Essay about Rising Above My Disability - 705 Words

I, who thrive on responsibility and friendship, have the makings of an outstanding physician. A near straight-A student, I held several paid research internships and led a team to first place in a nationwide design contest. This semester, I won an unprecedented three national awards. nbsp; But my teachers and mates may be surprised to find that my greatest achievements come from outside the classroom. Four years ago, I lay in a hospital bed, with grave head injuries. A high school freshman, I was the lone casualty of a one-car accident. To this day, I do not know what happened, other than the fact that my head slammed through the drivers side window. For all I know, I may have swerved to avoid a deer. nbsp;†¦show more content†¦nbsp; I arrived at school ready to leave my accident behind. But that was not possible. Loathe admitting it, my injuries had left me with a learning disability. I had memory problems, read slowly, and often forgot the point of a sentence before reaching its conclusion. nbsp; One of my teachers, suggested I speak with Dean Robert Shaw, who assists students with learning disabilities. Shaw arranged for me to have extra time on exams and to use a crib sheet when acceptable to teachers. The accommodations relieved much of the pressure I had put on myself to overcome my injuries quickly. nbsp; Coming to terms with having a learning disability has simply taken a great deal of time and support from my incredibly devoted family, and from my teachers.nbsp; I am continually thankful to Mr. Geis for pointing me the way. I feel very strongly that students with learning disabilities should not - as I first did - try to deny it, but rather to get the academic support they need so that they can start dealing with the emotional issues that accompany such situations. nbsp; Each passing semester brought me closer to terms with my disability. Although it took me several months to realize the severity of my accident, once I did this I decided to get all I could out of my own life, and also to give back to people I thought Id alwaysShow MoreRelatedThe Pros And Treatments Of Autism1324 Words   |  6 PagesPrimary Research: Autism Spectrum Disorder has a wide variety of treatment choices. There is not a single treatment that will cure ASD, but there are many therapies that can be used to help the symptoms of ASD. Above are multiple different therapies that experts have conducted research on. Interviews of educators in the field of special education and surveys answered by the general public were conducted to gather information regarding ASD knowledge and therapies. Educators informed about evenRead MoreDown Syndrome Case Study1093 Words   |  5 Pagesfor example, around 50% of individuals with DS have the risk of experiencing congenital heart defects (Dixon, 2008). DS can be screened through first and second-trimester screening, also combined with ultrasound markers, if the estimated risk is above the normal range, prenatal diagnostic tests are considered (de Jong et al., 2010). Chorionic villi sampling or amniocentesis are provided to determine the risk of DS in utero, which can identify around 85% of foetal DS (Jong, Maya Lith, 2015). HoweverRead MoreMexican Immigrants Self Management And Diabetic Control1200 Words   |  5 Pageslack in health insurance (Schneiderman et al., 2014). Above all this problem needs to be addressed because diabetes can cause severe complication within many parts of body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2015). This topic is important to me because I come from a Mexican family, and have a high incidence of diabetes that runs in my family. It is important for me, and for other nurses, to understand this rising issue amongst this population, and find ways to bringsRead MoreA Short Note On Diabetes And Mexican Immigrants1251 Words   |  6 Pagesal., 2014). Importance and Personal Stance Above all, this problem needs to be addressed since diabetes can cause severe complications within many parts of the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2015). Furthermore, this topic is important to me because I come from a Mexican family, and have a high incidence of diabetes that runs in my family. It is important for me, and for other nurses, to understand this rising issue amongst this population, and find waysRead MoreAnalysis Of Flowers For Algernon By Daniel Keyes1729 Words   |  7 Pageslike the book written by Daniel Keyes depicts. In Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon, the story depicts a man named Charlie Gordon who is struck with the hardship of retardation that he has had to live with since he was born. Growing up with his disability affected his viewpoints on life, relationships with family and peers, and how he was seen in society. Charlie eventually was given the opportunity to undergo a surgery that changes his life in some w ays forever (his legacy left behind) and otherRead MoreFunctional Areas Of Human Resource Management1583 Words   |  7 PagesEqual employment opportunity laws are the condition in which all persons have an equal employment chance, irrespective of their sex, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, age and mental and physical handicap. Various acts that protect against discrimination in the workplace, include the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (Title I), Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Civil Rights act of 1991, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Age Discrimination in Employment ActRead MoreThe Importance Of Asian Cultures In The Community781 Words   |  4 Pagesself-actualized. These same residents/caregivers volunteer to assist the other residents, and they always observe the positive points in a situation. They do need instruction either; furthermore, we have some extremely creative individuals, who Joey, my son and, let them generate un til they have accomplished their objectives. One resident has a style similar to Claude Monet. The Im and Lee (2014) study was a glimpse into how Asian cultures treat their elderly, and it relates to the Regent Care CenterRead More Comparing Welfare Provision in Germany and England Essay1385 Words   |  6 Pageswith the welfare that the citizens are provided by their governments. Countries implement social and welfare policies to provide more social security and opportunities to the population. These policies comprises unemployment and disability benefits as well as pensions, child care, education, health