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Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler first uses the term "autistic" to describe a form of schizophrenia. The word comes from the Greek word "autos," meaning "self."
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Dr. Leo Kanner uses the term to describe the withdrawn behavior of several children he studied.
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Scientist Hans Asperger identifies a milder form of autism which later became known as Asperger's Syndrome.
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Autism's cause becomes attributable to a lack of maternal warmth. This becomes a prevaling theory through the 1950's and 60's. Some children are removed from their parents as treatment.
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The DSM classifies Autistic like symptoms under childhood schizophrenia.
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With few viable options, LSD becomes an acceptable treatment for autism.
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Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas developed a program that consisted of hight structured lessons to be taught in one to one training.
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Bernard Rimland, a scientist and father of an autistic son, disproves the "Refrigerator Mother" theory by providing evidence that the condition was a result of biological factors.
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Israel Kolvin, researcher, begins to distinguish differences between autism and schizophrenia.
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This act provided students with disabilities equal access to a public school education. This law served as the blueprint for IDEA.
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The Devlopmentally Disabled Act redefines the definition of "developmentally disabled" to include autism.
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This law stated that all local public schools must provide a free education for all disabled children without any cost to parents.
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Electroshock therapy becomes an accepted treatment for autism.
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For the first time the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists autism as aeparate category from schizophrenia.
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The Individuals with Disabilities Act is updated and Autism is added as an eligibility category for Special Education.
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For the first time the DSM includes Asperger's Syndrome, Rett's Disorder and Pervasive Devlopmental Disorder (not otherwise specified).
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Andrew Wakefield publishes a paper linking the MMR vaccine to the onset of autism. This theory was discredited by other scientists but many parents still believe in it today.
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All sub-categories of autism are eliminated. Individuals are now determined to be on the autism spectrum.
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It is estimated that one out of 68 children is on the autism spectrum. This large increase over previous years is believed to be due to better detection and increased public awareness.