Annotated+Bibliography

"Autism and Insurance Coverage State Laws." //National Conference of State Legislatures//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. []. Information: This source is a government organization that serves legislaures in all fifty states. It provides research, technical assistance, and a chance for government policy makers to exchange ideas on some of the nation's most pressing issues. This organization is an advocate for each states' government in their dealings with Congress and the actual organization is made up of legislators from across the country. Since this information directly comes from their headquarters in Washington D.C, and the people that make up this organization are all deeply involved with the government, I trust this organization to be an expert in the field of government policies surronding autism, and know that the information they provide is correct. Summary: Most of the article serves to inform readers of the current government policies that are in effect towards covering autism therapies through insurance. However, there is a thesis to the article where the authors state: "In the past few years, the debate over autism and insurance coverage has heated up in state legislatures. Most of the legislation to provide coverage for autism has been enacted in the last three years" ("Autism and Insurance Coverage State Laws"). The authors of this article then go on to provide a chart of all fifty states and their policies towards covering autism therapies with insurance. In Pennsylvania, the policy is that the government "requires a health insurance policy or government program to provide coverage for individuals less than 21 years of age for the diagnostic assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. Maximum benefit of $36,000 per year" ("Autism and Insurance Coverage State Laws"). In some states, laws require that in order for children to qualify for insurance coverage, they must be diagnosed with autism before the age of eight. This is a problem, since many children are not diagnosed with autism until after kindergarden. Evaluation: This source appears to be very well-reseached and logical. All the facts stated are very easy to understand and there is no bias present. The author simply states facts as they are provided from the government. However, the information that is provided only helps my argument. In other articles that I have read, ABA therapy costs can reach over $100,000 a year. However, since there is a maximum amount of money that families can recieve, paying for ABA therapy is still probably very difficult. Reflection: Overall, this source proved to be very helpful. I learned a lot about the government policies in Pennsylvania and how they affect families with children diagnosed with autism. I also learned that even with these insurance policies, many families still probably have problems coming up with the money. It made me realize more about the lives of those with autism, and it furthered my understanding of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy.
 * Annotated Bibliography**

1) Autism and Vitamin D." //Vitamin D Council//. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2010. . Information: This article was interesting in that while reading it, this article appeared to take on the characteristics of a journal. There was a set table of contents, and each outlined every aspect of what the authors were trying to say. The journal or the group of papers was written by the Vitamin D Council which is made up of both citizens and scientists that serve as an educational organization in California. Their articles serve to inform both the public and professionals about Vitamin D Deficiency. Their newsletter has a circulation of over 40,000 and they run as a non-profit organization that runs on donations. While the creditentials of this website are not the most intriguing, many of their articles are written by outside scientists. Summary: This particular article follows the work of Doctor Cannell: a Harvard graduate who has written many papers on autism. Through his research, he takes the stance that autism is caused by a lack of Vitamin D. He goes on to say that while his idea is just a theory and has yet to be proven through extensive research, he states that his idea has, "has a plausible mechanism of action, explains all the unexplained facts about autism, subsumes several other theories, implies simple prevention, and is easily disprovable—all components of a useful theory". Doctor Cannell goes on to approach his theory from every angle, explaining how autism could potentially be affected by this vitamin, and how it can later serve as a cure if enough research and experiments are conducted. Evaluation: After reading through some of Doctor Cannell's theories and ideas, I think he has some very strong ideas and reasons. The only thing that seemed to be missing from Dr. Cannell's journal was the research to go along with his hypothesis. However, this lack was mentioned at the beginning of the journal, and therefore, I was able to take this into account when reading through his work. Reflection: I personally found this website really useful because it explains the ideas behind possible autism treatments that really aren't that well known. Since autism is such a difficult disorder to research, many different theories have surfaced that attempt to explain the roots of autism and why their idea of a cure could work. It is interesting to see the methods of thinking behind these ideas, and I actually never knew that Vitamin D deficiency.

