Check out this article that I have recently written about Jasper Steed, an autistic man that has created is own success! It is quite an inspirational story!
http://autism-education.suite101.com/article.cfm/autistic-man-jasper-ste...
Autism News Stories
These are news stories that Autism Blogger Members found interesting. If you see an article you'd like to share with the group, click on Create Content, and News Story.
Reading Great Autism Books Helps Your Family Get a Head Start in Your Battle Against The Disorder
One of the main things we learned from our studies is that it is notable that autism affects individual patients in a different way from the next, and as such, each patient should be cared for differently concerning their treatments, medication and available therapies. Other than the non-medical activities, such as sound, listening, speaking, understanding language, and vision exercises, different medications are also given in certain circumstances to reduce certain autistic symptoms which are not lessened through the non-medicinal trainings or prescribed diet changes.
Just from reading specialist autism books we learned that certain types of medication which is commonly used to lessen the patients autism symptoms of aggression and violent outbursts, and the possibility of triggering epilepsy, is a certain strain of stimulant, such as the over prescribed Ritalin and one time wonder cure, Adderall.
From roughly 49 per cent of autism sufferers who were prescribed a pharmaceutical alternative, only around eighteen per cent are offered stimulants. This small amount is largely down to the efficacy of antipsychotic use as well as antidepressant medications, which also cause reduced dependency.
We found out from reading autism books that the manner in which stimulants help to keep symptoms of autism in check is by greatly assisting the patient to focus and reduce hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour. This however, does not come without the possibility of certain side effects. Too much use of certain stimulants can lead to drug dependence, and so must be used only if there is an undeniable improvement in your childs' behavior or possibly with alternative treatments.
Other possible long term problems include sleep disorder, loss of appetite, problems with blood pressure, and muscle soreness. If a parent or carer notices any of these issues, the health professional must be notified right away. Alternative treatments may well be prescribed by your physician also in order to avoid any invasive procedures that could affect your childs' daily life functioning more than is absolutely necessary.
By simply downloading and reading autism books we were able to learn so much more about the autism condition than we would have just from our childs' health carers. This has helped us deal with autism problems so much better.
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There are many more resources and information about autism signs, symptoms, treatments, and cutting edge medical research in, Autism: Read the latest autism books and give your child a head start. |
newslink:
http://www.ezinearticles.comNewborns learn even while asleep
An intriguing new study claims that the learning in babies is not only confined to the awake state, but they may be absorbing details even while sleeping.
According to researchers, the brain of newborns starts adapting to life outside the womb quickly, processing and storing information while they doze.
Dana Byrd, a psychologist
at the University of Florida who was part of the study stated, “We found a basic form of learning in sleeping newborns, a type of learning that may not be seen in sleeping adults.
“They are better learners, better ‘data sponges’ than we knew. While past studies find this type of learning can occur in infants who are awake, this is the first study to document it in their most frequent state, while they are asleep.
“Newborn infants’ sleep patterns are quite different to those of older children or adults in that they show more active sleep where heart and breathing rates are very changeable.
“It may be this sleep state is more amenable to experiencing the world in a way that facilitates learning.”
Experiment to gauge the learning ability of sleeping newborns
In a bid to gauge the mental intelligence of newborns, the researchers designed a simple experiment for 26 infants.
Researchers used a machine to record the electrical brain wave activity of the sleeping infants and used a video camera to capture their facial expressions.
As a part of the study, the investigators played a tune followed by gently blowing air on the babies’ eyelids. The process was repeated nine times.
Observations by researchers
The researchers noted that after around 20 minutes, around 24 of the babies squeezed their eyes in response to the tune anticipating the air puff.
Also, it was observed that the brain waves of the infants had changed.
The researchers thus theorize that infants learn and respond from outside stimulations even when they are sleeping.
Implications of the study
According to the researchers, the eyelid movement of the sleeping babies
reflects the normal function of the cerebellum [a large structure consisting of two halves (hemispheres) located in the lower part of the brain; responsible for the coordination of movement and balance.] , a part of the brain that plays a vital role in the developmental of disorders.
Experts hope the findings will not only help identify babies at risk of autism and dyslexia but also lead to further research in these neurological disorders.
