Teaching Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Respond to Unknown Questions

In a recent study, Ingvarsson and Hollobaugh effectively taught four children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to use the phrase “I don’t know, please tell me” in response to unknown questions. Though verbalizing the correct answer to a question is desirable, verbalizing this phrase in response to an unknown question may reduce anxiety towards unknown questions. Also, requesting unknown information provides children with ASD exposure to correct answers, which may transfer into knowledge of the answer.

Participants included four children with ASD. The participants had no prior knowledge of the phrase “I don’t know, please tell me” or the appropriate occasions to use this phrase. Training involved behavioral intervention, specifically prompting and reinforcement based on each child’s individual needs.

Two of the participants quickly learned the verbal response and were able to generalize the response across various questions. The other two participants required implementation of individualized behavioral techniques in order to learn and generalize the response.

The findings suggest that learning phrases like “I don’t know, please tell me” allows children with ASD to appropriately answer unknown questions and request unknown information, which in turn provides them exposure to correct answers.

References

Ingvarsson, E. T., & Hollobaugh, T. (2010). Acquisition of intraverbal behavior: Teaching children with autism to mand for answers to questions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43(1), 1 – 17.

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

Click Image to Enlarge
Visit official Gala site at:
www.centerforautism.com/gala

Larchmont 20th Anniversary Video.

The Larchmont 20th anniversary party was a great success! The C.A.R.D. family is growing so fast it's amazing. I can't wait for the next celebration in Austin Texas. Here are some of our favorite moments from Larchmont:

Exercise and Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders

By Marlena N. Smith

In a recent review, Lang et al. found physical exercise to be beneficial to persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Persons with ASD often display deficits in motor skills and are generally less likely to participate in physical activity than persons with typical development. Lang et al. reviewed research studies evaluating interventions used to increase physical activity in persons with ASD.

Eighteen research studies were reviewed on various factors such as the study’s participants, target exercise, training methods, and findings. The studies included a total of 64 participants, ages 3 to 41 years with a mean age of 12.5 years.

The majority of studies trained participants to run or jog. Other target activities included swimming, water aerobics, stationary bicycling, weight lifting, walking, roller-skating, and stretching. To train the desired exercise, the studies used behavioral intervention, specifically training procedures such as modeling, physical guidance, prompting, and reinforcement.

The findings suggested that physical activity improved behaviors in persons with ASD. Benefits included:

• Decreased self stimulatory behavior
• Reduced aggression
• Decreased self injurious behavior
• Improved academic performance
• Improved fitness, endurance, and strength
• Increased participation in physical activity

While fatigue may possibly account for some of the benefits (i.e., decreased self stimulatory behavior), it does not explain other gains (i.e., improved academic performance); therefore, tiredness following physical activity does not appear to be responsible for the benefits of exercise in persons with ASD.

Research suggests that persons with ASD benefit from physical exercise. Additionally, the benefits may go beyond obvious gains in physical health. Further efforts to explore the benefits of physical activity in persons with ASD and effective interventions are warranted.

References

Lang, R., Koegel, L. K., Ashbaugh, K., Regester, A., Ence, W., & Smith, W. (2010). Physical exercise and individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 565-576.

The Center for Autism to Host a Community-wide Festival in Austin, Texas this Saturday!

The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), the world’s largest organization effectively treating children with autism, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a Community Festival, this Saturday June 26th. The festival will be held at The Pavilion at Katherine Fleischer Park, located at 2106 Klattenhoff Drive, in Austin. The event will feature live entertainment by The Bass Line Bums, food, carnival games and much more!

The festival is from 11am – 3pm – click the image below for complete details!

JOIN CARD - RIDE AND STYLE - JULY 25 - WOODLAND HILLS, CA

Please join us for a fun day ....

168-hour Mario Gaming Marathon Sweeps Across the Digital Universe for Children with Autism.

A group of energetic, video game loving philanthropists who call themselves TheSpeedGamers (www.thespeedgamers.com) are at hour 115 of a 168-hour Mario-game marathon and are set to raise over $50,000 for ACT Today! (Autism Care and Treatment Today!). ACT Today! is a non profit organization with a mission to increase access to effective treatments for children with autism.

