Autism Awareness Month to feature on-campus events

Skidmore's observance of April as Autism Awareness Month features a number of activities coordinated by students of Rachel Mann-Rosan, visiting assistant professor of psychology.

Students in Mann-Rosan's "Adult Developmental Disabilities and Autism" course (PS 212) have hosted several events to date with three more on the calendar, all of which are free and open to the public:

Monday, April 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Emerson Auditorium, Palamountain Hall: New York State Sen. Roy McDonald (R-43), an advocate of autism awareness, will speak, focusing on how students can help those in the community who are diagnosed with autism and their families. McDonald also will participate in a question and answer session with students following his prepared remarks.

McDonald, a long-time advocate for people with autism, earlier this year called for the creation of an "Autism Bill of Rights" to protect the rights of individuals diagnosed on the autistic spectrum. McDonald has also introduced legislation to create a statewide council on autism, and is advocating for legislative action for autism insurance.

His proposed statewide council on autism, the New York Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders Treatment, Training and Research Council, would develop a comprehensive state policy to address the needs of the growing autism population in New York State. The council would also establish regional autism resource centers to serve as central clearinghouses providing individuals with autism, and their families, with the services, support and treatment they need.

(Read a report from The Post-Star on McDonald's talk.)

-Wednesday, April 21, 6 p.m., Bolton Hall, Room 382: Paul A.H. Partridge, Ph.D., will present an overview and treatment strategies of Autism Spectrum Disorders. He will review the signs and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders and discuss several treatment approaches that have some support in the research literature. In addition, there will be a short discussion of some of the past and current controversies related to the causes and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders.

-Thursday, April 22, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Case Center: Autism Informational Fair. A variety of on-campus and community organizations will attend to provide information about ASDs and available community resources. Opportunities will be available on how to get involved at Skidmore and in the Saratoga community. Creative Endeavors Gift Shop will sell craft and art items created by local artisans diagnosed with development disabilities. There also will be a bake sale to benefit the Autism Society of America.

This week's events are designed to raise awareness among the college-age population of the issues surrounding the topic of Autism Spectrum Disorders, explained Mann-Rosan. This is the third time that she has taught her course, and realized that addressing students' curiosity about the topic would require collaboration with community partners.

A consulting psychologist for Saratoga Bridges, Mann-Rosan said she was looking for a way to join with that organization on a Skidmore initiative, in an effort to meet the need for information both on campus and in the Saratoga Springs community.

Mann-Rosan added that the awareness events have three specific goals: to explain autism and autism spectrum disorders; to address some of the controversy and myths regarding the causes and treatment of autism, and to help students learn more about how autism affects them, both on a personal level, in terms of career exploration, and also, in terms of societal needs and expectations.