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Autism Resources

Welcome to our Autism micro-site. With so many practitioners working with persons with autism, AOTA has developed extensive resources on this topic, and this page organizes all of these resources in one area. Whether you’re looking for news, Conference sessions, AJOT articles, books, research, or other tools, you can find it all here.

News Practice Continuing Education OT Practice Articles AJOT Articles SIS Quarterly Articles Books

OT Connections Networking Media Consumer Information Research Policy Information Autism Organizations Other Resources

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• The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) and the Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) are pleased to announce the release of the 2010 IACC Strategic Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorder Research.
• Major Databases Link Up to Advance Autism Research
• Autism Intervention for Toddlers Improves Developmental Outcomes

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Practice

Information

• Resources to Support Pediatric Practice NEW!
• Autism Fact Sheet
• Autism FAQ
• Occupational Therapy and School Mental Health Fact Sheet
• Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals With Autism
• OT Practice Guideline for Children and Youth with Autism
• Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Children and Adolescents With Challenges in Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration
• OT Practice Guideline for Children with Behavioral and Psychosocial Needs
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Evidence Brief Series
• Autism Spectrum Disorder--CAT (Critically Appraised Topic)
• Children With Sensory Processing Disorders/Sensory Integrative Dysfunction--CAT (Critically Appraised Topic)
• The Scope of Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders Across the Lifespan (2010)
• The Puzzle of Autism

Centennial Vision Articles

• Demonstrating the Value of OT for Children With Autism
• Creating Evidence: Sensory Integration and Children With Autism
• Supporting Parents of Children With Autism: The Role of Occupational Therapy

AOTA Official Documents

• AOTA's Societal Statement on Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Providing Occupational Therapy Using Sensory Integration Theory and Methods in School Based Practice
• Occupational Therapy’s Perspective on the Use of Environments and Contexts to Support Health and Participation in Occupations
• Scope of Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifecourse

Special Interest Section (SISs)

• Developmental Disabilities SIS
• Early Intervention and School SIS
• Sensory Integration SIS

Slide Shows

• Occupatinal Therapy Practitioners in Action: Carl Sandburg Learning Center
• Occupational Therapy Practitioners in Action: Skills on the Hill
• Occupational Therapy Practitioners in Action: Center for Adults With ASD (Towson University)

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AOTA Continuing Education Courses

Self-Paced Clinical Courses Early Childhood: Occupational Therapy Services for Children Birth to Five Mental Health Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention With Children and Youth: A Guiding Framework for Occupational Therapy Collaborating for Student Success: A Guide for School-Based Occupational Therapy Online Courses Autism and Related Disabilities: Considerations for Occupational Therapy in the School Setting Understanding the Assistive Technology Process to Promote School-Based Occupation Outcomes Elective Session 2: Occupational Therapy for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities Under IDEA 2004, Part C Contemporary Issues and Trends in School-Based Practice (Session 5) Sensory Processing Disorders: Their Effects on Learning, Behavior, and Motor Control CEonCDs™ Autism Topics Part I: Relationship Building, Evaluation Strategies, and Sensory Integration and Praxis Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Life After IDEA Response to Intervention (RtI) for At Risk Learners: Advocating for Occupational Therapy’s Role in General Education Sensory Processing Concepts and Applications in Practice Staying Updated in School-Based Practice Creating Successful Transitions to Community Mobility Independence for Adolescents: Addressing the Needs of Students With Cognitive, Social, and Behavioral Limitations Driving Assessment and Training Techniques: Addressing the Needs of Students With Cognitive and Social Limitations Behind the Wheel Occupational Therapy and Transition Services The New IDEA Regulations: What Do They Mean to Your School-Based and EI Practice AOTA Webcasts Social Participation and Communication Strategies for Individuals With Autism Across the Lifespan AOTA and You: Working Together to Promote the Policy and Practice of Occupational Therapy for Persons With Autism Evidence-Based Review of Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders You Say “Deficit,” I Say “Defines Me”: Daring to Celebrate the Unique Contributions of People on the Autism Spectrum A Family Affair: The Voices of Parents and Individuals With Autism Professional Collaboration to Maximize Successful Participation Across the Lifespan Developing Evidence-Based Interventions in Early Childhood-Aged Children With an ASD Across Contexts Partnering With Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Challenges and Opportunities Emerging as Leaders in Autism Research and Practice Community Partnerships—Panel Presentation by Autism Society and Easter Seals CE Articles Sensory Modulation: A Neuroscience and Behavioral Overview Using Sensory Integration and Sensory-Based Occupational Therapy Interventions Across Pediatric Practice Settings Sensory Processing Evaluation and Intervention in Mental Health Response to Intervention & Early Intervening Services: Occupational Therapy Roles in General Education Neuroscience Foundations of Vestibular, Proprioceptive, and Tactile Sensory Strategies

