Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
Autism and PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) - NOS (not otherwise specified) are developmental disabilities that have many common characteristics. Autism and PDD is a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate, understand language, play, and relate to others. It primarily results in significant deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication and social interactions. Autism and PDD is a complex developmental disability that typically is evident by the age of three. It is a spectrum disorder.
Facts
- Impacts the normal development of the brain.
- Typical difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, leisure or play activities.
- More prevalent in boys than girls.
- Two children with the same diagnosis can act very differently from one another and have varying skills.
- Condition generally presents itself before age three.
- In general, autism strikes randomly in all segments of society.
- There is no known single cause of autism.
http://www.nichcy.org/resources/autism.asp
For additional information check out these resources:
Books
Journals
- The ADHD Report
Web Sites
- Autism Society of America (ASA)
This web site provides information, research, and references on Autism. ASA's mission is to provide information and education and support research and advocate for programs and services for the autism community. http://www.autism-society.org/ - Autism/PDD Resources Network - http://www.autism-pdd.net/
- National Alliance for Autism Research - http://www.naar.org/
- Center for the Study of Autism - http://www.autism.org/
- Autism Resources - http://www.autism-resources.com/
- Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA)
This agency conducts outreach training, provides individual consultations, trains school teams, conducts research and serves as a state clearinghouse for information about autism spectrum disorders. www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/ - National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - www.nichcy.org
Resources for Kids
Books
Web sites
- CeDIR's Disability Awareness for Youth web site -
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/cedir/kidsweb
This web site has a Book Nook section with book reviews for children's books about disabilities or with characters who portray disabilities. There are also sections for students on disability information, games to play, media reviews, and bios of famous people with disabilities to name a few. Check it out!