[Applause] imagine you’re someone living with
imagine you’re someone living with
imagine you’re someone living with autism or the parent of a child who is
autism or the parent of a child who is
autism or the parent of a child who is and now imagine that there’s a pill that
and now imagine that there’s a pill that
and now imagine that there’s a pill that you could take to cure it would you take
you could take to cure it would you take
you could take to cure it would you take it would you give it to your child would
it would you give it to your child would
it would you give it to your child would that be a good thing these are some
that be a good thing these are some
that be a good thing these are some questions that are commonly asked in the
questions that are commonly asked in the
questions that are commonly asked in the autism community dr. Steven Shore a
autism community dr. Steven Shore a
autism community dr. Steven Shore a well-known individual on the spectrum
well-known individual on the spectrum
well-known individual on the spectrum has said he’s not interested in a cure
has said he’s not interested in a cure
has said he’s not interested in a cure however dr. Robert Nassif the a
however dr. Robert Nassif the a
however dr. Robert Nassif the a psychologist and a parent of a young man
psychologist and a parent of a young man
psychologist and a parent of a young man with severe autism has said he would
with severe autism has said he would
with severe autism has said he would give this pill to his son immediately
give this pill to his son immediately
give this pill to his son immediately because for his son
because for his son
because for his son autism is tremendously disabling so your
autism is tremendously disabling so your
autism is tremendously disabling so your answer to this question might be
answer to this question might be
answer to this question might be different depending on where you fall on
different depending on where you fall on
different depending on where you fall on the autism spectrum the universe of
the autism spectrum the universe of
the autism spectrum the universe of people affected by autism is large it’s
people affected by autism is large it’s
people affected by autism is large it’s the fastest-growing developmental
the fastest-growing developmental
the fastest-growing developmental disability affecting one to two percent
disability affecting one to two percent
disability affecting one to two percent of children and adults worldwide the
of children and adults worldwide the
of children and adults worldwide the prevalence here in the United States is
prevalence here in the United States is
prevalence here in the United States is one in 68 and in New Jersey one in 41
one in 68 and in New Jersey one in 41
one in 68 and in New Jersey one in 41 the costs are high a University of
the costs are high a University of
the costs are high a University of california-davis study estimated the
california-davis study estimated the
california-davis study estimated the total cost of care for individuals with
total cost of care for individuals with
total cost of care for individuals with autism in our country in 2015 was 268
autism in our country in 2015 was 268
autism in our country in 2015 was 268 billion dollars and this is estimated to
billion dollars and this is estimated to
billion dollars and this is estimated to rise to four hundred and sixty 1 billion
rise to four hundred and sixty 1 billion
rise to four hundred and sixty 1 billion dollars by the year 2025 this number
dollars by the year 2025 this number
dollars by the year 2025 this number represents more than double the combined
represents more than double the combined
represents more than double the combined costs of stroke and hypertension for
costs of stroke and hypertension for
costs of stroke and hypertension for families it cost six times more to raise
families it cost six times more to raise
families it cost six times more to raise a child with autism so what is autism
a child with autism so what is autism
a child with autism so what is autism autism is a developmental disorder that
autism is a developmental disorder that
autism is a developmental disorder that impacts people’s development right men
impacts people’s development right men
impacts people’s development right men areas of development social
areas of development social
areas of development social communication is one of them sometimes
communication is one of them sometimes
communication is one of them sometimes social interaction communication are
social interaction communication are
social interaction communication are categorized together because they’re so
categorized together because they’re so
categorized together because they’re so intertwined in all of our relationships
intertwined in all of our relationships
intertwined in all of our relationships how we make friends how we keep friends
how we make friends how we keep friends
how we make friends how we keep friends and it’s all so intertwined with
and it’s all so intertwined with
and it’s all so intertwined with understanding nonverbal communication
understanding nonverbal communication
understanding nonverbal communication right so for example if the event
right so for example if the event
right so for example if the event organizers gave me one of these I would
organizers gave me one of these I would
organizers gave me one of these I would know it was time to wrap up but for
know it was time to wrap up but for
know it was time to wrap up but for someone with autism that’s very
someone with autism that’s very
someone with autism that’s very difficult for them to understand and to
difficult for them to understand and to
difficult for them to understand and to act on individuals with autism also have
act on individuals with autism also have
act on individuals with autism also have difficulty in communication with taking
difficulty in communication with taking
difficulty in communication with taking what we say literally right literally
what we say literally right literally
what we say literally right literally Terp rotational this worksheet it says
Terp rotational this worksheet it says
Terp rotational this worksheet it says write the following words in
write the following words in
write the following words in alphabetical order can you see how the
alphabetical order can you see how the
alphabetical order can you see how the student alphabetize the words right he
student alphabetize the words right he
student alphabetize the words right he alphabetize the letters of the words and
alphabetize the letters of the words and
