US Autism & Asperger Association

Good Grades: Does My Child Still Need Special Instruction?

2012-02-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

By Patricia Howey for Wrightslaw.com

Question: I spend hours helping my child with homework each night. She still struggles and is getting frustrated. I keep asking the school to evaluate her but the principal says her grades are too good. What should I do?

Answer: First, IDEA states that a child does not have to fail or be retained to be considered for special education and related services. 34 C.F.R. 300.101(c). Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, p. 204.

People at school do not always know what the law says. You may want to show the principal this section.

You also may want to get an Independent Education Evaluation (IEE).

A child who is making good grades may still need special instruction and related services.

Teachers give out grades based on many different factors.

FULL STORY

Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions

2012-02-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

One of the primary goals of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to provide the highest level of security and customer service to all who pass through our screening checkpoints. Our current policies and procedures focus on ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their personal situations and needs, are treated equally and with the dignity, respect, and courtesy they deserve. Although every person and item must be screened before entering each secure boarding area. All disability-related equipment, aids, and devices are allowed through security checkpoints once cleared through screening.

TSA recommends that passengers call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager located at the airport when necessary.

TSA Cares Help Line

TSA Cares is a helpline to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. TSA recommends that passengers call 72 hours ahead of travel to for information about what to expect during screening.

Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787-2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares will serve as an additional, dedicated resource specifically for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.

FULL STORY

TSA Notification Cards

The IEP Process Explained by an Attorney

2012-02-23T11:03:00.002-07:00

from Specialneeds.com

Christopher Knauf is the founder of Knauf Associates in Santa Monica, CA. His law firm specializes in disability rights and education-related legal disputes. He has also served as an independent hearing officer for Section 504 special education disputes. Mr. Knauf was kind enough to speak with SpecialNeeds.com and answer some questions about the overall IEP process.

SN: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Let's begin with how the IEP process gets started.

SN: What is the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan?

Mr. Knauf: It depends on qualification and eligibility for services.

Mr. Knauf: Sure. The idea is that there is a certain population of kids who have what we generically call special needs. It could be anything from diabetes, to ADD, to autism, to orthopedic disabilities to blindness. Federal law requires that these kids, regardless of abilities or disabilities, are provided with free appropriate public education. That's the term under the law. States that are taking federal money are obligated to provide that to kids who qualify.

SN: How do they qualify for these special education services?

FULL STORY

A boy's talk about his Asperger's resonates in his school A boy's talk about his Asperger's resonates in his school

2012-02-23T11:02:00.002-07:00

February 22, 2012|Marci Shatzman mshatzman@tribune.com

Since Jack Lebersfeld told the entire sixth grade he has Asperger's syndrome and explained what that meant, his speech has taken on a life of its own that Jack and his parents could have never imagined.

Asperger's is one of the autism spectrum disorders that affects a person's ability to socialize, and that's what was happening to Jack at school. The 11-year-old was being "isolated and picked on," in the words of his friend Spencer Kusel.

Now Jack gets fan mail. "I hung onto your every word, imagining you as an invincible super hero, doing the world good," wrote Briana Finocchiaro, 12, who didn't know him but felt compelled to write the next day.

When an assembly program and speech was suggested at school, Jack said his first reaction was, "No way!" But he warmed to the idea. "I wanted people to know who I was. I didn't want people to think I was dumb," he said.

"People treat him differently now," she said in an interview later.

FULL STORY

Made for Good Purpose

2012-01-29T19:49:00.003-07:00

JUST RELEASED - Made for Good Purpose: What Every Parent Needs to Know to Help Their Adolescent with Asperger's, High Functioning Autism or a Learning Difference Become an Independent Adult.

by Michael P. McManmon, EdD

ORDER THE BOOK NOW! and SAVE 20% off of the retail price of the book*.

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849058636

"In this book the reader will find multiple suggestions for practicing social interaction, from analyzing short video clips of sitcoms for decoding non-verbal communication to spending time with a mentor learning how to interact successfully in real-world situations such as with a cashier in a supermarket, with classmates in school or co-workers on a job site." — Stephen M. Shore, EdD (excerpt from the Foreword of Made for Good Purpose)

"Made for Good Purpose has a powerful set of tools based on Dr. Michael McManmon's personal experiences and insights as a self-advocate of Asperger's Syndrome. Dr. McManmon defines 'The Donkey Rule', which will be embraced by every reader, as he guides everyone on a path towards achieving their fullest potential." — Lawrence P. Kaplan, PhD, Chairman of US Autism & Asperger Association, and author of Diagnosis Autism: Now What?

"Michael McManmon's book makes an outstanding contribution to the support, development, and happiness of people on the autism spectrum. It is written with the parents of people with Asperger's Syndrome in mind to help them understand how they can best be studied by professionals employed in the field. The ideas are, above all, practical and based upon experience. They do not depend upon expensive technology but on common-sense based upon observations and sympathetic understanding of the problem. It is written with that detail, insight, and honesty which is only gifted to those with at least one foot in the spectrum." — Paul Shattock, Chairman of ESPA and President of the World Autism Organization, UK

ORDER THE BOOK NOW! Enter the code USAAA12 when ordering the book online, or when placing your order by phone be sure to mention USAAA12. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the USAAA programs. When you order online and add "Made for Good Purpose" to the cart and check out, be sure to place USAAA12 in the voucher section. That will reduce the price by 20% at the check out.

About Michael P. McManmon, EdD - Dr. McManmon is the founder of the College Internship Program (CIP), which serves college-aged students with learning differences and Asperger's Syndrome in six centers across the US. CIP's goal is to prepare young men and women with skills for life, for college, for work, and for independent living. Dr. McManmon was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 51 years of age. His personal struggles and ensuing victories and those of his students and staff have inspired this book. He resides in Lee, Massachusetts.

Dr. McManmon serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board and has presented at the 2011 and 2010 USAAA World Conferences. He will also be presenting at the USAAA 2012 World Conference this fall.

Review of Touch from an Autism Mom

2012-01-27T13:19:00.002-07:00

by Hilda Clark Bowen

It has been a long time since I have been profoundly moved by a television show that has left me feeling hopeful regarding the interconnectedness of humanity. For anyone who believes things happen for a reason, this will be your new favorite show. Having previewed their new baby on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, Fox will enjoy seeing news about this series spread in the coming months. When it debuts on March 19, 2012, it will be seen around the globe in more than 100 countries within 3 days’ period of time and try to achieve a level of connectedness by the fan-base as never before. Arguably it has been something people have been complaining about for quite some time about the US or Canada having exclusive access to a show, and other countries having to wait to see it, sometimes many weeks, sometimes many months, sometimes never, which leads to seeking access on torrent sites which ultimately results in the demise of a show because no one is live-viewing it anymore.

"I don’t know if you can even hear me, but I can hear you, Jake?” I’m sobbing at this point. How many times have I said this to my nonverbal son? Jake crawls over to him and for the first time in Martin’s life, gave Martin a hug. I have raccoon eyes by now; my mascara is flowing everywhere."

The story centers around Martin Bohm (Kiefer Sutherland) and his son, Jake Bohm (David Mazouz). Labeled “severely autistic”, Martin never believed in the diagnosis given to his child and seems to be just trying to do whatever he could to make a connection with his son, yet fully accepting and loving his child at whatever place he was (very Son-Rise-esque).

FULL STORY

How An Asperger Syndrome Diagnosis Saved My Marriage

2012-01-27T13:18:00.002-07:00

by David Finch

It was my wife Kristen, a speech therapist who had worked with autistic children, who was most suspicious about my behavior. After we were married and living together, she started noticing little "things" about me that were consistent with Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of autism: impaired social reasoning; persistent, intense preoccupations with certain interests; unusual rituals and behaviors; and clinical-strength egocentricity.

"Don't change the radio station when she's singing along," "Apologies don't count when you shout them," "It's better to fold the laundry than to take only what you need from the dryer,"

Oh, and my thumbs look like toes, so I'm, like, a total catch.

At that time, things were not going well between us. Though we had been best friends since high school, our relationship had been reduced to little more than delicate coexistence. We were both constantly feeling misunderstood, under-appreciated, and resentful towards each other. We didn't talk very much, because if we did, it usually led to arguments. We felt hopeless, sad, and confused, the way people do when they've lost their best friend.

FULL STORY

Study looks at how kids with autism spend their screen time

2012-01-27T13:17:00.002-07:00

Jessica Martin
Washington University - St. Louis

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) tend to be preoccupied with screen-based media. A new study by Paul Shattuck, PhD, assistant professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, looks at how children with ASDs spend their "screen time."

"Data revealed that nearly 60.3 percent of the youths with ASDs were reported to spend "most of his/her time" watching television or videos.

"We found a very high rate of use of solitary screen-based media such as video games and television with a markedly lower rate of use of social interactive media, including email," says Paul Shattuck.

The study examined data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2), a group of more than 1,000 adolescents enrolled in special education. The NLTS2 includes groups of adolescents with ASDs, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities and speech and language impairments.

FULL STORY

Victoria Harris's Asperger syndrome 'success story'

2012-01-27T13:16:00.002-07:00

By David Fenton
BBC South Health Correspondent

In the world of Asperger syndrome, Victoria Harris is a success story with a job and a long-term relationship.

She is among just 12% of people with the condition currently employed in Britain, according to the National Autistic Society.

""Councils are finding money tight, especially at the moment, so getting a diagnosis is like getting blood out of a stone."

Asperger's can cause behavioural and social difficulties often meaning it is hard to find work and sustain relationships.

But Miss Harris, from Weymouth in Dorset, has now been going out with her boyfriend Matt Dale, who has Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder, for four years.

She believes it was only down to being diagnosed at a young age that she was given the support she needed.

FULL STORY

Psychiatric Group Faces Scrutiny Over Drug Industry Ties

2012-01-20T14:51:00.002-07:00

By BENEDICT CAREY and GARDINER HARRIS
New York Times
Published: July 12, 2008

It seemed an ideal marriage, a scientific partnership that would attack mental illness from all sides. Psychiatrists would bring to the union their expertise and clinical experience, drug makers would provide their products and the money to run rigorous studies, and patients would get better medications, faster.

But now the profession itself is under attack in Congress, accused of allowing this relationship to become too cozy.

After a series of stinging investigations of individual doctors' arrangements with drug makers, Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, is demanding that the American Psychiatric Association, the field's premier professional organization, give an accounting of its financing.

FULL STORY

Talk Doesn't Pay, So Psychiatry Turns Instead to Drug Therapy

2012-01-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

By GARDINER HARRIS
New York Times
Published: March 5, 2011

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - Alone with his psychiatrist, the patient confided that his newborn had serious health problems, his distraught wife was screaming at him and he had started drinking again. With his life and second marriage falling apart, the man said he needed help.

But the psychiatrist, Dr. Donald Levin, stopped him and said: "Hold it. I'm not your therapist. I could adjust your medications, but I don't think that's appropriate."

Now, like many of his peers, he treats 1,200 people in mostly 15-minute visits for prescription adjustments that are sometimes months apart. Then, he knew his patients' inner lives better than he knew his wife's; now, he often cannot remember their names. Then, his goal was to help his patients become happy and fulfilled; now, it is just to keep them functional.

Like many of the nation's 48,000 psychiatrists, Dr. Levin, in large part because of changes in how much insurance will pay, no longer provides talk therapy, the form of psychiatry popularized by Sigmund Freud that dominated the profession for decades. Instead, he prescribes medication, usually after a brief consultation with each patient. So Dr. Levin sent the man away with a referral to a less costly therapist and a personal crisis unexplored and unresolved.

