All About Autism

Yesterday was Autism Awareness Day, observed annually to spread awareness about autism and eliminate the stigma associated with the autism spectrum disorder. The theme of the 2024 World Autism Day is Empowering Autistic Voices. This theme aims to provide greater support and empowerment for individuals with autism and their families. It also helps celebrate the unique contributions of people with autism.  

 As we celebrate April is Autism month, we can look back and see how far we have come since it was first recognized as a distinct disorder in the 1940’ s.  The 1950’s saw few if any services for children with autism.   The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed in 1975, but autism was not included as a distinct disability category.  Autism began to be recognized as a disability by governments and organizations during the 1980’s. When the IDEA was reauthorized in 1990, for the first time, children with autism became eligible to receive special education services and accommodations in schools.   

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of autism in the United States has risen from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 children in 2023. There are several factors that may contribute to this increase, including increased awareness and improved diagnostic methods. Additionally, changes in diagnostic criteria and the inclusion of milder cases of autism spectrum disorder may also play a role.  Early Intervention services are available for toddlers and preschool students diagnosed with autism, but we have seen decreases in the number of children identified since COVID.  Yet, the earlier diagnosis allows for initiation of services and support which are critical at a young age.  Looking at children 5-22 years of age, 14 percent of the public-school students are receiving special education and 12 percent of those students have an autism diagnosis.    

What happens when you reach adulthood?  

It is estimated that around half of adults with autism are employed. Of those, many have only part-time jobs or are doing work for which they’re overqualified. There are also many people working as volunteers or in programs outside the mainstream.  Others are on waiting lists for adult day programs.  

So, what can we expect, hopefully, as we look to the future?  

• Earlier identification of children on the autism spectrum.  Increased numbers of children under 5 years have been identified which allows for earlier intervention and treatment. 

• Best practices in educating children with autism will be further established through research.  

• Increased employment opportunities and adult day programs with higher reimbursement for services.  

• Expansion of alternate living arrangements.  

Together we must work to ensure that the theme of Autism 2024 becomes a reality. 

As a parent of a child with autism, I truly believe that Erie, Pa. is the very best community in which to live because of the wealth of services and the acceptance that the community has for children and adults with autism and disabilities.  

I recently saw a headline in the Epoch Times, which read “A new type of autism threatens American children” and I immediately thought, that is interesting.  Something new in the research?  So, I decided to review the article and see what I could find out. Marius Teodor Zamfir, a Romanian psychologist, has conceived the term “virtual autism” based on a study of children birth to 3 who spent more than 4 hours daily fixated on screens and then experienced profound states of sensory motor and socio-affective deprivation.  

This condition then triggered behaviors and characteristics resembling those in children diagnosed with autism.  Mr. Zamfir believes that the nervous systems of babies and toddlers are not equipped to deal with the overstimulation from screens.  Mr. Zamfir does note that “although there is no medical diagnosis for virtual autism at this moment,” he hopes that this will change soon. 

So, although this is not a medical diagnosis, it does highlight the potential negative impact of prolonged screen exposure on toddlers’ development. My takeaways form this study are: 

Limiting screen time for children under 3 is critical.

Encourage other activities that promote social engagement, physical movement, and outdoor play.

Technology does play an essential role in all our lives, but ensuring healthy screen habits for all, whether children or adults, is essential. 

I meant to post this blog entry the week of March 4 during Read Across Ameria Week, but I was working to re-establish the website domain. Thank you for your patience during this time!

Read Across America Week, which was celebrated from March 2 to 6, is dedicated to promoting reading and educating people about its benefits, especially among children and young adults. We began the Read Across America celebration in 1998 when The National Education Association launched Read Across America as a year-round program. We also celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. It is amazing to think that he authored over 60 popular children’s books, selling more than 600 million copies.  

I started reading to Ryan as a newborn…and we still read together today. Looking back, we had many favorites: Good Night Moon, I Love You as Much and then he started reading The Bob books when he was three.  Today he reads to the preschool children in Happy Hearts two days a week.  He will tell you that this is his favorite activity!  

 Reading is crucial for children’s development and well-being. Therre are many reasons but some of the most important include: 

Reading is good for the brain. It helps with imagination, memory, and learning new things. For kids, it introduces them to new ideas, words, and concepts.

Regular reading helps kids develop language skills. They learn new words, how to make sentences, and how to communicate.

Proficient readers do better in school because reading comprehension is important for understanding textbooks, instructions, and assignments.

Books for kids show different kinds of people and situations. This helps kids learn to understand and care about others and have a wider view of the world.

Shared reading with parents or caregivers strengthens bonds and brings comfort.

So, I encourage you to pick up a book, read to a child and open the child to a whole new world! 

A huge thank you to all of our guest readers! If you would like to read at the Barber National Institute next year for Read Across America, just send me an email. 

Are you reading to a child this week? Read Across America Week, celebrated from March 2 to 6, is dedicated to promoting reading and educating people about its benefits, especially among children and young adults. We began the Read Across America celebration in 1998 when The National Education Association launched Read Across America as a year-round program. We also celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. It is amazing to think that he authored over 60 popular children’s books, selling more than 600 million copies.  

