About Us
This section contains information on the Autistic Spectrum Disorder Information Network (ASDIN), ASDIN and Editorial committees, our sponsors and core business. ASDIN makes available a balance of information consistent with our mission statement.
- Our Mission Statement
- Our Sponsors
- What is Autistic Spectrum Disorder
- Background of ASDIN
- ASDIN Committee
- The Website Editorial Committee
- Official NZ Autistic Association Site
- ASDIN Screening and Rating System
- Contacting Us
ASDIN Mission Statement
The Autistic Spectrum Disorder Information Network (ASDIN) Website mission is to promote:
- informed discussion and debate
- accurate, up to date information about New Zealand and International initiatives
- accountability, visibility and authenticity
- availability of information that can be used to access diagnostic services, service provision, research, support organizations and people.
We exist for the benefit of individuals, families, professionals and service providers who live with, advocate and provide services for people who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder across the lifespan.
Our ASDIN Sponsors
The ASDIN website has been created in collaboration with the Educational Psychology Training Programme at Massey University, Albany Campus.
They share the commitment of ASDIN to improve the welfare of individuals with ASD. The ASDIN and Editorial Committees gratefully thank our sponsors for their advice and support.
What is Autistic Spectrum Disorder?
Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the term most preferred by parents and professionals that is often used to describe the whole range of a complex, life–long developmental disability that occurs in differing degrees of severity and a variety of forms and affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them. This range usually includes Autism (severe, moderate, mild); High Functioning Autism; Asperger Syndrome; Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not otherwise specified (PDD–NOS) and often includes semantic–pragmatic disorders of language.
ASD is recognised by detecting a triad of impairments identified from knowledge of the individual's development and behaviour. These impairments pervade the whole human system and affect the individual's academic, social and occupational functioning. The triad includes:
- Social interaction – problems engaging in reciprocal social interactions
- Communication – lack of appreciation of the social uses and the pleasure of inter–active communication is always present to some degree.
- Imagination – the inability to play imaginatively with objects, toys or other children and adults. Pretend play can be absent and is always accompanied by a narrow repetitive range of activities.
In addition repetitive stereotypic (persistent actions, sometimes ideas or thoughts) behaviour is also present and may be seen in obsessive lining up of toys, repeatedly spinning objects, hand flapping or toe walking. Everyone with this condition shares a difficulty in making sense of the world. A range of other problems (sensory and motor disturbances and rate of development) are also commonly found in association with the triad but the three basic impairments are the defining criteria.
ASD individuals are all very different and have a range of intellectual ability that extends from severely learning disabled right up to normal or even above average intellect. Similarly, linguistic skills range from those who are mute to those who display complex, grammatically correct speech.
There are a number of associated or co–morbid conditions with ASD or autistic–like behaviours and it is important to consider both separately when making a diagnosis. The presence of one does not explain away the presence of the other. These conditions may include Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety or mood disorders, Speech Language Disorders other than those mentioned above, and some physical disorders.
Since the presentation of an Autistic Spectrum of disorders (1995) and through recent research, experts estimate that around six in 1,000 young children have an autism disorder making the condition far more common than was previously recognised. The increased awareness brings changes in ideas about the condition, the likelihood that autism spectrum disorders result from a range of causes with the strongest evidence supporting a major genetic component or link to create susceptibility to the disorder.
Listed below are the sources drawn upon to write this section.
Wing & Gould 1979; WHO–ICD 1992; APA–DSM4 1994; Wing 1996; Wolfe 1996; Attwood 1997.
ASDIN Background
The ASDIN committee was established in June 2001:
- To provide a forum for informed discussion and debate
- To provide accurate, up to date information about initiatives
- To ensure accountability to the ASD community
The first discussion, debate and accountability forum was held at a public meeting in Auckland on 28th June 2001. Individuals, professionals, families who live with, advocate for, or provide services to people who have Autistic Spectrum Disorder were invited as were Joanne Curzon, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Education and Lester Mundell, Chief Advisor Disabilities Issues, Ministry of Health. Out of this meeting came the formation of an ASDIN committee and a consensus for a New Zealand Autistic Spectrum Disorder Information Network website to be determined. It was proposed that this website would complement existing national sites and link with other international sites of value. An editorial team consisting of volunteers from the ASDIN committee was organised to develop the website.
ASDIN Committee
This committee consists of a number of volunteer parents, health, education and other professionals who have held an interest and commitment to individuals and families with ASD over a period of time. This committee was formed out of the public meeting held in Auckland on 28th June 2001 and meet approximately three times a year.