"These young gamers are absolutely amazing. Their generosity and passion combined is truly a testament to what a difference the younger generation is capable of making," says ACT Today!'s Executive Director Nancy Alspaugh-Jackson. This is the third marathon TheSpeedGamers have played to benefit ACT Today!. Last July, the gamers raised $50,735.00.

Just 115 hours into their week-long marathon, they have raised almost $20,000. Over 21,000 viewers from around the world are tuning in to watch real time action and make donations online.

“Gamers in general get a bad rap and are thought of as lazy and unproductive. This gaming marathon demonstrates that gamers have big hearts. Gaming is a passion all of us have, and playing for a great cause makes it all the more enjoyable, "says founder Britt LaRiviere.

TheSpeedGamers will end their week long fundraising campaign for ACT Today! on Friday at 6PM CST. However, the group will accept donations on behalf of ACT Today! online at www.thespeedgamers.com through Sunday, June 20, 2010.

For more information about ACT Today! and to make donations directly to the non-profit organization, visit www.act-today.org.

About TheSpeedGamers: TheSpeedGamers are based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas, but have members from around the world. Recent college graduate, Britt LaRiviere, founded the group in 2008. TheSpeedGamers have raised more than $150,000 for various causes such as autism, breast cancer, lupus, among others.

C.A.R.D. Virginia Office Celebration

The CARD Virginia office hosted its 20th anniversary celebration on May 22nd at the Bull Run Regional Park. Dr. Granpeesheh delivered the opening speech, along with Don Shipley, president of the Autism Society of Northern America.

The carnival-style celebration was loved by all! Everyone enjoyed the fun prize games, the inflatable moon bounces and slides, and the delicious food from Papa Johns and Chick-fil-a.
Thanks to the raffle prize donations from local businesses such as Starbucks and Family Dollar, we also raised funds for our charity organization, ACT Today!

A special thanks to all the people who helped to make this happen! Happy 20th CARD!

Act! Today Meets With Michelle Obama

Act Today! campaign director, Karen Driscoll, attended a meeting with Michelle Obama on healthcare services for children with disabilities in military families.
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/press/with-disabilities,1346407.html

Act Today! endeavors to raise 1 million dollars to fund behavioral intervention for children with autism in military families. To support this effort please vote at:
http://www.refresheverything.com/acttodayformilitaryfamilies

World Renowned Autism Expert Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh to Co-Host Ride and Style Family Festival on July 25 in Woodland Hills, California

World renowned autism expert / researcher Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD,BCBA-D will join the line up of celebrity hosts for this year's Ride and Style Family Festival on Sunday, July 25, 2010 in Woodland Hills, California. The event, presented by celebrity stylist Allen Edwards Salon & Spa, will be held from 11am – 6pm at 20855 Ventura Blvd, in Woodland Hills, California. Dr. Granpeesheh will be joined by co-hosts Dean McDermott of Oxygen Channels’s Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, Racecar Driver/Model Ashley van Dyke, and and Grant Reynolds of FOX Reality Channel’s "Househusbands of Hollywood."

Dr. Granpeesheh, who is also the founder and executive director of Ride and Style’s Title Sponsor, the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) says, "This event will not only help raise autism awareness in the community, but offer a lot of fun for everyone. I am proud that the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) can make this event possible.”

Ride and Style will feature top of the line exotic cars, custom motorbikes, vendors, food concessions, and live entertainment from musicians ZacPoor, Sidetracs and Arrest My Sister.

Celebrity Stylist Allen Edwards and his team of stylist will host a cut-a-thon during Ride and Style, inside of the Allen Edwards Salon & Spa. For $25, attendees will receive a cut, shampoo and blow dry. 100% of the proceeds will go to Autism Care and Treatment who will use the net proceeds to provide therapy, biomedical treatments, helmets, social skills groups and more to children with autism whose families can not afford the necessary tools for their child to reach their highest potential.