I started reading to Ryan as a newborn…and we still read together today. Looking back, we had many favorites: Good Night Moon, I Love You as Much and then he started reading The Bob books when he was three. Today he reads to the preschool children in Happy Hearts two days a week. He will tell you that this is his favorite activity!  

Reading is crucial for children’s development and well-being. There are many reasons but some of the most important include: 

Reading enhances brain function, stimulates imagination, and improves memory. It exposes children to new ideas, vocabulary, and concepts. 

Regular reading helps children develop language skills. They learn new words, sentence structures, and communication patterns. 

Proficient readers perform better in school. Reading comprehension is essential for understanding textbooks, instructions, and assignments. 

Books introduce children to diverse characters and situations. This fosters empathy, compassion, and a broader worldview. 

Shared reading time with parents or caregivers strengthens relationships and provides comfort. 

So, I encourage you to pick up a book, read to a child and open the child to a whole new world! If you would like to read at the Barber National Institute next year for Read Across America, just send me an email. 

Many factors play into whether a student is successful in school. It is difficult if not impossible for a student who misses school to be successful as  teaching and learning continues  daily.   So, we are experiencing a national problem: chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism occurs  when a student misses a significant number of school days for any reason. The term significant is subject to interpretation, but chronic absenteeism is usually defined as missing at least 10 percent of the days in a year. Unfortunately,  in 2022, two out of three schools nationwide had high chronic absenteeism.  

While chronic absenteeism can and does occur at every grade level, it is most prevalent in high school. One thing is clear: chronic absenteeism jeopardizes both the short-term and long-term success of students academically and socially-emotionally. When students miss school, they lose valuable opportunities to reach critical milestones and develop future-ready skills.  

Some alarming statistics released by the U.S. Department of Education shed light on the fact that not all groups experience chronic absenteeism the same. For example, chronic absenteeism is 15% less likely among English learners than non-English learners. Also, American Indian and Pacific Islander students are over 50 percent more likely to miss three or more of school compared to their white peers. Black students are 40 percent more likely to miss school than white students, and Hispanic students are 17 percent more likely to miss school.  

Combating absenteeism often starts by identifying the root cause of absenteeism. Research has shown that children impacted by poverty are more likely to experience many challenges, including limited transportation, lack of safety, and poor health, which impacts their ability to be present in the classroom.  A strong foundation at home is often linked with an increased probability that students will succeed in school and develop adaptability into adulthood. There is not one solution but all of us as educators must face this issue head on and decrease absenteeism.  

Another area of research is virtual tutoring. Tutoring has been a service offered for many years in most schools. The new area that we are also learning about is virtual tutoring.  Virtual tutoring, especially high dosage tutoring places an emphasis on instruction for at least 20 minutes a day, four times a week. When done properly, virtual tutoring is as effective as in-person tutoring. The key is to ensure that both virtual tutoring and in-person tutoring remains rigorous and frequent, which should allow the student the maximum benefit.  

There is an increased number of students enrolled in special education programs. I thought about the reasons behind this trend.  Some data from the 21-22 school year found that 7.3 million students, or 14.7 % of all public-school students, are receiving special education which is at an all-time high since the passage of the Education for all Handicapped Children Act in 1977. At that time 8% of the overall student population were receiving special education.  Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which has been the name for the nation’s special education law since 1990, each of those students must have an Individualized Education Plan.  So, the obvious question is Why the increase? 

As I think back to the 70’s, we are much better now at diagnosing many conditions.  Autism was not known until the 1990s and was not an eligible category until 1990.  

1:36 children are currently identified on the spectrum so that you no doubt know a child with ASD. Today it accounts for 12% of all students on IEP’s.  

Another important consideration is that special education today does not carry the stigma that it did in the 1970’s.   Recall that in the 50’s and 60’s parents were told to institutionalize their child and there were no opportunities for schooling.   Today, the reduced stigma and increasing awareness has motivated many parents to seek help for their child if he/she has a learning disability or speech and language impairment. Learning disabilities account for 1/3 of all students with IEP’s or 2.3 million students. 

Another factor certainly is the emphasis on academics in the general education curriculum.  As we think about the pressure of assessment and of achievement on the various statewide tests, we see students struggling to perform. Yet, the intensive instruction that they might need cannot be found in the regular education classroom whether it is due to the number or diversity of students.

Does More students equal more funding? 

No. there are disparities in funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) among states. An analysis highlighted that while Congress promised “full funding” for IDEA (40 percent of excess costs for students with disabilities), the federal contribution in 2020 was just 13.2 percent.  

Moreover, the current funding formula has been found to generate substantial differences among states in the amount of federal funding available per child. For instance, in Fiscal Year 2020, Wyoming received about $2,826 for each child receiving special education, while Nevada received $1,384 per child according to Bookings, a leading institution for independent research on current issues impacting the world.  

States with larger shares of children eligible for special education receive, on average, fewer dollars per child than states with fewer such children. There are some obvious disparities that require attention.  

This is our call to action to our legislators is to increase funding for special education.  

