State officials have announced plans to close the Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona, one of California's largest residential care facilities for people with severe developmental disabilities.

Terri Delgadillo, director of the Department of Developmental Services, said Friday the 82-year-old facility could shut its doors within two years.

Delgadillo cites a declining population and detoriating infrastructure at the 302-acre campus as reasons for the planned closure.

Lanterman is home to about 400 people with disabilities including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Down syndrome and autism.

Officials say a planning team will work with individual clients to determine where they will be placed.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

Location(s)

Horizons Developmental Remediation Center Brings You a Parent/Family Workshop

Learn The Five Simple Steps to Better Communication, Behavior, and Relationships For You and Your Child

The five key concepts covered will provide you with a guide in any situation you may encounter with your child. A combination of lecture, video examples, and hands-on activities will ensure you understand not only the concepts involved but know how to go home and apply them. You will leave at the end of the day with changed thinking, changed emotions, and changed actions in relation to your children.

If the workshop is not local to you or the date will not work, don't worry we are having the event professionally recorded and will be available shortly after the workshop. More information is listed on the workshop websited listed below.

For more information visit http://horizonsdrc.com/newsletters/day-of-change-workshop or call 616-698-0306 or email info@horizonsdrc.com.

Amity Regional School District officials say it just doesn’t make sense: Why is the district being punished for having too many white autistic kids?

And it’s the federal government’s punishment that is raising tempers: cutting the crucial funding used to eductate the austistic students.

It’s a thorny issue for all sides. When one racial group — black, white or otherise — appears to be getting a disproportionate amount of special education funding, red flags go up at the federal Department of Education. But local educators said they are powerless to control the racial makeup of their community and who is diagnosed with autism, which is under the special education umbrella.

Autism rates are skyrocketing, with the lastest studies showing 1 in every 110 children on the autism spectrum. Properly educating austistic children is extremely expensive, and local districts rely on federal funding to offset the cost to taxpayers. The issue also hints at a hidden trend: parents of autistic children may be moving to certain communities because the public school district has a good reputation for educating autistic children.

Amity Superintendent of Schools John Brady’s dilemma began last year when the district — which serves Bethany, Orange and Woodbridge — received a letter from the state Department of Education. The state told Amity it has too many white students who are diagnosed as autistic when compared to other racial subgroups. Amity last year had 38 white, one Asian, and one black autistic student.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

I just wanted to welcome the newbies =)

(Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)

I've watched the children come and go

 A late long march into spring

 I sit and watch those children

Jump in the tall grass

Leap the sprinkler

Walk in the ground

 Bicycle clothespin spokes

 The sound the smell of swingset hands

 I will try to sing a happy song

 I'll try and make a happy game to play

 Come play with me I whispered to my new found friend

 Tell me what it's like to go outside

 I've never been

 Tell me what it's like to just go outside

 I've never been

 And I never will

I'm not supposed to be like this

 I'm not supposed to be like this

 But it's okay

 Hey, those kids are looking at me

 I told my friend myself

 Those kids are looking at me

 They're laughing and they're running over here

 They're laughing and they're running over here

 What do I do?

 What can I do?

 What should I do?

 What do I say?

 What can I say?

I said I'm not supposed to be like this

 Let's try to find a happy game to play

Let's try to find a happy game to play

 I'm not supposed to be like this

 But it's okay, okay

AbilityFirst Camp Paivika is for special needs children (11+) and adults. Located in Crestline (San Bernardino Mtns.), CA, the fully accessible camp features all the traditional camp fare including horseback riding and swimming, in a safe and nurturing environment. Our video explains how Camp Paivika has benefited special needs families, including providing the opportunity for respite: http://www.abilityfirst.org/programs/programs_camppaivika_video.asp

Our website: www.abilityfirst.org/camppaivika,  also details schedules and fees, as well as weekend getaways and our Mom’s Weekend, a retreat for special needs moms.

Autism cases are on the rise. Or so the most recent data would have us believe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 1 in 100 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—up from 1 in 150 in 2007. A study in the journal Pediatrics in October 2009 revealed similar numbers—parents of 1 in 90 children reported that their child had ASD. With boys, the rate of ASD was 1 in 58. Without a doubt, autism is the country’s fastest-growing developmental disability, affecting more children than cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Still, in dealing with a childhood disorder that ranges from “highly functioning” to uncommunicative, and such a long list of potential triggers and treatments, even the numbers themselves are subject to questioning.

“It irritates me to no end that we still argue over whether there is an increase in incidence,” says Michael Merzenich, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the University of California San Francisco who has pioneered research in brain plasticity (essentially, retraining brains) and leads the brain-training software company Posit Science. “I think there is lots of evidence for increased incidence,” Merzenich says. “Overwhelmingly it supports that there are things in the environment that are contributing to the rate of incidence. But people still argue.”  read more »

Working in IT I constantly come across people who have computer trouble. Most cases require wiping the computer clean and reinstalling Windows, this fixes 99% of the computer problems I deal with. However, most people NEVER have their information backed up. Big mistake!

Everyone has something on their computer that they would hate to lose. Whether it is your resume, household budget, pictures of your kids, recipes, music, movies, phone numbers, or even your entire business, you simply must backup your information. You know that old saying "You don't know what you've got until it's gone" most people don't realize this until their computer crashes, then it becomes all too clear.

Why should I backup?

The question is not "if" your computer fails, but "when." Let's face it; Windows will fail at some point. Guaranteed! Things like spyware, viruses, registry problems as well countless other random Windows issues that could render your hard drive completely useless. Hard drives do physically fail, but usually it is something with Windows that gets hosed up. Disaster happens; it may be a natural disaster, fire or even something simple like a game your kid loaded. You need to be ready when disaster does happen, expect the worst.

Think about it for a second, say you logged on to your computer this morning and nothing was there? What would you lose? Would you even know what all was on there? How much would it cost to get everything back? How much time would it take? Would you trust the people at Geek Squad to get it back for you without missing anything?

Can't someone recover my information?  read more »

http://www.examiner.com/x-/x-21945-Austin-Movie-Examiner~y2010m1d5-Temple-Grandin-movie-on-HBO-Feb-6

Eleven-year-old Aaron Cvengros of north suburban Winthrop Harbor is autistic. But that didn't stop the Our Lady of Humility School fifth-grader from becoming the first student there to win an academic competition with the use of a letter board.

Aaron won the National Geographic Geography Bee on Jan. 22, participated in by other fourth- through-eighth-grade OLH students. The contest is designed to help spark interest in the subject.

Identifying the location of Puget Sound was the winning ticket for the boy.

"It was one of the most remarkable things I've ever seen," said OLH Principal Patrick Browne. "This was one of those breakthrough moments. And it was the first time a student at OLH has won a contest using the RPM (Rapid Prompting Method)."

Denise Lamm, Aaron's assistant who helps him in the classroom, said the boy used the regular letter board for the geography bee, using RPM by pointing to each stenciled letter with a pencil to spell out his answers. "He used the stencil so the judges could see his choice," said Lamm. In class he sometimes uses a laminated board.

Aaron's mom, Annette, said her son has been using RPM to communicate since he was in the first grade.

Aaron, using a letter board being translated by his mom, said he won a medal in the competition. His mom said he wouldn't wear the medal all day at school because he didn't want to seem boastful in front of his fellow students.

Click on the newslink to read the full article.

Dawning sexuality in the autistic sometimes takes the form of self-aggressive behavior, such as arm biting and slapping of one’s own face. I did not know that, but I learn it at this seminar, where another dad of an 11-year-old has just said his son does that.

“Can I expect an intensification of that kind of aggressive behavior?” the dad asks.

“You can expect an intensification of sexual behavior,” replies the speaker, a soft-spoken psychologist who reminds me of David Steinberg. David Steinberg had a really funny guest spot on “The Odd Couple” years ago, long before I had an autistic son with hair in new places and I suddenly had to attend seminars entitled “Sexuality and People With Developmental Disabilities”...

at jeffslife.tripod.com/alextheboy

Christine Evans, Assistant Professor, Department of Education and Judah Axe, Assistant Professor, Department of Education Do you know the three defining characteristics of autism?

The rate of autism in US is one in 150 children. Hear experts explain the history of autism, the challenges that children with autism face as they grow up

The University of Washington Autism Center is looking for 150 young children to participate in a study.

Researchers will take brain images of participants as they sleep three times between the ages of six months and two years. It will not harm the children, but it may unlock important secrets about Autism if they can reveal what goes wrong with brain development in infants who later develop Autism.

According to an report by KING 5 news, "There's something that happens probably between six months and a year based indirectly on head circumference measurement. And so what we're doing is the first study to prospectively look at what this process is," explains Dr. Stephen Dager of the UW's Autism Center.

The study is open to babies with at least one older sibling -- some of those brothers or sisters should be diagnosed with Autism, others should not.

"Our goal is to improve lives for children of Autism and their families. We feel very strongly that by identifying children earlier and more accurately that we can start early intervention," said Says researcher Dr. Annette Estes.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

Joe De Marsh is helping students with autism “one bead at a time.”

