Autism Spectrum Disorder

When I first began studying delayed and disordered language acquisition, the terminology in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev.; DSM–III–R; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) was PDD, pervasive developmental disorders, which was an umbrella term for autism and Asperger syndrome.  In 1994, the DSM-4 (4th ed.; DSM–IV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) was published and Asperger syndrome was then a medical diagnosis of its own, apart from autism. In 2013, the DSM-5 (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) was published, and they returned to an umbrella term, ASD to cover autism, Asperger syndrome, HFA (high-functioning autism), and PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified).  

Indiana Resource Center for Autism has an exhaustive list of language characteristics associated with verbal persons with autism.  The drop-down lists under this category discuss only a few.

Touch Autism created an app called Autism Apps, which is a comprehensive list of apps  used with and by people diagnosed with autism, Down syndrome and other special needs.  One can look up apps by cost, or categories.

*One more resource for those working with or advocating for children with disabilities in the state of Minnesota is PACER Center- Champions for Children with Disabilities.  On their website is a link to a Facebook page where one can buy & sell special needs equipment. “Find equipment and assistive technology after its initial use. Items such as, communication devices, walkers, adaptive switches and toys, motorized cars (that can be adapted), adapted keyboards, etc.”

American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., revised). Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.