FULL STORY

New Definition of Autism Will Exclude Many, Study Suggests

2012-01-20T14:48:00.002-07:00

"In 1995, my son was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, then a year later diagnosed with autism. He will need extensive 24 hour care for the rest of his adult life. Does this mean that kids diagnosed with PDD-NOS will not receive any services. That's what they are proposing for the new DSM-5."

VOICE YOUR CONCERNS NOW AND CALL the American Psychiatric Association at 888.357.7924.

Contact the DSM-5 Task Force Chairs:
David J. Kupfer, M.D., DSM-5 Task Force Chair
Darrel A. Regier, M.D., M.P.H., DSM-5 Task Force Vice-Chair

DSM-5 The Future Manual

New Definition of Autism Will Exclude Many, Study Suggests

By BENEDICT CAREY
New York Times
Published January 19, 2012

Proposed changes in the definition of autism would sharply reduce the skyrocketing rate at which the disorder is diagnosed and might make it harder for many people who would no longer meet the criteria to get health, educational and social services, a new analysis suggests.

The proposed change would consolidate all three diagnoses under one category, autism spectrum disorder, eliminating Asperger syndrome and P.D.D.-N.O.S. from the manual.

The definition is now being reassessed by an expert panel appointed by the American Psychiatric Association, which is completing work on the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the first major revision in 17 years. The D.S.M., as the manual is known, is the standard reference for mental disorders, driving research, treatment and insurance decisions. Most experts expect that the new manual will narrow the criteria for autism; the question is how sharply.

"If clinicians say, 'These kids don't fit the criteria for an autism spectrum diagnosis,' they are not going to get the supports and services they need, and they're going to experience failure."

The results of the new analysis are preliminary, but they offer the most drastic estimate of how tightening the criteria for autism could affect the rate of diagnosis. For years, many experts have privately contended that the vagueness of the current criteria for autism and related disorders like Asperger syndrome was contributing to the increase in the rate of diagnoses - which has ballooned to one child in 100, according to some estimates.

"Dr. Lord said that the 1993 [Yale] study numbers are probably exaggerated because the research team relied on old data, collected by doctors who were not aware of what kinds of behaviors the proposed definition requires. Dr. Volkmar acknowledged as much, but...

FULL STORY

DSM-5 The Future Manual

Some employers find those with autism especially suited for jobs

2012-01-18T12:33:00.002-07:00

By Ashley Johnson
Naperville Sun, A Chicago Sun-Times Publication

Finding steady work in this economy isn't easy. The challenge is magnified for individuals with disabilities such as autism, who often have difficulty with social interaction.

Experts and parents are trying to change that by helping employers understand what this population has to offer.

"Turning Pointe Autism Foundation recently launched a career development program that involves partnering with Fortune 500 companies, such as Walgreens, to develop career opportunities for people with communication disorders.

"There's an untapped pool of potential workers available in the special needs community that can really do a great job for many employers,â€ said Naperville resident Karen Thomas, whose 19-year-old son, Eric, is autistic.

A graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School, Eric works part time as a janitor at Brookdale Music in Naperville and a greeter at Still Middle School in Aurora. Thomas credits the vocational coordinator at Waubonsie for helping her son find those jobs.

FULL STORY

Theater activities used in autism therapy

2012-01-18T12:31:00.002-07:00

Sylvia Perez
ABC 7 News, Chicago, Illinois

January 18, 2012 (WLS) - One in every 110 children is diagnosed with some level of autism. For many parents, this usually means problems with communication and little interest in interacting with others. However, a new program is changing how we look at autism by putting kids in the spotlight.

A new program is changing how we look at autism by putting kids in the spotlight.

As a carefree 10-year-old, Kerrick Coble doesn't hold back. But he wasn't always like this. When Kerrick was 2, the Cobles' started noticing something was different about him.

"With a lot of kids you would give them something and they would play but with Kerrick there was never an 'I'm just going to play,'" Kurt Coble, Kerrick's dad, said.

"The cortisol level was quite high when they first arrived the first day but after the rehearsal, it actually went down quite a bit," Dr. Corbett said.

At 3 years old, Kerrick was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, or PDD-NOS, a mild form of autism. Now, researchers at Vanderbilt University are using the theater to help improve the lives of kids diagnosed with the disorder -- from mild to severe.

FULL STORY

Autistic kids need support from family, school

2012-01-18T12:30:00.002-07:00

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

NEW DELHI: As a child, Stephen M Shore was unable to communicate properly and had difficulty in understanding what his teachers said. Today, he is a professor at a US university. Shore, a self-advocate of autism, travels across the world to create awareness about the disabling condition.

Addressing a two-day workshop on autism at IndiaHabitat Centre, Shore said, "Every child suffering from the condition can improve provided he or she gets a supportive environment at home and in school. I was a reclusive child; I didn't speak to my classmates. I was a slow-learner. But with some help from my parents and teachers, I was able to overcome the difficulties," said Shore, assistant professor at Adelphi University, US.

"I was a reclusive child; I didn't speak to my classmates. I was a slow-learner. But with some help from my parents and teachers, I was able to overcome the difficulties."

Shore said that autism presents itself during the first three years of a person's life. "People with autism have issues with non-verbal communication, social interaction and activities that include elements of play. For example, some children may not be able to concentrate because of the lighting in the classroom. Under an alternative arrangement, where the lights can be switched off, the child can easily learn without any glitches," he said.

FULL STORY

Stephen M. Shore, EdD serves on the US Autism & Asperger Association Advisory Board.

Do Couples Divorce Because Of Autism?

2012-01-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

by Kymberly Grosso

psychologytoday.com

Most parents of children with autism are acutely aware of the issues that comes with the diagnosis and particularly, howstress affects their marriage. So what does the research say about autism and divorce? One study published by Hartley et al. showed that parents who had a child with autism had a higher divorce rate than parents without a child with autism(1). However, a more recent study presented in 2010 by Dr. Brian Freedman of the Kennedy Krieger Institute found there was no increase in divorce rates. According to their research, "64% of children with autism lived with married or adoptive parents compared to a rate of 65% for children with no autism diagnosis" (2) .

The results of this survey support the idea that couples do not get divorced solely because of an autism diagnosis. But for many divorced parents, the diagnosis of autism did indeed contribute as a reason for divorce....78% of the respondents reported they got divorced after their child was diagnosed.

The subject of divorce and autism is important in that parents of a newly diagnosed child may read an article about higher divorce rates and assume that their marriage is automatically at risk for divorce. Also, if a couple already has a strained marriage prior to the diagnosis, they may think that divorce is unavoidable. While there are strong emotions resulting from a diagnosis and there can be significant stress involved with raising a child with autism, do parents who subsequently get divorced primarily divorce because of the autism?

FULL STORY

Researching the effects of music on language for individuals with ASD

2012-01-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Adam Reece is a PhD candidate at Southlands College, Roehampton University, London, UK, undertaking research into the impact of music and language in children and young people with autism.

Research to have a better understanding into the effects of music and language for individuals with ASD

The following is a link to a survey and with your help, the researcher will be able to have a better understanding into the effects of music and language for individuals with ASD.

Take the survey now.

www.surveymonkey.com/adamreecemusic

Rebuilding the 'Grammar Machinery' in Autistic Children, Part 1

2012-01-13T12:57:00.002-07:00

An interview with Harry D. Schneider, M.D.

By James Ottar Grundvig

In January 2009, my son Fridrik was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and underwent an active MRI scan in a Columbia University Study on children with low-functioning language. At that time, Dr. Harry Schneider started his long-term treatment program on Fridrik.

Columbia University is one of the leading centers using Functional MRI/DTI to investigate language decline in children with low-functioning autism.

Schneider developed the treatment using transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS). The goal was to repair Fridrik’s neural pathway, while teaching him language vis-Ã -vis “implicit learning” techniques.

“Dr. Harry,” as his spectrum [autism spectrum disorder] patients call him, does not work alone. Besides teaming up with Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) on the MRI Study, his office in Plainville, N.Y., is co-run by his wife, Debra Schneider. Together, with her business efficiency to schedule clients in the New York City metro area, North America, and the world - sometimes seven days a week to accommodate the “out-of-towners - they form a formidable, but approachable team. They are adept at connecting not only with their clients, but with the parents of the children as well.

"The long-term goals of the language protocol are to have children re-acquire functional language: the ability to initiate and maintain a meaningful dialogue."

FULL STORY

more on Dr. Harry D. Schneider, MD, Brain Research Scientist

New Frontiers in Language Restoration

tDCS for depression - The British Journal of Psychiatry

Aberdeen University to explore the potential of tDCS as an intervention for autism and, as such, is ground-breaking work.

Can Direct Brain Stimulation Boost Performance?

Previous Findings of GI Problems in Autism Validated

2012-01-13T12:56:00.002-07:00

Commentary, by Phillip C. DeMio, MD
Chief Medical Officer, US Autism & Asperger Association

Salt Lake City, UT, January 13, 2012 - A recent study of gastrointestinal problems in autism, published in the Fall of 2011, and done by authors at Harvard and Columbia Universities has reaffirmed previous dogma regarding gastrointestinal (GI) abnormalities in persons affected with autism: dietary carbohydrate digestion is abnormally low, there are abnormal bacteria in the GI tract, and this is associated with the symptoms of autism. This reaffirms the published findings in autism from more than a decade ago of such groundbreakers as Wakefield, D'Eufemia, and Horvath, all of whom the authors reference.

"This work makes an important point: many individuals with autism, (children and adults), have abnormal digestion and abnormal bugs in their GI tracts, and this is a big player in the way they manifest autistic symptoms."

The recent authors made observations of the gene expression of both the bacteria and the human subjects, as a probe into carb digestion and types of bacteria present in the subjects. This does not mean our affected kids & adults have abnormal genes; rather state of the art understanding says (and the authors discuss) that remnant (undigested) carbs from poor digestion are a bad combination with bad-guy bacteria. This leads to adverse chemical and immunologic influences on the brain, and therefore it at least worsens and maybe causes autistic symptoms.

FULL STORY

Study Finds that Children with Autism and Gastrointestinal Symptoms Have Altered Expression of Genes Involved in Digestion

2012-01-13T12:55:00.002-07:00

These changes may also affect the mix of bacteria present in the digestive tract

Researchers at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and at the Harvard Medical School report that children with autism and gastrointestinal disturbances have altered expression of genes involved in digestion. These variations may contribute to changes in the types of bacteria in their intestines.

Full study findings are reported September 16, 2011 in the journal PLoS One.

These variations were also associated with changes in the bacterial composition of the intestine.

Autism, which is defined by impairments in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, affects approximately 1% of the population. Many children with autism have gastrointestinal problems that can complicate clinical management and contribute to behavioral disturbances. In some children, special diets and antibiotics have been associated with improvements in social, cognitive and gastrointestinal function.

FULL STORY

Serum osteopontin levels were increased in many autistic children

2011-12-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Autoimmunity to brain may play an etiopathogenic role in autism. Osteopontin is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been shown to play an important role in various autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases. Osteopontin induces IL-17 production by T-helper 17 lymphocytes, the key players in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Anti-osteopontin treatment reduces the clinical severity of some autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases by reducing IL-17 production. We are the first to measure serum osteopontin levels, by ELISA, in 42 autistic children in comparison to 42 healthy-matched children. The relationship between serum osteopontin levels and the severity of autism, which was assessed by using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), was also studied.

