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*Autism             *Communication Disorders            *Neurodiverse

Our target population is  between 14 and older.   We practice inclusion and serve others in this age group and abilities. 

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Levels of Autism - DSM 5

Autism is the consolidation of three categories of autism symptoms: social impairment; language/communication impairment and repetitive/restricted behaviors

Level 1

"Requiring support”

Without supports in place, deficits in social communication cause noticeable impairments. Difficulty initiating social interactions, and clear examples of atypical or unsuccessful response to social overtures of others. May appear to have decreased interest in social interactions. For example, a person who is able to speak in full sentences and engages in communication but whose to- and-fro conversation with others fails, and whose attempts to make friends are odd and typically unsuccessful.

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Restricted, repetitive behaviors

Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with functioning in one or more contexts. Difficulty switching between activities. Problems of organization and planning hamper independence.

Level 2


"Requiring substantial support”

Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills; social impairments apparent even with supports in place; limited initiation of social interactions; and reduced or  abnormal responses to social overtures from others. For example, a person who speaks simple sentences, whose interaction is limited  to narrow special interests, and how has markedly odd nonverbal communication.

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Restricted, repetitive behaviors

Inflexibility of behavior, difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors appear frequently enough to be obvious to the casual observer and interfere with functioning in  a variety of contexts. Distress and/or difficulty changing focus or action.

Level 3


"Requiring very substantial support”

Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal social communication skills cause severe impairments in functioning, very limited initiation of social interactions, and minimal response to social overtures from others. For example, a person with few words of intelligible speech who rarely initiates interaction and, when he or she does, makes unusual approaches to meet needs only and responds to only very direct social approaches

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Restricted, repetitive behaviors

Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change, or other restricted/repetitive behaviors markedly interfere with functioning in all spheres. Great distress/difficulty changing focus or action.

Main signs of autism

Common signs of autism in adults include:

  • finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling

  • getting very anxious about social situations

  • finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on your own

  • seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others without meaning to

  • finding it hard to say how you feel

  • taking things very literally – for example, you may not understand sarcasm or phrases like "break a leg"

  • having the same routine every day and getting very anxious if it changes

Other signs of autism

You may also have other signs, like:

  • not understanding social "rules", such as not talking over people

  • avoiding eye contact

  • getting too close to other people, or getting very upset if someone touches or gets too close to you

  • noticing small details, patterns, smells or sounds that others do not

  • having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities

  • liking to plan things carefully before doing them

 

Autism in women and men

Autism can sometimes be different in women and men.

For example, autistic women may be quieter, may hide their feelings and may appear to cope better with social situations.

This means it can be harder to tell you're autistic if you're a woman.

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NHS 2021-2022

 Communication  Disorder 

According to DSM5, Communication disorders are a group of conditions involving problems with receiving, processing, sending, and comprehending various forms of information and communication, including:

  • concepts

  • verbal

  • nonverbal

  • graphic language

  • speech

They can result from any condition that affects hearing, speech, and language to the extent that it can disrupt a person’s ability to communicate properly. A communication disorder can manifest early in a child’s development, or a medical condition can cause it to develop at an older age.

It can be a stand-alone condition or co-occur with other communication and developmental disorders.

The severity of communication disorders can range from mild to profound.

Working on Rooftop
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Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity was first coined in the 1990s by Australian social scientist Judy Singer, who is herself on the autism spectrum. It has gained significant ground in recent years, particularly among advocacy communities. 

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 Neurodiversity include people with;

  • Tourette's

  •  Dyslexia 

  • Dyspraxia

  •  ADHD

  •  Autism

  •  Other learning  and developmental differences.

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