Ride and Style Event Sponsors include (as of June 14, 2010): The Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc., Sage Auto, State Farm Insurance, Chuckwalla Valley Racing, GMG Racing, The Auto Gallery, Amazing Memories, The Munky King, and The Gift Tree.

For more information on Ride and Style Family Festival, visit: www.rideandstyleforautism.net.

For more information about the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), visit: www.centerforautism.com.

Behavioral Intervention and Working Memory

By Marlena N. Smith

In a recent study, Lisa Baltruschat and other CARD research and development faculty found behavioral intervention to improve working memory in three children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Children with ASD often display deficits in areas of executive functioning including working memory, the ability to simultaneously store and process information. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of positive reinforcement to improve working memory in children with ASD.

Three children with ASD, ages 7-11 years, participated in the study. Working memory was assessed via counting span tasks; the participants were asked to count, memorize, and later recall the number of shapes illustrated on index cards. During the treatment phase, participants were given access to a highly preferred object for their correct responses. Corrective feedback was provided for the participants’ incorrect responses.

All participants demonstrated improved performances on the counting span tasks following the introduction of behavioral intervention. Furthermore, the participants demonstrated maintenance after the treatment was terminated and showed generalization to untrained stimuli and responses.

This was the first study to investigate the use of behavioral intervention to improve working memory in children with ASD. The results suggest that positive reinforcement may be effective in improving counting span task performance in children with ASD. Further research is needed to explore the use of behavioral intervention for other skills involving working memory and executive functioning.

References

Baltruschat, L., Hasselhorn, M., Tarbox, J., Dixon, D. R., Najdowski, A. C., Mullins, R. D., & Gould, E. R. (in press). Addressing working memory in children with autism through behavioral intervention. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2010.04.008

Speed Gamers Week Long Marathon Has Begun!

The Speed Gamers have started their week long Mario marathon for ACT Today (Autism Care and Treatment). June 11th-18 starting at 6pm cst they will be playing nearly 40 Mario titles live on their website, www.TheSpeedGamers.com. The gameplay will be streamed with video commentary as well as a chatroom so that viewers can interact with them and each other.

Concert In The Park Recap.

CARD New York held a free, community-wide concert at Playland Amusement Park in Rye, New York on Sunday, June 13th from 1:30pm – 4:30pm. The event was part of CARD’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The concert Grammy Winning Artist Freedom Williams, best known for his chart-topping songs with C & C Music Factory. Comedy Central’s Tony Roberts and CARD Founder and Executive Director Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh joined Comedian Tony Roberts of Comedy Central on stage as co-host.

CARD New York is one of 20 clinics worldwide that the Center for Autism and Related Disorders established to provide effective Applied Behavior Analysis-based therapy and parent training. "We've had great success with our clients and have even recovered many children from autism. These children go on to attend regular school, develop friendships, and lead happy lives," said Lo Curto. "This is what we are celebrating."

The CARD New York Concert is one of 20 events held around the globe, this year, to celebrate CARD’s 20th anniversary. For more information on CARD anniversary events across the globe, visit: www.centerforautism.com/card-anniversary.

Rye, New York Mayor Salutes World Leading Center for Autism and Related Disorders for 20 Years of Excellence in the Autism Community

By Daphne Plump

Rye, New York Mayor Douglas French recognizes the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) on its 20 years of leading the way in the successful treatment of autism. “Through the generous dedication, CARD maintains a reputation as one of the world’s largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism and related disorders,” says Mayor French.

CARD will host a free, community-wide family concert on Sunday, June 13 at Playland Amusement Park, located in Rye. The event will feature local high school performers, up and coming artists and will be headlined by Grammy Winning Artist Freedom Williams - who is best known for his chart topping songs with C & C Music Factory. World renowned autism expert and CARD Founder/ Executive Director Dr. Granpeesheh will serve as mistress of ceremony alongside Comedian Tony Roberts of Comedy Central. The concert will be held from 1:30pm-4:30pm.