The role of this committee is to:
- Support the ASDIN Editorial committee, policies and functions
- Act in a consultative capacity for ASDIN processes
- Act in an advisory capacity for ASDIN issues
ASDIN Website Editorial Committee
This committee has a representation from parents, individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, health and educational professionals who have volunteered their free time to develop, monitor and manage this website.
The main objectives of the Editorial committee are:
- To develop and monitor the ongoing progress of the website
- To ensure the mission statement, terms and conditions are met and maintained
- To uphold the ASDIN screening and rating processes
- To act as a conduit for information on ASD.
- To liaise with the ASDIN Committee and Website sponsors
The committee are supported in their commitment by the ASDIN committee and the sponsors of the website.
Who are the people on the ASDIN Website Editorial Committee?
Website Editor: Ann Christie: Dip OT NZROT, FRLA 1998.
Ann is a registered senior occupational therapist (1963) who has worked in paediatrics and the specialist area of child and adolescent mental health for 20 years with a particular interest in ASD. She is a published author, in particular on autism (longitudinal research) and child and adolescent mental health, has lectured nationally and internationally and in 1998 she was the recipient of the New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapy (NZAOT), Frances Rutherford Lecture Award. This lectureship was given in recognition of her significant contributions of literature, clinical practice, education and research in her specialist field of Occupational Therapy in New Zealand. Ann brings a commitment to developing guidelines for evaluating literature, interventions and websites and a focus for management of the ongoing progress of the website. This is to ensure that the information will create the best possible conditions for the development of both the child and adolescent's ability to reach their potential, and assist the empowerment of parents to advocate successfully for their children.
Parent: Fraser Elder: Information Technology
Fraser is a parent of an adolescent with ASD and has expertise in computer and Internet Technology. He brings a commitment to logical and responsible processes, a vision for improved accessibility to services and parent professional partnerships for people with ASD.
Professional: Anita Mcfarlane, Dip OT NZROT
Anita is a registered occupational therapist (1988) who has worked in paediatrics and child and adolescent mental health for 7 years and has a particular interest in ASD. She brings a commitment to enhance awareness, partnerships between families and professionals, and access to reliable information on ASD for New Zealanders.
Adult with ASD: Simon Taylor
Simon has expertise in computer technology. He brings a commitment to providing access to reliable information, vocational (job) resources, services and opportunities for networking between adults with ASD
Parent and professional: Sue Robertson, B. Soc. Sci. (Human Services); H.Dip.Tchg.
Sue is a parent of an adolescent with ASD and is a trained primary school teacher and advocate. She has been actively involved in ASD issues both locally and nationally for 14 years and is a Lifetime Member of Autism New Zealand Inc. She brings a commitment to parent professional partnerships, accountability in education and training, and an interest in open debate on ASD and disability issues to ensure improved access to services across the lifespan.
Professional: Keith MortonMacphail: Dip COT NZROT
Keith is a registered occupational therapist (1988) who has worked in Special Education and child and adolescent mental health for 6 years and has a particular interest in ASD. He brings a commitment to ethics, evidence based practice and providing reliable researched information.
Professional: Kate D'Anvers : MA (hons), PG Dip CBT
Kate D'Anvers provides counselling for children with Asperger's Syndrome and runs social skills groups for children and adolescents. She is on the Autism Association committee and is chairperson of the Asperger's Network Auckland (ANA) – a parent focused information and support service. She is tired of seeing quackos take advantage of desperate parents by providing dolphin therapy and the like and would be thrilled to see valid, researched information available in the public arena so that parents may make informed choices about the services available to their children.
Website design: Fiona Spence
Fiona has spent years working in Special Education and is now completing a Master of Education (Open and Distance Learning) degree in which Instructional Design for the web has been her major focus.(email Fiona)
The ASDIN would also like to acknowledge the contribution of Anneliese Choat, a student who has expertise in designing and developing websites and who built the original site (now replaced by this one.)
The Official Website of the New Zealand Autistic Association
Autism New Zealand is the official website of the NZ Autistic Association.
ASD Information Network Website Screening and Rating System
The ASD Information Network Editorial Committee is committed to the philosophy outlined in our mission statement and Website terms and conditions as described in our disclaimer. The committee reserve the right to evaluate the contents before inclusion in the website by fair and reasonable means. Therefore ASDIN Website Guidelines have been developed and will be used by both the ASDIN and Editorial Committees to assist this process. The purpose of these guidelines is to maintain consistency of content and provide current, accurate, readable, reliable, valid and ethical information on ASD initiatives.
How to contact ASDIN Committee
If you wish to contact the ASDIN Editorial Committee and membership for any reason or would like to submit a link of interest, a website, a document or other literature about or relevant to ASD, please contact the ASDIN Website Editor. The Editorial committee will endeavour to clear the mail as regularly as commitments allow and respond where and when appropriate.