YU Autism Spectrum Disorder Discussion Reply

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In the video, Jason shows several signs of autism spectrum disorder which also align with what I read about within the DSM-5-TR and the Kilgus text. First, Jason showed a limited amount of language skills. Jason appears to struggle with expressive language which can make it challenging for him to communicate his thoughts, needs or emotions. I also recognized that Jason excelled at one skill (cleaning and tidying up) but struggled with his skills of basic everyday needs. This is often seen in individuals with ASD where they may exceed in one area, but struggle in others which is noted in this video. The third prominent symptom I identified was uncontrolled body movements. Throughout the video, Jason exhibited uncontrolled movements which may also be known as “stimming”. This is very common in ASD, with movements such as flapping or rocking which can be seen when Jason is in church. There are many disparities when diagnosing ASD. For one, as stated, there is a diagnostic bias and the overall diagnosis is based on an individual judgement call. When ASD is diagnosed based on observed behaviours, it can be interpreted in a variety of ways by different healthcare professionals, this can lead to misdiagnosis, or delayed diagnosis, which was stated to happen a lot within black communities. Disparities also happened because of the access to resources of different communities, as upper-class families have greater access. The macro level of functioning is something that should be focused on when discussing such disparities. The impact of community and culture on the family’s experience is significant as they experience disparities in services compared to their neighbouring white families. This then leads to Jason’s mother feeling isolated, and Jason’s father feeling shameful. There is also a lack of job opportunities that provide insurance for black families, Leaving them under financial stress. Although there are such large disparities, their community also comes together in some aspects as there is a form of resilience, and Jason’s family created an organization to raise awareness and advocate. As a social worker, if I were to work with Jason’s family, I would take a multifaceted approach to provide support, advocate and address their unique challenges. I would start with a thorough assessment of Jason’s family’s needs, challenges and strengths. I would go forth by advocating on their behalf, and the behalf of any other black families in need and who have common problems. I would look for resources such as healthcare, education services and more to ensure their family feels non-isolated and welcomed. Finally, I would want to work strongly on community and social exclusion. I would promote community engagement, and help connect Him and his family with local support groups, recreational programs and social activities which are accepting and welcoming with open arms. (Student 1)