| Autism Speaks is an organization founded by | | | | routines to cope. Develop a specific routine to deal |
| grandparents of an autistic child. They provide | | | | with triggers. |
| information, support and endeavor to increase | | | | Inability to properly perform joint attention (This is |
| awareness of autism spectral disorders. Since | | | | a condition wherein the usage of nonverbal cues |
| 2005 they have helped thousands of parents, | | | | or gestures calls another person's attention |
| researchers and increased awareness in the | | | | towards a particular stimulus. Autistic children do |
| general public through their website, | | | | not have this capacity. It is common for them to |
| autismspeaks.org. | | | | look at the finger that points the object instead |
| If you listen to or read the news, you know that | | | | of look at the object that is being pointed-at. |
| there is a popular belief that childhood | | | | They also lack the ability to point at objects.); |
| immunizations can cause autism. Some are so | | | | Special attention should be given in understanding |
| convinced this is true that they refuse to have | | | | the function of a problem behavior and the |
| their children vaccinated. The actual culprit is | | | | indicators for each function since an autism |
| believed to be Thimerosal, a preservative widely | | | | behavior plan is partially established on these |
| used in the preparation of vaccines. Companies | | | | functions. Below are some of the widely accepted |
| that manufacture vaccines have been strongly | | | | indicators of each function: |
| encouraged to stop using or greatly reduce the | | | | Avoid the recurrence of challenging behaviors. |
| amount of Thimerosal. If you are concerned a | | | | There are several strategies to prevent |
| particular vaccine may contain Thimerosal, ask | | | | misbehaviors from occurring, two are widely used. |
| your doctor. | | | | First is the reinforcement of positive behaviors by |
| As you develop your relationship with your child, | | | | rewarding it whenever it happens. And second is |
| you will both develop coping mechanisms. While | | | | the reduction of the rates of negative behaviors. |
| yours might be to take a deep breath after | | | | They also have lessened ability to understand |
| encountering a stressful situation, your child's | | | | social communication, conventions, and social |
| might be a sudden destructive temper tantrum. | | | | understanding; they also score poorly in tests of |
| Understanding that your son or daughter does not | | | | identifying faces as well as recognition of |
| necessarily have the ability to process a situation | | | | emotions. They, however, have the capacity to |
| the same way you do is very important. Again, | | | | become attached to their primary caregivers and |
| patience will help you work with your child to | | | | develop bonds with a small number of friends. For |
| develop appropriate coping mechanisms. It is well | | | | them, quality counts more than quantity. |
| documented that people with autism need | | | | |