AOTA Approved Provider Courses

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2011

• Questions and Answers: Lisa Crabtree, Director, Towson University's Center for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders
• The Sky's the Limit: Occupational Therapist Helps Develop Mock Flights for Kids With Autism
• Encounters With Dave: Occupational Therapy's Role With Adults With Autism
• Autism Is Lifelong: Community Integration of Adults on the Autism Spectrum
• Therapeutic Humor: Understanding Laughter's Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Benefits
• What About the Families?
• App Support: Mobile Software Applications for Individuals With Cognitive and Behavioral Challenges
• Electronic Slates: Tablets and Handheld Devices Help High Schoolers Transition

2010

• Making Inexpensive Deep Pressure Vests for Children Transitioning to College: Issues for Students With an Autism Spectrum Disorder
• The Role of Occupational Therapy in Transitions Throughout the Lifespan
• Parents’ Perspectives of Their Children With Autism: On Play, Accommodations, Home Environment, and Occupational Therapy Services
• Using Social Stories and Sensory Stories in Autism Intervention
• Parenting Sensory Processing Dysfunction
• The Role of Occupational Therapy in the Child Outcomes Process
• Emergent Literacy for Children With Disabilities

2009

• Autism Legislation Creates New Opportunities
• Evidence-Based Practice Resources: Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Providing OT Using SI Theory and Methods in School-Based Practice
• Rhyming Storybooks To Address Safety for Children With an ASD
• Using the Sensory Processing Measure (SPM) in Multiple Practice Areas

2008

• “When I Get Mad…”
• The Art of Written Expression Through Keyboarding
• Autism Policy Update
• State Legislatures Address Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Special Issue: Sensory Integration--March/April 2007

Articles

2012 How Sensory Experiences of Children With and Without Autism Affect Family Occupations 2011 Effects of a Father-Based In-Home Intervention on Perceived Stress and Family Dynamics in Parents of Children With Autism Early Intervention for Autism With a Parent-Delivered Qigong Massage Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial Effects of Therapy Cushions on Classroom Behaviors of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Effectiveness of Sensory Integration Interventions in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Study 2010  Effectiveness of Therapy Ball Chairs on Classroom Participation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders The Scope of Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals With an Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Life Course Relationship Between Context and Sensory Processing in Children With Autism Relationships Between Stereotyped Movements and Sensory Processing Disorders in Children With and Without Developmental or Sensory Disorders Exploring the Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Interventions, Other Than the Sensory Integration Approach, With Children and Adolescents Experiencing Difficulty Processing and Integrating Sensory Information 2009 Qigong Massage Treatment for Sensory and Self-Regulation Problems in Young Children With Autism: A Randomized Controlled Trial Parent Reports of Sensory Experiences of Preschool Children With and Without Autism: A Qualitative Study 2008 Sensory Processing and Classroom Emotional, Behavioral, and Educational Outcomes in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Out-of-School Participation Patterns in Children With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders You Can Know Me If You Listen: Sensory, Motor, and Communication Issues in a Nonverbal Person With Autism Outcomes of a Pilot Training Program in a Qigong Massage Intervention for Young Children With Autism Evidence-Based Review of Interventions for Autism Used in or of Relevance to Occupational Therapy 2007 Extreme Sensory Modulation Behaviors in Toddlers With Autism Spectrum Disorders Immediate Effect of Ayres's Sensory Integration-Based Occupational Therapy Intervention With Autism Spectrum Disorders Sensory Processing in Children With and Without Autism: A Comparative Study Using the Short Sensory Profile

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2011

• Research Brief: Sensory Responsiveness and Problem Sleep Behaviors in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

2010

• Skills for Life: Promoting Social Participation in Preteens and Teens With Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Growing Up With Sensory Processing Challenges
• Parenting a Child With Sensory Integration Challenges
• The Importance of Mentoring for the Professional Involvement of Therapists Specializing in Ayres Sensory Integration®

2008

• Creating Participation Opportunities at a Camp for Children With Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Use of the Lifestyle Performance and Autism Model in a Group for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

