ASD Blog

Reflections

2010-04-24T15:32:00.002-04:00

If anyone is still out there, you have probably guessed by now that this blog got to be too much for me to keep up. Being a working mother of two means I don't have much time for pursuits like this. And I will admit it - Facebook has reared its ugly head in my life, and I waste too much precious time there. But it helps me connect with people efficiently, so off I go!

I will hang on to this blog a while longer. I am toying with writing more personal posts, rather than just posting links to information. I don't know if I am brave enough to do that yet.

I thought about this blog after watching several episodes of "Parenthood". If you have not seen it yet, it is on Tuesday nights at 10:00 pm on NBC. One of the characters on the program is a child with Asperger's. A producer on the show has a child on the spectrum and he is responsible for this plot direction. And if you ask me, except for a few bits of melodrama, they get a lot of it right. I can so relate to the mother, to the overexplaining of behavior, to the general dreadful anticipation of what is going to happen next. But they also show how normal life can still be, how they are still a typical family, how they still love their child fiercely.

I confess that there is something very legitimizing about seeing your own struggle reflected back at you in popular culture. Suddenly my experience seems validated. Somebody else is going through the same thing! It makes me feel less alone. Finally! Someone is trying to get across to the rest of the world what it feels like to parent a child on the spectrum.

I wonder how Aspies feel about this portrayal, and if the character of Max will be developed more, so we can get more of his perspective worked into the show. It will be interesting to see where this all goes.

A Parent of a Child with ASD Goes to see "Ponyo"

2009-08-18T10:36:00.001-04:00

This account of "Ponyo" really caught my eye:

"In Ponyo, I found a character who probably was never intended to display signs of PDD-NOS. But there she was on the big screen, reflecting so much of what I see every day in Kayleigh. And Ponyo inspired hundreds of children and parents in the audience, myself included, by wholeheartedly embracing her potential, no matter how others chose to define her."

Both of my kids have been intrigued by the commercials and they really want to see it. I am definitely going to make time to go with them!

My Brother Has Autism

2009-01-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

This NPR story is generating buzz.

New Discovery Health Program

2008-09-07T16:32:00.003-04:00

Sorry I have not been posting. Vacation and school preparation got in the way.

Discovery Health will be airing a program on October 1st called "Autism X6" which profiles a family in which all 6 children have been diagnosed somewhere on the spectrum. Here is a press release.

Resources for Learning to Tie Shoelaces

2008-08-13T19:42:00.001-04:00

Shoe tying is still a challenge in our household. When I saw this post in ParentHacks, I thought it might be a good one to share. Check out the links in the comments, too.

Advice for Employers

2008-08-01T12:24:00.002-04:00

Here is a document created by something called the Job Accomodation Network (ultimately part of the US Department of Labor) entitled "Employees with Asperger Syndrome". It looks like it could be very useful for employers who might not know much about AS. It's full of simple, specific suggestions for supervisors. This could be a great help for parents of young adults trying to ensure a positive first experience for someone with AS.

I found this via the PDF Search Engine. Just type in a term like "Asperger" and you will find all sorts of interesting things. You will need a PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat in order to view these documents.

Reading Fiction Improves Social Skills

2008-07-29T16:25:00.001-04:00

A group of Toronto researchers discover that "readers of narrative fiction scored higher on tests of empathy and social acumen than those who read non-fiction texts. And follow-up research showed that reading fiction may help fine-tune these skills: People assigned to read a New Yorker short story did better on social reasoning tests than those who read an essay from the same magazine.

Full article here.

Autism Storyline on "Days of Our Lives"

2008-07-23T19:31:00.000-04:00

Autism hits the soaps.

New Study Pinpoints 6 Autism Genes

2008-07-11T14:14:00.001-04:00

"Research on large Middle Eastern families has helped scientists pinpoint six new genes implicated in autism, a new study published Thursday said.
The research "strongly supports the emerging idea that autism stems from disruptions in the brain's ability to form new connections in response to experience -- consistent with autism's onset during the first year of life when many of these connections are normally made," a team led by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and members of the Autism Consortium said."
Full article here.

Children Sought for Study

2008-06-25T20:31:00.002-04:00

"Autistic children sought for medical study
SEATTLE - Scientists searching for the causes of autism are taking a new and hard look at families who have only one child with the developmental disorder, according to the University of Washington. Recent research has shown that the majority of autism cases occur in families with just one child who has disorder, and that's why the University of Washington's autism center is seeking 200 Washington and Oregon families to participate in a new North American study. Parents who would like to enroll their families in the study or who have questions may contact Erin Kipple, project coordinator, at 1 (800) 944-9701 or emh@u.washington.edu, according to the announcement. Other institutions participating in the study are Baylor, Columbia, Emory, Harvard, McGill, Vanderbilt, Washington and Yale universities and the universities of California, Los Angeles; Illinois at Chicago, Michigan and Missouri."
-the Chronicle

More info here on studies at the University of Washington Autism Center. While you are there, you might want to browse around a bit. There is some information for parents/caregivers, a page of autism facts, and access to free online copies of research articles from scholarly journals.

Teen with AS Aims High

2008-06-11T20:39:00.002-04:00

I love stories like this one reported by Barbara Hollingsworth in the Topeka Capital-Journal about a teen with Asperger's Syndrome who has been selected to serve as a Congressional Page this summer in Washington, DC. Ben Berlin will be working for Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan.

ZAC Browser

2008-06-11T17:47:00.002-04:00

This is cribbed directly from {A}:
Brian Bergstein reports for ABC News about a man who created an Internet browser for children on the spectrum:
"The Zac Browser greatly simplifies the experience of using a computer. It seals off most Web sites from view, to block violent, sexual or otherwise adult-themed material. Instead it presents a hand-picked slate of choices from free, public Web sites, with an emphasis on educational games, music, videos and visually entertaining images, like a virtual aquarium."

Try it out here.

Sensory Integration Classroom

2008-06-10T14:16:00.001-04:00

Newspaper articles that discuss sensory integration are rare. Here is a good one by Ginny Miller of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

Fitness for Children with Autism

2008-05-18T13:38:00.002-04:00

Fitness Therapist Eric Chessen writes about creating exercise programs for children with autism. He has also created a DVD called "Beyond Boundaries: Fitness for the Young Autism Population." His article is here. Information about the DVD is here.

Online Videos

2008-05-15T15:07:00.002-04:00

The UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institue has posted online videos from their Distinguished Lecturer Series. Take a look here.

Challenges and Triumph

2008-05-01T13:25:00.002-04:00

This is an inspiring piece from the Poughkeepsie Journal by Jesse Saperstein, a man with Asperger's Syndrome who hiked 2,174 miles to raise money to treat pediatric AIDS. Saperstein reminds us that "integrity and perseverance are common and often overlooked traits of mild autism."
He continues:
"My advice for other individuals with high-functioning autism is both optimistic and realistic. People do judge a book by its cover, and first impressions will always be the most important. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to "impose yourself" on the lives of those who come to knee-jerk conclusions about you. Tell them who you are and do not be modest about your accomplishments. The victories will inevitably follow."

Inspiration

2008-04-18T09:40:00.003-04:00

It's Autism Month, and I feel inundated with "movie of the week" type stories about the "tragedy" and "suffering" of autism. So for once, I decided to create a post that is not about autism at all. It's about keeping perspective. These sites have provided me with inspiration, empathy and understanding for the great variety of experiences we all have as humans on this tiny planet. We are incredibly fortunate to be here at all. These sites remind me to enjoy the ride:

My Daily Insights - Get a free motivational quote every Monday through Thursday and an inspirational story on Friday

Foundation For a Better Life - Free inspirational quote delivered to your Inbox each day.

Writer's Almanac - This is also National Poetry Month. Writer's Almanac sends a free poem every day, along with a few paragraphs celebrating literary and other interesting events, and sharing biographical sketches of writers.

Better Brushing

2008-04-11T10:34:00.002-04:00

Via AutismVox, here is an oral hygiene game that might help kids brush their teeth more throroughly. Here's the article by Colin Barras.

Call for Panelists in NJ

2008-04-09T16:08:00.001-04:00

Call for Panelists
Mini-Conference on Inclusion Benefits and Strategies for Middle and High School
Stockton State College, Pomona, NJ
Saturday, April 26, 2008
9:30 am -12:30 pm

As a part of the Mini-Conference on Inclusion, we are organizing a panel session to explore and reflect on experiences with Inclusion practices in grades 8-12. Parents of middle and high school students who are receiving special education services are invited to join this discussion and share their experiences with inclusion in middle and high school. The panel portion of the mini-conference will last from 45 minutes to an hour and include diverse points of view including parents, teachers, and school staff.

Panelists will receive a $75 stipend and an appreciation gift for their time. Self-Advocates are invited to participate in the panel with their parents. Both parents and students will receive the stipend and gift for their participation. Continental breakfast and lunch are included.

If you are interested, please send an email to scollguedes@spannj.org or call 609-442-4132 before Friday, April 18th. Please include a brief summary of your experience and tell us a little bit about yourself.Susan Coll-Guedes, Ed.M.Parent Group Specialist- START Project Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland & Salem Co.Statewide Parent Advocacy NetworkPhone: 609-442-4132 Email: scollguedes@spannj.org www.spannj.org

Lego Therapy

2008-04-01T15:25:00.002-04:00

Marie McCullough of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes of pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Dan Legoff's approach to social skills therapy using a common interest among some children on the spectrum - Legos.
"In Legoff's opinion, too many popular strategies involve "skillstreaming" - systematically explaining, modeling, and role-playing acceptable social skills to children.
"I found that approach to be, first, boring and painful to go through for the kids. And second, it didn't seem to work," said the psychologist, who has treated children with neurological disabilities for 20 years. "I needed to find something that they could practice but that they would enjoy and be motivated to do."
About 15 years ago, during post-doctoral training in Honolulu, Legoff noticed that his autistic patients, most of them boys, ignored a playroom full of toys - except for Legos.
A hallmark of autism is an obsessive dedication to one or two interests or activities - typically involving taxonomies, mechanical systems, hierarchies.
"A couple kids came with Lego creations they made at home," Legoff recalled. "In the waiting room, these kids started talking to one another, which surprised their parents. These are kids that don't have any friends because they're socially rejected or isolated."
Thus was born the Lego Club."

Autism Coverage on CNN

2008-03-29T10:52:00.001-04:00

CNN.com has a page devoted to coverage of autism. It looks like CNN television will be covering autism in their programming all day on Wednesday April 2.

Three Films Documenting the Experience of Autism

2008-03-26T11:56:00.002-04:00

Sam Adams in the Los Angeles Times reports on three upcoming and recent films chronicling the lives of families touched by autism: "Autism: The Musical" (airing 3/26 - 3/30 on HBO), "Autism Every Day" (on the Sundance Channel on April 2), and "Her Name Is Sabine" (recently released on DVD, but it might be hard to find).

Money Matters

2008-03-19T16:35:00.002-04:00

This article by Richard J. Dalton, Jr. in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review describes a major difficulty parents of children with ASDs face as their children reach maturity: how to keep them from making bad financial decisions and/or prevent them from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous salespeople.
Consider these numbers:
"An estimated 85 percent of the autistic population is younger than 18, and those diagnosed in the beginning of the wave of autism during the 1990s are reaching adulthood. The number of cases of autistic children and students served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act nearly doubled from 42,417 in 1997 to 79,586 in 2000, according to the U.S. Department of Education. "
The article explains:
"If autistic adults don't understand the nature of commerce, their parents face the prospect of seeking legal guardianship, taking away the very independence they've dreamed of for their son or daughter.
A guardian may have the legal right to make medical or financial decisions on behalf of the person under his care. Just as a minor cannot sign a contract, neither can a person, even an adult, whose financial affairs are handled by a guardian.
"A lot of times, that can be a really difficult decision for parents," said Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association, in Nixa, Mo. "
Here's an illuminating tale from the article:
"Linda Fulton, founder and president of the Fulton Foundation for Autism, said her 23-year-old son Dunlap, or D.J., has a tremendous ability to memorize numbers, including, she discovered, her credit card's.
Five years ago, said Fulton, of Huntington Bay, her son called a Chicago car dealer to buy a Lamborghini. The salesperson told him he needed a transport company. So he found one online, giving his mother's credit card number for the $25,000 fee. Fulton received a phone call to confirm the transaction and canceled the order.
A few years ago, her son ordered $10,000 worth of model planes, which were delivered to the house. She returned them but had to pay delivery and return shipping.
Lately, her son has been pushing to buy the Quiet Supersonic Transport airplane, the $80-million replacement for the Concorde that's to be launched in the next decade. He's told his mother he'd settle for a ride.
"He said, 'It's only $225,000 to be on the first flight,'" Fulton said. "I don't have to worry about that until 2014."

Night of Too Many Stars

2008-03-11T14:14:00.002-04:00

Jon Stewart will host "Night of Too Many Stars: An Overbooked Benefit for Autism Education", broadcast live on Comedy Central on April 13th. According to this Associated Press article by Jake Coyle,
"The night will feature standup routines, sketches and short films from a gluttony of comic talent, including Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, Sarah Silverman and Amy Poehler.
It's the second such benefit and was organized in part due to Robert Smigel, whose son, Daniel, is autistic. Smigel's most famous character, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, will also be attendance."

Autism: The Musical

2008-03-09T16:01:00.002-04:00

"Autism: The Musical" is a documentary film that follows five Los Angeles children over five months as they write, rehearse, and perform their own full-length musical. It airs on HBO on March 25th, with a DVD to follow.

