SchaferAutismReport: Self- Injury Survey: SAR Supplement

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______________________________________________________ SELF-INJURY SURVEY Self-injurious behavior is one of the most devastating behaviors exhibited by people with developmental disabilities. The most common forms of these behaviors include head-banging, hand-biting, and excessive self-rubbing and scratching. Research over the past 50 years has demonstrated various underlying reasons for the behavior as well as numerous effective interventions. Through the years, it has become clear that there are different reasons for these behaviors, such as those falling under the biomedical, sensory, and/or social domains.

Effective treatment involves determining the underlying reason(s) for the behavior and then administering the appropriate treatment. Dr. Steve Edelson wrote an overview of the underlying causes of self-injury and the most appropriate intervention given each cause. You can read the article on the Autism Research Institute's website. Prior to his passing, Dr. Ted Carr designed a survey with Dr. Edelson to study the topography of self-injury and its possible relationship to medical problems. If your son/daughter (or client) engages in self-injury at least once a week, please complete the survey form. ______________________________________________________ DISASTER PREPAREDNESS With hurricane season upon us and AccuWeather predicting a heavier year for hurricanes, do you know where to look for information on disaster preparedness? Dr. Shore has an article on the Autism Research Institute (ARI) website, Disaster Preparedness for People on the Autism Spectrum and their Supporters. In this article, points to resources that can aid in readying individuals on the spectrum and their families. Please visit ARI's website. ______________________________________________________ HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED DISCRIMINATION? ARI links to the Autism Human Rights and Discrimination Initiative page at AutismDiscrimination.com. If your child or you have faced discrimination due to being on the spectrum, you can submit your story for posting. One of the advances that occurred since the implementation of AHRDI has been more movement towards safe residential situations for older individuals on the spectrum. Visit AHRDI to read Steve Edelson's article All men are created equal, except if they have autism. This article illuminates disparities in the treatment of children with autism vis-a-vis those without the diagnosis and provides a good way to explain the situation to your doctor, coworkers, and friends. Greater understanding will lead to greater progress. ______________________________________________________ SPOTLIGHT ON STAFF Kenney is a fairly new staffer at ARI, joining the San Diego home office in February 2010. provides professional support to ARI Executive Director Steve Edelson. This includes everything from writing summaries about autism treatments for the ARI iPhone/smartphone applications, to writing research summaries about ARI-funded research for the ARI website, to organizing autism awareness events such as the Matt Savage jazz piano concert and parent support meetings. and her husband are parents of twins Ben and Ali, who were born in 1990. Ben was diagnosed with autism in late 1992. Not a lot was available for treatment way back then, but even then ARI was there to provide information through their ARRI newsletter. Though ’s background is originally in public health (MPH from SDSU and PhD from UCLA), her evaluation research experiences made her a perfect match for not only working in the field of special education and autism

treatment, but also eventually led her to ARI.In addition to her work with ARI, serves evaluating school district special education programs. She is also certified in both special education advocacy and special needs life coaching. In her spare time, she enjoys running, yoga, and visiting her two kids at college.

Lenny Schafer editor@... The Schafer Autism Report is a non-profit corporation Unsubscribe: www.sarnet.org/frm/unsub2.htm

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