1. List the primary features of autism. Some of the primary features of autism would be:" The individual’s lack of responsiveness, including extreme aloofness and lack of interest in other people, has long been considered the central feature of autism." (Comer, R. J. 2005) the typical autistic child does not like to be held and will wiggle and sometimes fight from being held. Language and communication problems are an issue with the autistic child, many times they are non-verbal or will repeat words. "Autism is also marked by limited imaginative play and very repetitive and rigid behavior." (Comer, R. J. 2005)Sometimes the autistic child have movements that do not appear normal to others, but it is the repeatedly behavior that the autistic child will do to calm themselves. Sensory issues to materials, sounds, and stimuli. "Sometimes the individuals seem over stimulated by sights and sounds and to be trying to block them out, while at other times they seem under stimulated and to be performing self-stimulatory actions.". (Comer, R. J. 2005)
2. Which explanation for autism is no longer considered valid and lacks research support? There are a few explanations for autism, which are no longer considered valid. At first, theorists thought that family dysfunction and social stress were the primary causes of autism. . (Comer, R. J. 2005)At one time, it was thought that autism could have been caused by social and environmental stress." Investigators who have compared children with autism to children without the disorder have found no differences in the rate of parental death, divorce, separation, financial problems, or environmental stimulation." (Cox et al., 1975). (Comer, R. J. 2005) (Comer, R. J. 2005)Some theorists state that it could be caused by central perceptual or cognitive disturbance that would make normal communication impossible. There is not a concrete biological explanation for autism. "Perhaps all relevant biological factors (genetic, prenatal, birth, and postnatal) eventually lead to a common problem in the brain—a “final common pathway,” such as neurotransmitter abnormalities, that produces the cognitive problems and other features of the disorder."(Comer, R. J. 2005)

3. What forms of treatment are helpful for a person with autism? There are several treatments for the person with autism. Early intervention is the best beginning for the person with autism. Treatments of particular help are behavioral therapy, communication training, parent training, and community integration. "In addition, psychotropic drugs and certain vitamins have sometimes helped when combined with other approaches."(Volkmar, 2001; Tsai, 1999) (Comer, R. J. 2005)Behavioral therapy is used to teach appropriate behaviors, including speech, social skills, classroom skills, and self help skills, while reducing negative, dysfunctional ones. This is to teach the desired behavior and guide people with the disorder to imitate it the appropriate behavior. Communication therapy, parent training and community integration can help make a functioning autistic person function in society.
4. List the criteria for a diagnosis of mental retardation: In addition to a low IQ score of 70 or below with poor commutations skills and unable to adapt to "normal" living skills can put a person in the category or mental retardation. "According to DSM-IV, people should receive a diagnosis of mental retardation when they display general intellectual functioning that is well below average, in combination with poor adaptive behavior. (APA, 2000, 1994).(Comer, R. J. 2005)

5. Explain one way in which sociocultural biases in testing might pose problems for assessing mental retardation. When the test is given to those that have been raised in the upper socioeconomic it can become biased to children that are not raised with the same socioeconomic level. "The tests rarely measure the “street sense” needed for survival by people who live in poor, crime-ridden areas—a kind of know-how that certainly requires intellectual skills."(Comer, R. J. 2005)The test can become bias and declare a person to be mentally retarded when in fact the test could be at a disadvantage due to the cultural differences or discomfort with the testing situation.

6. Of the four levels of mental retardation, into which category do most people with mental retardation fall? There are four levels of retardations the mild, moderate, severe and profound. "The mild retardation is where most people fall. "Some 85 percent of all people with mental retardation fall into the category of mild retardation (IQ 50–70)."(APA, 2000) (Comer, R. J. 2005)

7. What are the main types of biological causes of mental retardation? There are a number of biological causes of mental retardation.
"The primary causes of moderate, severe, and profound retardation are biological, although people who function at these levels are also greatly affected by their family and social environment." (Hodapp & Dykens, 2003; Bruceet al., 1996). (Comer, R. J. 2005)Chromosomal Causes has gotten more attention by the media, by adding children with "down's syndrome into popular TV series." The most common of the chromosomal disorders leading to mental retardation is Down syndrome, named after Langdon Down, the British physician who first identified it." (Comer, R. J. 2005)"Metabolic Causes, are caused by the pairing of two defective recessive genes, one from each parent. Prenatal and Birth-Related Causes, fetal alcohol syndrome or by "Poisonings, serious head injuries caused by accident or abuse, excessive exposure to X rays, and excessive use of certain drugs pose special dangers."(Comer, R. J. 2005)

8. What is the only way to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome?
Simple, Do not ever drink alcohol when you are pregnant to becoming pregnant.

9. What are normalization and mainstreaming? Normalization is encouraging those with mental retardation to take risks and function independently .Mainstreaming is placing them in classes with other children.
10. What is your opinion about mainstreaming and normalization for children and adults with autism or mental retardation?

My opinion of mainstreaming and normalization of children and adults with autism or mental retardation could think of as a bias. I have two grandsons that are autistic, one grandson that is severely autistic and is non-verbal. The other grandson, which is high functioning and verbal. Other than being the apple of grandma's eye. I believe that all autistic and mental retardation should be able to mainstreamed into society. In everyday life, we need to be more open to people who have everyday struggles. Kids without autism/ mental retardation do have an easier time socializing and behaving correctly in given situations. These autistic and children with mental deficits' need to be structure into society and to learn positive social skills. Because the normal kids/ adults know the special needs people are different, and (kids being kids sometimes adults being adults), find a way to amuse himself or herself at the expense of the different child/adult. A common problem that occurs is the normal children or adult realize the special needs child/ adult will copy them it is a very basic way in which many autistic children/adult attempt to interact. Therefore, the normal children and some adults go out of their way sometimes maliciously, sometimes not, the result is the same regardless of motive to get the autistic child/ adult to copy some inappropriate behaviors. Kids are kids, just as adult are adults and will behave in as they are taught. If the staff is able to teach all of the children/ adults the appropriate behavior all of the children/ adults can have a positive approach to the child/adult that was being mainstreamed.

References

Comer, R. J. (2005). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology (4th ed.). New York, NY: Worth.