The teacher at Berger East in Garden City started a unique entrepreneur program in which his students create beaded jewelry that they sell to the public.

The jewelry makes perfect gifts, or favors for weddings, showers and parties.

Making it offers students with severe behavior issues a valuable lesson.

“It's teaching them a skill that they normally wouldn't be able to get. It's something they can do after they leave Berger. They can make the jewelry and sell it,” DeMarsh said.

DeMarsh started as a teacher at the Berger School for Students for Autism three years ago, and quickly noticed the students enjoyed stringing beads.

Click on the newslink to read the full article.

The first part is in a "native language," and then the second part provides a translation, or at least an explanation.

Science has long known that Autism is some type of developmental disorder in the brain but there's never been a definitive answer for its cause.

Now a Cleveland Clinic researcher released a study that may provide one.

The center part of your brain, called the corpus collosum, allows each side of the brain to communicate. The study found them to be much smaller in children with autism.

When five-year-old Paul first came to the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism, he could not communicate and had serious behavioral problems.

But after early intervention, he has made much progress.

Thomas Frazier, Ph.D. thinks autism is linked to the size of the corpus collosum in the brain.

"So, you can imagine if your corpus collosum is not working right, then the two sides of the brain aren't going to communcate correctly," Frazier says.

People with autism typically are not able to process complex social and emotional cues.

Click on the newslink to read the full article.

Potty training your child with autism. A seminar that will give you lessons on how to do so.

 http://www.autism-society.org/site/Clubs?club_id=1410&sid=12510&pg=event

Imagine Giving a Voice to Someone with Autism who can not Speak.   The Foundation for Autism Support and Training Opens Unique Augmentative Communication Center Opens in Montgomery County, Maryland 

Many individuals diagnosed with autism are unable to verbally express feelings, thoughts and needs.  Their struggle to communicate even the most basic needs through gestures, facial expressions and body language can be frustrating and frightening to these individuals and their families.  The inability to communicate effectively often presents a barrier to learning and literacy and creates significant obstacles to social and emotional development and independence. 

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), also frequently called Speech Generating Devices (SGDs) or Voice Output Communication Aids (VOCAs), are devises that can provide a bridge from a life where thoughts, feelings and needs are held in silence, to a life where interaction, expression and learning are possible.   read more »

If you would like to see some  short news shows that feature Karen Kaye-Beall working with her son Tyler Beall on an augmentative communication device and also see a range of AAC devices in the Foundation for Autism Support and Training - Augmentative Communication Showroom and Demonstration Center, go to www.myarchway.ning.com and become a member (free of charge).  Scroll down the far left hand margin and you will find the links to a variety of news reports.

There is also a very good introductory video on You Tube on this subject:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb_URYj_L_k

Although this You Tube video primarily features Dynavox products, by no means is Dynavox the only manufacturer.

Here is a list of only a few of the  hundreds of other manufacturers. This list represents the devices we have in our AAC showroom and does not necessarily constitute an endoresment.  Some manufacturers were kind enough to donate a sample device to our non profit showroom, some provided signficant discounts, others did not cooperate, so we had to purchase a few devices to have a comprehensive sample of devices.

These prices were 2009 prices so do your research with each company to get up to date pricing.

My son Tyler is using a green Vantage Lite (by Prentke Romich) with Picture Word Power added onto it.  You will find that info below as well.  We really like this device and software for Tyler, but keep in mind, a qualified speech and language pathologist must do a proper assessment to determine which device will best serve your chld or adult with autism.  Check with your school system's special education department to see if they have an Assistive Technology Department. If so, try to arrange an AAC assessment free of charge for your child.  read more »

At our pharmacy we fill hundreds of compounded prescriptions every month.  New mom’s/dad’s come into the pharmacy often with 5-6 new prescriptions and a limited budget.  They often ask, which is more important (i.e. what can I put off until next month?)  My off the cuff answer is “all of them”, but I realize that compounded medications can become expensive quickly.  Many times prescription insurance does not cover custom compounds so the patients have to pay out of pocket. 

So…here is what I call the Three Big Bats (the 3 best therapies for your money – in my opinion)

1.       Trio Injections (Methy B-12, Flonic Acid, NAC)

2.       GFCF Diet

3.       Hyperbaric Chamber therapy  read more »

Why does Augmentative and Alternative Communiation (ACC) work so well for people with autism?

In a leading book on AAC by Joanne Cafiero, PhD, Meaningful Exchanges for People with Autism, www.woodbinehouse.com, Dr. Cafiero talks about all the ways AAC fits people with autism well (page 26)

• Most people with autism are visual learner - AAC uses visual cues
• Many people with autism are interested in inanimate objects - AAC tools and devices are inanimate
• Many people with autism have difficulty with complex cues - Level of complexity can be controlled so AAC grows with the child
• Many people with autism have difficulty with change - AAC is static and predictable
• Most people with autism have difficulty with the complexities of social interaction - AAC provides a buffer and bridge between communication partners
• Some people with autism have difficulty with motor planning - AAC is motorically easier than speech
• Many people with autism experience anxiety - AAC interventions don’t apply pressure or stress (when introduced properly)
• Many people with autism present behavioral challenges - AAC provides an instant means to communicate, preempting difficult behaviors
• Many people with autism have difficulty with memory - AAC provides means for language comprehension that relies on recognition rather than memory.

On page 33, Dr. Cafiero lists the benefits of AAC for individuals with autism:

May stimulate brain development  read more »

What goes in a Life Plan for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Private health insurance in Kansas routinely denies coverage for the diagnostic evaluation and medically necessary treatments such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), speech therapy and occupational therapy for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). If enacted SB 12 (HB 2367) would require that private health insurance cover the diagnosis and medically necessary treatment of ASD. In addition to the 15 states that have already passed legislation similar to Kate's Law, an autism insurance mandate is currently pending in 19 states.

Today’s group will be meeting at the First Presbyterian Church of Topeka (817 Southwest Harrison Street) at 9:30 to review the bill and then head to the capitol to visit with key legislators in the support of Kate’s Law to end the discrimination of those with autism.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

Location(s)

Presented by Easter Seals Crossroads in partnership with the Autism Society of Indiana

This is a free, all-about-autism event for families, professionals and anyone else involved in the autism community.  There will be over 100 vendors with great exhibits, special products for sale and IndyMoms KidzKorner - an area just for kids!

No registration is necessary for this event.

Raising children is hard and it can be harder when children are dealing with a variety of health issues and parents are trying to shepherd them through an educational system that may seem unresponsive to them.

With a 10-year-old and an 8- year-old in the Somerset school system, both of whom have behavioral issues ranging from anxiety to Asperger’s disease, mom Krysten Callina believes part of the solution for harried parents and teachers is more communication outside the official channels of dialogue.

Callina’s blog, http://onetownonevoice.wordpress.com, has been up and running for several months, and Callina hopes it’ll make a difference in the lives of teachers, children, parents, administrators and others.

“I’m partially home schooling my children,” said Callina, who formerly worked as a paraprofessional in Somerset schools.

She said that while she believes schools can do a lot more with children who have learning, behavioral and health issues, efforts are being made all the time.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

Knowing when to laugh, knowing when someone looks angry or sad and interpreting everyday non-verbal social cues is something that comes naturally to most people.

But to people with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, that all-important non-verbal communication is a huge challenge and one that can cripple their ability to work, pursue higher education, live independently and have friends.

“Often these young adults can be very bright, but lack street smarts,” said Fred R. Volkmar, director of Yale Child Study Center and one of the world’s leading experts on Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders. Volkmar said some with Asperger’s will do math equations in their head “just for fun,” but “can’t walk into McDonald’s and order a cheeseburger.”

Ariana Habib, 22, knows the feeling well.

Habib, diagnosed with Asperger’s, graduated from a special education high school program and began attending Southern Connecticut State University to pursue a degree in public health. While she was academically capable, Habib found she couldn’t figure out which classes to take, how to add or drop a course, read professor’s social cues or advocate for herself.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

The enticing aroma of baking biscuits envelops the room, but workers at a nearby table remain focused on the task at hand: making more biscuits.

There's Alex, who kneads the dough standing up, pushing the light-brown mixture of flour and oil around the bowl. Josh sits, grasping the handles of a rolling pin, transforming a lump into a pancake. And finally, Evan pushes a dog-bone shaped biscuit cutter deep into the dough, pulling out tiny shapes for baking.

The well-tuned trio is part of a student-run business at Seaholm High School designed for students with autism.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

Does your child tell you that “it hurts” or leans against a chair or clinches his fist and presses hard against his belly?  If so...

The Center for Autism, a nonprofit autism treatment and evaluation center founded in 1955, and the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing are collaborating on an initiative called the “Partnership for the Integration of Care of Autism Spectrum Disorders.”