care etc., what refers to the extend to which a country is willing to provide for social security measures (provision). Due to historical reasons different types of welfareRead MoreMedicare : A Type Of Insurance For The People Of Age 651322 Words   |  6 PagesIt has come to my attention that not everyone is aware of Medicare and its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, I would like to educate all the healthcare careerists to understand the concept of Medicare. Medicare is a type of insurance for the people of age 65 or older and also for the people with permanent disabilities and diseases. This program was established in 1965 under Title 18f the Social Security Act and was made available to all eligible people as a health insurance regardless of theirRead MoreA Non For Profit Health Care Organization Essay971 Words   |  4 Pagescurrently located in a safe neighborhood with an above average safety evaluation for crime statistics. It has a total of 112 beds divided up in Medicare and Medicaid beds and collects payments through both. There are numerous hospitals that surrounding this home. In my opinion, Edward Hospital ratings for Medicare are second to none. Furthermore, this nursing facility suppling medical services to the elderly, which have complex illnesses and disabilities 24 hours a day, administrated by the LPN, CNA’s

The United States The Independent Minds Of Its People

It would be a falsity to claim that the United States was ruled primarily through the independent minds of its people. Rather, we can see the absolute appropriation of authority split between two parties; those ruled by the tiresome elephants or those who follow the jackasses. This system of division has been heavily disfavored by our Founding Fathers, especially by John Adams who had stated in his letter to Jonathan Jackson that, â€Å"There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Adams, John). The evidence for this issue in todays culture is everywhere; from legislative wars between the executive and legislative branches, strong discourse among the people, and of course those campaigning against one another based on how they interpret marriage. This undeniable rise of partisan antipathy can be seen in Carroll Doherty’s article 7 things to know about polarization in America where recent PEW studies showcase that st rong resentment within the Democratic and Republican parties towards each other has just about doubled within the last two decades alone (Doherty, Carroll). A situation that has caused much strife as it slows down the march of progress and implementation of proper legislation due to the lack of compromise this particular way of thinking promotes. Uprooting this tired system will require a solid understanding of its early development, an examination of its advantages and disadvantages in modern politics, and theShow MoreRelatedForeign Policy : The United States Economy And Social Problems1110 Words   |  5 PagesBremmer’s preferable approach, the Independent America approach, focuses on America’s errors with an imperialistic style of foreign policy. Bremmer states that the United States should let those boiling points in Europe and the Middle East be handled by their own countries. This idea focuses on the betterment of the United States economy and social problems. P ointing to the recent events in Ukraine the Independent approach makes the point of the fact that the American people do not want to continue theRead MoreIs Canada a Nation?1167 Words   |  5 Pagesbelieve it is so. To define the term â€Å"nation† is quite a challenging task. The Student’s Oxford Canadian Dictionary defines a nation as, â€Å"a community of people forming a state or inhabiting a territory† (Barber, et al., 2007). In contrast to many other resources, this definition is an extremely simple one. The same dictionary defines a state as â€Å"an organized political community under one government† (Barber, et al., 2007). By these definitions, Canada clearly classifies as a nation. By formingRead MoreFriedrich Weber s Theory Of Psychology893 Words   |  4 PagesPSYCHOLOGY Psychology is defined as the study of thought and behavior. A substantial amount of people believes that psychology is not a specific scientific discipline. Social sciences study humans as individuals or as groups. The scientific method subsists of five processes, which include observation, prediction, testing, interpretation, and communication. Ernst Weber was born 1795 and died 1878, was one of the first developers who planned an approach and prepared for what was accepted inRead MoreNotes On The Great Leap Forward Movement Essay884 Words   |  4 Pagestechnical and economic development of China at a quicker rate to catch up with the United States and Britain. It even led to the establishment of Peoples Communes. 2. Four Cardinal Principles in the Chinese constitution: These principles portray the vital components of Chinese communist ideology. Deng Xiaoping introduced these principles in 1979, and they promote the ideas of preserving the socialist path, upholding the people s democratic dictatorship, preserving the leadership of the Communist partyRead MoreRevolution Dbq1112 Words   |  5 PagesThe Revolution was affected before the war commenced.   The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people...This radical change in the principles, sentiments, and affections of the people was the real American Revolution.   Explain the meaning of this 1818 statement by John Adams (referring to the Revolutionary era) and assess its validity. Philosophical words, Once Again In a letter to Hezekiah Niles on February 3rd of 1818 John Adams, once again, spoke his mighty, philosophical wordsRead MoreFoundations of US Government Essay628 Words   |  3 PagesIn the making of the United States, there were many events that are important. This paper intends to highlight a few of those events including; Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Federalist Papers. Many events in America’s history helped to establish the United States as a free and independent country. The Declaration of Independence in particular explains the rights and freedoms that Americans. Each document is like a stepping stones thatRead MoreWhat is Nationalism?796 Words   |  3 PagesI agree that the main reason for formatting nation-states is nationalism. Nationalism can be defined as a combination of patriotism with sensation of nation, it includes patriotism and nation concepts (Hayes 1960: 2). Kohn (1955) defines nationalism as a state