Truth or Myth

1
Truth or Myth

• Following are a series of statements about
  autism. Decide if you think each statement is
  true or myth. Click on the question mark to see
  if you are correct.

2
People with autism dont have the same feelings
as people without disabilities.

• This is a myth. People with autism have the same
  feelings as everyone else. They may however,
  have difficulty identifying and expressing those
  feelings.

3
Autism is a developmental disability.

• This is true. Autism Spectrum Disorders encompass
  physical, cognitive, psychological, sensory, and
  speech impairments. It is the second most common
  developmental disorder.

4
Autism is contagious.

• This is a myth. Even though scientists are still
  trying to discover the cause of autism, they do
  know that it is not contagious.

5
All people with autism have the ability to learn.

• This is true. People with autism may learn in
  different ways and/or at a slower pace than other
  people do.

6
Persons with autism do not know what they want.

• This is a myth. People with autism often have
  cognitive, communication and social deficits that
  impact their ability to understand choice options
  and express their preferences.

7
People with autism do not want to be with their
peers.

• This is a myth. People with autism often like
  interacting with others and want to have
  friends. They may have difficulty knowing how to
  be a good friend and how to keep a friend, but
  with support and instruction can learn the
  necessary skills for successful interaction.

8
People who have autism should have the same
rights as others.

• This is always true.

9
A person with autism is born that way.

• This is true. Children with an Autism Spectrum
  Disorder will usually begin to show clear,
  identifiable symptoms by the age of 18 months.
  Many parents and experts detect symptoms before
  this time, however a formal diagnosis is
  typically made when the child exhibits a
  noticeable delay in developing language skills,
  most often between the ages of two and three.

10
Autism can be cured.

• This is a myth. There is no medical protocol for
  the treatment of autism. While behavioral
  interventions and educational approaches such as
  Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), are widely
  used to successfully mitigate symptoms, no one
  treatment has been recognized as a specific cure
  for autism spectrum disorders.

11
Autism is more common in boys than in girls.

• This is true. Autism is approximately four times
  more prevalent in boys than in girls.

12
People with autism usually dont live with their
families.

• This is a myth. Most children with autism live
  with their families just like typical kids.
  Adults with autism may live in a variety of
  settings that may include supervision for safety
  and assistance with activities of daily living.

13
In order to keep a job, being dependable and
getting along with others is more important than
I.Q.

• This is true. It doesnt matter how smart you
  are, if you do not show up for work and you cant
  get along with your co-workers, you will not keep
  your job for long.

14
Truth or Myth

• Thank you for increasing your knowledge about
  Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• Information taken from NAAR-The National Alliance
  for Autism Research.