2) "'Best' Treatment for Autism Emerges." //ABCNews.com// . N.p., 22 Apr. 2004. Web. 17 Oct. 2010. . Information: This article was not written by a set author, but rather from unknown journalists working for ABC News. I watch ABC news everyday as I eat my breakfast, and I know them to be a pretty powerful source. Upon reading this article, I found it to be informational, but it also has a hint of entertainment since ABC News has such a huge audience. I particularly liked this source because it deviates from a "typical" internet source and gives my project some variety. Summary: In this article, the author's viewpoint is introduced through a story. They tell the story of a mother whose three sons were both diagnosed with autism. The author then goes on to states, "that meant putting their sons on an intense therapy called ABA, or applied behavior analysis. It's been called controversial — but it's not new". As the author goes on to explain this therapy and why it works, the author(s) go back to mentioning this mother and how the treatment has worked for her own children. I thought this was an interesting approach, and really introduced me to the struggles of a family with autistic children to find a treatment that they consider to work. Evaluation: While this author has an established viewpoint, the author backs their opinions up with facts from various sources. The author includes facts from the director of the Autism Center at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and even from the director of the Autism Program at the University of Virginia's Children's Medical Center. With such valid and reliable sources, I will definately take this article to heart throughout my project. Reflection: Out of all the information/sources I have gathered so far, this one definately is my favorite. I loved the way the information was presented and since it was written for a large audience it was easily to understand. The facts and the people mentioned throughout the article were impressive and reliable, and through the background information they provided me, I learned a lot about applied behavior analysis. I can know go back and read my other articles with a greater understanding towards this therapy. Also, this is the second source I found that states this therapy is the best. This can only help my arugement throughout the course of my project. 3) Donvan, John. "Insurance vs. Autism: For Parents, Insurance is a Personal Fight." //ABC News/Health//. N.p., 24 Mar. 2008. Web. 25 Oct. 2010. [|http://abcnews.go.com]. Information: John Donvan is an ABC News correspondent and has been working with the company for the past 12 years. He has also served as a news anchor on "Good Morning America" and other weekend broadcasts. Donvan has won two Emmy Awards and holds degrees in journalism from Dartmouth and Columbia. He has also been honored by many news organizations. While I wouldn't consider him an expert on the subject of autism, I do however, consider him to be an expert in journalism and therefore, I trust his ability to report the facts and stories as they actually appear. Summary: Very early on, John Donvan states his thesis. He writes, "ABA therapy can cost up to a $100,000 a year" which immediately leads readers to believe that finding a way to pay for this therapy is a nightmare. Donvan then goes on to explain just how difficult it is for parents to pay this insurance, and he even includes quotes from the spokesperson from the American Association of Health Plans. Many parents argue that their child having access to this expensive therapy earlier in life has saved society a lot of money later on in adult care. Essentially, this article helps my argument in that Applied Behavior Analysis can help lead to adults diagnosed with autism who need less one-on-one care. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto auto 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Evaluation: Although this article is extremely one-sided, the point that John Donvan argues favors my own argument for my project. The article includes opinions from many parents whose children have gone through the ABA therapy, and many of them lament of this expensive therapy. Donvan uses the arguments of the parents to emphazize the point that either way, society pays for the cost of this therapy, weather it be in grants to the parents towards ABA therapy, or in-depth care for the many autistic adults. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto auto 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Reflection: This article opened my eyes and made me realize how important ABA therapy is. For a therapy that sounded so simple, I was surprised to hear how expensive it was, and how hard it is for parents to come up with the money to pay for it. This article ties in perfectly with my topic because this therapy while essential and beneficial to society in the long-run, is not covered by many insurance policies. Therefore, there is a need for awareness about this therapy and how it needs to be more available to those in need of a future. <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; margin: auto auto auto 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">4) Edwards, Michele Engel. //Autism//. San Diego: Lucent Books Inc., 2001. Print. Diseases and Disorders.  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Michele Engel Edwards has worked with one of the largest volunteer health organizations in the United States after she graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in English. With various health organizations Engal has managed clinical trials for universities and has also written several promotional articles for for various magazines. This source is purely informational as it presents valuable information on the lives of autistic people that is backed up with facts from various organizations. The end of the book provides a detailed list of references and suggestions for further reading, so obviously the author knew that her intended audience would be people trying to learn more about this complicated disorder. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Throughout the book, the author takes the position that autism is a livable disorder and appears to highlight the organizations and possibilities that are designed to make the lives of those living with autism easier. While the author provides many useful facts, she does not appear to take a position, but rather appears to stand in the background to inform readers. The main purpose of this book is to highlight key points in an average autistic person’s life, such as schooling and life after graduation, to make reading about the disorder easier. The book includes references to many organizations that have been developed to help those living with autism to find a suitable place in this world. One of these is the Special Friends Organization that has been established to help bridge the gap between those with autism and those that don't. The author states, "The programs...proivides settings (parties etc.) that the students can enjoy together.  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Since the layout of the book is easy to follow and covers the entire lifespan of an autistic person, I believe the topic is more than adequately addressed. The author incorporates quotes from a variety of different sources including The Autism Society of America. At the end of the book, the author has a list of sixty-eight references used throughout her work. Overall, this source taught me the different options possibilities for autisitc people. However, this source did not give statistics towards the amount of autisitic people living in these conditions. It would be interesting to research this further since my focus of the project is to increase awareness. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">5) "Is Behavior Analysis Becoming More Widely Accepted?." //Association for Behavior Analysis International//. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2010. [|http://www.abainternational.org]. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Information: The articles contained within this webiste were written by members of the Association for Behavior Analysis Internaitonal. This organization has been around since 1974 and was created primarily to educate members who are either interested in or teaching the concept of applied behavior analysis. The website includes ways to find a job applying this method of therapy as well as scientific journals that serve to educate the public on this growing form of autistic therapy. Since this organization is international and appears to have the support of many therapists and doctors nationwide, I believe this organization to be a leading expect in the field of applied behavior analysis and I plan to use this resource throughout my project. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Summary: Since this organization is designed to increase awareness about this growing autism treatment, the main stance of the Association for Behavior Analysis International is to inform the public and to provide reasons why this treatment has been so successful. Throughout their website, there are many articles that the general public can read such as "what is behavior?" and "do all behavior analysts do research?". Essentially, this website answers commonly asked questions that typically aren't explained on general webistes that only mention what applied behavior analysis is. It really helped me to understand why this treatment is getting to be so popular nationwide. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Evaluation: Overall, I believe this source is trustworthy and informational. Along with stating the facts about this therapy, the organization also mentions problems and negative images that have surrounded ABA. They state, "Legitimate behavior analysts are also hurt by reports of abuse by people who incorrectly claim to be using behavior analysis in treating behavior problems". To me, this organization covers all parts of the spectrum, and will be instrumental for me in my project. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Reflection: This website helped me a lot with my project because since I've already found so many websites that state that applied behavior analysis is the most successful treatment, I needed to find a source that explained how the therapy actually works and all the background details that go with it. This will prove to be an enormous help throughout the course of my project. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">6) "Mission of Autism Partnership." //Autism Partnership U.S.//. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2010. []. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Information: For this annotation, I will be citing the entire website, since I found the entire thing useful and engaging. This website was created by the Autism Partnership U.S which is primarily responsible for supporting low income families that have children diagnosed with autism and helping them pay for therapies. They understand how hard it is to pay for therapy, and their stance in the article is that every autistic child should have the opportunity to recieve treatment: no matter the financial situation. I thought this article was interesting because they stated that many therapies aren't covered by insurance. This would be an interesting point to mention in my project, since it involves paying for treatment and also involves autism awareness. This organization also works to provide research on autism specifically regarding therapies and different kinds of treatments. Autism Partnership runs as a charity organization.

