ASERT Does Not Offer Crisis Services
If you or someone you love is experiencing mental health distress or thoughts of suicide please call or text 988 for support.
If you or someone you love is experiencing mental health distress or thoughts of suicide please call or text 988 for support.
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These resources for professionals feature guides on Executive Functioning, Emotional Regulation, Theory of Mind, Sensory Differences, and general communication with individuals on the autism spectrum. They were developed by ASERT with collaboration from behavioral health professionals.
Communication tips and recommendations for engaging someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Executive Functioning (EF) is a group of high-level mental processes that help us regulate, control, and manage thoughts and actions. They are comprised of Organizing Functions and Regulation Functions. These skills tend to be difficult for people with ASD.
Examples of difficulty for a person with ASD:
Examples of difficulty for a person with ASD:
Examples of difficulty for a person with ASD:
Examples of difficulty for a person with ASD:
Examples of difficulty for a person with ASD:
Examples of difficulty for a person with ASD:
Examples of difficulty for a person with ASD:
Examples of difficulty for a person with ASD:
Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) is a complex developmental disorder that can cause difficulty with how a person thinks, feels, communicates, and relates to others. A person with ASD may also engage in repetitive patterns of behavior and motor mannerisms, have restricted ranges of interest and/or inflexibility in adhering to routines or rituals.
Executive Functioning (EF) is a group of highlevel processes that help us regulate, control, and manage thoughts and actions. EF is not a symptom of ASD, but many people with ASD have it. Sometimes EF creates a gap between skill and performance.
Difficulty with: being on time, prioritizing tasks, talking about a subject even when asked to stop, shifting to a task that needs to be completed immediately, shifting away from a preferred task, and following multistep directions.
Theory of Mind is the ability to understand other’s beliefs, desires, and intentions. Knowing that others have different thoughts than you and being able to predict them. The ability to show empathy at appropriate times and accurately take the perspective of others into account.
Many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have challenges in sensory areas that affect their daily lives. They can be hyper and/or hyposensitive to any of the senses.
Person may seek sensory input by:
Name | Description | Type | File |
---|---|---|---|
Autism Interaction and Communication Guide | Communication Connection | Download file: Autism Interaction and Communication Guide | |
Autism Interaction and Communication Guide | Executive Functioning Chart | Download file: Autism Interaction and Communication Guide | |
Autism Interaction and Communication Guide | Interacting with Individuals on the Autism Spectrum | Download file: Autism Interaction and Communication Guide | |
Autism Interaction and Communication Guide | Sensory Differences in ASD | Download file: Autism Interaction and Communication Guide |
This information was developed by the Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT). For more information, please contact ASERT at 877-231-4244 or info@PAautism.org. ASERT is funded by the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations, PA Department of Human Services.