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29 Child L. Prac. 1 (2010-2011)

handle is hein.journals/chilawpt29 and id is 1 raw text is: V N Vol. 29 No. 1 S.x 'V 4; A -~ March 2010 Helping Lawyers Help Kids Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Child Welfare System: A Guide for Lawyers and Judges by Emily Lechner A utism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of developmental brain disorders that affect a child's behavior, and social and communication skills. Detectable at age three years or earlier, this group includes autistic disorder (autism), pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger's syndrome. This article shares how lawyers and judges who handle cases involving children in the child welfare system can help children with an ASD. Know the statistics. New data estimate that one in every 110 children is diagnosed with an ASD, making it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined.' The risk is three to four times higher in males than females. Based on this prevalence alone, it is prob- able that many children in the child welfare system are affected with an ASD. In addition, studies show that a high percentage of children in the child welfare system have develop- mental delays, including an ASD. A study2 using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) found that one quarter of children in the child welfare system had a developmental delay. Children in the youngest age group (0-2) were particularly likely to have a developmental delay. Despite these numbers, only one- third of children with a delay were receiving developmental services. These numbers underscore the im- portance of this issue among chil- dren involved in the child welfare system. Learn to recognize the signs of ASD. Children with ASD demonstrate deficits in social interaction and communication, and engage in repetitive behaviors or interests. Each of these symptoms range from mild to severe, and will present in each child differently. Social indica- tors of ASD are often apparent from a young age. Some very young children with ASD have difficulty interacting and maintaining eye contact with parents and caregivers. As these children grow and de- velop, their self-isolation and indif- ference to human affection often deepen. They may also have diffi- culty regulating their emotions. For example, they have a tendency to lose control' in a new or E-mail: childlawpractice staff.abanet.org overwhelming environment, or when angry and frustrated. This can make social relationships difficult for children with an ASD.' Communication problems in children with ASD are also often sa- lient from a young age. Some chil- dren diagnosed with an ASD never speak, others babble for the first few months and then stop, while still others are delayed in developing language. Some children with an ASD develop echolalia, a language disorder in which the young child repeats everything she hears. Many ASD children do not respond to their names, and lose language skills which they possessed earlier in development.' (Continued on page 6) What's Inside: 2 CASE LAW UPDATE 9 Working to Help People with Autism 10 HEALTH MATTERS Positive Youth Development: The Key to Keeping Youth Out of the Juvenile Justice System 14 POLICY UPDATE Children of Incarcerated Parents Promoting Coordination across Service Systems Internet: http://,,'www.childlawpractice.org

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