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Summary: Throughout this webiste, a lot of information is presented in support of applied behavior analysis, a therapy option that I have come across in my reading before. From what the Autism Partnership says, Applied Behavior Analysis is the most expensive autism therapy, however is proves to be the most successful. In bold print, the thesis, or main goal, of the autism partnership is clear: "Our mission is to provide beneficial services to children whose parents may not be able to afford clinically effective treatment and to advance behavioral treatment research for ASD". In a few of the other books I gathered for this project, the Autism Partnership is listed as a contact for intrested parents who wish to find out more about autism and therfore, I believe it to be a reliable source. ======

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Evaluation: While this source didn't really argue a specific point, I liked how I finally found an organization, that not only helps me to determine what the most successful autism therapy is, but also is in support of raising autism awareness through providing aid to families. To me, the Autism Partnership website contains more of their own viewpoints than anyone elses, but I found their viewpoint to be significant enough to include in my project. ======

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Reflection: The one thing that I took from this source was the Autism Partnership's support of Applied Behavior Analysis. This will make the 3rd source I found that is in full support of this treatment and will help me to make a more accurate and assertive arguement throughout my project. ======

7) Olinger, Courtney. "Privileging insider-knowledges in the world of autism." //The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work// 1.2 (2010): 37-49. Web. 8 Oct. 2010. [|www.dulwichcentre.com.au].


