We at Autism Teaching Materials provides tools and resources for parents seeking information about autism spectrum disorder also commonly referred as ASD. We provide products for ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy as well as books and manuals to assist parents in gaining more understanding about autism and their child. We strive to help you to gain a peace of mind in providing safe products for your children to assist in their therapies as well as guide books for parents seeking information to help your child to become an independent child. Kami di Autism Teaching Materials menyediakan alat-alat bantu belajar untuk orang tua yang sedang mencari informasi mengenai Autisme. Kami menyediakan produk untuk ABA terapi, terapi wicara, terapi kerja serta buku dan bahan manual lainnya untuk membantu para orangtua dalam memperoleh pemahaman tentang autisme. Kami berusaha untuk memberikan produk yang aman kepada anak-anak anda untuk membantu dalam terapi. Kami juga menyediakan buku panduan untuk orang tua dan para guru yang ingin mencari informasi lebih mengenai autisme dan cara-cara pengajaran.

1. Parents Guide
to understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
By Marlene Gunawan

2. What is Autism?
• Autism is a developmental disorder known as Autism Spectrum
Disorder (ASD)
• There are five different disorders in ASD Spectrum. They are:
• Autistic Disorder
• Asperger’s Disorder
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified
(PDD-NOS)
• Rett’s Disorder
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
• Today we are focusing on Autistic Disorder and Asperger’s
Disorder

3. Autistic Disorder
• Symptoms for each individual child may varies, hence the idea of a
spectrum (where the child is on the spectrum)
• Symptoms need to be present before the child turn three years old
• Autistic disorder is characterized by deficits in communication,
socialization and behavior
• For a child to have autistic disorder, the child must meet 6 out of 12
criteria (two in the social domain) based on the DSM-IV-
TR(APA,2000) More information can be found in CDC website, click on the hyperlink.
• The most common symptoms of autism are: lack of speech, lack of
eye contact, repetitive movement and tantrum

4. Asperger’s Disorder
• Asperger’s disorder is different from Autistic Disorder as the child
does not have language delay
• Child with Asperger’s Disorder may have developed high cognitive
strengths as they can store large amount of data in the topic of their
interest
• However, children with Asperger’s Disorder may have
communication challenges. These may include:
• Not understanding social cues
• Off timing in social interaction
• Difficulties in understanding social convention in interacting with
others
• Awkward ways to interject their own agenda to social activities
• Children with Asperger's Disorder will require guidance in reading
non-verbal cues

5. At what age can autism
be detected?
• The earlier Autism is recognized in a child, the sooner the child
will receive the care and treatment the child needs.
• Autism generally can be detected as early as one year old.
• However, there are cases in which the child starts degenerating
as the child gets older.
• If you suspect your child has autism, the earlier the syndrome is
detected, the quicker the child can be treated.
• Pediatricians should be able to get you a referral to a specialist.
• Assessment can be conducted by professionals such as
psychologists, neurologist, pediatricians or psychiatrists
• “The field of the professional is less important than the
expertise”. As challenging at it may be, it is better to find
professional who is an expert in autism.

6. Communication
Development Domain
Age Symptoms
Infant/Toddler • Lack of speech
• May not respond to name
• Not using gestures
Early School Years • May sound like little “professors”
• One sided conversation
• Not seeing that their behavior affecting
others
Summarized from NAC Ed Manual

7. Behavioral Development
Age Symptoms
Infant/Toddlers • Repetitive motor movements not limited
to hand flapping, finger flicking and
rocking
• Categorize instead of playing with toys
• Rigidity in routines
Early Years • Rigid in rules and boundaries
• Need rituals to be able to function
Summarized from NAC Ed Manual

8. Social Skill Development
Age Symptoms
Infant/Toddlers • Does not want to be touched
• No eye contact
• Not imitating facial expressions
• Failure to respond to emotions
Early Years • Prefers to play alone
• Trouble to express own feelings and
understanding other people’s feelings
Summarized from NAC Ed Manual

9. Importance of Early
Intervention
• If you are suspecting your child to have the symptoms we discussed
above, seek help immediately.
• “Doing nothing is the worst thing you can do” –Temple Grandin
quoted from the book The Way I See It.
• Parents can continue trying to engage their child through playtimes,
interacting with the child and engaging the child in meaningful
activities
• The early years is the best time to observe the child in his/her
environment to gain better understanding on what engage the child
and how the child interact with his/her environment and how the
child act and react to different situations.

10. Resources
There are many resources for parents. Here are a couple that we found helpful
for parents who are suspecting that their child have autism or their child has
recently been diagnosed:
• CDC has information about basics of autism, treatments as well as data and
statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html
• Autism Speaks has the latest Autism News
http://www.autismspeaks.org/
• The Way I See It, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition: A personal Look at Autism
and Aspergers by Temple Grandin
• Autism Internet Modules
• Evidence-Based Practice and Autism in the Schools by National Autism Centers
• Yayasan Autisma Indonesia
• Autism Teaching Materials Resources Section

11. Contact us
• We at Autism Teaching Materials strive to find the best
resources for autism and special needs in Indonesia. We
are able to ship all around Asia and Australia.
• For further questions and comments, please email us at
autismteachingmaterials@gmail.com
• 021-37356603
• Facebook page at Autism Teaching Materials
Thank you for your support!