One in 110 children is diagnosed with autism in America. . ”We want to bring awareness to autism, as well as celebrate the great strides our clients have made," says Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh. "We are thrilled that Freedom is helping us bring much needed autism awareness to the community."

“The city of Rye applauds Dr. Granpeesheh and wishes the organization continued success,” says Mayor Douglas French.

CARD New York is one of 20 clinics worldwide that the Center for Autism and Related Disorders established to provide effective Applied Behavior Analysis-based therapy and parent training. "We've had great success with our clients and have even recovered many children from autism. These children go on to attend regular school, develop friendships, and lead happy lives," said Lo Curto. "This is what we are celebrating."

The CARD New York Concert is one of 20 events held around the globe, this year, to celebrate CARD’s 20th anniversary. For more information on CARD anniversary events across the globe, visit: www.centerforautism.com/card-anniversary.

World Renown Autism Expert Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh to Host a Free, Community Concert in Rye, New York

World Renown Autism Expert Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh to Host a Free, Community Concert in Rye, New York
with Grammy Winning Artist “Freedom” this Sunday

World renowned autism expert Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh (gran-pee-shay) will host a free, community-wide concert at Playland Amusement Park in Rye, New York this Sunday, June 13th from 1:30pm – 4:30pm. The concert will feature Grammy Winning Artist Freedom Williams, best known for his chart-topping songs with C & C Music Factory. Comedy Central’s Tony Roberts and Dr. Granpeesheh will serve as masters of ceremony.

Dr. Granpeesheh is the founder and executive director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), the world’s largest organization effectively treating children with autism. ”We want to bring awareness to autism, as well as celebrate the great strides our clients have made," says Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh. "We are thrilled that Freedom is helping us bring much needed autism awareness to the community."

One in 110 children is diagnosed with autism in America. Grammy winner Freedom says, "With numbers like that, a lot of people most likely know someone with a child with autism. I hope my role in this community event will bring more awareness to autism. I'm honored to be a part of this exciting day."

CARD New York is one of 20 clinics worldwide that the Center for Autism and Related Disorders established to provide effective Applied Behavior Analysis-based therapy and parent training. "We've had great success with our clients and have even recovered many children from autism. These children go on to attend regular school, develop friendships, and lead happy lives," said Lo Curto. "This is what we are celebrating."

The CARD New York Concert is one of 20 events held around the globe, this year, to celebrate CARD’s 20th anniversary. For more information on CARD anniversary events across the globe, visit: www.centerforautism.com/card-anniversary.



About the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD):

CARD, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is among the world's largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism and related disorders. CARD has treated thousands of children around the world. Its services include (but not limited to): assessments, supervision, parent/teacher training and one-on-one applied behavioral therapy. For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com. For complete details about CARD hosted anniversary events around the world, visit www.centerforautism.com/card-anniversary.

CARD’s 20th Anniversary Celebration in Rochester

On June 4th, CARD’s Rochester location celebrated both CARD’s 20th anniversary and Autism Awareness Day at the Red Wings baseball game at Frontier Field.

Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, founder and executive director of CARD, and four of CARD’s clients threw the first pitches of the game. Red Wings players wore specially designed autism awareness jerseys, which were later signed by the players and auction off. The silent auction raised over $3,800 for Act Today!.


For one inning, Dr. Granpeesheh was invited to sit in the press box, where she commented on the game and provided spectators information about autism. The game received radio and television coverage, and Dr. Granpeesheh was interviewed by the local CBS and Fox networks.

In all, the event was a great success and we are delighted to have celebrated our 20th anniversary, and our 11 years of service in Rochester, with the local community!

Optimal Outcome in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Optimal Outcome in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
By: Marlena N. Smith, B.A.

In a recent study, Kelley, Naigles, and Fein found optimal outcome children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to perform at average levels on measures of adaptive functioning, problem behavior, and language and communication. There is a current debate regarding whether children with ASD can lose their diagnoses. To explore this topic, Kelley, Naigles, and Fein compared performances of optimal outcome children with ASD to performances of children with typical development and high functioning ASD.

