
Autism / Autism Spectrum Support Group
Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. Although the specific etiology of autism is unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers.
think of autism spectrum as a ladder wiht lots of runs on it. the ladder is called the autism spectrum. every run except the top one is autism. the top one looks a bit different and is not the same shape/colour but you can use it just the same. this is the aspergers run. so, they are all part of the same thing (autism spectrum) but a man called dr.hans aspergr discovred that within this spectrum there was a difference with some clients who had marked ability with language although it was odd and also usually had normal or above i.q. they may have previously been diagnosed with 'semantic pragmatic' speech as this is typical of a person with aspergers. they have lots of 'autistic traits' that define thm as being on the spectrum.
totally confused? i hope not! i hope i have made it just a little clearer!!!
I found it interesting that LV2BMOM said that you have to have the Autism label to get SSI. I've applied for SSI twice for my son and have been denied both times. At 23 years old, he is unable to drive a car and the longest that he was able to hold a job was for one month. He currently is attending a local technical college. It's my hope that when he completes his schooling that he will have more success in keeping a job.
It is such a complicated thing I find it hard to even try to understand it.