Google Scholar

2008-03-04T14:31:00.002-05:00

I just helped a customer by letting her know about Google Scholar. It offers free access to articles from academic journals. A lot of hits only show abstracts, but there is quite a bit of free full-text contet there, if you poke around a little. And it's free! If you go to google.com, click on the "More" link - you should see "Scholar" listed as one of the choices.

Local News Relating to Autism

2008-02-26T09:40:00.003-05:00

My local newspaper, The Asbury Park Press, was chock full of stories related to autism this morning. First, Shannon Mullen reports on a local composer named Steven Allen, who has written a rock opera called "Day After Day" about a family dealing with autism.

Michael Rispoli also reports on a package of six bills that recently passed through the Health Committee of the New Jersey Assembly. He states, "The package, sponsored by Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., D-Camden, would require health insurance coverage of therapies for those on the autism spectrum, create the Office of the Advocate for Persons with Autism in the Department of the Public Advocate, establish an state-sponsored autism Web site, create voluntary identification cards for autistics, allow guardians to have better choice in what support services are given to those with autism and urge the state Board of Education to create a student peer program for students with autism." (With all of the state's budget troubles, I wonder if this will get funded.)

There is also an article by Michael Amsel about a local doctor who realized as an adult that he has Asperger's Syndrome. Dr. Henry Kong wrote a book about his experiences called "More Self Than Self: At Autism's Edge".

Finally, there was also a brief USA Today item by Steve Sternberg (Gannett, who owns the Asbury Park Press, also publishes USA Today) article on research into genetic mutations that boost one's probability of having autism.

Genius Genes

2008-02-25T12:30:00.002-05:00

This article in the United Kingdom's Telegraph by Colin Blakemore reviews a new book by Irish psychiatrist Michael Fitzgerald. Called Genius Genes: How Asperger Talents Changed the World, it poses the following conundrum:

"As both our knowledge of human genetics and our ability to modify genetic function advance, we shall have to face up to the question of what constitutes normality and what defines a disease.
The richness of humanity and the power of our culture are, in no small way, attributable to the diversity of our minds. Do we want a world in which the creativity linked to the oddness at the fringes of normality is medicated away?"

People with Autism Sought by Microsoft

2008-02-16T11:44:00.001-05:00

Cliff Saran posts at ComputerWeekly.com that Microsoft has hired people with autism through a Danish consultant as software checkers.

Larry King

2008-02-13T18:13:00.002-05:00

The Thursday, February 14th episode of Larry King Live will feature Jason MacElwain ("J-Mac"), Holly Robinson Peete, Doug Flutie, and Toni Braxton to "bust the myths and present breakthroughs" about autism.

Social Skills Site

2008-01-29T10:35:00.000-05:00

A 27 year old Canadian man named Chris, who describes himself as a "(mostly) recovered shy, awkward guy" has created a website filled with practical advice for young adults seeking to improve their social skills. It includes a whole page devoted to high school. Also includes a blog noting recent updates.

Study Links Autism to Immune System

2008-01-25T09:18:00.000-05:00

Carrie Peyton Dahlberg reports in the Sacramento Bee about a UC Davis study that found "11 genes, all governing "natural killer" immune cells, that are more active in autistic children than in other youngsters."

Researchers Frank Sharp and Jeff Gregg are part of the M.I.N.D. Institute, which is currently doing a lot of research on autism.

Autism in Girls

2008-01-25T09:10:00.000-05:00

ABC's Nightline did a special report on autism in girls, reported by John Donovan.

Series: Our Children's Brains

2008-01-24T14:22:00.000-05:00

Here is an interesting series of articles mostly put together by reporter Robbie Woliver of the Long Island Press. Includes topics like Auditory Processing Disorder, autism, and Asperger's, along with other issues like depression in children.

Summary of Research

2008-01-21T12:05:00.000-05:00

This article by in Ashley Pettus Harvard Magazine provides a nice overview of research on possible causes of autism spectrum disorders. This sounds intriguing:
"The researchers are paying particular attention to networks of genetic activity that affect 12 genes already known to play a role in autism. These are genes that regulate the brain’s response to environmental stimuli, affecting learning and memory by regulating the plasticity of connections between neurons. Here, the work of Michael Greenberg, professor of neurology and neuroscience and director of neurobiology at Children’s Hospital, has been critical. Greenberg looks at animals to examine how experience shapes the formation and refinement of synapses during brain development. He believes that autism-spectrum disorders may result from flaws in synapse development that affect the brain’s ability to process incoming signals. During the first years of postnatal development, trillions of synapses form in the brain as a child interacts with his or her surroundings; many synapses that aren’t needed naturally fall away, while others are strengthened. One possibility, Greenberg suggests, is that this pruning process doesn’t happen effectively in people with autism."

Using Second Life

2008-01-16T10:06:00.000-05:00

Ashley Phillips at ABC News reports on researchers using Second Life to aid in the improvement of social skils for people with Asperger's Syndrome.
"As a treatment, professionals that include occupational therapists and psychiatrists take patients through a series of exercises, in groups and individually, designed to help them learn social skills. In the center's new therapy, patients may have a job interview with a "boss" character or learn to ask another avatar out on a date. "

Study on Genetic Links to Autism

2008-01-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

In an editorial by Evan Eichler and Andrew Zimmerman, The New England Journal of Medicine says:
"It has become clear that the solutions to autism will be neither simple nor uniform among patients with various autistic syndromes. At least 60 different genetic, metabolic, and neurologic disorders have been associated with autism and involve approximately 10% of patients, whose clinical presentations frequently vary, even among those with known disorders...these examples highlight a different paradigm for the genetic basis of autism. Rather than being an inherited disease, autism may be the result of many independent loci that rarely delete or duplicate during gamete production. Collectively, such de novo events might contribute significantly to the disease and explain why few genetic loci have been confirmed with the use of traditional linkage-based approaches...The discovery of significant associations for the rarer loci may require the screening of tens of thousands of DNA samples from patients rather than a few thousand samples. Deeper sample collection and new cost-effective genomic techniques may be needed..."

This is how mainstream media is reporting it:
"A rare genetic variation dramatically raises the risk of developing autism, a large study showed, opening new research targets for better understanding the disorder and for treating it..."

PBS Doc Premieres Tonight

2008-01-08T10:11:00.001-05:00

"Today's Man", a documentary about a man named Nicky Gottlieb with Asperger's Syndrome, will be premiering tonight on most PBS stations. Here is an article by Felicia R. Lee about filmmaker Lizzie Gottlieb, Nicky's sister, from the New York Times. The PBS website for the film contains more information and a link to local listings.