of mind, each person will be piety to their state highly because of their nation-state (Berberoglu 2004: 6). Nation-state could be defined as a group of people who have the awareness to community which share a common culture, past memory andRead MoreA comparison of the United States Constitution And The Declaration of Independence712 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction The United States Constitution and The Declaration of Independence are two of America s most famous documents that laid the foundation for it s independence as a nation and separation from British rule. The following paper will compare these two documents and decipher the difference of the two. While both Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution contain important information regarding America s independence they are also different in many respects. DraftedRead MoreThe Invention Of Wings By Sue Monk Kidd1469 Words   |  6 Pagespoverty, and oppression during a time of slavery in the Southern region of the United States of America. In this journal, I will be predicting and evaluating. Paragraph #1: G: I predict that Sarah will achieve her dream of becoming a minister. Y: Sarah is passionate about her religion and uniting the world. R: Sarah boldly transitions into the life of a Quaker, who believe slavery to be wrong. R: Sarah speaks her mind, despite the criticism of outsiders, and even other Quakers. quote: â€Å"‘To remainRead MoreU.s. Presidential Election Elections Essay1328 Words   |  6 Pagesdue course of the most recent decade, there has been a significant surge in American independent voters. It is of verifiable significance to put into thought the effects of these voters, especially, since the United States (U.S.) currently undergone its eagerly awaited 2016 Presidential General Election. It is with relevance to presidential elections that we have seen a political surge on American independent voters and thus having political candidates attempt to sway their view, we have seen fundamental

Quality Plan Analysis And Cultural Assumption In Healthcare

Questions: 1. Some healthcare organizations post their quality plan on the Web. Search the Internet/Website for the quality plan for your local healthcare facility. Summarize the facility plan. Review and discuss plans introduced by your group members. 2. Consider the cultural assumptions and beliefs underlying a perfectionist mentality: perfection is always expected; mistakes arent allowed. This assumption can create an environment inhospitable to quality improvement. Are cultural assumptions addressed in the plan that you reviewed? What changes would you make to the plan regarding cultural perceptions? Why? Answers: 1. Quality is one of the most important aspects that the healthcare facilities should focus on. It is extremely important to provide quality healthcare service as this will ensure better health of the service users and will naturally develop the reputation of the healthcare organisation. Building an effective quality facility plan that prioritise the quality objectives will help the organisations to build the trust among the consumers as this will enable them to be consistent with the service quality and hence will develop the trust of the service users. The quality plan helps to develop quality objectives that add to the overall quality of service provided at the healthcare facilities. In the recent past there have been number of discussions on what should a quality service plan should be and what scholars felt was to introduce effective service provision and the attainment of best degree of quality served (Grol et al., 2013 p, 56). Healthcare facility is a key concept that most of the healthcare organisations will have to focus on. Healthcare facility plans are effective in developing the vision and mission of the healthcare organisation as it helps them to act effectively as per the laid out quality plan. There are number of healthcare companies all around the world which have focused on developing an effective quality plan which has helped them to work on the overall quality of the service provided to the care seekers (Scott et al., 2003 p, 78). One such organisation is Saddleback Memorial Medical Centre which has focused on planning an effective quality plan that has helped them to work effectively towards the provision of better healthcare facilities for the care seekers. Saddleback Memorial Medical Centre is based out South Orange County in California and is counted as one of the leading healthcare facility in that region for its effective high quality health service. The company has an effective quality plan that it intends to achieve step by step. Quality management is the science of process management and the organisation understands it well. The company has a mission that focuses on providing the best quality care to individuals and the vision works accordingly that focuses on having excellent people that helps them to provide extraordinary care every time. It is important to mention that effective quality plan includes value creation for the service users and this is done through accountability, fair practice and empathy and vibration within the organisation (Poksinska, 2010 p, 67). The organisation Saddleback has implemented these aspects effectively within their process of providing care so that value could be created for the service users. Qu ality depends on the management of healthcare process and not the doctors and nurses and hence the company has managed the quality of its health system which has helped them to provide customized care for the service users and this has also created value. The healthcare system of the organisation collaborates with different other healthcare organisations which has provided better facilities to the service users. Some of the movements by the company have been very effective for instance the company is one of the very few hospitals that provide minimal invasive heart surgeries that are an important breakthrough for the company in terms of providing quality care (Spath, 2009 p, 12). Saddleback Memorial also contributes to a large extent for the development of the community and collaborates with different organisations all across the place in South Orange County in order to provide the best quality service to the consumers. One of the major focuses of the company is to measure the impro vement of quality within the organisation as it will help the organisation to implement plans and programs for the development of the service quality. The company organises occasional assessment and quality audit which helps to identify the basic loopholes in service and eliminate them effectively for the development of service quality. As stated earlier the company prioritises value proposition and thats what has developed the service quality within the organisation. In the recent past the company has come up with valve evaluation which has advanced the cardiac treatment at the hospital and this has also contributed highly to meet the quality goals of the company. Overall it could be said that the quality plan of Saddleback Memorial Medical Centre is quite effective and visionary that strives to achieve excellence and perfection (Powell et al., 2009 p, 34). 