based Therapies can be read
Autismspeaks.org. With the improvements that Applied Behavior Analysis can provide,
Autistic individuals can lead a more normal and functional life. Though I only listed two,
there are hundreds of other therapies successful in treating autism. While they may not
be able completely diminish negative behaviors, they most certainly help to minimize
them. With the severity of the negative behaviors decreased, it gives autistics the
In addition to therapies, there are many other things that can improve autistics
functionality and quality of their lives. Many autistics use different adaptations to lessen
some of the challenges that their with disorder may place on them. These adaptations
can help in all different aspects of a autistics life. One place many Autistic individuals
Autism Spectrum Disorder suffer from some sort of sensory problem. Some examples
of these could be sensitivity to bold colors, harsh lighting, strong smells, and loud
noises. Adaptations that can be made to reduce stress caused by these sensory issues
include using neutral tones when decorating, dimming lights, and reducing noise levels.
For individuals bothered by noises, noise cancelling headphones can also be a great
tool in environments where noises level can’t be altered. Autistics are very easily
overwhelmed so even just eliminating a few stressors with these modifications can help
them lead a more functional life. Another area where adaptations can be useful is in the
classroom. Autism can cause a large number of learning disabilities and challenges for
ASD individuals. Nur Fauziyah, Carol Le Lantto, I Ketut Budayasa, and Dwi Juniati,
conducted a study to look into the cognition processes autistic students use to
effectively solve a math problems. In this study the gave a student on the Autism
spectrum and a student off the autism spectrum a mathematical problem to solve and
observed the cognition process of each. This study showed, “there are differences in
cognitive abilities of children with and without ASD” (1). The autism spectrum students
were not incapable of solving the mathematical problems. Their way of comprehending
and solving the problem just differed. Since autistic cognitive processes differ from
Unfortunately, many schools require autistic students follow the same curriculum
centered around neurotypical individuals. This is where people may look at autistics as
not as capable as neurotypicals because they are not succeeding in school. However, it
would be hard for anyone to follow curriculum that doesn’t work with their cognitive
process. However, with the number of autistic student on the rise, “a greater research
focus on their progress through the education system is occurring” (Fauziyah 4).
Though still, not all school system are fully successful in teaching autistic students. This
caused caregiver to have to spend time and money tutoring ASD patients in academic
areas. This is where adaptations can help make autistics, as well as their caregivers,
software for autistics. The successfulness of Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy made
it possible for, “... a strive [to be] made to introduce ABA techniques into the system…
so that tutoring sessions in reading and math could be delivered in an effective manner”
(Ugando 2). This software use the same positive reinforcer strategy seen in Applied
behavior analysis, where good behaviors are applauded with the introduction of a
reward and bad behaviors are refried form by not bestowing the reward. One the
student learns a concept new concept the software introduces the reward. When the
successfulness of the software was tested they found, “ it was visibly noticeable that the
child happened to find the reward engaging, and soon learned the mechanism to
obtaining it” (Ugando 6). The students enjoyed the reward so to get more of it they
learned the topics presented to them. With this type of software the possibilities are
endless. Though the software is being used to improve area like reading and math, it
could be applied to so much more. Possibly in the future eliminating typical ABA therapy
and reducing cost for caregivers and the government. This would give not only autistics
the opportunity to live a more functional life, but also their caregivers. Another area in
which pressure is put upon caregivers is transportation. Most Autistics have to rely on a
caregiver of some sort to transport them places. This can be stressful for both ASD
individuals and their caregivers. The article, “Mind The Gap: Transportation Challenges
For Individuals Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder”, talks about the struggles
autistics face with transportations. The author states, “Very few individuals with ASD are
able to drive and many struggle using public transportation; leaving them to rely on
family and friends to meet their transportation needs” (2). There some adaptations that
can help solve this problem. Such as, “Developing a transit system with cohesive and
consistent service delivery” (2). With an adaption like this autistics could function lean a
little more towards a functional and independant life. All the previously listed
adaptations, in addition to many more, provide a way for autistics to function in society.
factor that plays an major role in the quality and functionality of an autistics life is
human beings tend to rely heavily on others. Not having a proper support system would
make life difficult for almost anyone. This is why it is so important that autistics get the
support they need. For instance, On The Mighty.com, a website that allows people with
Autism and other mental disorders to share their stories, there is an article written by
Kimberly Supermutt Goodman called; “Why We Need To Support All Children Spectrum
Disorder”. In this article she discusses the importance of support for autistic individuals.
She talks about how throughout her own life, as an autistic individual, she gave up on
the things that she loved. Shes says, “The reason I gave up so many times and on so
many things was because I lacked the support I needed in my life” (1). Support can
come in all shapes and sizes, typically from family and friends. Autistics can also benefit
from the support of other Autistic individuals. The article, “Children with autism and peer
group support: using ‘circles of friends’” by Philip Whitaker, Penny Barratt, Helen Joy,
Mo Potter and George Thomas discusses how support groups can help autistics
develop a close knit friend group that can provide some of the support they need. When
different focus children were observed they found, “ a general reduction in anxiety in
the focus child whom they described as ‘bubblier’, ‘happier’ and ‘more relaxed’” (3), as a
result of the peer support. In addition to this, they saw Improved behavior, enhanced
shy and quite, “ had begun to find their voices and to contribute more confidently” (3).
With a good support system autistics can overcome many challenges that potentially
Some people may doubt the capability of people with Autism spectrum disorder
and hold the belief that they cannot function in society. One argument could potentially
be made is that because autistics use adaptations, go to therapy, and need support, this
makes them lesser and unable to actually function in society. Unfortunately, this is seen
a lot in society. For example, when an someone doesn’t hire an autistic because of their
condition or when someone doesn’t want to sit next to the ASD child in class or at lunch.
There are not a lot of articles on this is because not a lot of people want to admit that
they hold this negative view point. However, when looking at the stories and
experiences autistics have shared it is easy to see this negative view of autistics. In
her life how she was made to feel by others. She states, “I was made to feel as if I was
wrong, incapable, or defective. I was the type of person who asked questions or
searched for a reason or purpose...Too many times in my life I heard the statement,
“Why can’t you do this (or that) like a normal person?” (1). The goal in writing this paper,
is to argue ways in which autistic individuals can function well in society in hopes that
autistics won’t have to feel discouraged. Kimberly Supermutt Goodman’s statement, “...
the important thing to remember is [every] child has a right to become as great as they
can be (1), perfectly embodies the reason why it is so important that the negative
In conclusion, autistics can be a functional part of society despite the beliefs and
prejudices of some individuals. Though Autistics may struggle in certain areas like
Works cited
“A Multisite Randomized Controlled Two-Phase Trial of the Early Start Denver Model
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890856719300449.
“Applied Behavioral Analysis .” Autism Speaks ,
Guide.pdf.
figures.
Challenges for Individuals Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” The School of
EBSCOhost, doi:10.11575/sppp.v9i0.42559.
estimate-autisms-prevalence-15-percent-1-59-children.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5192959/.
Fauziyah, Nur, et al. “Cognition Processes of Students with High Functioning Autism
sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=eric&AN=EJ1201200&site=eds-live.
Goodman, Kim Supermutt. “Why We Need to Support All Children With Autism
support-is-important-for-children-with-autism-spectrum-disorder/.
“The National Autistic Society - Environment and Surroundings.” Autism Support -
life/in-the-home/environment.aspx##create.
UC Davis Health, and Public Affairs and Marketing. “Early Intervention in Autism
health.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/mindinstitute/13551.
sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=edsarx&AN=edsarx.1808.02778&site=eds-live.
“Knowing What to Do: Exploring Meanings of Development and Peer Support Aimed at
Whitaker, Philip, et al. “Children with Autism and Peer Group Support: Using ‘Circles of
Friends.’” British Journal of Special Education, vol. 25, no. 2, June 1998, p. 60.
EBSCOhost,
sinclair.ohionet.org:80/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=
true&db=ehh&AN=4373775&site=eds-live.
“5 Important Classroom Accommodations For Children With Autism.” Caring 4 Our
Kids, caring4ourkids.com/important-classroom-accommodations-for-autistic-
children/.