Interview with "Unstrange Minds" author

2008-01-08T09:56:00.000-05:00

Here's a highly interesting interview with Roy Richard Grinker, the author of Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism, on the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry website. The interview was conducted by Benjamin Radford.
Some excerpts:
"I wrote Unstrange Minds so that people can see that autism is universal and that autism awareness is increasing everywhere in the world. But the most important reason for writing the book—though this was not my original intention—was to tell the world a simple message: the increase in autism diagnoses is not a crisis but rather evidence that we’re finally beginning to address a kind of human difference that has for too long been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mismanaged. More than six decades after autism was first described by Leo Kanner, we’re finally getting it right, and counting it right."
"I thought I could articulate some of the cultural and scientific reasons behind the increase in rates and give a positive message: the higher rates are due to positive changes in the way we understand and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders."
"The reality is that (1) the higher rates mean that autism is a bigger public health issue than we ever realized; and (2) there is nothing mutually exclusive about saying there’s no epidemic and at the same saying that we’ve finally figured out what’s going on with people on the autism spectrum, and we need more research and services. I recently received an e-mail from a parent who decried my stance: “How can you say there is no epidemic of autism?” she wrote. “When I was in school, there were no kids with special needs in my school. Today, in my daughter’s school there are dozens.” Actually, that is my point. In the past autistic people were not included in our schools. Today they are. And that’s a very good thing.
Another big misconception is that autism is somehow new. I am frequently asked: If there is no epidemic, then where are all the adults with autism? The answer is easy, but also complicated. Finding adults with autism is very hard, not because they do not exist but because they are dispersed in our society. Some live in group homes, others in institutions, others are living and working among us in our everyday lives. Kids are easy to count because they are all in school, neatly recorded in school records. But adults are a different story."

Yale Child Study Center Director in NJ

2008-01-02T19:25:00.000-05:00

For anyone in the area, Dr. Ami Klin, director of the Autism Program at the Yale Child Study Center, will present a free program on ASDs and AS on Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Adath Israel Congregation, 1958 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrence.
More details can be found here.
He is also presenting an all day workshop for educators the following day for $75.00.

Clinical Trials

2007-12-31T10:13:00.000-05:00

I may have posted this before but it seemed worth revisiting. If you are looking for clinical trials related to ASDs, check out

www.clinicialtrials.gov

Here is a sampling on a search "autistic disorder".

Smart is not an Endgame

2007-12-21T10:45:00.000-05:00

Penelope Trunk reminds us to pay attention to social skills - our own and our children's.

"And when you think about someone finding his way to success in the real world, consider the Wall Street Journal's list of traits that recruiters look for in business school candidates:
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Original and visionary thinking
• Leadership potential
• Ability to work well on a team
• Analytical and problem-solving skills"

Test

2007-12-19T10:44:00.000-05:00

Just testing out a change made nervously to my template. I am such a blog design coward!

Article on RDI

2007-12-17T09:45:00.000-05:00

This article by Mary Jiminez from the Shreveport Times (Louisiana) describes one family's experience with RDI - Relationship Development Therapy. The price tag is $500-$800 per month, and it is not covered by insurance.

Autistic Brain Structure & Development

2007-12-11T13:35:00.000-05:00

Wrongplanet posts an interesting article from the journal Neuron about the size of portions of brains in autistic children and autistic adults.

"Surprisingly, current research is showing different results in the brains of autistic children compared to data collected in adults. The very same structures that appear smaller in adult autistic brains appear much larger and overgrown in autistic children. "

This paragraph is kind of shocking:
"Considerations for developmental aspects of autism are becoming ever more important. Even gene-association studies may be inconsistent because the genes that cause and regulate differential development may not be the same as those genes that respond to these differences later in life, making it hard to define a clear set of “autism” genes. This means, that genes found in autism studies may be identifying genes involved with secondary issues and are not finding genes that have to do with developing autism directly. Indeed, many genes identified thus far in autistic patients have to do with regulating cell death in the brain and may only be expressed secondarily in response to the overgrowth of particular brain structures."

Contestant with AS on "America's Top Model"

2007-12-08T14:42:00.000-05:00

Aspiring model Heather Kuzmich made it to the Top 5 on the current edition of "America's Top Model." Heather, has Asperger's Syndrome, and her experience is described in this article. I'm sorry I missed this. If anyone did watch it, please comment with your thoughts.

AS and Sleep

2007-11-21T09:42:00.000-05:00

This should come as no surprise to parents of children with Asperger's. But at least they are studying it.
" The first known attempt to evaluate the sleep patterns of children with Asperper Syndrome (AS), taking into account sleep architecture and the cyclic alternating pattern (CAP), finds that children with AS have a high prevalence of some sleep disorders and mainly problems related to initiating sleep and sleep restlessness together with morning problems and daytime sleepiness, according to a new study."

Bush Vetoes Funding Bill for Combating Autism Act

2007-11-19T10:47:00.000-05:00

From the Autism Society of America Web site:
"On November 13, President Bush vetoed the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. This bipartisan bill had strong support in both the House and the Senate, but the President objected to the overall funding levels of the bill, which includes modest increases for vital programs - most of which have experienced significant cuts, lost purchasing power or both over the past three years.
This legislation includes significant increases for autism programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration and the National Institutes of Health. These increases represent full funding of the Combating Autism Act, and are critical in improving our ability to diagnose, intervene and develop new therapies for autism. We need this crucial investment!
The House could move to override the President’s veto as early as this week. Contact your Member of Congress and urge them to vote YES on the veto override.
Click here to take action now."

NJ Theater Workshop for Adults with Autism

2007-11-05T13:36:00.000-05:00

From Tina Kelley, reported in the New York Times, an article about a 12 week theater workshop at Montclair State University.
"B. Madeleine Goldfarb, the director of outreach and education at the Autism Center, helped get funding for the program. She said of the center’s clients: “Most of them have some sort of passion for something, and can be savantlike within that particular passion. How do you harness that?”
Ms. Goldfarb, who is pursuing more grants for the program, described its roots in discussions with some of the center’s clients.
“They were all sitting in their own little worlds, not communicating with one another around a big conference table, not making eye contact or engaging,” she said. She asked them what their passions were, and the atmosphere quickly became charged as a consensus grew around theater.
“There was a change in connectedness, in reciprocity, in giving suggestions, with other people in the room commenting on suggestions,” she said. “It was astounding.”
By welcoming adults, the workshop fills a crucial need. Suzanne Buchanan, the director of clinical services at the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community, described “almost a total lack of funding of appropriate programs” for adults with autism, many of whom do not work full time.
“Having a meaningful activity where they’re working productively with others, working toward a common goal, is a really great way for them to spend their time,” Dr. Buchanan said.

AAP Reports

2007-10-29T13:50:00.000-04:00

The American Academy of Pediatrics just published two new reports related to ASDs. Although they are written for clinicians, they are sure to have useful information for families.