The partnership, funded by a $400,000 grant from the Philadelphia Health Care Trust, was created to address the need for a nursing work force that understands the complexities of autism through continuing education courses. Courses to be offered by Penn nursing will be aimed at pediatric and mental health nurses, and will provide the training needed to deliver screening and treatment services.

The partnership will also feature research projects. The first will examine how nurses can help adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, or ASD, build social skills and transition into the community through employment, membership in civic and social groups, and volunteer opportunities. The second will evaluate the effectiveness and outcomes of the continuing education program.

The studies will be led by Penn nursing professor Ellen Giarelli.

Possible future research projects under discussion include identifying the methods and approaches that can be used to prevent the challenges and disabilities of ASD, enhancing methods for detecting ASD earlier in life and across diverse populations for early interventions, and developing more research on ASD in older people — with a goal of improving quality of life in adolescents and older adults.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

Charleston may not be known for hosting red carpet movie premieres but Sunday night it sure looked and felt like Hollywood. More than 400 fans had tickets to the sold-out world premiere at the Terrace Hippodrome Theater hundreds of others showed up to scream and meet the star, Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried, but there was much more to this show than just glitz and glam.

Every penny raised at Sunday night's big Dear John premiere benefitted Carolina Autism. The event raised more than $100,000 dollars. The organization works with more than 100 autistic adults and children including 7-year-old Braeden Reed of Daniel Island who landed a role in the film.

”Two-hundred fifty on average is how much it costs to serve a kid in our home program for a week," said Phil Blevins, Executive Director of Carolina Autism.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

Devices Aim to Help Children With Autism Speak  By Rebekah Davis

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 28, 2009

   read more »

Nobody Likes to be Labeled

A written life plan helps ensure your adult child’s needs are thoroughly understood by future caregivers. Since none of us can be sure what the future holds, it is critically important for a parent of an adult on the autism spectrum to develop a written life plan for their loved one well before their adult child may need to leave the family home. A life plan helps parents answer the question, “What will happen to my child when I am gone or unable to care for him or her?” A life plan spells out in detail the personal needs and preferences of the individual with autism. It also lays out a parent’s intentions for future care of their adult-child throughout the life-span and clarifies financial and legal arrangements made on behalf of the person with autism. Life planning is a key component of the family training and autism education services offered through the Foundation for Autism Support and Training (FAST).

Why You Need to Develop a Life Plan for a Person with Autism

A parent of an adult with autism may wrongly assume that their other children or a sibling will take care of their adult child with autism, once they are gone. This arrangement is frequently unworkable.Many parents of adults with autism are so busy dealing with the day- to- day care of their loved ones, or are under so much stress dealing with the extreme demands of parenting, that they have not planned for their children’s futures.  read more »

It has come to the attention of WELLHealth Rx that several Kirkman® products are contaminated with antimony.  Antimony and many of its compounds are toxic.  Clinically, antimony poisoning is very similar to arsenic poisoning. In small doses, antimony causes headache, dizziness, and depression.  

I am shocked that a company that sells its products to Spectrium families, does not do a better job in analyzing its raw ingredients before using them.  Also, the letter on Kirkman® web site is shocking…  I quote “Orally consumed antimony is typically eliminated by the body through urine and feces in several weeks and probably isn’t bio-accumulated.” 

“…typically eliminated…”, “…probably isn’t bio-accumulated.” Are you kidding?  If our kids could “eliminated” and not “bio-accumulate” then we would not have all the issues we are having Kirkman®.  Shame on you for don’t doing a better job in protecting our kids!

If a small compounding pharmacy like WELLHelath Rx has its raw powders tested for antimony, why should you not?  read more »

You are absolutely correct.  I would like to see DMV flag vehicle registrations for parents of Special Needs kids as well as caregivers for Dementia related issues.  By running the license plate at the scene, it would alert an officer of what they are dealing with.  I actually teach Alzheimer's for LE as well.  Could you imagine a caregiver running to the store only to be involve in an accident where the were uncoscious.  They will be taken to the hospital on to have their loved on sit in the house for days without any care.  This needs to be done.  Right now, Alzheimer's is mandatory training in my state for LE.  However, there is no required amount.  Most of it in the academy is the mere mention of the word.  I have currently been asked to assist and teach for an organization as autism is soon to become mandatory.  I just hope it is not handled the same way. Personally, my children are not special needs children.  But, I can honestly say the all of you deserve better than what you are getting from police right now.

A Denton business is sponsoring a golf tournament to raise money and awareness of autism.

Construction Implements Depot, X-treme Attachments, will host the fundraiser in April to benefit the Davidson County chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina.

“We knew they had a need, and we decided to help and bring awareness,” said Ira Matney, co-owner of the business. “It takes a big toll on the family. It requires a lot of time and attention. A lot of people don’t realize that.”

Matney knows firsthand the effects of autism from his 7-year-old son, Zane, who was diagnosed at the age of 2. He joined the local chapter four years ago.

“The number of children getting diagnosed is growing rapidly,” he said. “There’s not a lot of programs out there that help, and the ones that are there the families can’t afford them. The training is so expensive and intensive, it’s hard for families to find time and money to get it done.”

Aimee Tennant, president of the local autism chapter, is thrilled about the fundraiser that will take place during Autism Awareness Month. She said with the county being so rural, the group and families don’t have a lot of access to things the larger surrounding counties have. Her 8-year-old son, Michael, has autism.

Click on the newslink to read the full story

Any drama buff will tell you acting is therapy.

It brings about a temporary escape from reality that can be as much fun as it is therapeutic, especially for kids with special needs.

With that in mind, the Academy of Children's Theatre in Richland has organized a workshop called Spectrum on Stage, which gives students with autism the chance to shine in a theater setting.

The class is structured to teach theater in an environment where autistic children won't feel threatened and will be inspired to tap into the part of their personality that builds self-esteem, said Julie Schroeder, organizer of the workshop and the education coordinator for ACT.

"The teachers we have for this class are Josh Darby and Crystal Deines, both of whom have worked with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) students," Schroeder said.

Schroeder, along with Darby and Deines, held a preliminary workshop last week and invited a few special needs high school students to attend.

Click on the newslink to read the full story

So when Derek was very young a couple times a month I would always have some sort of funny or dramatic story about him to tell at work and the story would almost always end with this statement...."oh and by the way he was naked" so I had a co-worker name them the naked baby stories....Here is one of my favorites.

When Derek was young he was always finding a way to get out of the house as a matter of fact I used to tell people he didn't talk because he was constantly planning his escape...Well one day I'm cleaning house and I'm in the front of the house and Derek was watching his movies in the back of the house....or so I thought....when a knock comes at the door, it was one of the neighbor kids and he tells me "I think your son is running down the street". So it takes a second for what he said to register then it hits me and I say "which way" and the kid points as I'm running down my driveway towards the the direction he points and I get down the the end of the street and there he is running his little butt towards the 7-11 close to our house....and yes he's completely naked.....so I gather him up take him home and notice as I walk back up my driveway that he had opened my bedroom window and used my headboard as a ladder to get out the window so he could make a run for it to 7-11....and his clothes were laying on my bed so I kinda wish he could tell me why it was important to take his clothes off before he went out the window but....I don't think I will ever get that answer,I was and still am happy he was safe and that the neighborhood kids were watching out.

Hello everyone,

I am hoping to learn from experience...because there doesnt seem to be many references out there on the topic of divorce and autism.

Can anyone refer me to any good books, manuals, studies that could guide me through this maze of divorce with a child with autism?

Does anyone know of documentation to support the fact that regular child suport isnt enough when you are raising a child with autism?

How can i be sure his father will be responsible for our son once he turns 18?

Of course I have a lawyer, however I just dont feel confident in these areas.

Also, does anyone have any successful strategies to share? Our son is successfully visiting at his father's house...well actually not happy about it but he goes.  He verbalizes his dislike for going but understands he must go because the judge told him so.

Any experiences would be welcomed....or directions for researching these answers would be great!

Luke is usually too aggressive with younger kids.  I always cringe when we go to a playground and there are little babies or toddlers around.  (At one time, I would leave a park if I saw younger kids - it was that rough.)

The other day, a close friend came by with her husband and 2 month old.  I love these people like family.  They have always been so wonderful with Luke - as have all their children.  He can totally be himself - and there is no judgment or weird looks. Other friends try to do the same, but it doesn't always work.

Anyway, I was very concerned how Luke would do with the baby (and the baby getting lots of the attention.)  But my friend told him to sit on the couch and he could hold the baby.  (Propped up with pillows, of course.)  Luke held his arms out, went still and quiet, and just held the baby softly and kissed his little head.  I teared up and could've wept.  He held the baby off and on for 2 hours - stroking his head, using his pacifier :), and giving him kisses.  (I'm sure it was a wonderful sensory time too.)  But there were no incidents, no aggression - this total calm came over him.

That, to me, was a perfect morning.

