Article

By Christopher J. Smith, Ph.D., SARRC vice president & research director

Background: In 2019, autism researchers from the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia called for the term “high-functioning autism” to be
abandoned because of the misleading and potentially harmful expectations it creates around the abilities of children on the autism spectrum.

What is “functioning,” anyway? 

There’s no blood test or MRI or CT scan. No single telltale biomarker. No biopsy. The process of diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more complex than that, requiring observation, interviews and testing to round out an assessment. These procedures can take a great deal of time for families once in the diagnostic center.

Michele Thorne dove in headfirst to understand the nuances of autism after her son, Jackson, was diagnosed just after his third birthday. The signs were obvious — regression in speech, repetitive behavior, and extreme difficulty in interacting with others.

SARRC's Annual Community Breakfast was given a makeover for 2020 allowing nearly 1,200 guests to attend the 22nd annual event virtually. 

The event, which was themed “Here for You,” recognized the ongoing efforts SARRC has been making to ensure that the necessary support continues for clients and families through the coronavirus pandemic. The 25-minute virtual event, which debuted on Thursday, May 21, featured personal stories from families, clients, and community leaders who shared their experiences from home.  

For the Miller family, homework was “one of the most stressful things we had to do as a family,” explains mom, Priyanka.

For their son Aden, who has autism spectrum disorder, homework was a non-preferred task, especially with newer, harder concepts. It was something he had a tough time overcoming—and that was just one situation their family struggled with. There were other behaviors and situations, including negative self-talk, that were difficult, both for Aden and his family.

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) and VirTra, a global provider of training simulators for law enforcement, military, educational and commercial markets, have teamed up to develop comprehensive training for law enforcement officers. This training will be used to help officers bridge the communication gap and interact more effectively, and positively, with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

Estamos en tiempos sin precedentes, pero eso no significa que no puedas navegar por este nuevo territorio y hacer lo mejor para ti y tu familia. La Directora de Servicios para Niños, Rachel Anderson, comparte formas efectivas de establecer una nueva rutina y mantenerse motivados mientras practicamos el distanciamiento social. ¡Aquí hay algunos consejos que pueden serte útiles a medida que estableces nuevas rutinas y horarios!

We are in unprecedented times, but that doesn’t mean you can’t navigate this new territory and make it the best for you and your family. Our Children’s Services Director, Rachel Anderson, shares effective ways to establish a new routine and stay motivated as we practice social distancing.  Here are a few tips that you may find helpful as you establish new routines and schedules!