The first is called "Identification and Evaluation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders".
It describes signs and symptoms for pediatricians.
The second is "Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders". According to the press release, this report "strongly advises intervention as soon as an ASD diagnosis is seriously considered rather than deferring until a definitive diagnosis is made. The child should be actively engaged in intensive intervention at least 25 hours per week, 12 months per year with a low student-to-teacher ratio allowing for sufficient one-on-one time. " The press release also says, "Pediatricians who treat children with ASDs should recognize that many of their patients will use nonstandard therapies. The report says it’s important for pediatricians to become knowledgeable about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, ask families about current and past CAM use, and provide balanced information and advice about treatment options, including identifying risks or potential harmful effects. They should avoid becoming defensive or dismissing CAM in ways that convey a lack of sensitivity or concern, but they should also help families to understand how to evaluate scientific evidence and recognize unsubstantiated treatments. "

Disclosure

2007-10-23T13:35:00.000-04:00

This article by Debi Boucher Stetson in a New England newspaper, touches on a sticky subject: what and whom to tell about your child's special needs.

Facilitated Communication

2007-10-17T10:35:00.000-04:00

This blog post from Dr. Sanjay Gupta at CNN triggers some interesting comments on Facilitated Communication.

Clinton Asked About Autism

2007-10-10T20:34:00.000-04:00

Just a blurb that came my way. Posted by Mark Murray on an MSNBC News blog called "First Read":
"[Hillary} Clinton answered questions from voters at a town hall at the opera house here, which was her second stop on a two-day swing through the state...Other audience members asked...what she would do to address disorders like Asperger's syndrome, which is part of the autism spectrum of disorders. Clinton responded ...that she wanted to be the president to put autism on the map and help families dealing with it. ."

Thimerosal Study

2007-09-28T13:39:00.000-04:00

Here is a link via Robert Bazell in The Daily Nightly that leads to the full-text article in The New England Journal of Medicine "Early Thimerosal Exposure and Neuropsychological Outcomes at 7 to 10 Years". I don't know how long it will be available for free online.

NJ Father Wins Lawsuit for Son's Care

2007-09-28T09:48:00.001-04:00

I heard the teaser for this story by Larry Abramson on NPR, but missed the broadcast. It is now available live online.
"What they said when they rejected me was that treatment was not restorative. It didn't restore a previously existing function," Micheletti says. "Jake was three and a half. He had never spoken before. [The insurance company thought], 'Why should we give him verbal behavior therapy to make him speak now.'"

Autism in Girls

2007-09-25T13:24:00.000-04:00

I missed this article from August 5th's New York Times Magazine by Emily Bazelon on autism in girls. It's heartbreaking in its description of the social isolation and depression that girls on the spectrum might be in greater danger of suffering, simply becasue social connections are so important to girls' self-esteem and social awkwardness is a more acceptable male trait.

"Because there are so many fewer females with autism, they are “research orphans,” as Ami Klin, a psychology and psychiatry professor who directs Yale's autism program, puts it. Scientists have tended to cull girls from studies because it is difficult to find sufficiently large numbers of them. Some of the drugs, for example, commonly used to treat symptoms of autism like anxiety and hyperactivity have rarely been tested on autistic girls. "

"No doubt part of the problem for autistic girls is the rising level of social interaction that comes in middle school. Girls’ networks become intricate and demanding, and friendships often hinge on attention to feelings and lots of rapid and nuanced communication — in person, by cellphone or Instant Messenger. No matter how much they want to connect, autistic girls are not good at empathy and conversation, and they find themselves locked out, seemingly even more than boys do."

Contagious Yawning

2007-09-24T10:39:00.000-04:00

Fron Mindhacks come this study published by the British Psychological Society that claims that people with ASDs are immune to contagious yawning.
"Past research has found that seeing the eye region of someone yawn is key to the yawn's contagious effects. So perhaps the fact that people with autism are known to focus more on the mouth region of people's faces, rather than the eyes, could partly explain the current findings.Atsushi Senju and colleagues said their results “support the claim that contagious yawning and the capacity of empathy share common neural and cognitive mechanisms.' "

Oprah TODAY

2007-09-18T13:12:00.000-04:00

Tuesday's (9/18/07) episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show (CBS) will be about Autism.
Actresses Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete will guest. (Thanks, ASPENNJ Ocean County!)

New Baron-Cohen Study Links Autistic Traits to Testosterone

2007-09-14T13:30:00.000-04:00

From a story in the Telegraph of the United Kingdom by Nic Fleming and Roger Highfield"
"Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, from Cambridge University, one of the world's leading experts on autism, revealed initial details of his new study at the British Association Festival of Science in York yesterday.
Professor Baron-Cohen said: "The idea that fetal testosterone may play a causal role in autism is an existing hypothesis.
"There's no evidence that it's a causal factor, but this research is certainly consistent with that hypothesis."

The Urge to Label

2007-09-14T10:45:00.000-04:00

When I started reading this article in Newsweek by Lorraine Ali, I thought it was bashing "overdiagnosis" of ASDs. But then I came upon this paragraph:
"... Mary-Dean Barringer, of the nonprofit learning institute All Kinds of Minds, says we put too much emphasis on the labels that others assign to our kids. "We're absolutely appalled by this diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome," says Barringer. (Asperger's is a high-functioning form of autism, marked by obsessive interests and impaired social interaction.) "These are very highly specialized minds, and to put a syndrome on it and treat it as an aberration does damage to kids and families. There are still challenges there on how to manage it, but why not call it a highly specialized mind phenomenon rather than a disorder? That label alone shapes public perception about uniqueness and quirkiness." "

NJ Autism Bills Signed Into Law

2007-09-12T20:30:00.000-04:00

PoliticsNJ.com reports "A bill package sponsored by Senators Loretta Weinberg and Joseph Coniglio, designed to increase and improve available resources for families and individuals living with autism, was signed into law today by Governor Jon Corzine. The bills were signed at the Eden Institute, a non-profit organization which provides educational and vocational services to adults and children living with autism."
If you go to this page, you can type in the bill numbers to see the text of the laws. The bills are:
S2568
S2569
S2558
S690
S2559
S698
S2306

Possible Genetic Link Between Anorexia and Autism

2007-09-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

Katy Campbell of the London Times interviews Professor Janet Treasure, the author of a new study examining the similarities in thought patterns between people with eating disorders and people (especially girls) with autism.
"What we now realise is that we need to be looking at underlying neural networks in the brain – how patterns of information are processed, how this affects both behaviour and the way an individual reacts to her environment, and why this goes wrong. We need to consider those aspects of how the brain functions that increase the risk of someone falling prey to an eating disorder. "
[snip]
"We have found, for example, that people with eating disorders find it difficult to change self-set rules and learnt behaviour once fixed in the brain. They also see the world in close-up detail, as if they are looking at life through a zoom lens – but this can be at the cost of having an ability to see and think about self-identity and connections with others without getting lost in the details.
We also discovered that this distorted pattern of processing information has a strong similarity to autistic spectrums. It has even been described as the female form of Asperger’s. Traits that may appear present in childhood, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or overperfectionism, can often indicate a vulnerability to developing an eating disorder later in adolescence. "

Scholarship for Students with Autism

2007-09-05T09:39:00.000-04:00

Lisa Jo Rudy of About.com reports that the Organization for Autism Research is offering a scholarship to students with autism pursuing post high school studies. They will award three $3000 scholarships annually. The deadline to apply is September 28, 2007. Full details here. Cool!

