Autism through the lifespan and success:
Some observations on helping those with autism lead fulfilling and productive lives
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DR STEPHEN SHORE, U.S.A.:
Autism through the lifespan and success: Some observations on helping those with autism lead fulfilling and productive lives |
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Stephen Shore is an internationally renowned author, speaker, consultant and researcher on autistic spectrum issues. Starting with an autobiography, he moved on to collect the different strategies of adults on the spectrum in "Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum". The variety of issues he has explored is exceptionally broad, ranging from things like using music to support development of communication in children to adult life issues, such as employment and relationships, and to neurological research exploring some core features of autism. The research leading to his recent doctoral dissertation, titled "Examining Five Promising Methodologies for Working with Children on the Autism Spectrum", took an exceptional and much needed approach to early intervention in that it aimed to determine which method suits which child, instead of attempting to prove or disprove any single method.
Stephen Shore is a member of the Board of Directors of the Autism Society of America, and the board president of the Asperger's Association of New England. more information at http://www.autismasperger.net/index.htm |
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DR DINAH MURRAY, U.K.:
Using Information Technology with all ages: The Reactive Colours software and the Maximising Capacity campaign |
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Dinah Murray does practical work, research, writing, teaching and political campaigning connected to autism spectrum issues. As a person-centred planning consultant based in London, she has years of hands on experience in working with people who have autism spectrum diagnoses, mainly adults. As a tutor for the University of Birmingham autism courses, she instructs professionals in the latest methods and theories on the autism front. In her publications, Dinah has challenged many prevailing theories, introducing novel ideas on the use of computers, on the characteristics of attention in the autism spectrum - introducing the idea of “monotropism” - and on creativity. As one practical result of all this, she is now involved with introducing the Reactive Colours educational software to schools. Dinah's political campaigning has included a key role in a successful campaign to affect UK legislation to prevent misuse of neuroleptic medication, and a current campaign make IT available for autism spectrum adults on disability benefits - Maximising Capacity.
Dinah Murray's latest works include a book, to be published during spring 2005, called “Coming Out Asperger: diagnosis, self-disclosure and self-confidence”, and a critique of the current diagnostic criteria, to be published in the Autism journal, co-written with Wendy Lawson and Mike Lesser. more information at http://www.autismandcomputing.org.uk/ |
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JUHANI VALLIKARI, Finland:
The Self-Help Project: Practical means to develop everyday life management, social activities and identity work |
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Juhani Vallikari is lives in Tampere, Finland, and is diagnosed with AS. He has planned the Asperger Self-Help project,
and done the main part of the work in it. The project started in 2002, and will end with the Autistic Spectrum Insights conference.
Juhani Vallikari had already worked on the subject for a couple of years, of his own initiative and on his own time, before
obtaining funding for his project. The models he has developed are based on long-term practical experience of peer support
and of planning activities, and they are set in the broader constext of social psychological theory, which he has studied alongside
with his work.
Within the project Juhani Vallikari has developed methods to support people in three areas that are problematic for the
Asperger adult: in managing everyday life, in social activities and in identity work. In all these core areas, the aim is to increase
the person's understanding and level of knowledge, and to provide the means for the person to use these in guiding his or her
own action. In this way, slow but lasting improvement can be attained.
In developing everyday life management, the aim is to help the AS person to structure things independently, either on paper
or just mentally. In the area of social activity, the emphasis is on developing the skills of social observation, and learning social
codes. In identity work, the main focus is on developing opportunities for identifying with others and social connectedness.
As a tangible result of the project, a 'Guide to Everyday Life Management' was published at the beginning of 2005.
This will soon be followed by publications that cover the other core parts of the project. In addition, Juhani Vallikari has
participated closely in developing state-supported 'sopeutumisvalmennus' or ('adjustment training') courses for adults,
working as a tutor and lecturer on such courses, and contributing to their design. He has also been a central force in
getting peer support groups running and developing a Finnish model of peer support, having initiated one group himself,
and advised others in how to run group activities.
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PIA JOHANSSON and HANNA DANMO, Sweden:
The Empowerment Project |
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Sweden's national autism society, Riksföreningen Autism, has conducted a three-year project to increase the participation of autistic spectrum adults in the society, and to improve their motivation and general life management. The project ran from October 2001 to October 2004, and it is unique in the world in its scale and accomplishments. Starting from Gunilla Gerland's initiative to set up a working group to plan a project, and building on the previous accomplishments of the former Society AS/HFA, the project involved adults with autism spectrum diagnoses in key roles throughout. Concrete results of the project are, among other things, a network of support groups; an advisory council of autistic spectrum adults keeping in touch with these and the society Board, passing information both ways; an “Empowerment paper” that handles issues relevant to AS/HFA adults, published in several hundred copies. Hanna Danmo (above on the right), who has Asperger syndrome herself, is trained as an instructor on autism issues. She has been one of the project leaders for the Empowerment Project. For several years she has been leading meeting groups for adults on the autism spectrum. She has previosuly been on the board of Riksföreningen Autism, and she is currently employed by the same association. Pia Johansson received her AS-diagnos at the age of 47. She has been working as the coordinator of the Swedish Empowerment council since April 2005. Pia has a master's degree in social sciences, and extensive work experience from different related areas. Among other things, she has worked as an assistant nurse in a mental hospital and as a teacher, and she has participated in doing research on rehabilitation of people with disabilities. more information at http://empowerment.autism.se/
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DAVID ANDREWS, Finland:
Autistic spectrum adults and higher education: Equality, accessibility and effective support measures |
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David Andrews has faced negative experiences with the Finnish system of higher education, both first-hand and through case studies he has encountered in the course of his own studies.
Areas of specific interest for David are mental health aspects connected to the autistic spectrum, the social psychology of the autistic spectrum, and adjusting and applying psychometric methods for accurate educational assessment. more information at http://dna1fi.tripod.com/intropage/ |
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WENDY LAWSON, Bss, Bsw(hons) Australia:
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploring the influence of neurologically typical development and that of development in individuals with autism; it's impact upon learning styles and related parental distress. |
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Wendy Lawson has a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder. She is a mother of three, and one of her sons also has a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome. Wendy is one of the most popular autistic speakers and writers in the world today, touring several countries each year. In her presentations she combines training in psychology with unique life experience and a personal, emotional style of expression that make her enjoyable and accessible to a wide range of listeners. Wendy Lawson has written four books. The latest one, published in the spring 2005, handles sexuality and the autistic spectrum. more information at http://www.mugsy.org/wendy/index2.htm |