OK, I still haven't figured out how to tell my son where to find something.  If his car (book, pencil, stamps, you-name-it) are on the train table, I say, "There it is, on the train table by the blue truck."  He knows what the train table is, he knows what blue is and what a truck is.  He might even point or go to the blue truck.  Then he looks around the table and turns his head halfway around - and doesn't find it.  So, I'll say, "It's by your right hand."  He'll look at his right hand and then at the table by his right hand - and still not see it.  He doesn't seem to be frustrated, just completely unaware that he is practically touching the object.  So, is the problem with auditory instructions?  Is it visual?  I know the pointing thing used to be, well, pointless, but he is actually getting it now - but maybe not specifically enough to find a small object?

There must be a better way for me to go about this.  What am I not getting here?  I want to learn how to go about this in a different way.

What is totally funny, is that he is the first to notice if something has changed in the room or is out of place.  He will come home from school, notice the crayons on the dining table and say, "What have you and Maxi been doin', playing with crayons?"

Thanks for pointing that out to me.  I forgot to mention what I was looking for in terms of age and type.  Honestly, I am open to any age and type that would be willing to talk with me.  In my class, we will be covering all areas of autism and all different ages as well.

I am a police officer who has been running the Project Lifesaver program in our jurisdiction.  Ther is no doubt that LE officers need Autism training.  I have been training officers on an individual basis and in roll call training however it is not a mandatory course.  It desperately needs to be.  Just read Dennis Debaudts book, and it all comes to life.  I have explained to the 30+ families in our Lifesaver Program that they must realize that their autistic child or children with be adults one day.  We in LE need to be prepared to deal with them.  If one were to approach me to grab my shiny badge (as an adult) then I am going to protect myself.  Hopefully there is someone there to inform me that they are Autistic.  However, if I don't know anything about Autism, what good will it do. Parents need to push and push and push some more, to have each state make this training mandatory.

It's time, we all decided, to take matters into our own hands.  What's out there in our community, how do our kids gain work skills, socialize, get transportation...these and about a million other vital questions need to be answered!!  And you all know as well as I do that there is no one person, place, or thing that can help us with this.  WE are the caregivers, we are the directors, the facilitators of our kids' lives...and aren't you sick and tired of stumbling around in the dark trying to get answers?  Why isn't there a clear path for our kids to travel on?  Why do things keep on changing? 

I hang out with a group of parents who all have kids with disabilities.  Of that group, probably 8 families have kids who are 'transition' age.  We see each other at church, at the grocery store, at school meetings, and at sports.  We get together at times for drinks, to kvetch, to cry, to pass along what we've 'heard' from other parents or teachers...It's all so vague!!  What's true and what's not?  What used to be available but isn't there any longer?

What is and isn't covered by insurance?  What did you ask for, and got, vs I asked for and didn't get?

You all know exactly what I'm talking about.  It's a maze within a maze, and no-one has the map.  read more »

Alex gets off the school bus one afternoon and says, “Going to Michael’s?”

“We’re not going to Michael’s,” says Jill. “Not today, Alex. Michael’s is not an everyday thing, though that would be nice, I admit.”

Michael’s, in case you don’t live near a strip mall, is an arts-and-crafts box store stocking everything from artists’ palettes and oils to scale plastic models of WWII dive bombers. A Michael’s just opened near us; already Alex has tricked me into going there.

at jeffslife.tripod.com/alextheboy

Hello Autism Bloggers,

I am very excited to join this autism blogger website.  I am a college student taking a introductory course on Autism.  As part of my course, I am to further broaden my knowledge of autism and learn how it is really like to live with an individual with autism.  I am looking for someone to "blog" with me weekly for the spring semester (January through May) that will give me insight to how living with an autistic indiviual is like and how your life is life.  I am very interested in learning about your experiences.  Hope to talk to you soon.

-smleee8787

ps: I am new to blogging as a whole and don't really know what i am doing on the site.  Sorry if I use incorrect lingo. lol. I will get the hang out this soon. 

Autism Reoriented Community Housing (ARCHway) is an community housing initiative by the Foundation for Autism Support and Training, a national non-profit offering advice and consultation on person-centered housing solutions for adults with autism. Members of ARCHways Consortium have 20-30 years experience and include pioneers of person-centered housing and assistive technology for people with autism and other related disabilities. ARCHway’s Executive Director, Karen Kaye-Beall offers Q&A.

1. What is meant by the term a “person-centered” approach to developing housing for people with autism?
As most people know, autism is a spectrum disorder. People with autism can be low, mid or even high functioning persons. In person centered planning, it is critically important to have a very thorough understanding of the many signs and symptoms each individual with autism experiences. The main signs and symptoms of autism involve problems (to greater or lesser degrees of severity) in the following areas:
--Communication - both verbal (spoken) and non-verbal (unspoken, such as pointing, eye contact, and smiling)
--Social - such as sharing emotions, understanding how others think and feel, and holding a conversation. They have difficulty reading facial expressions or picking up social cues.
--Stereotyped behaviors - Routines or repetitive behaviors such as repeating words or actions, obsessively following routines or schedules, and playing in repetitive ways. Also unable to play or keep themselves occupied in a normal or typical fashion. Many experience sensory integrative dysfunction.  read more »

Think Autism Speaks is a nice charity? Well, it supports genocide, which amazingly isn't what autistic people want at all. AUTISM SPEAKS DOES NOT SPEAK FOR ANYONE - ONLY THE EXEC'S BANK ACCOUNTS.  

Non-expert is not often a term that one would associate with scientific research, but it could become a new trend in psychology research. Some recent studies have begun to rely on non-expert students to observe and provide data during experiments.

In a research project about early autism detection in infants, Dr. Daniel Messinger, an associate professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Miami (UM), and his research group are doing exactly that.

"The idea is that human beings are essentially experts on certain aspects of interpersonal interaction. This seems to be particularly true for emotion, as understanding the emotions of others is critical to our own development," says Dr. Jason Baker, a UM postdoctoral researcher with Messinger and first author of the study.

Click on the newslink to read the full story

A Dallas-area company that provides autism treatment has taken over the lease of Treehouse Pediatric Center & Behavioral Services, which closed abruptly in December.

Behavioral Innovations plans to begin offering therapy Feb. 1, said William Edwards, the company's director of business development.

“San Antonio was one of the locations that we were in the process of doing our research for when we received word of what took place at Treehouse,” Edwards said.

Treehouse shut down without warning Dec. 10, leaving parents in tears and with few options for their children with autism.

Autism is a disorder that affects brain development, resulting in impaired social interaction. Research shows early treatment can greatly improve a child's development.

Autism Community Network, a nonprofit diagnostic and referral center begun last year, stepped in and took on most of the therapists from Treehouse in a stopgap day program. ACN used grant money and partnered with local therapist Olga B. Vasquez-Silva, whose treatment center One for Autism provided space and state accreditation, to run the program through May.

Click on the newslink to read the full story

Location(s)

Autism can manifest itself in many ways and to varying degrees. An informational session on Autism Spectrum Disorders is scheduled at the Forest Park Branch Library on Monday, Feb. 1.

Staff members of the Kelly O’Leary Center At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will be on hand for “Separating Fact from Fiction,” a general overview of what autism is and is not. This program is part of a series of workshops exploring the disorder.

The Kelly O'Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders is a collaborative program that provides diagnostic, treatment, and support services for children with autism and their families. The center also does research.

“Separating Fact from Fiction” will take place from 6-7:45 p.m. at the library, 655 Waycross Road. Advance registration is required and can be done by calling 513-369-4478.

When Jeff Sell’s twin sons were determined to have autism 13 years ago, he, like so many other parents in the same situation, found himself with a million questions: Will my children be able to function? What are the best treatments and where do I find them? How will this affect the rest of my family?

And besides those monumental worries, Mr. Sell kept asking himself another fundamental question as he began the long string of doctor and therapist visits with his sons: “How in the world am I going to pay for all this?”

Autism trends, treatments and therapies routinely make headlines. Often overlooked, though, is the financial burden for many families with autistic children.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

I am finding it more and more difficult to keep it together emotionally. I have a 5 week old son in the house and Ava, through no fault of her own, was diagnosed with autism within a very short time of each other. That is a lot for a mother to take. I am trying to educate myself, read all these books, go to all of these websites, but frankly, it just keeps me from crying. Sometimes I say "I love you" over and over to Ava in hopes that I will hear her say them back and she will know what they mean. I don't want to feel sorry for myself, I want to move forward and simply not be such a cry baby. I need to be strong for Ava.

Today we got together with family and it seemed as though they were speaking to Ava differently, almost in a belittling kind of way. It broke my heart. Ava is the same little girl she was yesterday, 6 months ago, 3 years ago, nothing has changed. She just happens to have this diagnosis hanging over her head now. 

:sigh: I hope it all gets a little easier for all of us as time goes on. 

-Mandy*

Location(s)

The Autism Society of America’s 2010 National Conference and Expo will be held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas from July 7 – 10. The Autism Society of America conference is one of the largest national autism conferences and features panel discussions, expert presentations, a large expo hall, and the Autism Society of America’s annual award ceremony.