In conclusions, serum osteopontin levels were increased in many autistic children and they were significantly correlated to the severity of autism. Further wide-scale studies are warranted to shed light on the etiopathogenic role of osteopontin in autism and to investigate its relation to IL-17 and brain-specific auto-antibodies, which are indicators of autoimmunity, in these patients. The therapeutic role of anti-osteopontin antibodies in amelioration of autistic manifestations should also be studied.

Anti-osteopontin treatment reduces the clinical severity of some autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases by reducing IL-17 production.

FULL STORY

Serum neurokinin A levels were elevated in some autistic children

2011-12-29T13:00:00.003-07:00

Background: Neurogenic inflammation is orchestrated by a large number of neuropeptides. Tachykinins (substance P, neurokinin A and neurokinin B) are pro-inflammatory neuropeptides that may play an important role in some autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases. Autoimmunity may have a role in the pathogenesis of autism in some patients. We are the first to measure serum neurokinin A levels in autistic children. The relationship between serum levels of neurokinin A and anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies was also studied.

Conclusions: Serum neurokinin A levels were elevated in some autistic children and they were significantly correlated to the severity of autism and to serum levels of anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies. However, this is an initial report that warrants further research to determine the pathogenic role of neurokinin A and its possible link to autoimmunity in autism. The therapeutic role of tachykinin receptor antagonists, a potential new class of anti-inflammatory medications, should also be studied in autism.

Serum neurokinin A levels were elevated in some autistic children and they were significantly correlated to the severity of autism

FULL STORY

A potential pathogenic role of oxalate in autism

2011-12-29T12:58:00.003-07:00

Background: Although autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) are a strongly genetic condition certain metabolic disturbances may contribute to clinical features. Metabolism of oxalate in children with ASD has not yet been studied. Aim: The objective was to determine oxalate levels in plasma and urine in autistic children in relation to other urinary parameters.

No differences between the two groups were found in urinary pH, citraturia, calciuria or adjusted CaOx crystallization rates based on BRI. Despite significant hyperoxaluria no evidence of kidney stone disease or lithogenic risk was observed in these individuals.

Conclusions: Hyperoxalemia and hyperoxaluria may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD in children. Whether this is a result of impaired renal excretion or an extensive intestinal absorption, or both, or whether Ox may cross the blood brain barrier and disturb CNS function in the autistic children remains unclear. This appears to be the first report of plasma and urinary oxalate in childhood autism.

Hyperoxalemia and hyperoxaluria may be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD in children. This appears to be the first report of plasma and urinary oxalate in childhood autism.

FULL STORY

Social Competence Intervention for Elementary Students with Aspergers Syndrome and High Functioning Autism

2011-12-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

Stichter JP, O'Connor KV, Herzog MJ, Lierheimer K, McGhee SD
Department of Special Education, University of Missouri

Despite frequent reports of academic success, individuals with high functioning autism or Aspergers Syndrome (HFA/AS) often manifest deficits in social abilities. These deficits can lead to daily difficulties, and negative long-term outcomes.

Deficits in social competency are evident in this population from an early age...Results indicate significant improvements on direct assessments measuring theory of mind and problem solving.

Deficits in social competency are evident in this population from an early age, as children with HFA/AS present unique challenges relating to peers, interpreting complex contextual cues, and transitioning across settings. A paucity of social interventions exist that target elementary-age children with HFA/AS and their combination of core social competence deficit areas: theory of mind (ToM), emotional recognition, and executive functioning. The current study expanded on the Social Competence Intervention (for adolescents; SCI-A), as detailed in Stichter et al. (J Autism Dev Disorders 40:1067-1079, 2010), by adjusting the curriculum to meet the needs of an elementary population.

Results indicate significant improvements on direct assessments measuring theory of mind and problem solving, and parent perceptions of overall social abilities and executive functioning for 20 students, aged 6-10, with HFA/AS. The elementary SCI program appears promising, however, additional replications are necessary including expansion to school settings.

FULL STORY

MyAutismTeam: A New Site for Families With Autism

2011-12-21T14:31:00.002-07:00

By Bonnie Rochman, TIME Magazine

In September, Emily Ybarra saw an ad on Facebook for MyAutismTeam, a new site where parents of kids with autism can connect. Because Ybarra has a young son with autism, she clicked and was almost immediately rewarded.

At 4 years old, her son, Cruise, had not yet been to the dentist, and it was weighing on Ybarra. "I had absolutely feared it," says Ybarra. "He doesn't like anyone touching him, and he doesn't like places he's not used to."

No sooner had she signed up for MyAutismTeam than she put out a query: did anyone know of a dentist near her Orem, Utah, home who was equipped to clean the teeth of a special-needs child who recoils from human contact?

"Our mission is simple," says Peacock. "When you or a loved one are diagnosed with autism, it should be easy to find the best people around to help you. You should be able to find other parents who've been in your shoes."

Within days, she received a recommendation, something she hadn't been able to nail down in over a year of searching on her own. The dentist, Dr. Barney Olsen, was an hour from home, but the drive was worth it. Cruise was led back to a private room where Olsen patiently explained the components of his exam, bit by bit. When Cruise recoiled at getting his bottom teeth brushed, the staff didn't flinch. "He had a great time," says Ybarra, who said Cruise was actually looking forward to his next check-up scheduled for this week. When it comes to visiting the dentist, that's more than most people can say.

FULL STORY

NOTE: MyAutismTeam is the brainchild of Eric Peacock, a tech executive whose nephew was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism, seven years ago. Eric presented at the USAAA 2011 World Conference in Seattle, Washington this past October. USAAA has partnered with MyAutismTeam to, as MyAutismTeam says, "give you the easiest way to find the best providers who can help your child thrive."

Twice Exceptional Children (2e)

2011-12-21T14:29:00.002-07:00

The US government defines "Gifted & Talented" students as those..."who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities." 20 U.S.C. Section 7801(22). (Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind, Title IX, Part A, (22). p. 526)

In a few states, gifted children may eligible for services under the IDEA - but not in most states. In most cases, gifted kids sit in classes, bored and frustrated, with no educational services to meet their needs.

Twice-exceptional [2e] children are gifted children of above average abilities who have special educational needs - AD/HD, learning disabilities, Asperger Syndrome, etc. Because their giftedness can mask their special needs and their special needs can hide their giftedness, they are often labeled as "lazy" and "unmotivated".

This link includes articles, resources, book recommendations, free publications, and a short list of information and support groups about twice exceptional children.

Some schools and school districts have refused to allow qualified students with disabilities to participate in accelerated or gifted and talented programs and have required these students to give up the services designed to meet their individual needs. These practices are inconsistent with Federal law.

FULL STORY

In our December 9 newsletter, we featured an the article "Continuums of Cognition and Sensory Processing", by Marlo Payne Thurman, MS, USAAA Advisory Board Member and Director of US CAP. Ms. Thurman addresses sensory processing in the gifted, twice-exceptional (2e) and high functioning autism and Asperger's populations.

Chairman Tom Harkin Introduces Keeping All Students Safe Act

2011-12-21T14:28:00.002-07:00

[The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates - COPAA] are pleased to announce the introduction of the Keeping All Students Safe Act in the Senate by Chairman Tom Harkin this afternoon. COPPA sincerely thanks Chairman Harkin for his unwavering commitment to the safety and welfare of our nation's children. This bill would promote the development of effective intervention and prevention practices that do not impose restraints and seclusion; protect all students from physical or mental abuse, aversive behavioral interventions that compromise health and safety, and any restraint imposed for purposes of coercion, discipline or convenience, or as a substitute for appropriate educational or positive behavioral interventions and supports. Importantly the bill also works to ensure the safety of all students and school personnel and promote positive school culture and climate.

"...this legislation is a crucial first step toward the ultimate goals of eliminating abuse and restraint in schools and assuring that children who exhibit challenging behaviors obtain appropriate, safe, and effective educational services, "says COPAA.

For years, schools' use of restraint, seclusion, and aversive interventions was unpublicized and little-known, despite their widespread use. However, recent reports by COPAA and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), and Congressional testimony of the U.S. General Accounting Office have served to shine a spotlight on these abusive practices. See e.g., Unsafe in the Schoolhouse: Abuse of Children with Disabilities, COPAA (Jessica Butler, 2009); School is Not Supposed to Hurt: Investigative Report on Abusive Restraint and Seclusion in Schools, NDRN (2009); Seclusions and Restraints: Selected Cases of Death and Abuse at Public and Private Schools and Treatment Centers (GAO-09-719T). This bill recognizes that "physical restraint and seclusion have resulted in physical injury, psychological trauma, and death to children in public and private schools," as described in these reports. Existing laws alone have not protected students against such abuse and injury, though many do offer important protections. The bill, therefore, includes a critically important savings clause that preserves existing additional rights under state and federal law.

FULL STORY

Link to the bill.

Computerized Brain Training Aids Cognition in Schizophrenia

2011-12-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

Training the brains of patients in lower-level perceptual and attentional learning processes can have effects on multiple neural systems resulting in higher level cognitive improvements and enhanced quality of life.

Mark Moran

Rigorous and intensive computer-based training of people with schizophrenia using principles of neural plasticity to master lower-level perceptual and attentional auditory and verbal learning processes is possible. The technique appears to translate into improvements in higher-level cognitive functions and possibly even enhanced quality of life.

"Rigorous and intensive computer-based training of people with schizophrenia using principles of neural plasticity to master lower-level perceptual and attentional auditory and verbal learning processes is possible. The technique appears to translate into improvements in higher-level cognitive functions and possibly even enhanced quality of life." — Sophia Vinogradov, MD, professor in residence and interim associate chief of staff for mental health at San Francisco VA Medical Center and interim vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco.

At APA’s 2011 Institute on Psychiatric Services in San Francisco, Sophia Vinogradov, M.D., described research showing that computerized games aimed at training patients in very specific tasks can have effects on multiple interacting brain systems, resulting in changes in global cognitive functioning.

Vinogradov said the approach to brain training marks a significant new direction in what has been termed “cognitive remediation,” a field of decades-old research that has been stymied by repeated observations that while patients may improve in the short term on various cognitive tasks, the improvements are often not sustained and do not typically translate into widespread and enduring improvements in cognition or quality of life.

Vinogradov is professor in residence and interim associate chief of staff for mental health at San Francisco VA Medical Center and interim vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. At the institute, Vinogradov, received APA's Alexander Gralnick Award for Research from past APA President and current APA American Psychiatric Foundation Treasurer Richard Harding, M.D.

Vinogradov emphasized that brain training using these principles of neuro-plasticity must be rigorous and intensive, adapted to the individual level of skill, and provide sufficient reward to engage and motivate subjects.

FULL STORY

Additional articles on neuroplasticity:

Why Parents Need to Know About Neuroplasticity

Light at the end of the tunnel; How newfound knowledge about neuroplasticity can help people with autism

Definition of Neuroplasticity

Students' brain power will light up MRIs in cognitive training study

Taking Just a Little Too Much Tylenol Can Be Deadly

2011-12-16T14:54:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Mercola

If you use acetaminophen-containing products (such as Tylenol) for minor aches and pains, or prescription drugs like Vicodin (which also contain it), please be very careful about the dose.

Adding to the problem is the fact that acetaminophen is not only in products labeled as "Tylenol." It's also widely used in cold and flu and other over-the-counter medications.

As new research confirms, even a very slight overdose over the course of several days could be deadly.