Click on the newslink to read the full story
CHANNEL 10...CBS...CONNECTS...WITH DR. NELSON MANE'
CHANNEL 10…CONNECTS…WITH DR. NELSON MANE’
What is Hemispheric Integration Therapy???
How is this therapy helping children on the Autism Spectrum???
And…
Where can I get more information about Hemispheric Integration???
These are just some of the questions that were answered on the “in-studio interview” with Studio 10 morning show hosts, Holley Sinn and Jerome Ritchey, talking with Dr. Nelson Mane’ and parent of a child with Autism, Sharon Baron. Here is the link to the show:
http://www.hitautism.com/uncategorized/hemispheric-integration-interview-on-studio-10
Temple Grandin Interview
A very interesting interview with Temple Grandin. She mentions one thing I do clash with the cure side, and even neurodiversity parents, on quite frequently. Autistic thought is very literal and detail oriented, and sometimes the way neurotypicals word things just adds to the confusion:
"I find that when parents ask me questions, they ask very imprecise questions. They say, “My kid has behavioral problems at school.” Well, I have to say, “What kind of problems? Is he hitting? Is he rude? Does he rock in class?” I need to narrow questions to specifics."
You'll get better answers if you ask more narrow questions.
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Autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire ready to dazzle Sydney with his memory
Stephen Wiltshire will arrive in Australia this week to show off his extraordinary talent for drawing cities in intricate detail.
The 36-year-old artist, who was diagnosed with autism when he was three, hopes to produce a poster-size pen and ink drawing of the harbour city after examining its skyline for just 20 minutes.
He's already impressed many around the world with his large-scale intricate panoramas of New York and London.
Before drawing those two world-famous cities, he memorised the position and size of hundreds of buildings and landmarks while on 20-minute helicopter rides.
His four-metre long panorama of London on a curved canvas took five days to complete in 2007, with not one sneak peak at a photograph of the city for help.
Last October he followed up with a jaw-dropping 5.5 metre-long drawing of New York City, including the Empire State Building, which took just three days.
When he arrives in Australia, one of Mr Wiltshire's first stops will be Sydney Tower so he can gain a birdseye view of the skyline before getting down to work at Customs House on Tuesday.
Sitting in his tiny studio perched in a loft above his gallery on London's famous Pall Mall, the quietly spoken artist is excited about his first visit to Australia.
"I have never been there before," he said.
"I wanted to go because it's a nice, beautiful city. It's going to be amazing."
Mr Wiltshire has been invited to Sydney by Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) to mark Autism month.
His arrival was delayed by more than a week because of the recent disruption to air travel in Europe following the Icelandic volcano eruption.
While he won't decide on what exactly will be in his Sydney drawing until the last minute, he admits remembering all the detail of a city's skyline is difficult even though he makes it look relatively easy.
"I find it hard work to put in lots of information in just a few days," he said.
"Sometimes it's hard to remember because there's lots of detail.
"My favourite is New York. They have the big avenues and lots of yellow taxi cabs. The traffic is chaotic and it's full of people."
Stephen's amazing talent for drawing was discovered when he was just five years old and sketching London's double decker buses.
His family and teachers soon discovered that his art work was one of the key ways he could communicate.
By age nine he had moved on to St Paul's Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge.
Click on the newslink for the full story.
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Son's autism leads to innovation
The father of a child with severe autism has developed technology to help him communicate.
Stephen Lodge said the idea for his Speaks4Me system came to him years ago but has been waiting for technology to catch up in order to make it a reality.
His eleven-year-old son, Callum, is non-verbal and uses his father's invention to speak.
Speaks4Me was on show at Naidex 2010 - the annual disability exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham.
Mr Lodge's system runs on any device that can run the Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 operating system.
It uses the concept of dragging and dropping images from one area of the screen to another to form sentences.
The user then presses a speech button to "verbalise" the sentence.
"Callum has been using Speaks4Me for some time now and he has already been able to create some very expressive sentences," Mr Lodge told the BBC.
Examples include, "I want a drink of juice", "I want to go outside", and "I feel tired".
Mr Lodge - who lives in South Yorkshire - has 20 years' experience in technology and developed Speaks4Me after deciding that other products on the market were unsatisfactory for Callum.