 * Information:** The author of this article, Courtney Olinger, is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist. She works with the Board of Behaviorial Services in California and specializes in working with families with children who are diagnosed with autism. The purpose of this article is to inform readers of her findings and research over the course of many years and to present insider knowledge on what it's like to have a child diagnosed with autism. Throughout her article, the author takes a stance and argues that there is a need for more autism awareness and starts her journal with a series of statistics that provide readers with accurate background knowledge, and then she argues her position. She states, "1 in 150 eight-year-olds in the US has autism...unfortunately, discourses surronding ASD often present limited views and ways of working with these families". This article takes on the persona of being a informational report.
 * Summary:** Throughout this article, the author discusses the issues surronding autism, and how limited awareness can actually prohibit families from recieving the help they need. She states, "many have been able to escape the confines of social discourse around autism that have gained expert stature in the United States and around the world" (38). In order to prove her results and statements, Courtney Olinger devised a number of ways to see what therapies parents liked best and gained insight into their opinions and feelings towards government aid. Olinger's findings help my arguement in that her insider knowledge that she has gathered helps me to better understand the opinions of society in terms of therapies and government research. At the end, the author even provides a list of reccomended therapies that she has put together through the results of her research.
 * Evaluation:** After reading this article, the information provided appears to be very well-researched and presented. The topic has been more than adequately addressed, and I found it particularly interesting how the author provides very little infomation on the causes of autism, and leaves the reader to discover what autism truly is throughout her article. The author appears to be biased in the stance that more awareness towards autism needs to happen in society, however this bias can only help my arguement.
 * Reflection:** I learned a lot from this source about how families with children who are diagnosed with autism carry out their daily lifes. Of course it is no easy task, but I learned valuable information about therapies and programs that will help convey to people the magnitude of this disability.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">8) Parks, Peggy J. //Autism//. San Diego: Reference Point Press, 2009. Print. Compact Research. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">**Information:** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The author of this book, Peggy J. Parks, holds a science degree from Aquinas College and has written more than 70 nonfiction books that serve to educate adult populations. Her work is mainly an overview of autism; including its diagnosis, possible treatments, and details on the lives of those living with autism related disorders. While I wouldn't consider Parks to be an autism expert, she has various references from people and societies that specialize in autism including articles from "Autism Advocate" and "Autism's Many Meanings". <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Summary: ** The author of this book does not exactly take a stance on the issue of autism awareness. Instead the author includes articles that argue different viewpoints such as "How Effective are Autism Treatments?" and the effects of new research. At the end, the author has a section of primary source quotes that argue both positions. While the book itself provided me with a wealth of background knowledge, I really enjoyed looking at the side statistics that the book provided. For instance, the book quotes, "About half of all autistic children are not diagnosed before kindergarten, often because parents do not recognize the warning signs" (Parks 14). While I understood that a greater sense of awareness needed to be brought up in society, this statistic completely blew my mind. Overall, this book seemed very well research, even though it is mainly designed to provide a general background. The author remains unbiased in that she writes to inform readers of this condition rather than condemn their ignorance. This book proved especially helpful in that it provided me with facts and statistics that will help me later on in my project. Every aspect of autism was well discussed and it really helped me to widen my knowledge of this disability. While this book does not directly address my issue, the statistics within its pages will definitely help me with one of my research-products. For instance, I can compile the statistics found within the "background books" to make an Animoto or some other fact sheet so others can become aware of the need to address the issue of autism with more severity.
 * Evaluation:**
 * Reflection:**

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">9) "Treatments for Autism." //Autism Speaks//. N.p., 2010. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. <http://www.autismspeaks.org>. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Information: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">There is no specific author for this article, however the information presented is provided by the Autism Speaks organization. Autism Speaks is now the largest autism science and advocacy program in the nation. This foundation provideds funds for autism research which includes: treatments, prevention, and a possible cure. They are also responsible for helping families with children diagnosed with autism, as well as educating parents about possible therapy options. This article is mainly an informational article that serves to provide readers/parents alike about treatment options for autistic children. They give their opinion on which is the best one. After reading this article, I would definately consider the Autism Speaks organization to be an expert in the field of autism. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Summary: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Early in the article, the author makes the point that "The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development lists Applied Behavior Analysis among the recommended treatment methods for autism spectrum disorders" ("Treatments for Autism"). They then go on to describe exactly how Applied Behavior Analysis is the most effective autism treatment. However, since the article is informational, the author(s) go on to explain other important therapies that could have an impact on autisic children. Some of these include diet plans, developmental floortime, and occupational and speech therapies. However, the article mentions several times that it is not simply enough to utilize one treatment. They state that most parents notice change when two or more treatments are combined and used at different times throughout the child's life. In support of the Applied Behavior Analysis, the article states, "For example, methods that use the principle of positive reinforcement to strengthen a behavior by arranging for it to be followed by something of value have been used to develop a wide range of skills in learners with and without disabilities" ("Treatments for Autism"). They explain that sometimes, therapy methods that are used to help non-disabled people are more effective then therapies specifically designed for those with autism. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Evaluation: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">While other souces aren't necessarily quoted in this article, The Autism Speaks Foundation conducts its own research and is therefore perfectly able to report on their findings. The Autism Speaks Foundation is a source that other authors reporting on autism will quote in their own articles. In many of the books I have checked out, The Autism Speaks Foundation/Organization is listed as a source to contact with further questions regarding autism. In terms of possible autism treatments, I believe this topic has been more than adequately addressed. It covers treatments from every angle, and is effective and easy to understand. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Reflection: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Overall, I believe that this article will be a great help towards putting together my final product. It has provided me with an adequate background knowledge of many available treatments, and has also given me a foundation to base the rest of my research in terms of treatments. Not to mention that the Autism Speaks Foundation is an organization that is too important in the world of autism to leave out without mentioning during my presentation.