V-a-c-a-t-i-o-n!

2007-08-31T09:54:00.000-04:00

No posts this week - I have been on vacation. We went to Sesame Place. NT daughter and I enjoyed the roller coaster! It's amazing to see the progress my son has made since we last visited. We all really enjoyed ourselves. We also went to a minor league baseball game where he begged to stay for the postgame fireworks. We can't believe this is the same kid who had major panic attacks every Fourth of July! My son and I also saw a wild major league game yesterday between the Mets and the Phillies. So we have had a lot of fun family time. Next week is back to school. The new routine might be tough for the first few days. Fourth graders are going to change classes this year, to get them used to a different way of doing things. So we are anticipating some bumps in the road from out organizationally-challenged kid. But I am optimistic that he will adapt. Enjoy these last days of summer!

Talk of the Nation Today

2007-08-21T10:08:00.000-04:00

***UPDATE***
The online link for this story is up here.
Audio of the broadcast will be available online after 6:00 pm, Eastern Time.
Please also consider commenting on the Blog of the Nation here.
Related NPR story on parents fighting for insurance coverage of treatment of autism here.

I heard on the radio this morning that "Talk of the Nation" on National Public Radio is devoting an hour to the impact of the rise in autism cases on schools. This is a call-in show. They generally have a few experts talk for a while, then open the phones to comments from listeners. It runs for 2 hours with a different topic devoted to each hour. It airs live at 2:00 pm, Eastern. More details will eventually appear here. Find your local NPR station here.

An Aspie's Perspective

2007-08-16T14:05:00.000-04:00

The August 20 issue of the New Yorker has a wonderful essay called "Parallel Play" by Tim Page. He writes a wonderful first person account of life with Asperger's. Page is a Pulitzer Prize winning classical music critic for the Washington Post. Unfortunately, this essay is not available online. Here are a few excerpts:
"In the years since the phrase became a cliche, I have received any number of compliments for my supposed ability to 'think outside the box'. Actually, it has been a struggle for me to perceive just what these "boxes" were - why they were there, why other people regarded them as important, where the borderlines might be, how to live safely within and without them."

"A friend published a sweet autobiography entitled "Thank You, Everyone," in which she expressed gratitude to everybody who had influenced her...If I were to create a similar book, I would call it "Sorry, Everyone" and apologize for my youthful cluelessness..."

"...I cannot pretend that Asperger's has not made much of my existence miserable and isolated (how will I get to sleep tonight?). I hope that young Aspies, informed by recent literature on the subject, will find the world somewhat less challenging than I have."

Autism Researchers Think They Are Closing In on Cause

2007-08-15T17:52:00.000-04:00

This extensive Newsday article by Delthia Ricks focuses on recent genetic research and the reaction of some parents of children on the spectrum.
" With his Cold Spring Harbor [Laboratory] collaborators, Jonathan Sebat and Lakshmi Muthuswamy, [Michael] Wigler has found that spontaneous mutations specific to autism occur with a relative degree of frequency in the human genome. These random strikes are technically known as copy number variants, or CNVs. The Cold Spring Harbor team defines these mutating hits as a major cause of autism."

"Support from the Simons Foundation has allowed the researchers to collect genetic samples from 264 families nationwide, involving more than 1,000 individuals. Within these families, Wigler and colleagues were able to identify 118 families they dubbed as "simplex" where only one member displayed symptoms of autism and 47 families that were identified as "multiplex," with two or more affected siblings. The rest were controls.By studying families, the team was able to determine whether a child's genes were identical to the parents' or whether they contained variants. The investigation revealed the variants were most prevalent among people with autism."

"Alison Singer, executive director of Autism Speaks, a national advocacy organization, said the Cold Spring Harbor studies are destined to have a strong impact on how parents understand autism."We want them to pursue the science wherever it leads," Singer said. "But we don't want to get into a situation where we blame the parents. When some parents read stories about older fathers or older mothers, they can become very sensitive."Singer said what's missing in Wigler's work is the mechanism that causes genes to mutate. Susceptibility genes, she said, often need an outside stimulus to set off a genetic chain of events. Perhaps parents may be correct who think vaccination underlies autism, said Singer, whose daughter and brother are autistic."

The Meaning of Napoleon Dynamite

2007-08-10T10:33:00.000-04:00

Child Psychiatrists Hope Levin and Steven Schlozman weigh in on the popularity of the movie "Napoleon Dynamite". Psychiatrist Brett Sharp writes a letter of response.

Autism/Pesticide Link? And What to Do About It

2007-08-08T14:06:00.000-04:00

Charles has an excellent post at The Special Education Law Blog about the recent study demonstrating a possible link between autism cases and maternal exposure to pesticides while pregnant. Hip post has lots of advice about what parents can do to learn about their local school's use of pesticides and how to promote an IPM - Integrated Pest Management system.

Autism on Oprah

2007-08-03T13:10:00.000-04:00

Oprah's August 2nd show was on autism. Go to her website to see the episode and explore other resources.

Preparing for an IEP Meeting

2007-07-30T09:31:00.000-04:00

Charles at the Special Education Law blog has linked to an informative web site that helps coach parents at IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings. It's a table of typical comments made by school officials with suggested responses by parents that might help get a more meaningful dialogue going. The law site is out of Colorado, but laws from other states are also cited.

AS in Adults

2007-07-24T16:33:00.000-04:00

Very interesting article in USA Today, by Suzanne Leigh, about diagnosing Asperger's Syndrome in adults. Be sure to check out the comments. This quote is sure to generate some response:
"Almost by definition, an Asperger's person would not form an intimate relationship, get married and have children," says research scientist Katherine Tsatsanis of the Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic. "They don't form connections. The desire, the drive and the social knowledge is lacking."

***UPDATE***
The doctors quoted in this article have posted a disclaimer on their website. They say they were misquoted.

Hippotherapy

2007-07-18T09:45:00.000-04:00

This article by Eliza McGraw in the Washington Post offers a nice detailed description of hippotherapy - "which uses the natural movements of the horse as a tool for physical, occupational and sometimes speech therapy."

"Unlike therapeutic riding, which teaches people with special needs how to ride, hippotherapy (the name derives from the Greek word for "horse") focuses purely on the repetitive motion of the horse's walk, which mimics an average person's gait."

"Therapists may work with adults as well. But William Benda, an emergency physician and advocate of hippotherapy in Big Sur, California, is more enthusiastic about hippotherapy's effects on children than on adults. "The future benefit is much greater for the 4-year-old than a 40-year-old," he says. 'Injury to the brain is static, but the function worsens over time. Children's bodies have to grow around an asymmetrical disability, and they get worse. So we try to catch them as early as possible.' "

Support Group for Grandparents

2007-07-17T10:43:00.001-04:00

This is such a great idea. I hope more groups like this form.

