| World Autism Awareness Day is April 2nd. | |
| Did you know? | |
| Autism is a highly variable neurodevelopmental
disorder that first appears during infancy or childhood. It is distinguished
not by a single symptom, but by a characteristic triad of symptoms. Impairments
in social interaction ; impairments in communication; and restricted interests
and repetitive behavior. Autism rates have been rising steadily — even dramatically — in Canada. An estimated 190,000 Canadian children have the disorder. The most recent epidemiological studies suggest that the rate of autism has increased from 40 cases per 10,000 to 60 cases. |
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| How are ASDs diagnosed? | |
| There is no single test that will confirm
that someone has an ASD. A diagnosis is based on the number and pattern
of typical characteristics and on the observation of specific behaviours
and disabilities. Someone with a mild case could go undiagnosed for years and may only be detected when the person goes through a crisis that brings them in contact with professionals who are able to recognize the disorder. |
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| How is autism treated? | |
| There is no cure for ASD. Therapies and behavioural
interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about
substantial improvement. Doctors may prescribe medications for treatment
of specific ASD-related symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive
disorder. Most health care professionals agree that the earlier the intervention,
the better. There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for people with ASD, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Parents should use caution before adopting any unproven treatments. |
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| What is Asperger’s syndrome? | |
| Asperger syndrome or Asperger's syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. Clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported. | |
| Useful Websites | |
Autism Montreal http://www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/index.php Autism Society Canada Autism Central ASD Montreal Autism Online.org Autism Research Institute Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support |
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| COMMUNITY SUPPORT | |
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Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Montreal Brilliant Beginnings Giant Steps Montreal Montreal Children’s Hospital Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic, Douglas Hospital Clinique d’Approche Béhaviorale en Autisme Clinique d’Ìntervention et Consultation
en Autisme Miriam Home and Services /Centre Miriam Services de répit Emergo Autisme T.E.D. |
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| A selection of recent books in the library | |
| For a more detailed list, click HERE | |
| General | |
| Kids in the Syndrome
Mix of ADHD, LD, Asperger's, Tourette's, Bipolar, and More!: the One Stop
Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Professionals by Martin L. Kutscher |
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| 100 Questions &
Answers about Autism: Expert Advice from a Physician/Parent Caregiver by Campion Quinn |
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| History | |
| The Age of Autism:
Mercury, Medicine, and a Manmade Epidemic by Dan Olmsted and Mark Blaxill |
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| Treatment | |
| Healing our Autistic
Children: a Medical Plan for Restoring your Child's Health by Julie Buckley |
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| Hope for the Autism
Spectrum: a Mother and Son Journey of Insight and Biomedical Intervention
by Sally Kirk |
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| Parenting | |
| Children with High-Functioning
Autism: a Parent's Guide by Claire E. Hughes-Lynch |
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| The Autism Book:
What Every Parent Needs to Know about Early Detection, Treatment, Recovery,
and Prevention by Robert W. Sears |
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| Personal Experiences | |
| Through the Glass
Wall: Journeys into the Closed-off Worlds of the Autistic by Howard Buten |
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| The Way I See It:
a Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's by Temple Grandin |
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| Teens and Young Adults | |
| Growing Up on the
Spectrum: a Guide to Life, Love, and Learning for Teens and Young Adults
with Autism and Asperger's by Lynn Kern Koegel and Claire LaZebnik |
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| Adults | |
| Adults on the Autism
Spectrum Leave the Nest: Achieving Supported Independence by Nancy Perry |
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| Asperger's Syndrome | |
| Life at the Edge
and Beyond: Living with ADHD and Asperger Syndrome by Jan Greenman |
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| Atypical: Life with
Asperger's in 20 1/3 Chapters by Jesse A. Saperstein |
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