DNEA Resource Guides

Understanding Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities


What is Neurodiversity?

There are a lot of different terms related to neurodiversity. This resource guide defines some key terms and provides some useful tips and resources about autistic culture. 

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Avoid Ableist Language

Potentially Ableist Terms/ Discourses and Suggested Alternatives

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Bookclub – We’re Not Broken

We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia is about the author’s journey with autism and how society views individuals with autism.

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Supporting Social Skills

The DNEA Supporting Social Skills guide highlights many effective practices to support autistic youth who want to engage more with their peers:

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Autism & Epilepsy

There are common genetic factors associated with both autism and epilepsy. This guide provides information around autism and epilepsy and outlines steps for how to support someone who is having a seizure.

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Autism and Mental Health


Trauma and Youth with Autism

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences in childhood, such as witnessing violence in the home, experiencing neglect, or having a family member with a mental illness.

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Versión en español de esta guía de recursos (Spanish)

Creative CBT: Adapting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Autism

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that can help youth manage anxiety by changing the way they think and behave.
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Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Evaluation 

 An autism evaluation typically includes a discussion about challenges faced by the person and their family. This guide will provide professionals with strategies to discuss these issues in a more sensitive, non-judgmental fashion. 

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Introductory Evidence-Based Practices


Response Prompts

Prompting is an evidence-based practice that involves providing a child support when they are learning a new skill or behavior. There are two categories of instructional prompts: response prompts and stimulus prompts. Response prompts are delivered by an adult.

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Stimulus Prompts

Prompting is an evidence-based practice that involves providing a child support when they are learning a new skill or behavior. There are two categories of instructional prompts: response prompts and stimulus prompts. Stimulus prompts are changes that are made to materials.

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Social Narratives

Social narratives are short stories that use concrete text, photos, or drawings to explain situations or skills that may be confusing to the individual.

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Versión en español de esta guía de recursos (Spanish)

Reinforcement

Reinforcement is an evidence-based practice used to increase the likelihood of a behavior or skill occurring again.

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Visual Supports

Visual schedules represent upcoming activities through the use of sequenced objects, photos, pictures, and/or text. They are a visual support that create structure and establish expectations.

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Parent/Caregiver Training

Parent/Caregiver training programs describe a wide range of interventions, including care coordination, psychoeducation, language or social development treatments, and strategies designed to address maladaptive behaviors.

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Discipline- and Content-Specific Evidence-Based Practices


Supported Decision- Making

Supported decision-making (SDM) allows people with disabilities to get the help they may need to make choices about their personal lives, healthcare, and/or finances.

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Understanding Supported Decision-Making in Delaware: A Guide for Community Members 

 This resource guide is tailored to professionals in diverse sectors, including banks, medical institutions, offices, and agencies. 

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Resource for Teaching Human Sexuality

Many people with disabilities do not receive adequate sex education.

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Evidence-Based Practices for Teaching a New Skill

These tutorials can be used to to help a professional or family member teach a person with autism a new skill or task. They highlight evidence-based instructional practices that can be used to teach new skills across multiple home and professional settings.

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Most-to-Least Prompting

Most-to-Least Prompting is an evidence-based prompting strategy that systematically provides predetermined prompts from most to least intrusive by systematically fading them over time.

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Least-to-Most Prompting

Least-to-Most Prompting is an evidence-based prompting strategy that systematically provides predetermined prompts from least to most intrusive.

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Prompting and Task Analysis Glossary

This glossary is designed to support the community in understanding terms commonly associated with these practices.

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Family Resources


Holiday

While holidays are a time of joy and celebration, they can also be difficult for youth with autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of this guide is to provide strategies to help de-stress during the busy holiday season.

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Versión en español de esta guía de recursos (Spanish)

Early Childhood Resources


1- Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder, or autism, is a disability that is often present early in life and can affect multiple aspects of a child’s development.

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2-Concerns for Autism

You know your child best. If you have concerns about your child’s development, don’t wait to take action! There are many professionals and organizations in Delaware who you can contact for support.

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3 – Early Childhood Intervention System

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA is a U.S. law that requires free appropriate public education (FAPE), special education and related services are made available to eligible children with disabilities from birth through age 21.

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4 – Developmental & Autism Evaluations

The goal of the evaluation process is to identify your child’s strengths and areas of need. The evaluation team will offer resources and services to support your child and family.

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5 – Early Intervention Services

Early intervention refers to the supports and services designed to enhance the development of infants, toddlers and young children with developmental delays and disabilities.

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6 – Interventions for Autism

There are many interventions to support your child with autism throughout his/her life. However, some have been shown to be more effective than others. Evidence-based practices are interventions that are supported by multiple scientific research studies and have shown to have a positive impact for children with autism.

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7- Resources and Support in Delaware

This guide provides information on resources and support in Delaware.

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