2. Cultural assumptions often affect service provision and dont help an organisation to attain perfection. There are number of culturally biased assumptions which mainly state that all the patients have same expectation is wrong. It is important to mention that the sole motive of the patients to come in the hospital might be same that is to get cured but their requirements and needs might be different which needs to be properly assessed by eliminating these culturally biased assumptions. For instance at Saddleback the focus is always on person centered care, the company understands that the needs and wants of the different consumers are different and accordingly they provide person centered care which eliminate that issue of failing to provide quality service to people (Khatri et al., 2009 p, 23). What needs to be changed in the organisation is that the healthcare company doesnt have any separate system for people who cannot speak their minds. The company should come up with signific ant changes in its infrastructure so that the company is able to provide services even to consumers who are not able to speak or speak any other language. It is also important for the organisation Saddleback to include patients in the healing process (Dahlgaard et al., 2011). They should be viewed as the partners in the development process of their state of health. Quality measures should focus on developing effective counseling approaches which would help to improve the kind of service provided by the organisation. Saddleback Memorial needs to be sensitive towards the socio cultural preferences of their patients. They need to be familiar with the cultural norms and traditions of the people belonging to the different ethnic backgrounds and this will help them to create a strong bond with their end users and this will enable the organisation to ensure a long term association with their patients. The organisation needs to respect the cultural traditions of their patients and at the same time ensure that the patients are provided with excellent quality of care and treatment with their organisation. Having a proper cultural assumption regarding their patients will help the organisation to serve them in a better and effective manner and this will go a long way in ensuring customer satisfaction for their patients. Thus, the organisation will be able to retain their customers for the long haul by fostering brand loyalty among them (Spath, 2009 p, 62). Saddleback Memorial must recruit people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds within their organisation as this would enable them to indentify the needs and preferences of their different customers in a better and effective manner. They will be able to familiarize themselves with the social and cultural norms of people coming from different cultural background and this will help the organisation to deliver truly world class quality of care and treatment to their patients. Cultural assumptions play a very important role in ensuring a positive interaction with the patient and the care providers. This will help the patient to communicate their medical history and medical symptoms in an effective manner and this would help in better detection and diagnosis of the diseases suffered by the patients. This will enable Saddleback Memorial to gain the trust of their patients and this will help in ensuring customer satisfaction for the end-users of the organisation (Khatri et al., 2009 p, 96). Saddleback Memorial needs to get rid of any cultural biases and stereotypes which are usually found in the healthcare industry. The organisation needs to improve their way of thinking and they must try to understand how their unconscious thinking and assumptions is seriously affecting the quality of care and treatment which are being provided to the patients. This will enable them to ensure culturally competent care to their patients and thus the organisation will be able to further enhance the quality of care and treatment which are being presently delivered to their patients (Grol et al., 2013 p, 134). Finally it is important to mention that provider awareness is a significant culturally biased assumption where it is thought that the provider knows everything but it could be proven wrong and hence Saddleback in order to provide quality services should communicate with the service users in order to provide the best quality service (Campinha-Bacote, 2011 p, 45). References Campinha-Bacote, J. (2011). Delivering patient-centered care in the midst of a cultural conflict: The role of cultural competence.The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing,16(2). Dahlgaard, J. J., Pettersen, J., Dahlgaard-Park, S. M. (2011). Quality and lean health care: A system for assessing and improving the health of healthcare organisations.Total Quality Management Business Excellence,22(6), 673-689. Grol, R., Wensing, M., Eccles, M., Davis, D. (Eds.). (2013).Improving patient care: the implementation of change in health care. John Wiley Sons. Khatri, N., Brown, G. D., Hicks, L. L. (2009). From a blame culture to a just culture in health care.Health care management review,34(4), 312-322. Poksinska, B. (2010). The current state of Lean implementation in health care: literature review.Quality Management in Healthcare,19(4), 319-329. Powell, A. E., Rushmer, R. K., Davies, H. T. O. (2009).A systematic narrative review of quality improvement models in health care. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. Scott, T., Mannion, R., Davies, H., Marshall, M. (2003). The quantitative measurement of organizational culture in health care: a review of the available instruments.Health services research,38(3), 923-945. Spath, P. (2009).Introduction to healthcare quality management. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.