Participants included 13 optimal outcome children. To be considered optimal outcome, the children must have been previously diagnosed with ASD. Additionally, they had to attend regular classes without an aide, receive minimal services, have average IQ scores, and have lost their ASD diagnosis as indicated by the school system. Fourteen children with high functioning ASD and 14 children with typical development also participated in the study. The participants were matched on gender, age, and non-verbal IQ.

The participants were evaluated using measures of adaptive functioning, problem behaviors, and language and communication. While the optimal outcome group’s performances did not always equal those of the typical development group, the optimal outcome group did score within the average range on all measures. In contrast, the high functioning ASD group demonstrated communication, pragmatic language, social, and behavioral deficits.

A couple distinguishing features were identified between the optimal outcome and high functioning ASD groups. The optimal outcome children were typically diagnosed with ASD earlier than the children with high functioning ASD. Moreover, the optimal outcome children were more likely to have received early intensive applied behavior analysis (ABA) treatment.

Continued efforts to explore optimal outcome in children with ASD are very important. Understanding the degree to which children with ASD can improve and the differences between optimal outcome children and other children with ASD is a step towards ensuring the greatest outcomes for all children with ASD.


References

Kelley, E., Naigles, L., Fein, D. (2010). An in-depth examination of optimal outcome children with a history of autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4, 526-538.

CNN Headline News

CNN Headline News – Local Edition interviews CARD’s Director of Operations, Tiffany O’Day, on upcoming Ride and Style event benefiting children with autism. O’Day will conduct the interview this afternoon with a broadcast to air throughout Southern California this month.

CARD is a proud sponsor of Ride and Style Family Festival. For more information about Ride and Style visit http://www.rideandstyleforautism.net.


CARD Director of Operations Tiffany O’Day and Actor Joe Mantegna at ACT Today’s 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament, May 2010.

Grammy Award Winning Artist "Freedom" Partners with Center for Autism and Related Disorders' New York Concert on June 13th

Freedom Williams will headline the CARD Concert

in Rye, New Yorkon June 13, 2010 at

Playland Amusement Park in Rye, New York

Grammy Winner Freedom Williams, best known for his chart-topping songs with C & C Music Factory, has announced he will join forces with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD), the world's largest organization effectively treating children with autism. Freedom will headline the CARD Concert on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at Playland Amusement Park in Rye, New York. The event will be co-hosted by autism expert and CARD Founder Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and Comedian Tony Roberts.

The free, community concert will be held from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.

"It's an exciting time for us and we want to celebrate, not only the great strides our clients have made, but bring awareness to the issue of autism," says CARD New York, Co-Managing Supervisor Frank Lo Curto, MS. "We are thrilled that Freedom is helping us bring autism awareness to the community."

Recent research conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 110 children is diagnosed with autism in America. "With numbers like that, a lot of people most likely know someone with a child with autism," says Freedom. "I hope my role in this community event will bring more awareness to autism. I'm honored to be a part of this exciting day."

CARD New York is one of 20 clinics worldwide that the Center for Autism and Related Disorders established to provide effective Applied Behavior Analysis-based therapy and parent training. "We've had great success with our clients and have even recovered many children from autism. These children go on to attend regular school, develop friendships, and lead happy lives," said Lo Curto. "We're also celebrating the Center for Autism and Related Disorders' 20th anniversary of leading the way in the successful treatment of autism."

Admission to the CARD Concert is free.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

The CARD New York Concert is one of 20 community-wide events held across the globe this year, in celebration of CARD's 20 years of service in the autism community.

For complete details about CARD hosted anniversary events around the world, visit: www.centerforautism.com/card-anniversary.

CARD, headquartered in Los Angeles, California, is among the world's largest and most experienced organizations effectively treating children with autism and related disorders. CARD operates 20 clinics worldwide. CARD has treated thousands of children around the world. Its services include (but are not limited to): assessments, supervision, parent/teacher training and one-on-one applied behavioral therapy. CARD was established in 1990 by Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA.

For more information about CARD, visit www.centerforautism.com.