He cashed in his savings and raised money on his property in order to finance the venture.
Speaks4Me is currently sold on a portable, touch screen media player imported from the Far East.
But the company is finalising a "software only" price which will mean that it can run on any Windows laptop, desktop or even an interactive plasma white board in schools.
Mr Lodge says that several people have already tried the system.
"It's fabulous to see how such an exciting but simple concept is well understood by the children that have been introduced to it," he said.
Mr Lodge estimates it takes half an hour or less to be able to understand and use the system.
He is also hoping that it will prove useful to stroke survivors - about a third of whom lose the ability to speak, either temporarily or permanently.
Click on the newslink to read the full story.
Hope Network Opens Region's Only Comprehensive Autism Treatment Center
Hope Network's newest facility, the $1.2 million, 12,000 SF Center for Autism on the Coral Lettinga Campus in Grand Rapids, will officially open its doors on April 23 with a ceremony from 4:00pm-7:00pm. The Center will serve children and adolescents with autism, neuro-developmental disabilities, learning disabilities and ADHD with an array of services under one roof, something that previously was not available in West Michigan.
The Center for Autism, as it's officially called, offers all of Hope Network's specialists in one location. They are able to offer assessments and treatment from a multi-disciplinary approach in order to ensure the best course of treatment for the child, and a less stressful experience for the entire family.
The facility is located at 3361 36th St. SE in Grand Rapids, immediately next to Hope Network's inpatient behavioral health services facility, D.A.R.T. (Developmental Adolescent Residential Treatment) -- the only program of its kind in West Michigan. Having both residential and outpatient options on one campus, really speaks to the comprehensive approach Hope Network is pursuing.
The Center will allow Hope Network to substantially enhance its ability to serve the increasing number of children diagnosed with autism.
"We are very excited to open this facility to the community," said Phil Weaver, President and CEO of Hope Network. "This center will offer the most comprehensive array of autism treatment and services in one location in West Michigan."
According to the Autism Society of America, about 1 in every 150 American children is diagnosed with autism, for boys the statistic is even more drastic -- almost 1 in 94 boys. Those statistics make Autism the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States. For children who are diagnosed with the disorder, intensive early intervention is key -- each child has specific needs depending on the deficits of autism. The services they require need to be specifically tailored for each child. Hope Network officials believe that there is no outpatient center for autism that offers the kinds of services provided at the Center for Autism on the Coral Lettinga Campus.
The facility has been fully funded by donations, most notably from the campus' namesake family, Mike and Connie Lettinga, who have an 11-year old daughter living with autism. Connie's struggles in getting her daughter the most appropriate care has been difficult. "That's why I wanted to be involved in creating Hope Network's Center for Autism: so other families wouldn't struggle the way I did in finding the most suitable care," notes Connie.
Connie didn't need to look far to find support of Hope Network. Her husband Mike is the son of Wilbur Lettinga, who was instrumental in creating the Hope Network Foundation in 1987.
Click on the newslink to read the full story.
Windmill Project to present first-ever autism awareness walk
The Windmill Project of Alexandria, MN will present the first-ever Autism Awareness Fun Walk.
The community is invited to join family members of children with autism disorders from Douglas and other nearby counties on Saturday, April 24 for the walk.
The event will take place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Discovery Middle School, 501 North McKay Avenue in Alexandria.
Participants will help to increase awareness and raise funds for future educational opportunities and events where families can learn and connect with each other for encouragement and mutual support.
Organizers are requesting a donation of $5 per person (free for those age 5 and younger). Indoor and outdoor routes will be available.
Autism awareness T-shirts will be sold at the Fun Walk and are also available online at www.windmillproject.org.
The public is invited to learn about this puzzling neurological and developmental disorder. Currently, there are no known causes.
Sometimes, those with autism may act in unacceptable ways as the result of overwhelming sensory issues or when they struggle to communicate, according to Gail Kulp from The Windmill Project.
Kulp noted that some people with autism are very detail-oriented, highly intelligent or have special gifts as artists, musicians and inventors.
She encourages community members to attend the first-ever Autism Awareness Fun Walk to find out how communities can benefit from the skills, insight and determination of people who have autism.
Click on the newslink to read the full story.