In fact, a new study, led by Dr. Kenneth Simpson of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, found that you're more likelyto die from a "staggered overdose"(taking just a little bit too much for several days or weeks) of Tylenol than from a single large overdose.

Among the people who took a staggered overdose of Tylenol, 37 percent died, compared to 28 percent of those who took one large overdose.

FULL STORY

Autism may involve disordered white matter in the brain

2011-12-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

Imaging of patients with a rare condition associated with autism reveals altered nerve-fiber pathways

Boston, Mass.--It's still unclear what's different in the brains of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but evidence from genetic and cell studies points to abnormalities in how brain cells (neurons) connect to each other. A study at Children's Hospital Boston now provides visual evidence associating autism with a disorganized structure of brain connections, as well as defects in myelin -- the fatty, insulating coating that helps nerve fibers conduct signals and that makes up the brain's white matter.

The findings...are consistent with brain MRIs in older, high-functioning individuals with ASDs, showing abnormalities in connectivity in the corpus callosum and in areas of brain involved in language and social skills.

Researchers led by Mustafa Sahin, MD, PhD, of the Department of Neurology, Simon Warfield, PhD, director of the Computational Radiology Laboratory, and first author Jurriaan Peters, MD, of both departments at Children’s, used advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to image the brains of 40 patients (infants to age 25) with tuberous sclerosis complex and 29 age-matched, healthy controls. Tuberous sclerosis is a rare genetic condition often associated with cognitive and behavioral deficits, including ASDs about 50 percent of the time.

FULL STORY

Melatonin for Sleep in Children with Autism: A Controlled Trial Examining Dose, Tolerability, and Outcomes

2011-12-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

Beth Malow, Karen W. Adkins, Susan G. McGrew, Lily Wang, Suzanne E. Goldman, Diane Fawkes and Courtney Burnette

AbstractSupplemental melatonin has shown promise in treating sleep onset insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Twenty-four children, free of psychotropic medications, completed an open-label dose-escalation study to assess dose-response, tolerability, safety, feasibility of collecting actigraphy data, and ability of outcome measures to detect change during a 14-week intervention.

Supplemental melatonin has shown promise in treating sleep onset insomnia in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Supplemental melatonin improved sleep latency, as measured by actigraphy, in most children at 1 or 3 mg dosages. It was effective in week 1 of treatment, maintained effects over several months, was well tolerated and safe, and showed improvement in sleep, behavior, and parenting stress. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on supplemental melatonin for insomnia in ASD and inform planning for a large randomized trial in this population.

FULL STORY

Special Tax Deductions for Special Education

2011-12-16T14:50:00.002-07:00

More than six million children in the U.S. fall into the "special needs" category, and their ranks are expanding. The number of those affected by one developmental disability alone autism grew more than 70% between 2005 and 2010.

The tax code can help - if you know where to look.

"Establish the medical need for the special education or therapy. Note that it must be "primarily" to treat the issue. "
— Mike Walther of Oak Wealth Advisors

There are numerous tax breaks for education, but the most important one for many special-needs students isn't an education break per se. Instead, it falls under the medical-expense category.

Although students with disabilities have a right to a "free and appropriate" public education by law, some families opt out and others pay for a range of supplemental therapies.

FULL STORY

The Worst Possible Place to Eat if You Want to Stay Healthy

2011-12-09T14:17:00.002-07:00

By Dr. Mercola

If you value your health, you would be wise to avoid fast food restaurants at all costs.

Not only does the fast food diet promote high cholesterol, hypertension, heart attacks, obesity and diabetes; such foods are also laden with added chemicals, and virtually all animal based food comes from factory farms.

The company has been cited for at least 13 violations of rules meant to prevent dangerous salmonella outbreaks.

The latter issue is highlighted in a recent announcement that McDonald's and Target will no longer purchase their eggs from Sparboe Farms.

The egg producer was recently 'outed' by an ABC News "20/20" investigation into potentially unhealthy conditions at their egg-laying facilities.

FULL STORY

Bonbons For Breakfast? Most Kid Cereals Pack Enough Sugar To Be Dessert

2011-12-09T14:16:00.000-07:00

by ALLISON AUBREY, NPR radio

To many a mom, you can't go much lower than a Twinkie. The famous snack sort of epitomizes nutritional bankruptcy.

So now we learn that breakfast cereals such as Kellogg's Honey Smacks are even worse - in terms of sugar content - than a Twinkie. One cup of the cereal has 20 grams of sugar, compared with 18 grams in the cake. (The recommended serving size on the label is three-fourths of a cup.) Well, that gets our attention.

A study by Yale University's Rudd Center have found cereal makers spend upwards of $150 million annually marketing to children just on television. And, overall, the cereals have more sugar, calories and sodium than non-kid cereals, and less fiber and protein, according to the Rudd Center.

A new report by the Environmental Working Group finds that that vast majority of popular cereals marketed to kids - 56 out of the 84 EWG looked at - don't meet the voluntary guidelines proposed earlier this year by the federal Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children.

The top offenders, including Honey Smacks, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and Quaker Cap'n Crunch, all contain more than 41 percent sugar (by weight). The guidelines, meanwhile, for ready-to-eat cereals recommend no more than 26 percent added sugar by weight.

FULL STORY

Continuums of Cognition and Sensory Processing

2011-12-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

by Marlo Payne Thurman, MS

Abstract
Children of higher intelligence take in more information than their peers of average cognitive ability. However, because the sensory skills of filtering, regulation and modulation mature with age, innately asynchronous sensory development in the gifted, twice-exceptional and high functioning autism and Asperger's populations places our most intelligent youth at risk for academic, social and emotional problems.

"It is not at all surprising then, that in my experience with over 5,000 out-of-sync children, most have sensory arousal issues. Furthermore, I have yet to see an autistic child without severe sensory modulation difficulties."

When compounded by learning disabilities, most asynchronous children simply cannot access enough cognitive energy to compensate and function successfully in their day-to-day lives. This, in turn, leads to cognitive and emotional fatigue, heightened physiological arousal and ultimately mental health symptoms.

This paper will discuss the unique relationship between intelligence and sensory regulation, and will illustrate the impact of modulation abilities on learning, social and emotional function and the mental health diagnoses commonly seen in our most intelligent, yet out-of-sync populations.

FULL ARTICLE

Autism Frequently Missed in Children With Epilepsy

2011-12-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

by Allison Shelley

Despite problems, many children with epilepsy are not evaluated for autism or developmental delay.

"Systematic screening should be routine for all children seen in epilepsy clinics," Anne Berg, PhD, from Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, told reporters attending a news conference here at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) 65th Annual Meeting.

"Our study found a high overall incidence of photosensitivity in 25% of children over 15 years of age with autism spectrum disorder, and an even higher rate of 29% in that age group of children who had both epilepsy and autism." — Jill Miller-Horn, MD, Harvard Medical School

In a study presented here, the investigators tracked children younger than 5 years seen at an epilepsy monitoring unit and a ketogenic diet clinic for about half a year. They asked parents of the 44 children to complete the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, as well as an autism screening tool.

Most of the children (77%) screened positive for developmental delay; of these participants, a strong proportion (36%) had autism. More than a third of patients had not been previously diagnosed as having developmental delay or autism and were referred for confirmatory evaluation.

FULL STORY

My Autism Team

2011-10-12T21:45:00.002-06:00

My Autism Team, Eric Peacock

Eric Peacock is the General Manager of MyAutismTeam â€“ a site where parents of children with autism go to find and recommend great autism providers for their kids and to connect with others parents like them. MyAutismTeam.com was launched in April 2011 in partnership with Autism Speaks, Parents Helping Parents, and Easter Seals, (and has now partnered with US Autism & Asperger Association) and already has a database of more than 35,000 autism providers and autism-friendly businesses.

"Connect with other parents all over the U.S. Find the best team of providers to help your child thrive.

Ericâ€™s first introduction to the Autism Spectrum came 7 years ago when in the span of one month his nephew was diagnosed with Aspergerâ€™s and the child of very close friends was diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Watching the struggle his brother and his friends went through to find the right people to help their children - as well as the hoops they had to jump through in order to pay for such help â€“ got Eric interested in using the web to help connect parents in the autism community and share their knowledge. Eric is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvard College. Full Bio

Eric will be presenting on "the Support Services " panel discussion on Saturday, October 29, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington.

Learning Outcomes

Full Story.

The 7 Keys to Unlock Autism

2011-10-12T21:44:00.002-06:00

Elaine Hall...The New York Times references Elaine Hall, aka “CoachE”, as the “Child Whisperer” based on the her innovative theater arts program, The Miracle Project, which she created for children of all abilities. She is also one of the subjects of the two time Emmy Award winning HBO documentary Autism: The Musical (produced by Janet Grillo) and has appeared on CNN, CBS News, Oprah Radio and has been featured in The LA Times, New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Using her experiences as a professional acting coach she was able to found the theater program, Kids On Stage: LA, and has since gone on to write and direct over 30 children's plays.

"In this especially timely, painstakingly positive work, a children's film coach recounts her adoption of a troubled Russian toddler and her long, tortuous, ultimately enlightening journey to treat his nonverbal autism.—Publishers Weekly review ofNow I See the Moon

She lives in Santa Monica, CA, with the two loves of her life, her teenage son, Neal, who has autism and her husband Jeff, a Play Therapist.

Elaine's is the author of Now I See the Moon, and her new book, Seven Keys to Unlock Autism: Making Miracles in the Classroom, will be released in a few weeks. Elaine is a cast member in the role of Ms. Quinlan of the new movie, Fly Away, produced and directed by Janet Grillo. Full Bio

Elaine will be presenting "The 7 Keys to Unlock Autism", on Friday, October 28, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington. She will also be participating as a panelist on "Adjunct Therapies" and "Behavioral, Developmental, and Educational Interventions", on Friday.

The 7 Keys to Unlock Autism
Abstract: Children with autism spectrum disorder are often looked at for their deficits. The seven keys uncover and develop the diverse skills, wisdom, and talents of children on the spectrum. Each key includes an interactive exercise, examples of ways to navigate potential obstacles, and offers educators, parents, and other caregivers specific and actionable techniques to reach "seemingly unreachable" children on the autism spectrum and teach students of all abilities..

Learning Outcomes.

Full Story.

Pulitzer Prize -winner to Present at USAAA Conference

2011-10-12T21:42:00.000-06:00

Tim Page is a professor at both the Thornton School of Music and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California.

Page won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1997 for his writings about music in The Washington Post, where he held the position of chief classical music critic since 1995. Prior to coming to the Post, he served as the chief music critic for Newsday and as a music and cultural writer for The New York Times. Page was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Connecticut in 2005.

"[Parallel Play is] Fascinating... In this tender but unsparing look back, Page...[leaves] readers to ponder how a condition that bedevils and isolates can also yield magicianly talent, originality, and grit." â€”O, The Oprah Magazine

Page was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in 2000. He is the author ofParallel Play, an autobiographical account of "Growing up with Undiagnosed Asperger's".Full Bio

Page will be presenting on Friday, October 28, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington. He will also be participating as a panelist on "Self Advocacy - Experiences, Perspectives, and Challenges" on Friday.

Self Advocacy - Experiences, Perspectives, and ChallengesAbstract: The panelists presenting in this workshop each describe his or her personal experiences with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome in the areas of Visual Thinking, Sensory Problems, Difficulties with Communication, Socialization, Work Environment, Education, and many other challenges they face each day. Panelists discuss challenges and transitioning through the life span.