Swimming Lessons

2007-07-11T10:18:00.000-04:00

I could really relate to this post from Ali Edwards at A. I like Edwards blog because it's about more than all autism, all the time. Kind of like life.

Social Skills Therapy: Ineffective?

2007-07-05T14:55:00.000-04:00

Lisa Jo Rudy has initiated a discussion at About.com on social skills classes for children with ASDs. She refers to a recent review article which looks at studies of social skills interventions. The results are not so great.
See the discussion here.
An article about the study is here.

Study Shows Signs of Autism Appear Early in Some Children

2007-07-05T14:25:00.000-04:00

Anita Manning writes in USA Today that "Children with autism can be identified as early as 14 months old, the youngest age at which the disorder has been diagnosed, a study by researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore suggests.
But about half the time, symptoms may not show up until months later. That suggests at least two distinct paths leading to autism: one that starts early in life and one in which a child seems to develop normally and then regresses, losing language and social skills. " Full story here.

Author to Appear on NPR

2007-06-22T15:29:00.000-04:00

Ralph Savarese, author of REASONABLE PEOPLE: A MEMOIR OF AUTISM & ADOPTION, will be interviewed on the nationally-syndicated National Public Radio program, "The Diane Rehm Show", on Monday, June 25th to talk about his autistic son and the new book. He will be on from 11am - 12pm in the Washington DC area, although the show airs in hundreds of markets around the country. Please use this link to find a local station in your area that airs the show and the time it will air: http://wamu.org/programs/dr/about/affiliate_stations.php

The Help Group

2007-06-16T10:19:00.000-04:00

This California Based organization has a nice collection of practical articles on ASDs and Asperger's on their web site here. Topics include - how to talk to your pediatrician, improving behavior, medications. They are brief, and may be worth sharing with family members who might be having difficulty understanding what ASDs are.

Autism Research Bills Pass NJ Assembly

2007-06-16T09:56:00.000-04:00

From the AP wire in the NJ Courier-Post:
"Amid concern about New Jersey having America's highest autism rate, state senators Thursday pushed forward proposals to promote autism research.
The Assembly-approved bills would establish a statewide autism registry and provide more money for research and treatment. The bills are among several autism-related proposals that can now be considered by the full Senate."

Here is information on the registry bill.
This bill also seems to be moving along.
Information on other bills related to autism pending in the State Legislature is here.

Blog Carnival

2007-06-12T15:40:00.000-04:00

The Special Education Law blog is hosting a blog carnival on June 18, 2007. Guidelines for submission are here. This is a great way to discover other blogs.

Hacking My Child's Brain - Update

2007-05-29T13:55:00.000-04:00

Here's a progress report from Mark Woodman, who wrote a series of articles in Wired magazine about treatment for his son's sensory processing disorder.
"Despite the encouraging results, the program isn't a quick fix for sensory processing disorder. Proprioceptive awareness is still pretty tough for Caleb. His brain may be getting the right information now, but he still has to learn how to use it for the first time. We hope that he now has the neurological wiring needed to eventually catch up with his peers in social areas. The intriguing aspect of this whole experiment is to see evidence that my son's brain continues to reorganize itself around the sensory information. Caleb is experiencing the world in new ways, and only time will tell what comes of it. "

Autism and Race

2007-05-21T17:20:00.000-04:00

Kathleen Megan of the Hartford Courant reports on the 18 month lag time in diagnosis for an African American child with autism.

" Wendy Fournier, president of the National Autism Association based in Nixa, Mo., said the issue is "actually driving us crazy. ... I think there are probably a lot of kids with autism in the minority community who are going undiagnosed."Fournier said her group is establishing a committee to reach out to minority communities. "At conferences we go to, there are no black people there, no minorities. It's kind of freaky. It's very, very noticeable.' "

"[David] Mandell, assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, studied children on Medicaid in an attempt to eliminate income as a factor in quality of care. He found that white kids were diagnosed at 6.3 years old, compared with 7.9 years for African American kids. This late age for diagnosis is "not good for anybody," said Mandell."

"Mandell's study also showed that African American children were less likely - by 2.6 times - to receive an autism diagnosis on their first visit to a specialty care office and more likely to be misdiagnosed with conduct disorder and adjustment disorder."

When a Child Outgrows the Safety Net

2007-05-20T15:57:00.000-04:00

UPDATE: I neglected to include the essay's author in my initial post. It's Lisa Romeo. My apologies.

The New York Times publishes some wonderful essays on the weekends. I have really liked what I have found in their "Modern Love" weekly in the Sunday Styles section. The "New Jersey/NY Region" section also has some really good pieces.

This one appeared on Mother's Day in the NJ section, under a heading that said "Generations". I don't know how much longer it will be available for free online. But I thought it was worth sharing. A few excerpts:

"How does a mother keep from continually moving the net? Am I done with all that because Sean no longer arranges toys in straight lines or needs listening exercises? Because he can focus on a tennis ball in play, calmly enter new classrooms sans rehearsal? He is no longer so different, but is there still a special need? Something he still needs, from me? Maybe knowing, but not revealing, where his molted skins lie?

What do I know anyway? That it took 136 vision therapy sessions for his eyes not to hurt when the TV picture rolls or the sun glints off the pool? That his toddler habit of repeating every sentence I said was not cute but a sign of neurocognitive miswiring?

Sean may not be so different now, but I will always be a different mother, with painful memories of what could have been ordinary moments...

...I cherish the cheerful, dimpled adolescent with the amazing vocabulary, but he comes packaged with the recovered child of a thousand traumas. And the mother-advocate is a role difficult to relinquish. I was good at it. I got him through..."

This essay is adapted from “Special Gifts: Women Writers on the Heartache, Happiness and Hope in Raising a Special Needs Child,” to be published by Wyatt-MacKenzie in June.

We Just Got a Diagnosis, What Do We Do?

2007-05-09T09:41:00.000-04:00

This brief article has some good tips.

I would add to it "Visit Your Library." Most of the library's books on autism have been selected because they have gone through the publishing process, which usually involves some sort of fact checking, and they have received good reviews from reliable professional resources. (Our library uses Booklist and Library Journal, along with catalogs from specialized publishers.)

A staff member at our library is also creating a collection of worthwhile web sites that will soon be posted on our library's home page. As soon as it is up I will link to it from the blog.

Jenny McCarthy Goes Public About Son with Autism

2007-05-04T12:42:00.000-04:00

"I did want to acknowledge and confirm the fact that my son does, indeed, have an autism diagnosis," McCarthy, 34, said on Thursday's edition of ABC's The View, on which she served as guest cohost.

McCarthy's book on the subject, Louder Than Words, is scheduled to published in September.