Early bird registration will open up in mid-January and run through May 1, 2010. A discounted rate of $250 has been negotiated for registrations received by the early bird registration deadline. The full conference registration fee goes up to $295 for registrations received between May 2, 2010 and July 1, 2010 and onsite registration is $325. Individuals on the autism spectrum can register for the discounted rate of $175 with no deadline restrictions.

Read more at Suite101: Autism Conferences in 2010: Autism Society of America, Defeat Autism Now!, and Autism Today http://autism.suite101.com/article.cfm/autism_conferences_in_2010#ixzz0d...

Location(s)

4th Annual Autism/Asperger's Conference the Most Comprehensive Autism Conference Series in Southern California at the Anaheim Convention Center, Saturday February 6 & Sunday 7, 2010 featuring keynotes from Drs. Doreen Granpehsheeh and Stephen Shore, with special plenary talk on brian imaging with Drs. Jeff Bradstreet and & J. Michael Uszler and over 30 other great speakers. CEUs available for certain professions.Contact us at autismconferences@gmail.com or visit us at www.autism-conferences.com

Tim Page has always been different.

In elementary school, he was a film noir and opera buff. By middle school, he'd written and directed his own films. Before he was a teen, he was the subject of a documentary, "A Day With Timmy Page."

Growing up in Storrs, Conn., Page consistently flunked math and science, and never fit in socially. His words were sometimes accidentally cruel. He didn't understand human social cues. He even read an Emily Post book to learn why people did what they did — and how to respond appropriately.

"I don't think I ever thought I was like other kids," Page says.

Page, 55, has been a writer, editor, music critic and producer. He's currently a professor of music education at the University of Southern California. Page won the Pulitzer Prize for music criticism while at The Washington Post, and wrote for The New York Times and Newsday.

He's written 15 books, mostly on music criticism. His latest, his most personal book, is "Parallel Play: Growing Up With Undiagnosed Asperger's" (Doubleday, 2009.)

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

If you'd like your posts on Autism Blogger to show up on Twitter do the following:

• Click on My Account
• Click on Edit
• Under Twitter settings put in your Twitter Username and Password (don't worry, nobody will ever see your info)
• In the text format box put: !title !url #asd #autism
• Scroll down and click Submit

Now everytime you post to Autism Blogger it will show up on Twitter as well. So cool!!

Members of the New York Mets joined forces with the New York Child Learning Institute in College Point last Thursday in their fight against autism. Mets hitting coach Howard Johnson gives some tips to a student with the help of pitcher Pedro Feliciano.  With Mr. Met, above, are catcher Omir Santos, center, with Feliciano and Johnson and some of the youngsters, who were given Mets caps and autographs from the players.

Click on the newslink to read the full article.

Ann Arbor will be the location of the first private high school in Michigan offering college-prep curriculum for students who have high-functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Veritas Christi High School will open in September, said founder Richard Nye.

And while the goal is to establish a rigorous education environment for a specific group of teens, “we really want it to be inclusive,” Nye said. “We’re not limiting it to those two groups.”

The school’s foundation bought the Absolute Title building at 410 S. Maple in late December. The 12,000-square-foot building is located next to the Kroger on South Maple between Jackson and Liberty on the city’s far west side.

 Click on the newslink to read the full story

Seth Rollins gets featured on 'American Idol' after some stupid 'girl power' montage of Kara and Kristin trying to be bff and Simon being catty.

Seth's son has autism; he has a very matter-of-fact, gentle manner to him that makes me like him right away. He's motivated by wanting to be able to afford the best care for his son.

Click on the newslink to read the full article.

Every child's autism is different and unique, however, there are also many common traits. One of the most frustrating and dangerous is what I call the deaf run. This is where the child will bolt from a parent's hand for some desired object. Normal children do this as well, however, many autistic children are particularly talented at ignoring their parents. They also may be quite fixated on a particular item or object which acts as a terrible distraction when attempting a therapy session. For instance I remember seeing a four year old bolt from his chair to go push a spring loaded door open so he could watch it automatically shut. The therapist repeatedly chased him down, took him by the arm and brought him back to the desk in an attempt to get the child reengaged at the task at hand. Of course the child resisted, flopped and whined making the time spent on therapy little more than a complete waste of time. I saw this as a terribly missed opportunity.

Personally I remember my son, Emerson, bolting from my hands to run for a small creek behind our house. He loved it down there and I provided every opportunity to go. Problem was he got so excited he would simply run and leave me in the dust.  I had to perpetually chase him down and try to reign him in. I wanted so desperately to connect, but I had no idea how to go about it.

Most any parent of an autistic child can tell a similar heartbreaking story of  how their child runs off, ignores their attempts of eye contact or any acknowledgement of their voice. So why not use this object of desire to connect, incite eye contact, develop speech and get a little joy all at once? Here's how.  read more »

Stages Learning Materials introduces new Healthy Habits photo cube puzzles!

6 puzzles in one!! All new colorful cube puzzles form 6 different real-photo images, each centered on a valuable educational theme.

Every Real Life Learning cube puzzle comes with 6 full-color fun facts cards that provide a solution guide for the completed puzzles on one side, and list fun and educational facts related to the picture on the other side. The Healthy Habits puzzles are great for teaching self-help skills!

The twelve 1 ½ inch wooden cubes in the puzzle are also great for stacking, building and counting!

For more information, visit our website at www.stageslearning.com.

Seems like a lot of places are going to do this, check your local theaters for information:

AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program.

In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

Students with autism or other developmental disabilities would have new education choices under legislation filed by state lawmakers.

The bill would qualify students with an individualized education program for a scholarship to attend any school accredited by the state Board of Education.

It would also expand the Self-Directed Care Program to provide greater benefits to all developmentally disabled Oklahomans receiving state support.

The bill's authors are Rep. Jason Nelson of Oklahoma City and Sen. Patrick Anderson of Enid. Anderson says the scholarships would allow parents to select schools based on their child's needs instead of having the child's educational options limited to what the local school can provide.

Click on the newslink to read the full story

Location(s)

The Oklahoma Family Center for Autism's Piece Walk -- 5K will be May 1 at the AT--T Bricktown Ballpark.

The last three years the walk was for a national organization. This year the event will be for a local group.

Organizers hope to keep all the money within the state in order to benefit Oklahoma autism programs. The past walks have included 4,500 to 5,000 participants. This year with the addition of the 5K, organizers expect an even larger turnout.

The Piece Walk was began to give Oklahoma families affected by autism a day of togetherness, a day to support awareness in the state and a means to support Oklahoma autism programs.

For more information on the Oklahoma Family Center for Autism's Piece Walk -- 5K run, visit www.okautism.org or www.piecewalk.com.

Location(s)

This intensive two-day training is designed to teach participants to appropriately implement the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). It begins with an overview of designing effective educational environments. A historical overview of language training programs used with non-verbal individuals is discussed along with how to set the stage for an abundance of communication opportunities. Participants will learn how to implement the six phases of PECS, including attributes, through presenter demonstrations, video examples and role-play opportunities.

Location(s)

How to Read and Understand Lab Results

Location(s)

Come and receive some extra support or to chat all topics related to autism and meet other TACA families.

Location(s)

AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program.

In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing - in other words, AMC’s “Silence is Golden®” policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

Tickets are $4-6 depending on location and can be purchased on the day of the event.

AMC Cherry Hill 24
2121 Route 38, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

AMC Jersey Gardens 20
651 Kapowski Road, Elizabeth, NJ 07201

AMC Hamilton 24
325 Sloan Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08619

AMC Wayne 14
67 Willowbrook Blvd, Wayne, NJ 07470

AMC Essex Green 9
495 Prospect Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052

Location(s)

Free Parent Education Meeting
www.tacanow.org/minnesota

Location(s)

Auditory Integration Therapy - Dr. Berard developed a scientific method of retraining the ear's acoustical reflex muscle-known also as stapedius muscle so that the participant will be able to listen & to process information. Berard Auditory Integration Training - AIT is a ten day, non-invasive educational & therapeutic technique which helps people to hear all frequencies more evenly & trains children to listen more accurately.

Apr 16 to 25 Sharda Ramlackhan 978-458-3277 

Message from a child to parents about being patient with their kids trying new foods. 

I found this video, it is a bit old as they still refer to him as Senator. We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination .... policies must be developed.

A study of obsessive-compulsive Dobermans might someday help explain similar repetitive behaviors in humans.

Scientists have identified a region on chromosome 7 in obsessive-compulsive dogs that may correlate to the human version of the psychiatric disorder.

The gene is the same in humans, said Dr. Nicholas Dodman, first author of the study, which appears as a letter to the editor in the January issue of Nature Molecular Psychiatry. In humans it resides on chromosome 18, the same chromosome which holds all of the psychiatric genes identified thus far, he said.

Click on the newslink to read the full article.

When Elizabeth Scott's son, Roman, was diagnosed with autism at 18 months, the former Highland Park teacher was petrified.

Desperate to help her son and told by a therapist to engage him at home, Scott developed her own lesson plan — and perhaps a way to combat the disorder.