Nvq level free essay sample

Certificate in preparing to work in adult social care. Unit 26 understand how to support individuals with autistic spectrum conditions. Outcome 1 understand the main characteristics of autistic spectrum conditions 1. 1 explain why it is important that each person on the autistic spectrum has their own individual abilities ,needs, strengths, gifts and interests Each person with an ASD has individual gifts, strengths and difficulties, like anyone else. However, a person will be diagnosed as having an ASD if, to a greater or lesser extent, they show some of a range of typical characteristics. The three areas in which people with an ASD often experience difficulties are in social communication, social interaction and social imagination commonly known as the triad of impairments Social communication The person may interpret language in a literal way, may have difficulty interpreting idiomatic terms such as She must have eyes in the back of her head, and may not know when someone is joking or being sarcastic. We will write a custom essay sample on Nvq level or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They may have formal or stilted language, or a monotonous tone of voice. A person with ASD may not pick up on non-verbal communication such as gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice, or they may misinterpret them. They may also not recognise other peoples emotions, motivations or expectations. In particular, they may be unaware of the unspoken rules of behaviour such as instinctively knowing that it might be considered rude to mention certain things. They may also find it difficult to maintain eye contact. Social interaction The person may find it difficult to form or sustain friendships. They may struggle with certain social situations and with making conversation. They may not notice if the person they are talking to is not interested in what they are saying. Social imagination The person may feel more comfortable with facts than imagining hypothetical (what if? ) situations, or thinking in abstract or conceptual ways. They may find it difficult to put themselves in other peoples shoes and understand other peoples perceptions or points of view. Their strengths may lie in following procedures or routines rather than dealing with situations spontaneously. They may have a narrow range of interests. Other factors The person may also be sensitive to noise, smell, taste or touch. They may become anxious if a routine or process is broken. They may have special interests such as a hobby that they are obsessively interested in. The list above gives an overview of the various difficulties that people with ASDs experience. However, it is important to remember that each individual with an ASD will have a unique mix of factors, and not all of the above will be present. These factors will be combined with all the usual characteristics that contribute to someones personality. Each individual is different. So it is important to be aware of what the condition means for them, and to treat them on their own merit. Analyse the main diagnostic features of autistic spectrum conditions, commonly known as the ‘triad of impairments Triad of Impairments This is the term that describes the difficulties that people with autism experience in differing degrees. Because all people are different, the way autism affects them is also different. The term was first used by Lorna Wing Impaired Social Interaction Getting on with other people Symptoms in this area include: Ritualistic, compulsive and obsessional type behaviours. Self-stimulating and repetitive behaviours. Compulsive ritualistic use of language Lack of concept of self and others as beings with feelings and individual thoughts. Difficulties range from indifference and aloofness to wanting desperately to make friends but not understanding social rules and other people’s behaviour and feelings well enough to do so successfully. Some people with autism find social situations very challenging and may avoid interaction altogether. A child with autism may not be able to respond to his or her own name and can avoid looking at other people. Interpreting tone of voice or facial expressions could be problematic for an autistic person as can responding to others emotions appropriately. Autism causes children and adults appear oblivious to the negative impact that their behaviour has on others. Problems with Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Talking and understanding Speech may be present but not used for spontaneous communication Maybe seen as un-cooperative or unresponsive Tantrums or severe episodes of distress Development of language can be concrete and literal Inability to read facial expression, gesture, body language and posture. Impairment of the understanding meaning – semantic and pragmatic. Language difficulties range from no speech at all to fluent speech that can be repetitive and focused on their own areas of interest, rather than true conversation. Limited Imagination and Rigid Thought Processes Thinking and Behaviour Skills learnt in isolation and not transferred or generalised Preoccupation with sameness Difficulty with change Inability to learn successfully by mistake, trial or error Poor play skills and difficulty in developing imaginative play Difficulties in manipulating objects appropriately Seeming impairment of curiosity of the direct world Repetitive activities Inability to differentiate between fantasy and reality The deficits in imaginative and conceptual skills and difficulties in making sense of the world can lead to a rigid way of thinking and doing things, repetitive activity and narrow interests. Changes of routine cause anxiety and distress. 1. 3 explain the meanings of the terms ‘spectrum’ in relation to autism by reference to the notions of sub-conditions and individual variation within the autistic spectrum. The term spectrum is used because the symptoms of ASD can vary from individual to individual, and from mild to severe. In very broad terms, there are three main types of ASD: Autistic disorder, sometimes known as classic autism. Asperger syndrome. Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), which is also known as atypical autism. Autistic disorder individuals with autistic disorder usually have significant problems with language, social interaction and behaviour. Many individuals with autistic disorder will also have learning difficulties and below-average intelligence. Asperger syndrome Individuals with Asperger syndrome have milder symptoms that affect social interaction and behaviour. Their language development is usually unaffected, although they often have problems in certain areas of language. For example, understanding humour or figures of speech, such as she’s got a chip on her shoulder or its raining cats and dogs. individuals with Asperger syndrome usually have above-average intelligence. Some individuals are skilled in fields requiring logic, memory and creativity, such as maths, computer science and music. (But only 1 in 200 children are exceptionally skilled, so-called autistic savants). Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified PDD-NOS can be thought of as a diagnosis of exclusion. It is used for individuals who share some, but not all, of the traits of autistic disorder and/or Asperger syndrome. Most individuals with PDD-NOS have milder symptoms than individuals with autistic disorder, but they do not share the good language skills and above-average intelligence associated with Asperger syndrome. ASD are uncommon but not rare. In England it is estimated that 1 in every 100 children has an ASD. ASD are more common in boys than girls. Boys are three to four times more likely to develop an ASD than girls. 1. 4 Describe the sensory and perceptual difficulties commonly experienced by individuals with an autistic spectrum condition. The types of sensory perceptual deficits associated with Autism and Aspergers are unique. These environmental distortions are varied, unpredictable and constantly changing. For example, parts of the environment may disappear or people may be seen in pieces. As a result those with Autism / Aspergers may experience the following: Alienation Poor concentration Poor social skills Low self esteem System overload Poor body awareness Faulty information (1) Sensory Overload caused by bright lights, fluorescent lights, and sunlight. Lighting is stressful; and this results in behaviours to filter out the light, poor eye contact, and physical symptoms such as anxiety or headaches. (2) Environmental Distortions where the individual sees the world in a distorted fashion. Objects are blurry, moving, changing, and can disappear. People may look frightening, stairs may look like a slide without steps, and walls and floors may swing and sway. Misperceptions can cause difficulties with sustained attention, eye contact, gross and small motor coordination, ability to interpret facial expressions, and poor social skills. (3) Print Distortions make learning or reading difficult. The individual may have good or even advanced reading skills but has trouble with reading comprehension or experiences strain and fatigue when reading or doing other activities. Tracking or building breaks into reading may be a problem. 1. Decribe other conditions that may be associated with the autistic spectrum People with autism may have learning disabilities, which can affect all aspects of someones life, from studying in school, to learning how to wash themselves or make a meal. As with autism, people can have different degrees of learning disability, so some will be able to live fairly independently although they may need a degree of support to achieve this while others may require lifelong, specialist support. However, all people with autism can, and do, learn and develop with the right sort of support. Other conditions are sometimes associated with autism. These may include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia. 1. 6. describe how language and intellectual abilities vary between individuals and sun-groups across the spectrum Those people with an ASC and an IQ level of 70 or above are often considered to be on the â€Å"higher functioning† end of the autistic spectrum due to their IQ level. However, this is not necessarily the case due to many still experiencing significant difficulties with social interactions, social communication and behaviour that can make them particularly vulnerable. A small but significant number of people with an ASC and IQ above 70 require intensive care and support, as is the case in Westminster. Most of those with an IQ level of 70 or above would have a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome or High Functioning Autism. Further explanation of the subgroups of ASCs is given Table 1 below. Although subgroups exist, their use may not be considered helpful in some cases. For Instance, a child diagnosed with â€Å"Autistic Disorder† may develop into an adult presenting symptoms closer to Aspergers Syndrome or High Functioning Autism. The condition appears to change over time, as do the abilities of the person with the condition. outcome 2 understand how autistic spectrum conditions can impact on the lives of individuals and those around them 2. 1 describe ways in which autism can impact on the everyday lives of individuals, their parents/carers and siblings and others close to them While many people with autism and their families will cope well with the additional challenges autism brings, the emotional impact of autism is often difficult and sometimes devastating for people with autism and the families of those affected. In the case of people with, for example, Asperger Syndrome, levels of mental health problems and depression are high as individuals struggle to cope in everyday society. Whilst many people argue that people with autism should be regarded simply as different rather than disordered, there is no doubt of the very real distress that autism can cause. People with autism and learning disabilities may have no speech and complex special needs and may need full-time care. For the individual with autism, the world can be a confusing and lonely place, where everyone except them understands the rules of appropriate behaviour. For the family of an autistic child life is often stressful. Parents and siblings usually have to cope with unyielding challenging behaviour and possibly sleep deprivation, as many children with autism do not sleep for long periods of time. Because children and adults with autism find it difficult to manage in social situations, many families become isolated. Added to this, is the difficult and lengthy processes to obtain from local authorities the special education to which children with autism are entitled. Many parents with autistic children believe that they will be primary carer for life and are often very concerned about what will happen to their child when they die. The stresses to family life can lead to relationship breakdowns, divorce and, in extreme circumstances, suicide. Just under half of parents of children with autism experience mental distress. 