"I just want moms ... who have children out there with autism ... to know that I am coming back in a few months with this book, and I am planning on using my big, giant, controversial mouth to blow the lid off a lot of things related to autism to give moms hope," she said. "It is so needed."

People.com story here.

Garage Door Cakes

2007-05-01T13:56:00.000-04:00

"When he turned three years old, I brought out my inner “Martha Stewart” and baked a birthday cake that I knew no one else would ever imagine — a cake in the shape of a garage door."

Just another day in the life of a parent of a child with autism!

"It is never my intention to have him labeled ... I just want to have him understood."

"...I didn’t want to write this commentary to draw attention to my child. I just think it’s important for everyone to be aware that all too often there’s “more than meets the eye”. Before I had my son, I admit to judging a parent’s skills if the child misbehaved. But now I’m aware that we don’t know the whole story. I’m still learning patience and know that there is hope for each child diagnosed with austim, wherever they fall on the spectrum."

Book Review: Children's Fiction

2007-04-27T13:47:00.000-04:00

Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis
Did you ever watch that wildlife show with Marlon Perkins that was on Sunday nights before "Wonderful World of Disney"? Marlon Perkins was so unflappable and smart, like a scholarly grandfather. Emma-Jean is sort of like Perkins, observing the behavior of her fellow 7th graders at William Gladstone Middle School. Their antics are quite messy and illogical, according to her. But they don't bother with her much, so she is free to observe them at her liesure. But one day she stumbles on Colleen Pomerantz crying her eyes out in the girls' bathroom, and Emma-Jean decides to see if she can apply her knowledge and intellectual abilities to solving Colleen's problem. To her great satisfaction, Emma-Jean's efforts are successful. This leads her to try to fix the problems of other students and some teachers at her school. What happens next teaches Emma-Jean a lot about matters of the heart and the mind.
It's hard for me to be subjective about this book. I devoured it in about a day and absolutely loved it. Though it is never stated, Emma-Jean displays many hallmarks of high functioning quirky kids on the autism spectrum. What is so cool is that Emma-Jean may be odd, but she is not really any stranger than the kids at the public school she attends. And by the end of the book, Emma-Jean takes her place among them - even though she is a bit odd, she finds a way to belong. Phew! Even thinking about it now makes me a little bit verklempt. I truly hope kids take to this book - it's got such a positive, affirmative message - we are all different, and we all belong.

Spanish Language Site

2007-04-26T12:48:00.000-04:00

Here is a web site providing information and support for Spanish-speaking parents of children with autism.

I found this on my colleague Ellen's blog. Thank you, Ellen for your encouragement and hard work on behalf of families of autistic children!

TV Show Alert

2007-04-19T10:27:00.000-04:00

Nick News on the Nickelodeon network is broadcasting a show entitled "Private Worlds: Kids and Autism" on Sunday, April 22. It will be hosted by Linda Ellerbee and profile one child with autism, one with Asperger's and one with savant abilities. Temple Grandin also appears, asking kids not to tease their classmates with autism.
More details here.

New Early Diagnosis Test

2007-04-18T09:48:00.000-04:00

Found this on the Special Education Law Blog:
Researchers have discovered that something as simple as calling out a baby's name to see if he or she responds could be the first step in early diagnosis of autism. "If a child fails the test at 12 months, they're highly likely to have some abnormal developmental outcome that could probably respond to therapy," said Dr. Sally Ozonoff, a professor at the University of California, Davis' M.I.N.D. institute.
Full article here.

Sensory Wall

2007-04-17T11:52:00.000-04:00

An Occupational Therapist has designed a wall that helps kids with sensory integration issues. The article includes this description of SID:
"It's like when you are watching television," explained Merrin Brown, registered occupational therapist at BMH and team leader for Blount County Schools. "You are using your sense of sight, sound, touch and also taste if you are eating. You are also using cognition to enjoy your favorite show. But if the dog starts barking or the kids are screaming or the phone rings, you will either get frustrated or yell at someone to be quiet. With children with sensory needs, it's like that every day."

Celebrate!

2007-04-16T10:23:00.000-04:00

It's National Library Week! If you haven't visited your local public library lately, give it a try. There's lots of good stuff there, including DVDs, magazines, and books. Check out what they have on ASDs - you might be pleasantly surprised. And it's a lot cheaper to borrow books than to buy them!
In celebration of reading, here is a heartwarming story from a mom with two children on the spectrum.
"...when my twins were diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum, I could feel my legs go numb as I read all the things an autistic child might never do. One of my favorite activities with my children has always been reading books to them; could it be they would never share that joy? Would I never hear them read "Go, Dog. Go!" to me?"
"...although there are many fears for our children, they can reward you with wonderful surprises, just like a colorful flower suddenly pops from the barren and cold ground. It was there the whole time, just waiting for everything to come together."

Did Mr. Darcy Have Asperger's?

2007-04-09T09:59:00.000-04:00

At first I thought this was a bit silly, but upon further reflection, maybe it demonstrates that people on the spectrum have been around for a very long time, and represent a predictable, recurring aspect of human nature.

I may touch more on this after I finish reading Unstrange Minds, a new book on autism written by a medical anthropologist. It explores the labels we give to different human behaviors. So far it is really good.

Learning Social Skills by Watching

2007-04-02T14:54:00.000-04:00

Two new studies at Indiana University demonstrate that videos depicting exemplary behaviors can be effective in helping children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders develop social skills and daily living skills.
Details here.

Did It Work?

2007-03-29T09:36:00.000-04:00

Part 8 of the Wired Series "Hacking My Child's Brain" looks at preliminary results.

Thomas the Tank Engine

2007-03-29T09:17:00.000-04:00

Here's an example of a child with ASD whose Thomas obsession led to a breakthrough.

Another Way to Communicate

2007-03-23T09:43:00.000-04:00

This article highlights a promising use of Makaton, a kind of modified sign language.
"To the untrained eye, it may look like a funky new dance routine.
But for many the introduction of Makaton, a new form of sign language, is proving a lifeline. Little Morgan Harrison, a pupil at Park School on Whitegate Drive, is a "non-speaker" and on the autistic spectrum. But since September the five-year-old's development has come on leaps and bounds thanks, his mum and teachers believe, to the use of Makaton. Makaton uses simple pictures, hand gestures and the spoken word to communicate on a child level. "

Philadelphia Zoo Awareness

2007-03-18T13:45:00.000-04:00

April 22 is Autism Awareness Day at the Philadelphia Zoo. There will be a magic show, jugglers, live music, and Pierre Robert from radio station WMMR. This event is sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Autism Society of America. More info about the event here.

Work in Progress

2007-03-16T16:27:00.000-04:00

If things on the blog look a little funny, please bear with me. I am trying to learn to use more Blogger features, like adding a blogroll, just like my friend Liz said to. So please be patient while I stumble along.
Thanks!