Autism Glossary The following terms will be introduced to you and your family if you are just beginning on this journey. Do not feel you have to memorize each one. With time, they will become part of your "journey lingo" when talking with your child's pediatrician, therapist, teacher, family members, or other parents.

ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR (AB) The capability to familarize oneself with new environments, people, and things while learning routines which allow coping with those new situations.

ADAPTIVE DEVELOPMENT How a child grows in behavioral skills as compared to other children of the same age. Among the benchmarks are dressing and feeding oneself, toilet training, social interaction with other children, responding to potentially dangerous situations, and behaving when unattended by adults.

ADVOCATE Individual who promotes or reforms a cause that benefits an individual or groups, as in educational advocate.

APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) A treatment methodology pioneered by Dr. Lovaas and based on theories of operant conditioning by B.F. Skinner. ABA is supported by more scientific research than any other treatment for ASDs. ABA uses different procedures to teach new skill to children. The best-known one called Discrete Trail Training, breaks down tasks into small teachable steps that children can learn more easily. ABA uses a reward system to motivate and reinforce children while they are learning new skills behaviors.

AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION Alternative methods of communication for those who are unable to communicate verbally Tactics range from low-tech systems (e.g., sign language or pictures) to high-tech, systems (e.g. voice output devices).

AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDERS Encompasses the following five disorders as defined in the DSM-!V-TR; Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett's Disorder, and Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified

BASELINE The congenital level of functioning by a child before instruction is introduced.

BEHAVIOR An individual's personal set of actions and responses to the environment. These external movements are influenced by internal factors such as understanding, feelings, and emotions.

BEST PRACTICE Strategies that reliably lead to a desired result or outcome, as confirmed through experience, research and evaluation. The set of strategies that utilize the best practices, knowledge, and technology to ensure success.

CHILDHOOD AUTISM RATING SCALE (CARS) A test developed as TEACCH to diagnose autism.. The child is rated in fifteen areas of ability, resulting in an assessment of nonautistic, autistic, or severely autistic.

COGNITION The ability to acknowledge and understand the environment.

COGNITIVTE Describes the process used for the tasks of remembering, reasoning, understanding , and using judgment, in special education, a cognitive disability refers to difficulty in learning.

COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION A complete assessment of a child, based on his psychological, educational, social, and health status. Usually conducted by a team of professionals and complemented by information from parents and teachers.

DIAGNOSIS The name of the disorder identified after an evaluation.

ECHOLALIA A condition in which an individual repeats words or phrases previously heard. Delayed echolalia can occur days or weeks after initially hearing the word or phrase.