Central Florida Autism Institute P.O. Box 2237 Lakeland, FL 33806 863 680-1396 Home     Upcoming Events     What Can Be Done - How You Can Help ABA - Applied Behavior Analysis     Camps, Recreation, Leisure Other Resource Links     Who We Are     Music     Contact Who We Are : Central Florida Autism Institute (CFAI) is a non-profit grass roots organization started by families of children with autism and by concerned professionals. Together we desire simple options of dignity for our children with autism. We use the term "options" when we proclaim rights for people with disabilities. We believe they have the right to live their lives with dignity, growth, and development within their own communities... rights jointly claimed by all citizens. The occurrence rate of Autism places it as the third most common developmental disability, more common than Down Syndrome, affecting approximately 1 in 150 individuals each year. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. Autism is a result of a neurological disorder which interferes with the normal development of the brain. Typically, those affected exhibit deficiencies in language, social interaction, and play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others or become participating members of their community. Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurrence. Diagnosing and Evaluating : Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), such as Asperger's syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, PDD-NOS, Rett's syndrome and other neurological disabilities are difficult to diagnose. It is even more difficult in children where speech and reasoning skills are still developing. A variety of tests, assessments, and evaluations should be administered. There is no specific set of medical tests that will confirm ASD. Therapy : Individuals with ASD require some form of therapy such as Behavior Interventions [Behavior Modification, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Intensive Behavior Intervention (IBI), Positive Behavior Supports (PBS)]; Biomedical Interventions [Gluten Free/Casiene Free Diet (GFCF), Nutritional Supplements]; Medications; Sensory Integration; Auditory Integration Therapy; Fast Forward; Speech and Language Therapies; Occupational Therapies, and Physical Therapies. Medical Testing : Medical tests look for a physical cause of a disability. Autism is not yet identified as a physical problem. Therefore, medical professionals who use a holistic approach to evaluating and treating your child should be used. They should look at physical, communication, behavior, and environment. Failure to consider the whole child has resulted in misdiagnosis or late diagnosis. What Are We Doing? Via this website, we are providing an information and support network which families and professionals can access in order to make informed decisions about treatment options. Our focus is to educate lawmakers and the school system to effectively provide resources to enable our children with autism to live a life anyone would consider worthwhile. We will pursue information on a national level which will demonstrate best practices for inclusive education and collaborate with local educators to implement these successfully. We will establish a treatment clinic emphasizing Intensive Behavioral Intervention and expand our current intern program. Children with autism continue to be misdiagnosed or referred for diagnosis long after symptoms appear by medical practitioners with limited training or exposure to autism. In the past, those persons diagnosed with autism were confined in large, impersonal institutions located far from their communities. Intensive Behavior Intervention (IBI) has proven to positively change many of the autistic behaviors. Children with autism are typically segregated from their peers in educational and social settings. Support and information for families of children with autism children is fragmented and inconsistent. Families need help. ABA4Autism.com and the Psychology Department at the University of Tennessee at Martin are conducting a second survey on the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This survey is for mothers of children with ASD as well as mothers of normally developing children who are ten years of age or younger. Mothers who participate in the survey will receive a free ABA program to teach their child to follow directions as well as free ABA mini programs for common problems like sharing. To take the survey please go to: http://www.aba4autism.com Dr.Gary Brown, Professor and Chair, Psychologist/HSP Mailing List Contact CFAII.org Central Florida Autism Institute P.O. Box 2237 Lakeland, FL 33806 863 680-1396 Dar's By Design