Puzzle Activity

Want to know how it feels to be Autistic? 

Your about to!!

http://www.playlist.com/playlist/21322622219

Put together this Puzzle with a few people telling you what to do, while loud music is playing in the background. You have 2 minutes.

READY SET GO!!!

A Spectrum Disorder

Depiction of Autism

Autism Awareness Month

Barack Obama makes a Presidential Proclamation to raise the awareness of Autism!!

“NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2, 2012, as World Autism Awareness Day. I encourage all Americans to learn more about autism and what they can do to support individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.”

BARACK OBAMA

Presidential Proclamation—World Autism Awareness Day, 2012.

 http://autismsciencefoundation.wordpress.com/ This month is Autism Awareness Month all around the world. The whole month is dedicated to the disorder autism and on a local level we can do our part by wearing blue ribbons. The blue ribbons we wear will show that we are promoting the awareness of autism in our community.

Awareness Ribbon

Watch these videos

Genetic Testing (Biological Approach)- EMILY

     
    Although there are tests that can detect the abnormalities in DNA of those with autism spectrum disorder these tests are not completely accurate. Today when expecting parents request genetic testing to determine their child’s risk for autism the tests used consist of Karyotyping, fragile X testing, and chromosomal microarray (CMA) testing. Karyotyping examines a sample of cells for abnormalities. Fragile X testing looks for the fragile X syndrome, which is the leading genetic cause of autism. CMA examines the entire genome, which allows for testers to home in on tiny variations in DNA sequences. While none of these tests have provided 100% correctness, CMA testing has shown better accuracy than the other tests.

         Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that affects the brain’s development of social and communication skills. All the causes of ASDs are unknown but some environmental, biological and genetic factors have been associated with the disorder. Because children with siblings or parents are at a higher risk of also having an ASD it is clear that there is some sort of genetic connection. Fragile X syndrome is the leading genetic cause of autism spectrum syndrome. It is important to remember that not all children with ASD have these factors contributing to their disorder and that there are still a lot of questions needed to be answered about diagnostics, causes, treatments, and cures.