With a commitment bordering on obsession, Scott worked with Roman from morning to night, devising learning activities and games. Refining her techniques as she went, she tackled everything from his discomfort with touch to his propensity to run endless laps around the family room. She says her work systematically eliminated all of his symptoms and freed her son from the prison of autism by age 4.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

I would like to tell you all a story.....and its a story that you don't see publicized in the world of Autism much and with the Divorce and Autism post that I read today I felt like writing.

In October of 1985 to 19 year old kids went on a blind date, it went well.....11 months later on Sept. 6th 1986 they got married. Went thourgh all of the normal newlywed stuff that everyone goes thru like having 2 of everythng and trying to figure out what side of the bed is theirs and the normal learning to live with each other stuff.  Fastforward 2 years and they are going to have their first child that too goes well and they welcome to the world a bouncing baby boy then 2 years after that another healthy baby boy. 5 years into the marriage they are celebrating the 3rd and 1st birthdays of their children and having a great time and unaware of the path life was going to take them down only a few months down the road.   It started with a simple question....When was the last time you heard him talk?  That question lead to hearing test....doctors visits....psychologist visits....psychiatrist visits....neruologist vists.....diagnosis. It was now between 6 and 7 years of the marriage there were times the couple couldn't be in the same room together, they didn't blame each other they just couldn't be together........sound like anyone you know?  read more »

Let me introduce myself. I’m Emerson Donnell. Born and raised in New Jersey I waited until my 40’s to have a child. Little did I know I was a perfect match, a statistical poster of the typical parent who sires an autistic child, (an older white male living in New Jersey, the state with the highest incidence of autism.) And little did I know after the birth of my son Emerson that my wife Jen and I were being railroaded right into the next widely accepted statistic. Supposedly over 80% of marriages that sire an autistic child end in divorce.  Some even say it’s more like 85%. First I wanted to verify if it was true, but in my research I could not validate this “statistic.” However, after being force fed into autism’s meat grinder of financial distress, anger, frustration and heartbreak I don’t doubt it for a second.
When Little Emerson was first diagnosed this specter of collateral damage was relegated as not only unavoidable but something my wife and I simply had to surrender to. I remember wondering why wasn’t anyone addressing this? What’s going wrong and where are the books to help families hold it together? When too many soldiers die on a battle field the commanders and strategists don’t just shrug their shoulders and say “oh well.” No, they sit down, figure out what’s going wrong and set plans to prevent it from happening again.
Now there are many reasons why families divorce even when nothing so tragic happens, but one glaring cause seemed to be revealed from recent research. And I can attest to the findings because I was living this very experience. Recent studies from the University of Florida found most families fall apart because Dads check out. Furthermore, it wasn’t due to the fact his child was autistic, it was how autism was affecting his relationship with the child. They couldn’t connect. It’s not that dads didn’t want to connect, it was that they didn’t know how.  read more »

This workshop, presented by Sharon Jurman, will focus on the unique needs, challenges and rewards of teaching children with Aspergers Disorder in an integrated or self contained classroom. Strategies to promote social skills, effective communication techniques, reduction of sensory stimulation, increasing desired. This is one of Bancroft’s many free workshops on topics related to developmental disabilities and related disorders.

Click on the newslink to read the full story.

A short documentary about Asperger's Syndrome shown on TV in 2005.

Legal news for California health care attorneys. Families of autistic children are in an uproar after a state-funded therapy was cut.

California health care attorneys alerts- A class-action lawsuit was filed after state-funded autism therapy was cut.

Los Angeles, CA—Families in eastern Los Angeles County have filed a class-action lawsuit after state-funded services for autistic children were discontinued. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday, January 14, 2010 on behalf of the affected families in the Los Angles County Superior Court, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Click on the newslink to read the full story

It is the 4th night that my 4 year old has used medication to sleep....usually he has been up by now but he is sleeping over 6 hours...I just dont know what to do?  why not blog about him and his issues and mine...? 

I knew early  on raising him was going to be totally different then my daughter.  The differences were mind boggling...however I did what most everyone does...I did the best I could.   Keegan didnt "want" to crawl...the "army man" crawl was a cute little thing he just did.  He didnt want to speak either...he liked to point and grunt...I knew communicating with him was a concern but was told by his ped. that I didnt allow him to speak and I needed to use a more structured form of discipline.  Keegan also didnt like to eat but very few things...I found myself giving him chips because I was so concerned he was not eating enough, the dr. told me to  introduce all types of foods, Okra was the one I remember.  He said if i didnt try I would never know if he liked them and his diet was a reflection of my eating habbits.    I left  the office that day in tears.  I have never before felt like such a failure...to that Dr....YOU FAILED ME....sadly you continue to fail parents in my situation...I want that to change.   Its a wonder I found the courage to enter into another Dr.s office...but I knew I had to. 

where Keegan would like to spend all of his day....at the beach  <3

I have a 4 year old son with autism.  Does anyone know if this works and where t o go?

Location(s)

Exclusive Play Date For Kids on the Autism Spectrum w/ their Families…

Where:  Gator Fred’s Fun and Party Center

When:   The 3rd Tuesday of every Month for 2010

        January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20, May 18, June 15, July 20,

        August 17, September 21, October 19, November 16, and December 21.

Time:     6:00pm --- 8:00pm

Price:     $6.00 per child….Parents or Caretaker are Free.

RSVP:   http://www.hitautism.net
        Or call: (813) 935-4744

A non-profit agency serving autistic children in Los Angeles illegally halted a therapy know as Floortime, said families suing for the program's return.

The families, in a class-action lawsuit, are suing the Eastern Los Angeles County Regional Center, a state-funded agency which halted use of the therapy for more than 100 children, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

The agency eliminated the program because of state budget cutbacks and because the program doesn't meet the "rigors of science," said agency head Gloria Wong, a defendant in the lawsuit.

Click on the newslink to read the entire article.

Know the early signs of autism and check to see if your child exhibits them.

Autistic basketball player Jason McElwain has the game of his life.

Today my great little boy turned four! We had a grand day. We started the morning with a Batman theme party at the local gymnastics facility.  The best place for the boys and girls to jump, crash and play.  Caden did great with all the noise, sugar, and physical contact.  He proudly wore his "crown" as he hung from the bars, swung from the ropes, and jumped on the trampoline - He was crowned "king caden" at school for his birthday week.  The afternoon was filled with friends at the house.  Tomorrow will be a day for relaxing, enjoying new toys, and getting Caden to hopefully forget about all the delicious sugary treats he enjoyed all weekend.  He ate 4 cupcakes and drank at least 3 fruit drinks today.  I have a feeling we are going to pay tomorrow.  Caden is my sunshine, my hope, my joy.  Happy birthday my sweet boy!

What to get the boy.  Hmmm.  We always go thru this every year.  What to get our son with autism.  Not just for Christmas, but also his birthday falls on Dec 1st, so it's a double whammy.  So far, Playmobile has fit the bill.  This year, we were looking for something a little less-toy and a little more-learning.  We ended up getting him the Lego City Set, which is a construction site.  He builds a house, elevator, and 3 construction vehicles.  The best part is the directions, which have no words. They are all pictures!  He has been working on this set for 3 hours now, and is so proud when he finishes each part.  My son is 15, but is lower than that age cognitively.  The box says it's for ages 6 - 12.  He also has visual - perceptual problems which cause him to really struggle with reading...well, this is perfect for him.  I'm also pleased that the theme is based in reality, rather than monsters and bionical creatures.

Any other success stories for toys/gifts?

It's not entirely in the format I'd like to see, but this series of anonymous interviews in this PDF file are hands down the absolute best advice I've seen from actual adult autistics to parents and teachers of young autistics.

http://rainbowsunited.org/user/file/Things%20You%20wished%20adults%20know.pdf

Thank you to whoever moderates this blog and for those who read it.  I think it has been my saving grace during the last couple of weeks.  My daughter is currently being evaluated for autism.  We know she has it or at least she needs to be diagnosed with it in order to receive the necessary services without paying hundreds of dollars a month on copays.  Currently we pay a 20 dollar plus copay every week when she goes to OT and will be paying the same for PT very shortly.  She sees a psychologist who we pay a 10 copay every other week.  These bills add up.  We really need help. 

My daughter went to dance class today.  Once she was ready to go near the other children in her class, she started circling them many times until she started dancing.  When she noticed them, she started sneering.  My daughter was diagnosed with autism two years ago but it wasn't enough to get services so we went back to a different team.  It seems like strangers notice things quickly but those who we have to count on to diagnose our children don't.  I have had strangers often say, "She's in her own little world." or something to the same effect.  She had a karate instructor from the YMCA ask her why she was so bad.  My daughter has been kicked out of swim class.  When she goes into school, children make comments in front of me about her.  I see other children who don't have half of her sensory, speech, and emotional issues get more help than she does.  Also, it seems that if we were of a lower SES, we would be getting help for our child.  That's how the system works where I live.  I know because I have friends of lower SES who go to head start, have less needs, and get help.  It's unfortunate.  read more »

When we decide to get off Alex off the pretzels, there’s maybe a bag and half of Rold Gold Original Thins left in the house, scattered through three bags. Not much left but fragments and salt, either.