2. 2 explain how autistic spectrum conditions can impact on individuals differently according to factors such as. gender, ethnicity and social, cultural and religious environment. Autism as a whole affects more males than females, social, some may they have been punished by god,and some believe it is down to bad parenting. 2. 3 explain how stereotyped views, their discrimination and a lack of understanding of autistic spectrum conditions can compound the difficulties already experienced by individuals and their families Autistic people already have a large barrier, preventing them from doing a lot of every day tasks, this is not helped when they are up against stereotyping,discrimination,ect. Society can be a cruel environment for an able bodied person but if people are still ignorant to the autistic spectrum they may still refer to autistic people as being â€Å"retarded† or â€Å"naughty â€Å". 2. 4 describe ways of helping an individual and/or their parents/carers/siblings to understand their autistic spectrum condition By giving people information either from books, the internet, or training programs, this will increase their knowledge and understanding of the autistic spectrum. Outcome 3 understand different theories and concepts about autism 3. 1 explain theories about autism related to Brain function and genetics: -psychology Attwood (2007) describes the psychological term Theroy of mind (ToM) as â€Å"the ability to recognise and understand thoughts, beliefs, desires and intentions of other people in order to make sense of their behaviour and predict what they are going to do next†¦. the child or adult with aspergers syndrome does not recognise or understand the cues that indicate the thought or feelings of the other person at a level expected for someone of that age† The affects of impaired ToM abilities on daily life (Attwood): difficulty reading the social/ emotional message in someone’s eyes. Individuals with aspergers syndrome engage in less eye contact, so are more likely to miss important cues signalled by change . difficulty conceptualizing the other person’s perceptive and prorities limited skills in persuasion a tendancy to be confrontational and rigid a reluctance to change a decision and admit making a mistake an adversion to being interrupted/ strong dislike of any form of critism or correction a compulsion for completion a tendancy to punish rather than praise a tendancy to avoid demands a lack of knowledge of alternative strategies. Adults with aspergers syndrome are susceptible to having various psychological difficulties. Often they are the result of the individuals difficulty coping with their aspergers syndrome and the stress, anger, frustration, confusion, anxiety and fear that they feel. Some of the most common additional difficulties include the following: anger outbursts agitation and restlessness increase in obsessional/ reptetive activities/ thoughts/ speech low mood/ depression apathy and inactivity onset of uncharacteristic, bizarre behaviour or thoughts For sme people with aspergers syndrome, there appears to be faulty emotion regulation or control mechanism for expressing anger. When feeling angry the person does not appear to be able to pause and think of alternative strategies to resolve the situation 3. 2 explain why there are alternative choices of terminology used to describe the autism spectrum. This is because they share the same or similar autistic traits and features: i. e, aspergers. 3. 3 describe the strengths and the limitations of different types of terminology. Strengths: limitations: support labelling + streptypes understanding blame having a name to the disability stigmatising 3. 4 explain the contributions of autism rights groups and the implications of their views for the support of individuals with an autistic spectrum condition ARM: autistic right movement. The autism rights movement (ARM) (also neurodiversity movement or anti-cure movement or autistic culture movement) is a social movement that encourages autistic people, their caregivers and society to adopt a position of neurodiversity, accepting autism as a variation in functioning rather than a mental disorder to be cured. The ARM advocates a variety of goals including a greater acceptance of autistic behaviors;[2] treatment that teaches autistic individuals coping skills rather than treatment focused on imitating behaviors of neurotypical peers, including extinguishing harmless stimming, forcing eye contact and breaking routines;[3] the creation of social networks and events that allow autistic persons to socialize on their own terms;[4] and the recognition of the autistic community as a minority group. Autism rights or neurodiversity advocates believe that autism spectrum disorders are genetic and should be accepted as a natural expression of the human genome. This perspective is distinct from two wings of the autism cure movement: (1) the perspective that autism spectrum disorders are caused by a genetic defect and should be addressed by targeting the autism gene(s) and (2) the perspective that autism is caused by environmental factors like vaccines and pollution and could be cured by addressing environmental causes. The movement is controversial and there are a wide variety of both supportive and critical opinions about the movement among people whose lives are affected by autism. 3. 5 outline controversies concerning the search for cures and interventions for autistic spectrum conditions and for pre-natal diagnosis See separate print-out 3. Explain why it is important to take into account individual differences in views of what is important in life, and how this might be especially important when supporting individuals on the autistic spectrum This is where a person centred plan is important it will help with understanding the individuals hopes,dreams and aspirations. Every one is different and what may seem like a simple thing to an abled bodied person it could be a life changing event for some-one with autism. Understand the legal and policy framework that underpins good practice in the support of individuals with autistic spectrum conditions 4. 1 identify what legislations and national and local policy and guidance exists Mental capacity act, deprivation of liberty, safeguarding, mental health act,discrimination act, equal opportunity act, Autistm Act 2009. 