Profile Graphs:
-These are feature profile graphs for 3 young adults with Autism.
-The number value for each feature was obtained by my observation of the individual over an extended period of time in a variety of settings.
-A positive value of 1 to 10 represents a subjective assessment of the degree of typical behavior for that feature. A score of 1 would indicate typical expected behavior of the average person.
-A negative value of -1 to -10 represents a subjective assessment of the degree of atypical behavior for that feature. A score of -1 would indicate a mild degree of atypical behavior and a -10 would indicate severe atypical behavior.
-The last two bars on the profile show the maximum possible score for any typical feature and the most atypical value for any feature.
-These profiles demonstrate the spectrum of typical and atypical behavior within each feature.
-With such wide variations among the profiles, individuals with Autism look and act very differently from each other.
-It may take a substantial amount of time for professionals to learn to recognize clusters of these key features in an individual with atypical behavior and learning style.
-A careful analysis may also help to identify causes for some atypical features. An individual may have pragmatic difficulties or reading comprehension deficits while many of the other Autism features are not present. For these individuals, application of a full range of Autism strategies would not be productive.