Cognitive Behavior Therapy in the Treatment of Anxiety for Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Important areas of treatment for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have only begun to be explored empirically in the last decade. Fortunately, there has been growing interest in identifying how to best adapt treatments that have been demonstrated to be efficacious with broader populations to individuals with ASD. This article provides a review of the literature for cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in the treatment of anxiety and mood disorders with modifications for adolescents and adults diagnosed with ASD. The majority of these studies incorporated manualized procedures, structured sessions, visual aids, use of worksheets, and an opportunity for social engagement, in addition to regular practice and feedback within a supportive environment. Treatment has been provided primarily in groups; however, researchers are beginning to explore the advantages of individualized treatment. Although only a handful of studies have been published on the use of CBT with adolescents or adults with ASD, results are promising. School psychologists will want to familiarize themselves with this literature to best meet the needs of students in their care. Implications and directions for future research are discussed. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Ethnicity and the Stigma of Disabilities

Recent studies reveal significant differences in the attitudes held by people of various ethnic groups toward people with disabilities. We surveyed university students and community members on a scale of desired social distance from people with disabilities. Study 1 revealed that Asian-American participants were more likely to stigmatize and less likely to differentiate between individuals with physical and mental illness than were their African-American, Latin-American or European-American counterparts. Study 2 compared U.S. born with Asian born Asian-Americans and found that nativity was a useful predictor of attitudes toward people with disabilities. Asian born participants were more likely to stigmatize disabilities overall (except mental illness and old age) than U.S. born participants presumably because of the level of assimilation. These cultural differences may have health care and psychosocial implications for those who are disabled and for health care providers

Decreasing Disruptive Behaviors of Children With Autism Using Social Stories

Few studies have been conducted in the area of social stories, and the limitations of these studies (i.e., improper story construction and methodological confounds) raise questions about effectiveness of social story interventions. This study examined the effectiveness of properly constructed social stories that have been introduced into the natural environment to target the disruptive behavior of three children with autism. A multiple baseline design across participants was employed, and a decrease in disruptive behavior was evidenced when the intervention was implemented for all participants. Based on the results of the present research, future areas of investigation outlining the limitations and potential benefits of social stories were discussed

Functional assessment of hand flapping in a general education classroom.

A functional assessment of hand flapping exhibited by a 5-year-old boy was conducted in a general education classroom. After a descriptive analysis ruled out several potential variables maintaining hand flapping, an experimental analysis was used to test the hypothesis that teacher-delivered task demands were functionally related to hand flapping. Results of the experimental analysis were used to develop a simple intervention for hand flapping