I often share the significant research in the past year in the field of autism, but I decided today to focus on Education studies this past year. 2023 saw the U.S. surgeon general issue warnings about the dangers of the use of social media for developing brains.  There has been much discussion on a national level on how social media should be regulated.  Findings suggest that more frequent use of social media is linked to higher rates of mental distress, self-harming behaviors, and suicide among teenagers.  

So, what should we do?   The study suggest that families should engage in developmentally appropriate discussion about how to limit social media.  ChatGPT caused a huge furor when it was released as all of us thought about how it could be used to expand students’ learning and solve some of the cumbersome tasks in teaching.  So far, the analyses have yet to determine the most effective uses of ChatGPT. 

Interestingly, while the ChatGPT bot provides highly accurate information in areas like economics and critical thinking prompts, it was not able to do so in math and software testing.  The tool also provides out-of-date or incorrect information on various subjects as well as not provide the proper sources for its information.  Another area that has seen headlines is the move to decrease the school week to four days from five.  Currently 900 districts in the nation have implemented this schedule.  

Some of these districts are lengthening the school day to make up for the lost hours. However, this study found that teachers and students were exhausted by this longer day and that it did not “make up” for the lost full days.  Another study, which looked at the schools which provided the most instructional hours, found that over the span of twelve years the students actually received an additional two years of instruction. 

In a future blog post, I will look at the value of tutoring, chronic absenteeism, and family engagement. 

More to come….  

I recently received a newsletter from Dr. Chris Gray, Founding President of Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania. I was eager to read President Gray’s blog post centered on the importance of honoring Black History Month.  

In the blog, President Gray says, “Black History Month is vital to modern American society because it pays homage to the past while also serving as a catalyst for ongoing conversations about racial equality and justice as we all step forward into the future.”  Read President Gray’s full blog post.

I wholeheartedly agree with President Gray’s statement and firmly believe that it is critically important to recognize the exceptional contributions of so many Black Americans throughout history and understand where changes are still needed to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of society, from education to employment and housing and everywhere in between.  

We as a nation have witnessed both the challenges and triumphs of Black Americans, and we have a unique opportunity to look ourselves in the mirror and ask what we can do better to increase awareness of injustices and promote the much-needed progress needed to level the playing field. This goal extends far beyond just the month of February. It’s a continuous objective that we are all called to work toward collectively and as individuals.  

If history has taught us anything, it has reminded us that we have so many Black Americans among us who are visionaries, trailblazers, and change makers. History has also shown us the incredible resilience and perseverance of Black Americans. At the same time, we must face the reality that Black Americans face struggles we can’t ignore.  

In my first year of teaching in the Erie Public Schools, I met Ada Lawrence, a special educator and one of the first Black teachers and special education teachers in the Erie School District. She had been hired by my aunt, Dr. Gertrude Barber when she was Director of Special Education and Assistant Superintendent. Miss Lawrence and I were based at Wayne School. She was a great mentor! She spent her entire career teaching special education students in the Erie School District. She also was appointed to the Barber Center Board and served many years in that role. She was a trailblazer…as was Dr. Barber. 

Working together to make sure success is available to everyone is not only a request we should be making of ourselves, but also a commitment that will drive the changes we wish to see in the world.  

Did you know that 1.3 million men and women are on active duty serving in our military? There are 1.5 active-duty family members with 61% of them being children. If 1:36 children are being diagnosed with Autism, that tells us that there are thousands of children with a diagnosis of autism whose parent(s) are in the military.

Finding the appropriate resources for a child with autism can be daunting for any family, but military families face unique challenges. For example, deployment is not uncommon among military families. When a family member in the military is deployed, a military spouse may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of caring for a child with autism alone. Additional support and services are often needed to ensure both the child and parent receive the care they need. Children with autism may have issues with separation when a parent in the military is deployed.

Certainly, military families make great sacrifices to ensure our freedom and way of life. Helping military families impacted by autism starts with developing a greater awareness of their needs and developing a process by which they can be connected to the resources, professionals, treatment options, and coping strategies necessary to thrive.

I recently read about some excellent resources for these families, which is provided by the Organization for Autism Research.

Access the full resource guide using this link.

National School Choice Week 2024 begins on Sunday, January 21, and ends on Saturday, January 27. 

This will be the fourteenth annual celebration of National School Choice Week. The first celebration of National School Choice Week was in January 2011. 

Why do we celebrate School Choice Week? 

The goal of National School Choice Week is to raise awareness about the K-12 education options available to families in communities across the country. During the Week at the Elizabeth Lee Black School, we spotlight the many benefits of an education at our school for preschool and school aged students.  We choose to highlight the achievements and accomplishments of our students. 

The Week is held in January, as for many families this is the time when parents  start the process of selecting a school. If you are interested in understanding the educational options available in each type of school state-by-state, you will find them at  schoolchoiceweek.com/mystate. 

The educational landscape is ever evolving for children with special needs and typical children. The event hopefully offers responses to parents’ questions, helping them navigate and discover the most suitable school options for their children. 

We celebrate School Choice week at the Elizabeth Lee Black School by wearing our school color, green.  The children and staff were “decked” out in this color on Monday.  Let’s celebrate our school!