Louis Said:

What are the most important criteria for educational toys? 5 to 11yrs?

We Answered:

They should be textured, colourfull, if books clear printed writing, toys that help create a story for the child IE, dressing up clothes, boxes ect encourage them to play with the toy ask questions like and what are you going to do now and who are you going to see, not are you going to see the queen/ king, as they help encorage creativity. messy toys suck as paint, and gardening things like flower pots.

Terrence Said:

Autism or sensory disorder?

We Answered:

By what you have listed, I would say he has both.

These areas concern me in the relation to autism:
does not point, wave bye bye, say any words, he does not play correctly with toys, and he will not play with a toy with us, he will take the toy and hoard it from us, he also hoards dirty dishes and laundry and if we try to take anything off of him he freaks out, he used to say mmmm good and kitty kitty but he just stopped saying it about 7 months ago, He cannot tell us what he wants, does not listen to basic command such as pick up the ball or no, He only responds to his name sometimes. when he is tantruming he acts as if he wants us to pick him up but then he pushes off of us and goes right back down, does not like to be cuddled, knows how to kiss but will rarely do it, also is terrible with transitions.

These all concern me in the relation to sensory disorder:
rubs his head on the carpet and will bang the back of his head off of things. if we try to take anything off of him he freaks out, he hates socks, he will start pulling at the elastic on his pants, he also prefers long sleeves and will hold them in his hands and rub them, when he is tantruming he acts as if he wants us to pick him up but then he pushes off of us and goes right back down, does not like to be cuddled, knows how to kiss but will rarely do it.

Some I have listed in both areas because they can be signs for either.

As far as the tantrums themselves go it can be both, many with autism don't understand how communicate things as we do which can frustrate them and leave to a variety of behaviors along with not being able to understand things you are trying to tell/show them. Sensory issues can play into that as well, any of their senses can be over or under sensitive which can also leave to a variety of behaviors.

The occupational therapist should have an assessment for sensory disorder to help in indentifying a variety of sensory issues, that assement could include a questionaire for you to answer as well. They should be able to identify sensory issues and help with these, if they cannot, I would look into a new one.
This link will tell you about the variety of symptoms associated with sensory disorders, I think you'll find things you have listed here http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.c…
This link will list many of the characteristics of autism, I think you'll see that many you have listed are found here http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageS…
You have to keep in mind that autism affects each person on an individual basis, so the symptoms are unique to each individual, they can be in any combination and range anywhere from mild to severe. There are also different forms of autism (http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageS… ). There are also related conditions of autism, which can have similiar symptoms and/or share some symptoms of autism or can co-exist with autism. http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageS…