One in 44 children have been identified with autism spectrum disorder according to an analysis of 2018 data published by the CDC. It is often diagnosed by age 3. ASD diagnostic features include marked impairments in social interaction and communication skills as well as restricted behaviors and interests.
Our experience has highlighted - as has the research - the tremendous potential of children with autism. With appropriate intervention, it is amazing what can be accomplished. Each child has unique needs and potential. Through collaboration with the family and intensive early treatment, children will achieve wonderful success.
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In 1943, Leo Kanner differentiated autism from childhood schizophrenia. In the 1970s, Bernard Rimland challenged the idea that autism was psychological, asserting that it was neuro-biological.
In 1966, the behavior analysis approach was first used in the treatment of autism by Dr. Ivar Lovaas of UCLA. In 1987, he published a study documenting the success of this treatment, finding that 47 percent (9 out of 19) of the children who received 40 hours of intervention per week were able to enter typical schools and complete first grade successfully.
Other Key Names in the Field:
Autism is diagnosed based on behavior theory, which lends itself to a focus in treatment and intervention.
As outlined in the DSM-5, the Autism diagnostic criteria is marked by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
The symptoms of autism are discussed in terms of behavior excess and deficits. Children with autism do not usually display deficits in visual or auditory memory, motor development, or physical appearance.
Behavioral Excesses
Behavioral Deficits
Celebrating the success of individuals with autism and pervasive developmental disabilities.
Whether it's a small measure on a graph, goals that have been reached, or great personal achievements, the hard work of individuals with autism is an inspiration to their peers, educators, and the community at large.
Musical savant pianist who has mastered over 10,000 pieces (including hundreds of original compositions). She is blind and has autism.
http://www.brittanymaiermusic.com
One of the best savant jazz musicians in the United States, he plays 18 to 20 instruments. He was born blind and with autism.
http://www.tonydeblois.com
This extraordinary blind British musician plays by ear and has memorized thousands of pieces. He discovered his gift at age 4, when he pushed a girl off the piano and began playing in her place. He is officially considered a true autistic savant—one of only 100 in the world today. He requires assistance in all daily skills.
This blind American musician played piano and gave many concerts. He was featured on many TV shows due to his gift for music. He was adopted by a nurse named May Lemke. Born prematurely, Leslie could not swallow his food without assistance until he was 1 year old. By age 7, he started to show progress. He first stood at age 12 and walked at age 15. He began playing the piano at age 14 after hearing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto no.1. Leslie toured the United States, Scandinavia, and Japan.
This American autistic jazz prodigy learned to read by age 18 months. He was diagnosed with PDD at age 3. By age 6, he had taught himself to read music and play the piano. He has perfect pitch and has released several jazz albums. He has received many awards and been featured on many shows.
This artist from Seattle, Washington, speaks several languages and can play just about every instrument he picks up. He is best known for his visual lists, which consist of everything from bugs to Italian roosters, buildings, emergencies, and flags. His work has been published in Princeton Architectural Press’s Blackstock's Collections: Drawings of an Autistic Savant.
According to an article featured in the Oprah Magazine, “the disability becomes invisible when looking at Justin’s artwork”. His art is his language and expression. He has had many gallery showings. His life has been described in two recent documentaries, ‘Autism, a Different Way of Communicating’ and ‘Sidecars.’
http://www.justinart.com
Susan began drawing at the age of 5. She paints eclectic portraits and landscapes from memory. She has attended the Pure Vision Arts studio in New York City. She currently lives in New York with her mother.
This Scottish painter drew with a unique medium of wax oil and crayons. He was born with autism and was legally blind. He didn’t functionally communicate until he was 11. His work is beautiful and unique—even the Pope owns one of his paintings.
http://www.wawro.net
This American sculptor and autistic savant creates highly detailed, very precise, and spirited sculptures of animals. He makes these amazing sculptures at very fast rates. He has had many gallery showings.
http://www.colorado.edu/finearts/rivera/disability/artists/alonzo_clemons/alonzo_frame_set.html
Seth paints to describe his world of color and fantasy. He lives in Ohio with his mother.
http://www.sethchwastart.com
Amanda has painting since she was 5. Art is her favorite form of expression. She also loves to sing to inspire and bring hope to others. She has become a voice in her speeches about the “world of autism.”
http://www.amandalamunyon.com
Jonathan began painting at age 10. His charcoal drawings capture pure expression in the images of faces. He was diagnosed at the age of 2 and lives with his mother in New York. His artwork is his livelihood.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Lerman
This artist from Massachusetts has become nationally recognized for her magnificent pop-art architectural paintings.
http://folkart.org/mag/jessica-park
This Iranian artist lives in France. He is unable to speak, walk, or feed himself, yet he captures amazing silhouettes and images in his oil paintings. His teachers and mother have encouraged him to develop his gift.
http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/christophe.pillault/index.jhtml
Stephen is a spectacular artist who, from memory, can draw with incredible details in his panoramic city views. His work has received international appreciation. In January 2006 Stephen was named by Queen Elizabeth II as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to the art world; no specific mention of his disability was made in the citation. He has a permanent gallery at the Royal Opera Arcade, London. He did not speak until the age of 9.
http://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk
This artist from Malaysia paints with various media and has unique style that has received international recognition. He had difficulty with fine motor skills and was home schooled. His skills were developed as his gifts for art were fostered. He currently lives in Australia.
http://www.pinglian.com
For more information on autism and artists, please visit: http://www.artnet.com/magazine/features/karlins/karlins1-21-05.asp#2
Kim is an American savant with reading and mathematical giftedness. He has a photographic memory and was the inspiration for the character of Raymond Babbit in the movie “Rain Man.”
This British savant is gifted in mathematics and natural language learning. He can perform complex mathematical calculations at incredible speeds. He also speaks seven langauges.
This American professor at Colorado State University is a professional designer of humane slaughterhouses. She was diagnosed with brain damage at age 2 and began talking at age 4. She was re-diagnosed with Asperger syndrome several years later. She invented the “Squeeze Machine,” which delivers a controlled amount of deep pressure to her body as a form of therapy. She has given many talks on living with autism and sensory integration disorders.
http://www.templegrandin.com
Jerry has a BA in Mathematics from the University of Michigan. He performs intricate and complex mathematical calculations entirely in his head. He was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome in 1995. Jerry and his wife have written many books and speak internationally about Asperger. Their love story was the basis for the movie “Mozart and the Whale.”
http://www.jerrynewport.com
This Hungarian autistic savant is a highly accomplished poet and writer. She is also an artist. She has written several books about living with autism. She had high levels of echolalia at 9 months (non-communicative repetitive speech). She struggled in school, but discovered her potential in music and art classes.
An Australian-born artist, poet, singer-songwriter, screenwriter, and sculpture, Donna has written several books, including her autobiography Nobody No Where: The Extraordinary Autobiography of an Autistic Girl. It became an international bestseller and spent 15 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. It was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Prize for Literacy in 1992. She was diagnosed as psychotic as an infant and finally with autism at the age of 2. Her functional speech developed at age 9.
http://www.donnawilliams.net
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