4. 2 explain what individuals or situations the legislation, national and local policy and guidance applies to. The above legislations,policies and guidance applies to every individual in many different ways,they apply to a variety of things from day to day tasks right through to making life changing decisions. 4. 3 explain how the ways in which legislations and national and local policy and guidance apply to individuals on the autistic spectrum may differ according to their particular needs. Each individual has a different capacity to make choices that is why they differ according to the individuals needs and abilities. Outcome 5 Understand how to achieve effective communication with individuals with an autistic spectrum condition 5. 1 give examples of how â€Å"challenging behaviour† can be a way of expressing emotions where there are communication differences Frustration, inability to make people understand their feelings and they may not recognise their own emotions. Pain:- they may feel in pain but unable to get people to understand this. 5. 2 describe methods and systems used to develop and support an individual’s communication Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people communicate. It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech in spoken word order. People with learning disabilities or communication difficulties may struggle to make themselves understood and to understand others. This can provoke intense frustration, challenging behaviour and isolation, and act as a barrier to achievement. The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a successful approach that uses pictures to develop communication skills. It is appropriate for children and adults with learning and communication difficulties including autism. Easy to access, affordable to implement and scientifically supported as one of the most effective communication interventions, PECS is an opportunity to open the door to spontaneous communication. 5. 3 explain how to maximise the effectiveness of communication by making adaptions to own verbal and non-verbal communication style. Make simple, repetitive phrases,using picture cards, emotion cards,traffic light cards. Understand how to support individuals with an autistic spectrum condition 6. 1 explain why it is important to establish a person-centred plan catering to an individuals specific preferences and need Person-centred care is a philosophy of providing care that is centred around the person, and not just their health needs. We are all individual, no two people are the same hence it is not appropriate to say that because two people have dementia – that they both have the same care and support needs. The values which one person feels are important in their life may not be so to another. To provide the best support to a person, their values must be taken into account and by doing so you will be empowering that person, increase their self determination and improve their independence. 6. 2 explain why consultation with families/parents/carers is important in person-centred planning and support It is important to find out as much about an individual’s views, values, needs, preferences, history and wishes, as possible. To work in a person centred way you need to build a complete picture of the whole person, in order to provide the best care package for them. To do this you will have to talk to various people involved in the person’s life including themselves, family, friends, doctors etc. This will help to build the picture and provide details such as their favourite food, hobbies, where they lived, their medical conditions, their family. 6. Describe different techniques and approaches to support individuals with an autistic spectrum condition to learn and develop new skills I have researched a technique called forward and backward chaining. It could be that a service user wishes to make a sandwich but gets anxious because it has too many process to achieve their goal so for instance,you could make the sandwich and ask them to place it on the plate, then each time adding something extra for them to do e. Next time ask them to cut the sandwich and place it on the plate,them place the top slice of bread on , cut and place on the plate, eventually they will be able to process the whole task from the start. 6. 4 explain how to reduce sensory overload, or increase sensory stimulation, by making adaptions to the physical and sensory environment You could turn the sound down on the tv and dim the lights if you knew the individual got over stimulated by noise and lights, this is especially done in the evenings when the individual needs to reduce sensory overload. If an individual wanted to be stimultated then you could provide different noises, disco lights and various different textures. 6. 5 explain ways of helping an individual with an autistic spectrum condition to protect themselves from harm Risk assessments are devised to reduve risk to the individual,they could be given supervision when completing tasks and safeguarding them from exposure. 6. Explain how needs change for individuals and their families at different stages of their lives As a child with an autistic spectrum condition their needs will change as they grow older, they become stronger ( which could mean that once they were easily manageable when showing behaviours,they could now pose a threat to the person caring for them), their support will need to change as they progress from living at home to wanting to go into supported living, their emotions will change due to their body going through adolesance, puberty. Describe the role that advocacy can play in the support of individuals with an autistic spectrum condition. Advocacy is a way of helping people to speak up for themselves. Everybody has the same rights: To make choices about our lives To get help from Adult Social Care or Health Services if we need it To be told about our rights To have opportunities for leisure, education, training and employment whether we have a disability or not To make a complaint when something goes wrong. An advocate can: Listen to you Help you to plan any action you may need or wish to take Write letters and make telephone calls with you, or for you Make sure your views are heard by attending meetings/reviews with you Get information for you, or put you in touch with someone who can Spend time with you preparing for meetings Find out other ways you can get support Find out what your rights are Liaise with relevant agencies