“Alex, no more pretzels in a few days, you know.”

We plan to substitute ice cream. What kid in their right mind is going to turn down that deal? I’m betting that eventually Alex will, and he adores ice cream. He recently graduated to chocolate from just vanilla, so that’s progress. “Pret-zul!” I imagine he’ll say. “Pret-ZUL!”...

at http://jeffslife.tripod.com/alextheboy/index.blog

 read more »

how do you get help for a 12 year old girl when the doctors at the autism clinic keep saying things like the boys we see here and we help boys with this problem this way then turn around and say the girl isn't autistic because she doesn't react the same way as the boys so you are just bringing her up wrong?

Both of these pre-release films have main characters that are Autistic: http://www.hbo.com/events/templegrandin/index.html / HorseBoymovie.com

... and the main settings are on ranches.

IMHO, these stories suggest that in lifestyles where regular rhythmic movements and sounds are present, Autistic symptoms are better regulated. This makes perfect sense to me. As an Interactive Metronome therapist, i witness ASD students improve social/emotional regulation because they are more _in-synch_ with their environment. IM retrains their brain's to recognize and respond APPROPRIATELY to social and environmental cue's.

An ASD parent once asked me if its this loss of rhythm in our everyday live's that could be behind more frequently diagnosed ASD kids?  She, postulated that kids used to have to churn butter, chop wood, etc... I certainly recognize how kids now live in an INTERUPT DRIVEN world of 10 sec. soundbytes and video game vignettes, etc... its no wonder they struggle to focus and concentrate!!!

  As a Mother of 4 , life is already hectic right?

  My family is a bit odd, I have 2 boys 2 girls, and the two in the middle - well, one( girl age 10) has autism, and she is doing so much better! ESP with age, she makes eye contact, which she never did, socially- she is interested! She was in the Special school for autism out here in slc utah, but I couldn't afford it anymore,so we mainstreamed her. It was the Best thing for her, no more head banging, still... she has baby talk- not being able to talk until your 8 years old will do that!

ITs my son, who is 12. My question is a hard one. I really really don't want to medicate him.

He is 170 pounds 5'5 1/2 sweet boy, but his behavior is out of this world, we ( my husband and I) try to talk to him, explaine that its not okay to

pumble someone in the middle of their music lesson, he just dosn't get it. I know all about autism, but asburger's syndrom is so hard.

He is so smart, and has no friends, he lit, gets invited to 1 birthday party a year.   His energy NEVER stops.  Its almost exausting to think of his behavior- even now when he is in school.

I want to help him, and make him feel better, he cry's at the drop of a hat when you yell at him.... If you take a toy or the WII away he will get angry and throw a temper  and hit himself..... He is no threat.... but I can see it leading in this direction. Is there any news on what I can do?

My budget is limited, so- all of these great therapy's are out of my price range.

If anyone has any information please contact me.

We have chore charts and behavior charts- it works sometimes but not all the time...

Thank you for looking.

So I have been reading "The Autistm Trail Guide-Postcards from the road Less Traveled". Let me first say it is eye opening. I actually won the signed copy on facebook after emailing her one day!! It is a great, enlightening read for any parent. Not just a parent of autistic children. Anyway, I wrote the title of this blog bc my son has started horrible fits, lasting forever and not going to sleep for hours. It's as though since we have gotten the diagnoses, he has played the role. I know what you are thinking. That now my eyes are just open to the situation, but no. That isn't the case. I am praying it has to do with his schedule. Which hopefully will go back to normal soon. We had Christmas break and school has been canceled the last 5 days due to snow! Tennessee weather!!!!!! Had a hard week. Getting on here helps, but sometimes just too drained to talk about it and too lonely to not.

ALL ABOUT ME

A wonderful new service is now available to those with Autism and Alzheimer’s.  All About Me is an online communication assistant, created by a single mom with an Autistic son.  Their tag motto is “Don’t just wait for tomorrow’s cure, give them a voice today!  Parents or Guardians can create an online secured access information bio for their loved one that will enable others to understand, interact and care for them as best as possible.  It is also an ideal tool for those who service individuals diagnosed.  This information will assist teachers, caretakers, retirement facilities, hospitals and police officers in bridging gaps in communication with individuals who are unable to communicate due to a neurological diagnosis.  All About Me is an approved parental resource by Autism Speaks.  Their website portal is loaded with helpful information on Autism, Studies, Literature, Programs, Services, Events, Gluten Free Recipes, links and more..  read more »

I took Ava to the doctor today and found out that she has a double ear infection and pink eye. Watching her suffer is the worst feeling in the world. Not only is she in pain, but she can't tell me where it hurts nor can I explain to her why the medicine helps. I wish Mommies had magic wands that could take their child's pain away in big puff of smoke.

It has not been a good month for my girl. But her future is bright and it always has been. 

 -Mandy*

Hello,

Does anyone have knowledge to which School Districts are good and which ones are bad for SOuthern California?

 Our daughter currently goes to West Covina Unified, whaich is not that great? Anyone have knowledge as to which school districts are good out there? We are considering moving.

Thanks.

Rosie

Our son who is 20 has always had "autistic tendencies" but recently within the past 2-3 months he has developed occasional seizure activity which lasts anywhere from 5-30 seconds.  What can we do to help him?  When he's playing his Xbox and gaming in general there is no seizure activity per his friends.  Husband has noted that it is occuring when there is little to no input -- ie driving to church, walking thru a store, sitting in Sunday School, during church, etc.  He stiffens up, clinches his fists, stomps and/or raises-lowers his legs as if stepping, and seems to grunt some but low not loudly.  He also wants to hold someone's hand while it is occurring.  Tonight at the store he grabbed a stranger by the shoulder as he was far from us but we saw it occurring.  We were in a "friendly" environment so it was OK - first time it has occurred where we weren't close by.  His one friend said he even occurs when he's sleeping. 

 Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks...and yes...I'm a new member here as well :-)

my baby girl, who is now 7 months old, has been flapping her left hand for many months now.  She sometimes strokes her clothes, or her bottle, and occasionally strokes her lip.  I became concerned about this after seeing a program on TV and started to do some research. 

Other symptoms she appears to have would include a focus on tags (instead of on a ball to which it is attached, for example).  She likes to lick her zipper and other things, and likes to make a funny noise by having her tongue flap against her gums as she blows.  I also noticed that she doesn't really reach out to break her fall when she falls from a sitting position to the floor. 

On the flipside, she is quite interactive, smiling and laughing quite a bit.  She makes frequent eye contact and shows warm feelings, often reaching out to her mother.  She seems to be doing well socially.

I am incredibly anxious about the whole thing and lack any kind of context, so any feedback would be very much appreciated. 

 Thank you. 

Location(s)

Autism Spectrum Support Group Meeting…this Thursday…

Great Food + Great Friends = GREAT SUPPORT!!!

Come join us for our 8th monthly Support  Group Meeting…each month we feature functional information like IEP’s, Legislation, Homeschooling, and Playgroups, Therapies etc….including MUCH…Emotional Support as well!

Hope to see you there.

WHEN:  This Thursday, January 14th
TIME:  6:00pm
WHERE:  Casa Mexicana
                 4115 E. Busch Blvd.
                 Tampa, FL 33617
RSVP:  http://www.hitautism.net  or call: (813) 935-4744

My name is Mandy, and I am new to the blog. So hello everyone. :-)

I am now officially a mother of two children, and infant son named Henry, and my 3 1/2 year old daughter, Ava. I just received the official diagnosis; my princess is autistic. It was something her father and I grew to kind of know on our own, I mean, nobody knows your kid like you do, right? We aren't sure of the level of autism, but we do know she is on the spectrum but pretty high functioning. She just started a preschool class for special needs children and she seems to be doing very well. Even though we already knew deep down about the autism before the diagnosis, it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

I thought I was going to be that strong mother. That mother that wouldn't let something like this bother her, but I am only human, and it does bother me. After we heard the diagnosis, I cried off and on for two days. Part of me was being selfish thinking "how am I going to handle this?" but the largest part of it was not wanting Ava to struggle, and why was she being chosen to struggle? Such a smart, beautiful, amazing little girl, now has to overcome these obstacles I never wanted her to have to overcome. But that's just it...she's still smart, beautiful, and amazing, nothing changes. That's what I told myself when we started going through all of this. 

I must get past my issues, and be strong for Princess Ava. I am her mother, and no one could possibly know and love her as much as I do. I just need to somehow find that strength for her, and my family, and for myself. 

Thanks for letting me get this off of my chest.