Learning Outcomes

Full Story.

Music may be the means of communication

2011-10-03T17:48:00.000-06:00

Jama Lambert interviewed Dr. Stephen Shore at the US Autism & Asperger Association's 5th Annual World conference in the fall of 2010. Dr. Shore will be presenting at the USAAA 6th Annual World Conference October 27-30, 2011 in Seattle, WA.

"How does music help children communicate?

Jama Lambert: What advice do you have for parents on the subject of education for a child who is challenged with autism or Asperger's Syndrome? In your book, "Beyond the Wall", you have a chapter called music for the child with autism. How does music help the ASD children communicate?Dr. Shore: "A message that I want people to take home from my lecture at the USAAA conference is that there is a myriad of approaches and research should be focused on matching best practice to the needs of children on the autism spectrum. Sometimes I see too much of a focus on one approach being better than another. Really it is that one approach may be better for a particular child at a particular time."

"Music is great for a whole number of reasons. As for communication, I found that for children who seem more severely impacted, and maybe non-verbal, music may be the means of communication. For those children that have some verbal ability, music will help spur that along. For those children whose verbal ability is intact, music may act as sort of organizing carry signal as to manage communication. FULL INTERVIEW

USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington

"I found that for children who seem more severely impacted, and maybe non-verbal, music may be the means of communication.

Dr. Shore will be presenting "Obstacles Into Opportunities: Turning Away From Closed Doors and Opening Up New Ones" on Friday, October 28, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington, and he will also be participating in the Self Advocacy - Experiences, Perspectives, and Challenges Panel following his presentation.

Our kids are cognitively exhausted

2011-10-03T17:46:00.000-06:00

Jama Lambert interviewed Marlo Payne Thurman at the US Autism & Asperger Association's 5th Annual World conference in the fall of 2010. Marlo will be presenting at the USAAA 6th Annual World Conference October 27-30, 2011 in Seattle, WA.

Jama Lambert: What advice do you have for parents on the subject of education for a child who is challenged with autism or Asperger's Syndrome?
Marlo Payne Thurman: “First, I try to contribute this notion that so many of these kids have a lot more ability and capacity for learning and doing things that we give them credit. There is this underlying unmet cognitive ability. We need to help parents understand that their children have a tremendous amount of potential, but maybe we don’t understand or recognize that potential. The more we can do to contribute to help our children get those skills out and find a way to get them to demonstrate their strengths will allow them to work and go to school."

“Second of all, keep the kids rested. We get caught up in multiple therapies and programs. These kids are cognitively exhausted. It takes so much energy just to filter their sensory world that it really makes it hard for them to feel good, rested and relaxed. We don’t give them the down time. There is nothing really wrong with taking some time away from people to recuperate. Since we are so concerned with the social piece, we don’t give them their down time, their rejuvenation time, and they need more of that than other people because they are tired." FULL INTERVIEW

USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington

"Keep the kids rested. We get caught up in multiple therapies and programs. These kids are cognitively exhausted. It takes so much energy just to filter their sensory world that it really makes it hard for them to feel good, rested and relaxed.

Ms. Thurman will be presenting "Continuums of Cognition and Sensory Processing" on Saturday, October 29, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington. She will also be available at the US College Autism Project (US CAP) booth.

Advice for a parent who hears those words, "Your child has autism"

2011-10-03T17:43:00.000-06:00

Jama Lambert interviewed Dr. Phillip C. DeMio at the US Autism & Asperger Association’s 5th Annual World conference in the fall of 2010. Dr. DeMio will be presenting at the USAAA 6th Annual World Conference October 27-30, 2011 in Seattle, WA as well as holding a biomedical overview course during the conference.

Jama Lambert: What advice can you give to a parent who for the first time hears those words, “your child has autism”.
Dr. DeMio: “Being a practitioner, I never forget when a person comes to me and their child is newly diagnosed and you get these little toddlers who are supposed to be the little rising star of the family. It’s devastating. Your hopes and dreams seem shattered. As a practitioner, it’s important for the parents to know that there is hope. They are often told that their child is not going to do well, that they are not going to have a good life. Many of the parents are still told to institutionalize their child, that there is no hope for autism, they will never get better, never function, and a bunch of "nevers", as Theresa Wrangham puts it (they will never talk, never walk, never get out of diapers, never live on their own, never get a job or never go to college). Many people walking around here [at the US Autism & Asperger Association annual conference] are proof that’s not true.” FULL INTERVIEW

USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington

Dr. DeMio will be presenting "Beneficial Interventions and Critical Health Challenges in ASD" on Friday, October 28, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington. He will also be a panelist on "The Doctors Who Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders" on Sunday, October 30.

In addition to Dr. DeMio's featured presentation and participation on the Doctor's Panel during the general sessions for the public, Dr. DeMio, along with Dr. Jerry Kartzinel and Dr. James Neubrander, will be teaching an extensive one day Biomedical Overview Course for health care practitioners, scientists, professionals, parents and the general public on Sunday, October 30. Seating is limited, so be sure to register online. Dr. DeMio, Dr. Kartzinel and Dr. Neubrander are three of the most respected physicians in the autism community who have treated thousands of individuals with ASD.

Understanding how nutrition plays a key role in the health of individuals affected by ASD

2011-09-30T13:28:00.000-06:00

Kimberly Mathai, MS, RD, CDE has helped hundreds of individuals, families and children with their nutrition needs for over a decade. Her private nutrition therapy practice is located in Seattle Wa. She earned a master’s degree in integrative nutrition from Bastyr University and completed her clinical training at Tulane University. Kimberly is the author of The Cancer Lifeline Cookbook and a national presenter on the topic of nutrition and cancer. Through Cancer Lifeline, she teaches cooking and nutrition education classes at hospitals and cancer centers in Seattle. As a certified diabetes educator, she counsels individuals and groups on diabetic nutrition.

"Kimberly has been published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association on treating autistic children..

She has expertise in nutrition therapies for autism spectrum disorder, and has been published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association on treating autistic children. Kimberly has written chapters on adult nutrition and complementary therapies published in major nutrition textbooks used university nutrition and nursing programs. She mentors naturopathic students and nutrition degree students from Bastyr University in her private practice. Kimberly enjoys hiking, biking, swimming, cross country skiing and urban culture of all kinds.. Full Bio

Kimberly will be presenting on the Panel Discussion: "Nutrition and Wellness" on Saturday, October 29, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington.

Learning Outcomes

Full Story.

New Research Shows Marked Improvement of Behaviors

2011-09-30T13:26:00.000-06:00

Dr. Shaw is board certified in the fields of clinical chemistry and toxicology by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. Before he founded The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc., Dr. Shaw worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Children’s Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine, and Smith Kline Laboratories.

"Dr. Shaw is the stepfather of a child with autism and has helped thousands of patients and medical practitioners to successfully improve the lives of people with autism...

He is the author of Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD, originally published in 1998 and Autism: Beyond the Basics, published in 2009. He is also a frequent speaker at conferences worldwide. He is the stepfather of a child with autism and has helped thousands of patients and medical practitioners to successfully improve the lives of people with autism, AD(H)D, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue, depression, fibromyalgia, immune deficiencies, multiple sclerosis, OCD, Parkinson’s disease, seizure disorders, tic disorders, Tourette syndrome, and other serious conditions. ... Full Bio

Dr. Shaw will be presenting "New Research Shows Marked Improvement of Behaviors" on Saturday, October 29 at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington. He will be a panelist on "The Doctors Who Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders" on Sunday, October 29.

New Research Shows Marked Improvement of Behaviors
Abstract: This session will discuss the role of cholesterol in autistic behaviors with recent studies from The Johns Hopkins University.

Learning Outcomes.

Full Story.

Functional imaging in cognitive neurology and the transition to adulthood

2011-09-30T13:22:00.002-06:00

Functional imaging in cognitive neurology and the transition to adulthood, Gary A. Stobbe, MD

Gary A. Stobbe, MD has been in practice since 1993 and joined the University of Washington Medicine as University of Washington Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry in 2008. He is a faculty member of the Western MS Center at University of Washington Medical Center and is Director of Adult Transition Services at Seattle Children's Autism Center. Dr. Stobbe received his medical degree from Albany Medical College in Albany, New York, and completed his neurology residency at UCLA - Wadsworth VAMC in Los Angeles. Dr. Stobbe's philosophy is to optimize health in the presence of neurological illness and to maximize the potential of an individual through the patient-physician partnership.

"Dr. Stobbe'sresearch interests include functional imaging in cognitive neurology and the transition to adulthood of individuals with neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Stobbe specializes in neurology, with a particular interest in autism spectrum disorders, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury. His research interests include functional imaging in cognitive neurology and the transition to adulthood of individuals with neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders... Full Bio

Dr. Stobbe will be presenting on the Panel Discussion: The Doctors Who Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders on Sunday, October 30, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington.

Learning Outcomes

Full Story.

Early, Intense Therapy Benefits Children with Autism

2011-09-30T11:32:00.002-06:00

By RICK NAUERT PHD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on September 30, 2011

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are typified by impaired social-communication skills. Children and adolescents with ASD have difficulty understanding, interacting and relating with others.

New research suggests intensive therapy, especially at early ages, can help children achieve the best outcomes.

The intensive therapy helps children with autism improve social and communication skills, say the leaders of a current study.

"Over time, a striking majority (95.4 percent) of children demonstrated improvement for these skills with children who had received behavioral, speech and occupational therapy benefiting the most. The response to therapy was greatest among those with higher nonverbal IQs.

“It’s important for children with autism to begin treatment as soon as possible,” said clinical psychologist Dr. Micah Mazurek, assistant professor in the Department of Health Psychology at the University of Missouri. “The more intense or comprehensive the therapy, the better it is in terms of helping children improve social and communication skills.”

Researchers reviewed data from more than 1,000 children and adolescents with ASD. FULL STORY.

School uses vinegar to discipline children

2011-09-30T11:30:00.002-06:00

Are Texas schools getting away with cruel and unusual punishment?

by Valerie O'Berry

Children at a Texas Elementary School allegedly had cotton balls soaked in vinegar put into their mouths and were forced to go on a treadmill longer and faster than they wanted to as a form of discipline. The children being disciplined suffer from autism.

Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability, which impacts the normal development of the brain, making it hard for children to interact with others and communicate either verbally or non-verbally. Diagnosis usually takes place before the age of three.

"“If I were to attempt to force an adult to do something like this, I would be arrested and charged with assault and battery.

The school’s disciplinary practices are called aversive interventions and vinegar-soaked cotton balls put in the mouth along with similar abusive disciplinary strategies are not illegal in schools... FULL STORY.

Company hires adults with autism to test software

2011-09-30T11:27:00.000-06:00

CARLA K. JOHNSON

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) - The software testers at Aspiritech are a collection of characters. Katie Levin talks nonstop. Brian Tozzo hates driving. Jamie Specht is bothered by bright lights, vacuum cleaners and the feel of carpeting against her skin. Rider Hallenstein draws cartoons of himself as a DeLorean sports car. Rick Alexander finds it unnerving to sit near other people.

"Traits that make great software testers - intense focus, comfort with repetition, memory for detail - also happen to be characteristics of autism. People with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, have normal to high intelligence and often are highly skilled with computers.

This is the unusual workforce of a U.S. startup that specializes in finding software bugs by harnessing the talents of young adults with autism.

Traits that make great software testers - intense focus, comfort with repetition, memory for detail - also happen to be characteristics of autism. People with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, have normal to high intelligence and often are highly skilled with computers.