alphabetize the letters of the words and so this is not how most people would
so this is not how most people would
so this is not how most people would approach this but for someone with
approach this but for someone with
approach this but for someone with autism they’re taking a very literal
autism they’re taking a very literal
autism they’re taking a very literal approach to the instructions and this is
approach to the instructions and this is
approach to the instructions and this is just one of the specific language
just one of the specific language
just one of the specific language impairments in autism and approximately
impairments in autism and approximately
impairments in autism and approximately 25 percent of individuals with autism
25 percent of individuals with autism
25 percent of individuals with autism have no spoken language at all in autism
have no spoken language at all in autism
have no spoken language at all in autism there’s also restricted and repetitive
there’s also restricted and repetitive
there’s also restricted and repetitive behavior this could be resistance to
behavior this could be resistance to
behavior this could be resistance to changes in routine like if you remember
changes in routine like if you remember
changes in routine like if you remember Dustin Hoffman’s character and Rain Man
Dustin Hoffman’s character and Rain Man
Dustin Hoffman’s character and Rain Man right he only wanted to shop at Kmart
right he only wanted to shop at Kmart
right he only wanted to shop at Kmart have to go to Kmart had to be Kmart
have to go to Kmart had to be Kmart
have to go to Kmart had to be Kmart right it could also be repetitive
right it could also be repetitive
right it could also be repetitive behaviors such as hand slapping or
behaviors such as hand slapping or
behaviors such as hand slapping or rocking and on a dangerous note for a
rocking and on a dangerous note for a
rocking and on a dangerous note for a third of children on the spectrum this
third of children on the spectrum this
third of children on the spectrum this repetitive behavior takes the form of
repetitive behavior takes the form of
repetitive behavior takes the form of self injurious behavior perhaps biting
self injurious behavior perhaps biting
self injurious behavior perhaps biting themselves or hitting their heads on
themselves or hitting their heads on
themselves or hitting their heads on hard surfaces so if this is autism then
hard surfaces so if this is autism then
hard surfaces so if this is autism then what is the spectrum the spectrum is a
what is the spectrum the spectrum is a
what is the spectrum the spectrum is a wide range of abilities and deficits in
wide range of abilities and deficits in
wide range of abilities and deficits in social communication and behavior just
social communication and behavior just
social communication and behavior just last week we held a conference and one
last week we held a conference and one
last week we held a conference and one of the talks that was given was
of the talks that was given was
of the talks that was given was presented by a young man and it was
presented by a young man and it was
presented by a young man and it was entitled a love letter to my
entitled a love letter to my
entitled a love letter to my future wife from your autistic husband
future wife from your autistic husband
future wife from your autistic husband individuals on this side of the spectrum
individuals on this side of the spectrum
individuals on this side of the spectrum typically view their autism as a form of
typically view their autism as a form of
typically view their autism as a form of neurodiversity neurodiversity is the
neurodiversity neurodiversity is the
neurodiversity neurodiversity is the idea that conditions like autism and
idea that conditions like autism and
idea that conditions like autism and ADHD are a natural variation in the
ADHD are a natural variation in the
ADHD are a natural variation in the human genome and the human condition
human genome and the human condition
human genome and the human condition autism is not viewed as a disability
autism is not viewed as a disability
autism is not viewed as a disability that needs to be treated or cured in
that needs to be treated or cured in
that needs to be treated or cured in fact the idea of eradicating autism
fact the idea of eradicating autism
fact the idea of eradicating autism would be understandably offensive to
would be understandably offensive to
would be understandably offensive to people who embrace their neuro diversity
people who embrace their neuro diversity
people who embrace their neuro diversity but autism is also a young man who has a
but autism is also a young man who has a
but autism is also a young man who has a developmental level of a toddler and
developmental level of a toddler and
developmental level of a toddler and hurts himself so often that he needs a
hurts himself so often that he needs a
hurts himself so often that he needs a team of specialists to analyze and treat
team of specialists to analyze and treat
team of specialists to analyze and treat his challenging behavior so here we have
his challenging behavior so here we have
his challenging behavior so here we have the extremes right we have someone who’s
the extremes right we have someone who’s
the extremes right we have someone who’s socially different but in other ways
socially different but in other ways
socially different but in other ways very competent you can think of The Big
very competent you can think of The Big
very competent you can think of The Big Bang Theory Sheldon Cooper or the new
Bang Theory Sheldon Cooper or the new
Bang Theory Sheldon Cooper or the new show the good doctor a surgeon with
show the good doctor a surgeon with
show the good doctor a surgeon with autism who’s saving lives every week and
autism who’s saving lives every week and
autism who’s saving lives every week and we also have the other end of the
we also have the other end of the
we also have the other end of the spectrum adults who need 24/7
spectrum adults who need 24/7
spectrum adults who need 24/7 supervision and assistance with basic
supervision and assistance with basic
supervision and assistance with basic everyday tasks such as taking care of
everyday tasks such as taking care of
everyday tasks such as taking care of their own hygiene making food and being
their own hygiene making food and being
their own hygiene making food and being safe in the community as Judith Newman
safe in the community as Judith Newman
safe in the community as Judith Newman the author of the book – Siri with love
the author of the book – Siri with love