 Mandy*

My daughter is 4 years old.  She has already been diagnosed with autism two years ago.  We were referred by early intervention due to my daughter's breath-holding spells to a neurologist.  When we were in his office, he asked why we were there.  I told him we were there because of the BHS but also "some quirky behavior".  He observed my daughter and performed some simple, physical tests then turned and wrote something in his notes.  He then looked at us and stated that he had just written that our daughter had autism.  However, this was not enough to get her services.  Therefore, we went to the local hospital and saw the developmental psychologist there who did not support the diagnosis, raking me over the coals.  However, we are continuing with the journey.  For the past year, we have taken our daughter to see a psychologist who has helped my family help my daughter with her behaviors.  The psychologist we are seeing as well as the neurologist and my daughter's pediatrician all agree my daughter has autism.  However, it is challenging to have to bring her to someone else to prove it in order to get services.  The copay bills are already ridiculous-$90 per month for OT and we will begin PT soon, also.

Hello, my name is Audrey and i have a 4 year old little girl. I am wondering how to explain to her about her father's autism and I was hoping that maybe someone can give me a bit of advice. I would greatly appreciate it.

All of a sudden Alex has a line along his upper lip. At first, like every parent of a boy pushing 12, I assumed it was dirt. Then I assumed it was shadow. Then I realized that Alex is getting older and older and older, and suddenly another milestone was gone.

He has a pencil line, like Matt Dillion's in Something About Mary, a line that curls around the corners of Alex's lips. I feel like I'll just turn around and Alex will soon look like Burt Reynolds in all those pin-ups from when I was about Alex's age. I'll have to remember to get Alex gold medals and necklaces to hang in his chest hair.

He has hair in other places, too...

at jeffslife.tripod.com/alextheboy

My wife and I had a very productive meeting with the supervisor of the TSA here in Portland today, they were very accomidating and very understanding. We had specific questions about secondary screening and our proximity to Derek if it is needed and they assured us that we would never be separated from Derek and close enough to him that he can touch us for reassurance and that we could touch him and give him pressure if needed it would require us to go thru secondary screening after Derek was done but thats fine as long as we are close. We also have a medication that we travel with that needs to stay cold and we were told that as long as we can prove that an icepack is needed for medical reasons then they have no issues with having it in a carry on.  They did tell me that they do catagorize Autsm and other developmental disabilities under their Hidden Disabilities template, if a person does not have a visable disability then it falls under Hidden they just don't list them all on their website. Perz as for your question they could not tell me of any differences in the screenings in other countries or anything other than they will still check all electronics as usual but to allow for additional screenings ifthey see fit. We will have the same conversation in Las Vegas after we get there with their agents as well.

My 9 year old son has recently been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. So I am slowly finding out as much information on the subject as possible. Life seems to have got better since his diagnosis as now he has a "label" - teachers and people in general seem more tolerant of him. I also seem to be more chilled with his mannerisms etc. Yesterday, he told me I looked fat in the new top that I had bought in the Sales but I know no malice was meant (note to self - do not ask him if my bum looks big in this- ever!). Today we went for a walk to a local cafe as school had closed early due to the snow and we had him pretend skiing all the way there, and then whilst there we had him constantly repeating his favourite saying of "bring on the wall!" His Dad seems to get the hardest time from him, as he speaks to him terribly sometimes and he can be very angry towards him. I would love to hear from any other parents out there in a similar situation.

I am really down at this moment. I am still not sure how to deal with everything. My son has been diagnosed March of last year with PDD-NOS. I just had my second surgery of this past year and still am recovering. I had a bad crying spell the last couple of days. My husband said that I have been depress since my son was diagnosed and he thinks I should see someone. I feel like I am not doing enough for my son and am not sure how to go about getting more help. I have him in a special ed class at the local school. He gets speech therapy twice a week. I am unsure if he needs ABA therapy or not. He is doing really well and the speech therapist says that he is almost normal for his age. I am thinking about putting him in gymnastics. He did well in it before all of this. I have a friend that was going to help me look over his IEP but I haven't had a chance to sit with her and go over it. I have contemplated on going to a doctor for myself but haven't had the time with everything else. It is really hard on those bad days and I often almost cry with him when he has those days. Is anyone else going through this also? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Happy New Year everyone. Maybe this year will be easier.

We are taking a vacation next week and flying, so with all of the craziness that has been going on over the past few weeks I went to the websites of both my local airport and the TSA so that I could find out what the latest changes in screenings have been so that when we get there we can prepare. I thought that I had found my info by clicking the traveling with persons with disabilities and I click the link...I found...... Hearing Disabilities.......Mobility Disabilities......Vision Disabitlies........Hidden Disabilities nothing in the way of Developmental and/or Mental Disabilities. I checked under Hidden, it seemed like the only chance out of the 4 choices I had.....nope....that is for pacemakers and things like that. There are actually some policies in place that are helpful but I guess its a trip the airport for me tomorrow to find out what I can......I'll post what I find out.

   Be honest with your child regarding their strengths and weaknesses. Sure, we want to protect our kids from the outside world bent on their emotional destruction. However, we can help our children by informing them that their reactions to certain situations are likely to cause them to react differently than other children. Of course, this is a delicate subject, and must be handled with care. The benefits outweigh the disadvantages. This will help to prepare your child for the situations which are likely to come up in their life. Trust your child , that they can use this infomation wisely. It's all about communication. Who is better than you to explain their disability? 

   A good way to begin , is to start by complimenting your child on some of their strengths. Examples of this include their music or art ability, or their ability to line up  objects in such a perfect order. Start when they are young. You are the one that they trust the most. Be honest. Have it be part of your conversation. Later on in their developement, it will become easier and more necessary, if your goals are to give them the best tools,  for future independant living. Trust yourself and your child, knowing that you provided the best information , at such an important time, in their life.

So, first day back to school from winter break. Zare tried to campaign for a show after breakfast, whined when that didn't work and then went to read. I finished thank you notes in another room. I went to tell the boys they had five minutes, when I smelled poop. Its hard for the two of us to figure each other out, but finally I realized that he had went potty, wiped, but not washed hands. Okay whew, so he washed hands, and he still stunk! I rubbed his hands in the towel very well. Maybe its just me? Maybe its because I know what he smells like? Last thing a boy needs going to regular ed is to be known for his fecal smell...

On the other hand he came back from school with a great report "I listened to my teacher, I did my worksheet, and I remembered to not push!"

All is forgiven.

Luke totally looks to me as his emotional guide.  If I get mad at his behavior and say "that behavior was not acceptable, you need to go sit down and calm down", he will say "mommy, i still love you" (with a very sad face.)  It is not manipulative, he seems so sad that I am unhappy with him.  That is why I reassure him that his behavior is not acceptable, but that I love him.  He seems good after that.  Every night when I tuck him in, I say "I love you, Luke, you are my favorite Lukie and such a good boy."  I try at every turn to notice all of his positive behaviors and actions, since he is corrected for the negative behaviors.  Ugh.  I hope that I am doing all that I can as a Mom to give this boy some self esteem.

So, we finally got the "official" diagnosis for my son - mild Autism.  We had been told that he could be ADHD or that he might "outgrow" these behaviors.  I am no psychologist, but I'm not an idiot either.  I didn't know a ton about Autism, but I knew my son seemed to fit the description on so many levels.  (My previous personal experience was through my godbrothers - but they are severely Autistic and mentally retarded, so I didn't comprehend what Autism was like on its own or the varying degrees).  ADHD made a lot of sense, but didn't cover some of his developmental issues - especially the delayed speech.  I just researched the best way I knew how - the internet, support groups, books, other Moms.  I read tons on ADHD, Autism and SPD.  It's amazing to me that one psych said ADHD and one evaluator said to check out SPD.  Not until we went to the school district psych and got a truly comprehensive eval did they say "Autistic".  So, we finally felt that we were on the right track.  It's funny, but I thought I'd be relieved or sad or something when I got the official diagnosis.  Frankly, it didn't really hit me either way.  I'm kind of in a place where I am just so damn proud of my kid for being where he is at right now with all of the additional challenges that he faces on a daily basis.  The other day, I was looking through old behavioral notes that I keep of him.  This time last year, he was barely talking - he spoke mostly echolaliac responses, few people could understand him and he was severely frustrated.  Now, his speech is mostly understood and he can communicate his wants and needs and does more and more back and forth conversation.  He has even started doing pretend play!  I almost started crying tonight when he was playing with a plane and making engine noises, then landed the plane and started a little dialogue.  We even played outside this afternoon with some  read more »

   As we start the New Year, all of us are struggling to find methods on how best to help our child attain their fullest potential. This is a two way street with both the parent and child interacting to form the nuturing environment within the family setting. The autistic child will react to the stimulus presented to him. As parents, we can best help our children by structuring our child's environment which will put them in a situation which they are most likely to succeed. We are the main director of the real life situations your child finds themselves in. If we know that a certin situation will, or is likely to case your child to react adversely, we have to restructure the child's invironment to minimize the stressful reaction. Examples of this may be avoiding certain people , foods, colors, and situations which have caused stress and undesirable reactions in the past . We all know the situations which leads to stimulus overload in our children. Our job is to minimize these situations.