FULL STORY.

Brain scans let computer reconstruct movie scenes

2011-09-23T12:27:00.000-06:00

By MALCOLM RITTER - AP Science Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — It sounds like science fiction: While volunteers watched movie clips, a scanner watched their brains. And from their brain activity, a computer made rough reconstructions of what they viewed.

Scientists reported that result Thursday and speculated such an approach might be able to reveal dreams and hallucinations someday.

In the future, it might help stroke victims or others who have no other way to communicate, said Jack Gallant, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-author of the paper.

He believes such a technique could eventually reconstruct a dream or other made-up mental movie well enough to be recognizable. But the experiment dealt with scenes being viewed through the eyes at the time of scanning, and it's not clear how much of the approach would apply to scenes generated by the brain instead, he said.

People shouldn't be worried about others secretly eavesdropping on their thoughts in the near future, since the technique requires a person to spend long periods in an MRI machine, he noted.

FULL STORY.

U.S. Researchers Identify Two Autism Strains in Major Breakthrough

2011-09-23T12:26:00.000-06:00

From Fox News

Researchers have for the first time identified two biologically different strains of autism in a breakthrough being compared with the discovery of different forms of cancer in the 1960s, The Australian reported Thursday.

The findings, to be announced at an international autism conference in Perth, Australia, Thursday [Sept. 8], are seen as a key step towards understanding the causes of autism and developing effective treatments as well as a cure.

The findings bring hope that the communication, socialization and other difficulties that autistic children experience can be tackled more easily and earlier.

Researchers from the University of California Davis's MIND Institute in Sacramento began the Autism Phenome Project in 2006. They have been studying the brain growth, environmental exposure and genetic make-up of 350 children aged between two and 3.5 years, and have so far found two biologically distinct subtypes of autistic brain development.

One group of children, all boys, had enlarged brains and most had regressed into autism after 18 months of age; another group appeared to have immune systems that were not functioning properly.

FULL STORY.

Autistic and Seeking a Place in an Adult World

2011-09-23T12:15:00.000-06:00

By AMY HARMON
NY Times

MONTCLAIR, N.J. — For weeks, Justin Canha, a high school student with autism, a love of cartoons and a gift for drawing, had rehearsed for the job interview at a local animation studio.

As planned, he arrived that morning with a portfolio of his comic strips and charcoal sketches, some of which were sold through a Chelsea gallery. Kate Stanton-Paule, the teacher who had set up the meeting, accompanied him. But his first words upon entering the office were, like most things involving Justin, not in the script.

“Hello, everybody,” he announced, loud enough to be heard behind the company president’s door. “This is going to be my new job, and you are going to be my new friends.”

As the employees exchanged nervous glances that morning in January 2010, Ms. Stanton-Paule, the coordinator of a new kind of “transition to adulthood” program for special education students at Montclair High School, wondered if they were all in over their heads.

Justin, who barely spoke until he was 10, falls roughly in the middle of the spectrum of social impairments that characterize autism, which affects nearly one in 100 American children. He talks to himself in public, has had occasional angry outbursts, avoids eye contact and rarely deviates from his favorite subject, animation. His unabashed expression of emotion and quirky sense of humor endear him to teachers, therapists and relatives. Yet at 20, he had never made a true friend.

FULL STORY.

Interactions Between Environment and Human Health

2011-09-07T15:53:00.000-06:00

James A. Neubrander, MD, FAAEM is the Medical Director of Road to Recovery Clinic that specializes in neurodevelopmental and autism spectrum disorders. He is the former Medical Director of the Comprehensive Neuroscience Center. In addition, he is the former Medical Director of autism research for the International Brain Research Foundation. Dr. Neubrander received his M.D. degree from Loma Linda University in 1975. He completed his residency in pathology at the University of South Florida and is board certified in Environmental Medicine. Dr. Neubrander serves on the American Medical Autism Board and the US Autism & Asperger Association, and other boards. Full Bio

Dr. Neubrander will be presenting "Interactions Between Environment and Human Health " on Sunday, October 30, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington. He will also be a panelist on "The Doctors Who Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders" on Sunday, October 30.

Interactions Between Environment and Human Health: Dr. Neubrander will discuss the interactions between the environment and health and how it affects the individuals with autism as a child and also during adulthood. He will also present the many different methods of biomedical treatment available during the lifespan and how treatments may have a positive role even during adulthood. Learning Outcomes

Full Story

Beneficial Interventions and Critical Health Challenges in ASD

2011-09-07T15:52:00.000-06:00

Phillip C. DeMio, MD is board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He received his M.D. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine with honors in Neurosurgery, Endocrinology/Metabolism, Advanced OB/GYN, and Advanced Internal Medicine. Dr. DeMio has been a faculty member at several teaching hospitals including Case Western University School of Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He is accredited by the Teaching System of U.S. Armed Forces Medical Core and his career includes an emphasis on toxicology. Dr. DeMio is Chief Medical Officer for US Autism & Asperger Association and the Executive Director for the American Medical Autism Board. Full Bio

Dr. DeMio will be presenting "Beneficial Interventions and Critical Health Challenges in ASD" on Friday, October 28, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington. He will also be a panelist on "The Doctors Who Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders" on Sunday.

Beneficial Interventions and Critical Health Challenges in ASD
Abstract: Dr. DeMio will address medical issues that present problems associated with ASD throughout the life span from childhood into adulthood that include the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, seizures and epileptic spikes, viruses including HHV6, hormonal imbalances, and other areas. Learning Outcomes

In addition to his featured presentation and participation on the panel, during the general sessions for the public, Dr. DeMio, along with Dr. Jerry Kartzinel and Dr. James Neubrander, will be teaching an extensive one day Biomedical Overview Course for health care practitioners, health professionals, residents, medical students and nursing students on Sunday, October 30. Dr. DeMio, Dr. Kartzinel and Dr. Neubrander are three of the most respected physicians in the autism community who have treated thousands of individuals with ASD.

Full Story

Autism as a Symptom of Several Different Biological Entities

2011-09-07T15:49:00.000-06:00

Jerry J. Kartzinel, MD, FAAP is a Board Certified pediatrician and a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics. He specializes in the recovery of neurodevelopmental, chronic neuro-inflammatory diseases, and hormonal dysfunctions. After receiving his medical degree at St Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his residency in pediatric medicine in the Air Force. Following Desert Storm, Dr Kartzinel practiced general pediatrics in private practice for 10 years until his fourth boy was diagnosed with autism. Dr. Kartzinel serves on the American Medical Autism Board. Full Bio

Dr. Kartzinel will be presenting "Autism as a Symptom of Several Different Biological Entities " on Saturday, October 29, at the USAAA 2011 World Conference & Expo, Seattle, Washington. He will also be a panelist on "The Doctors Who Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders" on Sunday, October 30.

Autism as a Symptom of Several Different Biological Entities: After Dr. Kartzinel discusses the topic of autism as a symptom of biological entities, he will be on a panel that will explore how food intake represents a health hazard in situations where metabolism is altered or if food proteins are recognized as harmful by the immune system; explain how denatured proteins can be allergenic; understand how nutrition plays a key role in the health of the individual who is affected by ASD; and in terms of outdoor activity and exercise, how students need purpose, plus much more. Learning Outcomes.

Full Story.

Program Hopes to Make Broadway Friendlier to Those With Autism

2011-08-31T15:36:00.000-06:00

By ERIK PIEPENBURG
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com

Earlier this month the Theater Development Fund, the nonprofit organization that runs the city’s TKTS discount ticket booths, announced that it was starting the Autism Theater Initiative, which aims to make theatergoing accessible to children and adults living on the autism spectrum. The program kicks off on Oct. 2 with a sold-out matinee of “The Lion King” for what T.D.F., in a news release, calls “the first ever autism-friendly performance in Broadway history.”

“Parents of autistic kids are concerned,” said Lisa Carling, T.D.F.’s director of accessibility programs. “They want their child to be comfortable, and they don’t want people thinking they are bad parents because they can’t calm their child down. It’s so important for families who are raising kids with autism to feel they are in a friendly place.”

For the special 1 p.m. performance, T.D.F. bought out the entire Minskoff Theater, which has about 1,600 seats, and sold tickets at a discount. Full Story.

Ohio student with Asperger’s feels at home in IU Swim Club, Bloomington

2011-08-31T15:18:00.000-06:00

From The Herald Times
By Dann Denny

Several weeks after Pam Gertz began a nationwide search for the ideal city for her 21-year-old son Braden, who has autism spectrum disorder, she found it — Bloomington, Indiana.

Gertz, who lives with her husband in Akron, Ohio, said she was impressed that Bloomington has two colleges — Indiana University and Ivy Tech where Braden could pursue a degree in early childhood education.

She was also excited that B-Town had a College Internship Program, a national private organization with sites across the country that offer support services to college students with Asperger’s or other learning differences.

“The College Internship Program has a great location close to campus,” Gertz said. “There are College Internship Programs in other towns, but most are sequestered 15 to 20 miles away from campus.” Full Story.

Life's Lessons - I “graduated”

2011-08-26T15:35:00.003-06:00

By Sheryl Meeuwsen, CIP Berkeley Alumni

Usually when you graduate, you are supposed to move on with your life and leave the place that you have called home for the last few years. I swear that was my plan, but as I have learned in my life, things don’t always go according to plan.

I came into CIP in July 2008 completely broken. Everything in my life had been a downward spiral for the previous two years. I had failed out of two colleges, had lost two people that I loved deeply to cancer and had been suffering from mild depression and other issues.

My journey at CIP started in April of 2008, when a doctor in Colorado Springs, CO told us that I had Asperger’s. When I got home from the appointment I googled Asperger’s and found this checklist of criteria, and as I read through the checklist, I started to realize that this could be the answer to my problems. Not even a month later, my apartment was cleared out and I was packing away my life into two suitcases and a small travel bag to start a new in a program in Northern California. Full Story

Josh Won! Compensatory Education and an IEP

2011-08-26T15:34:00.002-06:00

Note: Josh "won" in 2007. Be sure to read to the end of the article where you will find an update on Josh's success four years later.

My seventeen-year-old son Josh has Tourette Syndrome, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and learning disabilities. Our school district refused to provide an IEP or a 504 plan.

Josh used your books and the Surviving Due Process DVD when we filed a due process complaint against our school district. Josh acted as his own attorney. We prevailed. I want to share our experiences.

District Refuses a Section 504 Plan

After our school district refused to provide a 504 service plan, Josh was evaluated independently by a psychologist. She advised an IEP for Josh as well as an assistive technology evaluation, among other accommodations. Dr. Kay found Josh to have learning disabilities in written expression and reading fluency, as well as a very slow processing speed. Full Story

Oporto University developing computer game for autistic children

2011-08-26T15:33:00.000-06:00

The Portugal News

Researchers at Oporto University have teamed up with the University of Texas at Austin, USA, to develop a computer game aimed at helping autistic children learn facial expressions and emotions to help them relate better to the people around them.

The game – which was the brainchild of various Oporto University alumni – will allow autistic children to become familiar with facial expressions and to recognise emotions such as joy and sadness thereby allowing the child to have greater ease with their inter-personal relationships.

Autism is a dysfunction that affects the sufferer’s capability of relating to others, leaving them emotionally isolated from those around them.

