A Complete Guide to Teaching Art to Those With Autism: Utilizing the Elements and Principles of Design and Life Skills A Complete Guide to TEACHING ART TO THOSE WITH AUTISM UTILIZING THE ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN AND LIFE SKILLS By Mishawn K. Reynolds AuthorHouse Copyright © 2012 Mishawn K. Reynolds All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4670-3593-4 Contents References.........................................................399Index..............................................................403 Chapter One Part 1: Basic Facts About Autism Spectrum Disorder The Prevalence of Autism Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has reached what could be considered epidemic proportions over the last decade. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it has become an urgent public health concern. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders outlines the required criteria for the diagnosis of autism. Introduced in 1994, the criteria have not changed in any way, but it is difficult to accurately estimate the number of children who have ASD. Estimates are becoming better and more consistent though. This is due to the fact that ASD research and means of assessment has increased a great deal in recent years, and multiple interest groups have formed organizations to determine current statistics. The CDC for example funds the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM), which is a group of programs that determine the number of people with autism in the United States, making the current statistics more accurate as to how many people have been effected. Research has shown that a diagnosis of autism at age two can be reliable, valid, and stable. But despite evidence that ASD can often be identified at around 18 months, many children do not receive final diagnosis until they are much older. The median age of earliest ASD diagnosis is between 4.5 and 5.5 years, but for 51-91 percent of children with an ASD developmental concern, it has been recorded before three years of age (CDC, 2011). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act now requires that comprehensive annual reports be published and presented to the United States Congress each year. The statistics reveal that the number of children with ASD has more than doubled in six years, with 37 states now reporting increases of more than one hundred percent. This could be viewed as a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions. The CDC has revealed the most current statistic and estimates of those affected with ASD in the United States as: One in 80 in 240 with an average of one in 110 children in the United States. Thus if four million children are born in the United States every year, approximately 36,500 children will eventually be diagnosed with an ASD. Assuming the prevalence rate has been constant over the past two decades, we can estimate that 730,000 individuals between the ages of 0 to 21 have ASD (CDC, 2011). We must engage in helping students who have already been diagnosed. Thus, there is an need for the type of program suggested in this book as it is an additional approach to increase independence and the quality of life for these people. If implemented properly, it will have a great effect on this often misunderstood population. In order to do so, It is important for the many people who have not been exposed to the different types, or needs, of those with ASD to become familiar with these prior to working with them. What Is Autism? Like the color spectrum, the types of autism reflect a continuum from genius to those who are extremely handicapped. People from any ethnicity, race, creed, or socioeconomic background are affected. It is a puzzling disorder without a cure, with a wide range of intelligence and communication abilities, as well as the strengths and difficulties in-between. The faces of autism are diverse. Some have successful careers, living independently, while others sit in a corner and rock all day, requiring constant care. Some are unable to speak; others are very articulate but unable to decipher facial expressions and body language (Fast, 2010). Many have cognitive impairments, while others are savants who possess extraordinary talent in fields such as music, art, or mathematics. Autism, also known as Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability that comes from a neurological disorder affecting the normal function of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication or reciprocal social interaction, social skills, and reasoning. Individuals on the autism spectrum often go through life trying to fit into a world that refuses to accept them. They have trouble relating to their peers, making light conversation, reading facial expressions, or sustaining eye contact. They may seem oblivious and may have unusual reactions to sensory stimuli such as sudden noises (Fast, 2010). It is referred to a