the author of the book – Siri with love has said the autism narratives are often
has said the autism narratives are often
has said the autism narratives are often about the extremes and we can see why
about the extremes and we can see why
about the extremes and we can see why these extremes are interesting but as
these extremes are interesting but as
these extremes are interesting but as Judith Newman and all of us in the
Judith Newman and all of us in the
Judith Newman and all of us in the autism community know there are hundreds
autism community know there are hundreds
autism community know there are hundreds of thousands of individuals in the
of thousands of individuals in the
of thousands of individuals in the middle of the spectrum each with their
middle of the spectrum each with their
middle of the spectrum each with their own unique and interesting story so
own unique and interesting story so
own unique and interesting story so let’s be clear there is no pill to cure
let’s be clear there is no pill to cure
let’s be clear there is no pill to cure autism right now but thankfully there is
autism right now but thankfully there is
autism right now but thankfully there is treatment treatment that can teach
treatment treatment that can teach
treatment treatment that can teach individuals new skills improve their
individuals new skills improve their
individuals new skills improve their quality of life and give everyone hope
quality of life and give everyone hope
quality of life and give everyone hope for many that treatment is applied
for many that treatment is applied
for many that treatment is applied behavior analysis or ABA maybe
behavior analysis or ABA maybe
behavior analysis or ABA maybe is a scientific individualized and
is a scientific individualized and
is a scientific individualized and compassionate approach to understanding
compassionate approach to understanding
compassionate approach to understanding and improving behavior approximately 30%
and improving behavior approximately 30%
and improving behavior approximately 30% of kids with autism who participate in
of kids with autism who participate in
of kids with autism who participate in intensive early high-quality ABA
intensive early high-quality ABA
intensive early high-quality ABA behaviorally recover from autism that’s
behaviorally recover from autism that’s
behaviorally recover from autism that’s right 30% go on to be indistinguishable
right 30% go on to be indistinguishable
right 30% go on to be indistinguishable from their peers and the other 70% make
from their peers and the other 70% make
from their peers and the other 70% make substantial progress that’s the amazing
substantial progress that’s the amazing
substantial progress that’s the amazing news the tragic news is that fewer than
news the tragic news is that fewer than
news the tragic news is that fewer than 20% of children with autism access this
20% of children with autism access this
20% of children with autism access this treatment the first child with autism I
treatment the first child with autism I
treatment the first child with autism I worked with was a little boy named
worked with was a little boy named
worked with was a little boy named Christopher he was an adorable
Christopher he was an adorable
Christopher he was an adorable two-year-old but he did not have access
two-year-old but he did not have access
two-year-old but he did not have access to this treatment and today he’s a 26
to this treatment and today he’s a 26
to this treatment and today he’s a 26 year old man he’s representative of the
year old man he’s representative of the
year old man he’s representative of the community in a lot of ways he has an
community in a lot of ways he has an
community in a lot of ways he has an intellectual disability he has some
intellectual disability he has some
intellectual disability he has some adaptive behavior and some behavioral
adaptive behavior and some behavioral
adaptive behavior and some behavioral challenges and his parents find it very
challenges and his parents find it very
challenges and his parents find it very difficult to find and pay for activities
difficult to find and pay for activities
difficult to find and pay for activities that keep him safe and meaningfully
that keep him safe and meaningfully
that keep him safe and meaningfully engaged so how can we help Christopher
engaged so how can we help Christopher
engaged so how can we help Christopher and everyone with autism we can help by
and everyone with autism we can help by
and everyone with autism we can help by investing in research to better
investing in research to better
investing in research to better understand the causes and the cures for
understand the causes and the cures for
understand the causes and the cures for those who want them we can help by
those who want them we can help by
those who want them we can help by supporting families whose lives are more
supporting families whose lives are more
supporting families whose lives are more stressful than we can ever measure and
stressful than we can ever measure and
stressful than we can ever measure and we can help by advocating for federal
we can help by advocating for federal
we can help by advocating for federal and state policies that allocate funding
and state policies that allocate funding
and state policies that allocate funding for high-quality treatment needed by
for high-quality treatment needed by
for high-quality treatment needed by millions of children and adults with
millions of children and adults with
millions of children and adults with autism when you think of autism I would
autism when you think of autism I would
autism when you think of autism I would like you I encourage you to think about
like you I encourage you to think about
like you I encourage you to think about individuals because it’s so much broader
individuals because it’s so much broader
individuals because it’s so much broader than just the label right the spectrum
than just the label right the spectrum
than just the label right the spectrum is so much more than this label I
is so much more than this label I
is so much more than this label I encourage you to think about individuals
encourage you to think about individuals
encourage you to think about individuals their abilities their needs their
their abilities their needs their
their abilities their needs their preferences
preferences
preferences their personalities and I encourage you
their personalities and I encourage you
their personalities and I encourage you to look beyond the label thank you
”
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