By pressing their fingers on the screen children can draw expressions, raise eyebrows and eyes and at the same time watch the face react. There are many different characters to choose from, including humans, dolls and animals. Full Story

Listen to Dr. Michael McManmon’s Interview

2011-08-26T15:31:00.000-06:00

Host Lisa Davis interviews Dr. Michael McManmon on It’s Your Health Radio, airing in the Boston area. Dr. McManmon is the founder of the College Internship Program, a national postsecondary program for young adults with Asperger’s syndrome and ADHD and other Learning Differences.

It’s Your Health guests have included Mariel Hemingway, Suzanne Somers, Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry, Bethenny Frankel, Mayim Bialik, Temple Grandin, John Elder Robison (author of Look Me In The Eye: My Life With Aspergers), Harold Kushner (author of Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People), Marco Borges (celebrity trainer to Beyonce and Gwen Stefani), and Bravo’s Hair Goddess, Tabatha Coffey, to name a few, as well as stars of such reality shows as The Biggest Loser and Top Chef.

Interview

Full Spectrum of the Arts: An Evening of Autistic Expression

2011-08-17T12:41:00.000-06:00

The Autism Society of Washington (ASW) is presenting a dinner and creative arts program Saturday evening, October 29, in conjunction with the US Autism & Asperger Association 2011 World Conference: "Autism Education and Treatment: A Road to Wellness", October 27-30, 2011 at the Holiday Inn Seattle-Seatac International Airport.

Artists with autism spectrum disorder are invited to exhibit visual arts in a juried and judged show at the conference on Friday and Saturday, October 28-29, 2011.

Expressive artists will also be featured in the dinner program on Saturday including essays, poetry and music. Family members and care providers are also invited to contribute poetry and essays. Contact the Autism Society of Washington for more information on the expressive arts program or if you have an interest in presenting a musical performance.

ASW is seeking submissions for the art show that can be sold in a live auction with a portion of the proceeds going to the artist and a portion as a fundraiser to ASW - a valuable opportunity for emerging professional artists. Or, art may also be donated 100% to ASW in support of our on-going programs, mission and goals.

CALL FOR ARTISTS submission details.

News of Heightened Risk of Autism in Siblings of ASD Kids: Not So New

2011-08-17T12:03:00.001-06:00

Commentary by Phillip C. DeMio, MD, Chief Medical Officer, US Autism & Asperger Association and Executive Director, American Medical Autism Board

In a recent article ("Siblings Face High Recurrence Risk for Autism," as published in the USAAA WeeklyNews, August 15) that cited a study out of UC Davis’s MIND Institute determined that there is a “15 to 20% rate,” (almost one out of every five) say the authors, of a baby born after an older autistic sibling of developing autism. That’s right, born after an autistic child. If more than one preceding child has autism in that family, the rate in their study is 32%, i.e., almost one of every three become autistic. Again, they only looked at babies born after the ASD kids came first. The study’s authors state that these rates have risen from those previously reported. They waited until each study subject was age 3 years old to finalize the diagnosis in such cases, mentioning also that, “the earliest indicators’” are at about a year old, basically stating that we can’t tell if there is autism before that age. They state, “we’ve found that the behavioral signs are actually not evident in very early infancy.” Boys are more frequently affected than girls, about 2.7 times more so, which is not as big a male/female disparity as in other studies.

As with most any study, many concepts and pieces of information can lead to many conclusions and camps of interpretation. So let me first say that as a parent and practitioner, I am appreciative of such a study. It makes the public more aware of ASD’s, and it gives us food for thought with the hopes that we can better advise ourselves and our patients.

So let’s discuss some points. These rates are 20-30 times the 1 in 100 rate so often quoted. It means there is more of a risk than the general population’s families if you already have autism in the family. Sounds familiar, because we in the autism community have definitely known that all along. These same authors reported back in 2007 a 15% - 20% rate of autistic features in younger siblings of ASD kids. Again, a familiar finding. I and most workers I know of in the autism field also believe that cousins, etc., have higher ASD rates, too. Ditto for OCD/PANDAS, Asperger’s, ADHD, etc. We have cases where there is clear-cut autism as early as 7 ½ months of age.

What the current study in the news doesn’t include are those families where children who are neurotypical precede the ASD child. The stats with these families would vote against a genetic basis for ASD’s. Intentional or not, their study pitches for the genetic or inevitable basis by not looking at both types of families. Even the closer male/female concordance (much less than the 4 to 5-fold disparity of previous stats) seems to show a selection of families destined to high ASD rates. Furthermore, no mention is made of prevention. I have, from day one as a practitioner, believed that we can reduce the rate and severity of ASD’s by specific actions before, during, and after pregnancy. That is, we can lower the rates of developing ASD’s. This is via mostly avoidance and removal of medical and dental toxins such as MMR vaccine (so frequently recommended in the mainstream before pregnancy), flu vaccine (during pregnancy, mercury included [but don’t eat fish, the same doctors say]), and amalgams and dental work during pregnancy & nursing. As for the newborns & infants, prevention continues by avoiding those same toxins, such as the aluminum in the first moments of life with the hepatitis B shot, which is always dangerous, and is almost always unnecessary. I know, I know. The authors weren’t looking at causes nor prevention of ASD’s, and I don’t blame them for that. But in a world where the true causes are being swept out of the public eye due to its controversial nature, the study alone says:

· ASD rates are on the rise

· ASD families are at higher risk

· No offer of truly addressing the problem is made. Just get ‘em into ABA earlier.

So we have a study showing that there is an autism epidemic, and families at risk can be identified, and when the autism hits, just do therapy. It seems to point “genetic” or “inevitable (it just happens, no cause).” Nothing about biomed causes nor prevention. I, as well as many of my colleagues, believe there’s more to detection, prevention, and treatment than that.

I discussed much of the above in a recent interview done by a major newspaper at their request, but they published none of it, simply stating the party line above. So the scholarly study may not have added much that’s new. And the news hasn’t been let out yet about the biomedical basis of ASD’s and about prevention.

Respectfully Submitted,

Phillip C. DeMio, MD

Children With Autism, Connecting via Transit

2011-08-15T16:17:00.000-06:00

By CHRISTINE HAUGHNEY Published: August 13, 2011

Ravi Greene can tell you how to get anywhere in New York City by transit — like the beach, on the 6 train.

“The 6 goes elevated from Whitlock Avenue to Pelham Bay Park,” he explains. “And at Pelham Bay Park, you can transfer for a Bx29 or a Bx12 — the Bx12 to Orchard Beach.”

Ravi has drafted elaborate proposals for expanded bus service in Brooklyn, and has memorized the exact date that the W train stopped running in 2010.

And he is only 5 years old.

Like many children with autism spectrum disorders, Ravi is fascinated by trains and buses, entranced by their motion and predictability. And for years, these children crowded the exhibitions of the modest New York Transit Museum, chattering about schedules and engine components and old subway maps.

“This is really their element,” said Ravi’s mother, Juliana Boehm, who brings Ravi and Oliver, his 8-year-old brother, who is also on the autism spectrum, to the museum almost weekly. “If I suggested another activity,” she added, “it may have provoked anxiety.”

Full Story.

Siblings Face High Recurrence Risk for Autism

2011-08-15T16:08:00.000-06:00

A study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics found that infants with an older autistic sibling have a near 19 percent risk that they too will develop the disorder.The study is considered the largest autism study to follow infants for sibling recurrence.

By LARA SALAHI (@LaraSalahiABC)
August 15, 2011

One month before William and Carissa Hawn's second son was born, their first son, Logan, then 3, was diagnosed with autism.

"Logan was our first experience with autism," said William Hawn, 34, of Modesto, Calif.

But when their second son, Aaron, was born, his pediatrician told the Hawns there was a 10 percent chance that he too would develop autism.

Earlier studies are consistent with Aaron's pediatrician. Infants who have siblings with autism have a 3 to 10 percent increased risk for autism, a higher chance than the 1 percent risk among the general population.

But a new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics now suggests the risk is higher than previously thought. The study, considered the largest autism study to follow infants for sibling recurrence, found that infants with an older autistic sibling have a near 19 percent risk that they too will develop the disorder. Full ABC News Story.

Entire ABC News Story

Entire Study, "Recurrence Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Baby Siblings Research Consortium Study".

Seattle Public Schools Approve USAAA Conference for Continuing Education

2011-08-15T15:42:00.000-06:00

The US Autism & Asperger Association World Conference has been approved by Seattle Public Schools and participants are eligible to earn up to "21" clock hours during the program October 27-30.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for teachers, administrators, and all staff to attend the 2011 event featuring the top names in autism," said Lawrence P. Kaplan, PhD, founder of USAAA. The conference includes Keynote Speaker Eustacia Cutler, playwright, author and mother of Temple Grandin; Stephen M. Shore, EdD, world-renowned lecturer and professor who overcame his autism challenges; presentations from three of the most respected physicians in the autism community worldwide, Dr. Phillip C. DeMio, Dr. Jerry J. Kartzinel, and Dr. James A. Neubrander, who have treated thousands of individuals with ASD.

Our 30 speakers and panelists include physicians, behaviorists, educators, researchers, speech pathologists, developmental specialists, psychologists, scientists, dietitians, attorneys, siblings, advocates, parents, individuals on the spectrum, software technologists, professors, education consultants, plus more.

Seattle Public Schools is the largest K-12 school system in Washington state, serving more than 47,000 students in 91 schools. The Special Education department works collaboratively with school and District leaders, teachers, students, and families to provide the tools, guidance, supports, and services needed to ensure access and success for students with disabilities.

All staff and educators in the entire Seattle Public School district are invited to register for the USAAA 2011 World conference as the sessions cover topics for all individuals on the autism spectrum including special sessions addressing high function autism/Asperger syndrome, transitioning to adulthood, and much much more.

USAAA provides continuing education for all educators worldwide with special rates starting at only $95 for the entire conference.

Conference information.

US Autism & Asperger Association 2011 World Conference

2011-08-10T13:57:00.000-06:00

Whether you've just received a diagnosis of autism or you've struggled for years to find answers, you know how difficult it can be to find hope. The vast amount of information, in cyberspace or print, from doctors to friends, on special diets to social skills, can overwhelm even the most dedicated parent. How can you sort through the junk mail and begin down the road to success?

Introducing the US Autism & Asperger Association 2011 World Conference & Expo. The theme: "Autism Education and Treatment: A Road to Wellness." The goal: to demystify the confusion around autism and to arm you with tools of practical protocols and new resources. After four days, you will leave the conference with a considerable head start down the road to wellness.

With an unprecedented conference format and presentations from some of the most respected experts in the international autism community, the USAAA conference is a can't-miss opportunity. Here's a sneak peek at just a few of the conference highlights:

"Meet Temple Grandin's Mother - Coming to Terms with Expectations"

"The 7 Keys to Unlock Autism"

"The Doctors Who Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders"

Panel workshops on advocacy, adjunct therapies, biomedical interventions, nutrition, support services, and more

"Full 4-day packages start at just $95.

Full Story

Top Ten Negotiating Skills to Learn for an IEP

2011-08-10T13:17:00.000-06:00

By Doug Goldberg, Featured Special Education Advisor Blog

10. Prepare

Review all past and present assessments, tests, letters, and IEP’s. Put markers next to important information so it’s easy to find while in the IEP meeting. Pay close attention to test scores and how that information may be used by either you or the District to make a point. This may include educating yourself on how to read the test scores. If you don’t have enough information to make your case then you won’t convince the IEP team.

9. Make a formal request

Figure out what is important to your child with regard to services, goals, accommodations, and placement before the meeting and make a formal request in writing at the meeting.