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• Autism: A Comprehensive Occupational Therapy Approach, 3rd Edition
• Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Children and Adolescents with Autism
• Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Children and Adolescents With Challenges in Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration
• Early Childhood: Occupational Therapy Services for Children Birth to Five (book only)
• Mental Health Promotion, Prevention, and Intervention With Children and Youth: A Guiding Framework for Occupational Therapy
• Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, 2nd Edition (GARS-2)
• Sensory Integration: A Compendium of Leading Scholarship
• Collaborating for Student Success: A Guide for School-Based Occupational Therapy
• Occupational Therapy Services for Children and Youth Under IDEA, 3rd Edition
• The New IDEA: An Occupational Therapy Toolkit, 2008 Edition
• Practical Considerations for School-Based Occupational Therapists
• Taking Care of Myself: A Healthy Hygiene, Puberty, and Personal Curriculum for Young People With Autism
• Play in Occupational Therapy for Children, 2nd Edition
• Activity Analysis, Creativity, and Playfulness in Pediatric Occupational Therapy: Making Play Just Right
• Working With Children and Adolescents: A Guide for the Occupational Therapy Assistant
• The Fine Motor Olympics Activities Set
• Low-Tech Assistive Devices: A Handbook for the School Setting
• Peabody Developmental Motor Scales --2 (Complete Kit)
• Test of Handwriting Skills—Revised
• Every Child Wants to Play: Simple and Effective Strategies for Teaching Social Skills
• Sensory Processing Measure (SPM)—Comprehensive Kit
• Is It Sensory or Is It Behavior? (Manual and Cards)
• Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children With Sensory Processing Disorder
• Applying Sensory Integration Principles Where Children Live, Learn, and Play (DVD)
• Sensory Secrets: How to Jump-Start Learning in Children
• Sensory Integration Tools for Students: Tool Chest Activities for Home and School
• Sensory Integration Tools for Teens: Strategies to Promote Sensory Processing
• The Tool Chest: For Teachers, Parents, and Students
• Tools for Parents: Bringing Sensory Integration Into the Home
• Tools for Teachers: Sensory Integration in the Schools
• Tools for Tots: Sensory Strategies for Toddlers and Preschoolers

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Group

• Autism Spectrum Disorders group on OT Connections

Forums

• Developmental Disabilities SIS forum
• Early Intervention and School SIS forum
• Sensory Integration SIS forum

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Press Releases

• Press Release: Occupational therapy practitioners identify early signs of autism spectrum disorder, help families participate in daily routines
• Press Release: Study: Parent interviews may provide key information about autism

Podcast

• Podcast: Autism

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Understanding Autism

• Tip Sheet: Understanding Autism
• Fact Sheet: Occupational Therapy's Role with Autism
• Fact Sheet: Occupational Therapy and School Mental Health
• Addressing Sensory Integration Across the Lifespan Through Occupational Therapy
• Occupational Therapy for Children: Birth to 5 Years of Age
• Tips for Educators: Help Students with Autism Achieve Greater Success in Academic Performance and Social Participation

Articles

• Supporting Parents of Children With Autism: The Role of Occupational Therapy
• Creating Evidence: Sensory Integration and Children With Autism
• Demonstrating the Value of OT for Children With Autism

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• The most recent research from the ADDM finds that 1 in every 110 eight-year old children were diagnosable for an ASD.
• Researchers Tie Gene Variations to Alteration in Brain Network
• Easter Seals Living with Autism Study
• Evidence-Based Review of Interventions for Autism Used in or of Relevance to Occupational Therapy
• AOTA Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Comments

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• AOTA Response to the National Standards Report of the National Autism Center (November 12, 2009)
• Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals with Autism – Enacted State Legislation
• Comment on Draft IACC Strategic Plan for ASD Research (September 9, 2008)
• Research Priorities for the IACC Strategic Plan for ASD (January 4, 2008)

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(listed alphabetically)

• American Foundation™ for the Blind
• Asperger and Autism Information by MAAP Services
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
• Autism Research Institute
• Autism Society of America
• Autism Speaks
• Autism Treatment Network
• CDC Autism Information Center
• Cure Autism Now
• Easter Seals
• IAN Network
• IDEA Partnership Community on Autism
• Maternal and Child Health Library on ASD OCALI/NATTAP
• National Autism Association
• OCALI
• Organization for Autism Research
• Research Autism
• The Autism Self-Advocacy Network

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• IDEA Partnership Collection on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  

  The IDEA Partnership is an affiliation of 55 national organizations united by common interests and joined in shared work. Together, the partners develop ‘bridging tools’ to help their constituents translate research and policy into practice. A Partnership Collection is one of these bridging tools. The purpose of a Partnership Collection is to enable and encourage the use of current research on a topic of importance to the field of education. The Partnership Collection on ASD was developed through the work of 12 national organizations, nine national and state technical assistance providers, and a number of state and local organizations and agencies. You can access the Collection on ASD here.

• Healthy Smiles for Autism (free oral hygiene guide)

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