8. Don’t negotiate against yourself

Once you make the formal request wait for a response. Make sure they respond to each request and remind them of their prior written notice requirement to generate a discussion.

7. Review the IEP meeting request form and determine authority

Do your research and determine if the right person has been invited to the IEP meeting. While IDEA requires a District representative that can bind the District to attend every IEP meeting they are not all created equal. Figure out how much authority the District representative has and invite others to attend if you feel you don’t have the right people in the room. It’s difficult to negotiate if you don’t have the dealmakers in the room.

6. Get other team members on your side

Find other IEP team members who might help prove your side. This could include general education teachers, special education teachers, therapists or paraprofessionals. Don’t expect them to fight for specific services but their input about skills, behaviors, abilities, etc can help prove your case.

5. Listen to the other side

Ask specific questions and really listen to the answers. The information gathered could help further your cause or shape your decisions. Sometimes what you think you want for your child is different from what they actually need. Don’t be afraid to change your opinion based on good information but also don’t be afraid to stand firm when the answers only solidify your opinion more.

4. Don’t argue but rather discuss

Most people don’t like to argue so try and stay calm and have an open dialogue. Don’t avoid tough issues by having an emotional reaction. Everything relevant to your child’s disability and needs should be discussed.

3. Know your most important issues

Remember this is a negotiation and decide which issues are deal breakers and which ones you can use as a negotiating tool.

2. Try to have informal discussions prior to the IEP meeting

Information is power. The more information you can accumulate on what the District is thinking the better you can prepare. This also gives you an opportunity to present your agenda so that the IEP team is not caught off guard and a good discussion can occur.

1. Have a back-up plan

If you are not willing to take the next step you have no power in a negotiation. With respect to IEP’s, the next step could be mediation, due process, state complaint, Office of Civil Rights complaint or further assessments in the form of an Independent Educational Evaluation at public expense. Try to educate yourself as to all the options and figure out which one is best for you.

Follow-Up Letters That "Testify" at Due Process - When You Cannot

2011-08-10T11:34:00.000-06:00

by Paula Flower

You cannot testify at due process. How can you tell the administrative law judge or hearing officer what happened in your IEP meeting? Your follow-up letters can “testify” for you.

Don’t let your recordings of IEP meetings sit in a file collecting dust. Put them to good use! Write a follow-up letter that re-states what the team discussed and agreed to provide. Your follow-up letter must be accurate. Your recording of the IEP meeting will come in handy.

Pete Wright says, prepare AS IF you are going to go to due process – that will help keep you OUT of due process. If you do end up in due process, your letters increase your chances of prevailing. (Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition, Chapter 21.)

Pete also talks about the Rules of Adverse Assumptions. The rules mean "assume the worst." Assume you will have to go to due process to resolve your dispute and you won’t be able to testify.

Review the Recording of the IEP Meeting

Taking notes while listening to a recording is easier than taking notes when you are actively participating in the IEP meeting.

Listen to the recording of the meeting. You'll be surprised at what you missed during the meeting. Begin to take notes. Bullet-points are fine. Pretend you are in an important lecture and you want to get the significant points the speaker is making.

Tip: If you use a digital recorder, indicate the time in your notes when you stop to take breaks. If you do not finish your notes in one day, you can to go to the exact spot in the recording where you stopped.

Write a Follow-Up Letter

Refer back to your notes to use them as the basis for your follow-up letter.

Basic Rules of Letter-writing from 12 Rules for Writing Great Letters

Always be polite and cordial
Omit any emotional outbursts
Always be factual and accurate

Three Levels of a Follow-Up Letter

1. Follow-up Letter Expressing Appreciation and Asking for Clarification

If you and your school district agree about most issues at your IEP, but you need to clarify a few details, use letter #1 as a template.

Example: During the meeting there was a lengthy discussion about your child's need for a 1:1 instructional assistant. The team agreed to provide an assistant. The assistant would have previous experience working with children on the autism spectrum. The school district would provide the assistant with additional training.

When you reread the IEP carefully when you get home, you see that it vaguely states, “The school will provide Mary with an aide.”

Write a follow-up letter to clarify the agreement on this issue. Document the details in your letter.

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Dr. Bernadine Healy, former NIH Director, Dies

2011-08-10T10:35:00.000-06:00

Dr. Bernadine Healy, the first woman to direct the National Institutes of Health and the leader of the American Red Cross during the Sept. 11 terror attacks, has died. She was 67. (AP)

In a July 28, 2009 exclusive interview, Dr. Healy tells CBS News' Sharyl Attkisson that the question of a link between vaccines and autism is still open for debate. CBS interview.

Don Imus interviewed Dr. Healy in 2008 and they discussed the autism vaccine debate. Dr Healy: "I think causality is very hard to prove. That is a problem for all potential environmental triggers." "We now know, we learned, that in fact if you look at all the vaccines our children are exposed to in the first year of life....cumulatively....they're getting more than EPA standards of toxic mercury exposures for an adult."

"But there may be this susceptible group. The fact that there is concern, that you don't want to know that susceptible group is a real disappointment to me. If you know that susceptible group, you can save those children. If you turn your back on the notion that there is a susceptible group… what can I say?"

CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson's news story in February, 2009

CBS 2009 Interview with Dr. Healy

Tablet Games Trump Traditional Therapy in Treating Autism and Cerebral Palsy

2011-07-27T13:05:00.000-06:00

For decades the traditional therapy for adults and children afflicted with autism and cerebral palsy have remained the same: repetitive activities aimed at hammering home the social and physical skills these disorders make difficult for those afflicted. That's all changing, thanks to multi-touch tablet technology.

Today's multi-touch technology has given researchers the ability to develop low-cost applications with the potential to engage suffers of autism, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities much faster and in some cases more effectively than the traditional methods of treatment.

FULL STORY.

McDonalds Manager Punches Mother Over Autism Service Dog

2011-07-27T12:45:00.000-06:00

The mother of two autistic boys was punched in the face by a McDonalds manager in Marietta, Georgia. According to WSBTV, on July 12, Jennifer Schwenker had brought her twin boys and their service dog, Barkley, to the McDonalds. A surveillance tape shows one of the boys and Barkley playing in the McDonalds playplace area. It was only as the family was on the verge of leaving that Tiffany Denise Allen, the manager who was off-duty at the time, told Schwenker that the dog was not allowed in the McDonalds.

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Mother-child bond takes stressful toll when kid has ADHD

2011-07-27T12:18:00.000-06:00

By Stephanie Pappas
Original article posted at MSNBC

Ever since the second day her son went to kindergarten, Penny Williams has worried about him. That's the day Williams, a real estate broker in Asheville, N.C., got her first call from her child's teacher. Luke wasn't ready for school, the teacher told Williams. He couldn't sit still and didn't want to participate. The insinuation, Williams said, was that she had failed as a parent.

Luke, now 8, would later be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurologicaldisorder marked by distraction, disorganization, impulsivity and, as the name suggests, hyperactivity. About 3 percent to 5 percent of school-age children in the U.S. have ADHD.

Since the diagnosis, Williams has immersed herself in those children's worlds. She edits a group blog of parents with ADHD kids at adhdmomma.blogspot.comand devours books about ADHD, trying to understand her child's mind.

"He has a really high IQ and he's really gifted, and he comes home from school and says how stupid he is," Williams told LiveScience, referring to Luke. "It's hard to watch your kid struggle … It adds stress and anxiety."

A new study finds that Williams is far from alone in her sensitivity to her son's moods and needs. Parents of children with ADHD are more in tune to their child's behaviorthan parents with neurotypical children, according to research published in June in the Journal of Family Psychology. All parents' moods ebb and flow based on how their children are behaving, said study researcher Candice Odgers, a psychologist at the University of California, Irvine. But the link between a mother's mood and her child's behavior is stronger when the kid has ADHD.

The problem is that those ups and downs take a toll on parents.

"If you think about what it's like to parent a child with ADHD, it requires a kind of constant vigilance, a high level of energy," Odgers told LiveScience. "This is important, because we know that stress and the burden of caregiving in general are associated with a whole host of problems, mental health and physical problems."

The stress rollercoaster The emotional cost of parenting a child with ADHD may be getting steeper thanks to widespread budget cutsthat are limiting school resources in several states. There are not yet any studies on the effect of state budget cuts on special needs children, but California psychologist Lara Honos-Webb, author of "The Gift of ADHD: How to Transform Your Child's Problems Into Strengths" (New Harbinger Publications, 2005), said families are feeling the pinch.

"Due to cuts in the schools, parents are desperately trying to get resources that are not there," Honos-Webb told LiveScience.

Those sorts of barriers add to the challenges that ADHD already brings to parents: A higher-than-usual risk of divorce, increased stress levels and a decreased sense of their own competence.

In order to develop better support for these parents, Odgers and her colleagues wanted to understand how parental stress rises and falls in real time. Led by UC Irvine psychologist Carol Whalen, the researchers asked 51 moms of kids with ADHD and a control group of moms with kids without special needs to answer surveys about their child's behaviors and their own moods every 30 minutes while their kids were at home for a week. Using PDAs with built-in reminder alarms, the children also filled out surveys about their own moods and behaviors.

Parental stress did indeed fluctuate with the child's self-reported bad behavior, the researchers found. This was especially true when parents of ADHD kids had mental health problems of their own or more family burdens in general.

Inside the Brain: A Journey Through Time

Mother's ratings of their child's behaviors coincided with the child's own ratings, so when a mom reported that her child was angry or restless, disobedient ("my child argued") or hyperactive ("my child talked too much"), the child's diary usually agreed. The child behaviors most likely to cause distress in mom were hyperactivity, lack of concentration, or anger and disobedience.

Optimistic ADHD The results emphasize the need to consider the whole family dynamic when treating an ADHD child, Odgers said. Doing so is necessary both for the child's sake and for the parents', as stressed parents aren't as supportive of their children.

"There are these really important links between children's behavior and mom's mood and levels of stress," Odgers said. "We know from a lot of other research that mom's mental health is a very, very strong predictor of her parenting style."

Honos-Webb recommends that families with ADHD children work hard to see the positive strides that their children are making. That involves focusing on what can be done to help rather than what a child is doing wrong. It's also important to encourage the child's hobbies and strengths, Honos-Webb said. She also recommends "high-octane connection time" between parents and children to break cycles of frustration and punishment.

For Williams, finding Luke's strengths is no problem at all. He's a smart, inquisitive and open-hearted child, she said. If he sees another kid crying on the playground, he'll often go over to comfort them, she said: "He really has this need to fix things and make it better."

But the stress is still there as she watches her son struggle academically. He will try out a new school next year, moving from a public school that Williams said wasn't working out to a private one that is better-focused on the requirements of special needs kids. The decision has caused her lots of anxiety. She also finds herself facing scorn from strangerswhen Luke has temper tantrums in public places.

For her, the best coping mechanism has been finding support among other parents who understand the challenges of an ADHD child. But she's also found that parenting Luke has shifted something in her.

"When I used to see a kid acting out in a restaurant, I used to think the same thing most people think, 'Why can't their parents control them?'" Williams said. "And then I had a kid who did that, and I realized there's a reason. … It makes you a much more understanding person."

Army Spc. Jameson Lindskog, 23, Pleasanton; among 6 killed in Afghan firefight

2011-07-27T11:58:00.000-06:00

By Scott Glover, Los Angeles Times

July 24, 2011

Original article posted at LA Times

Like many people exhibiting traits of the mild form of autism known as Asperger's syndrome,Jameson Lindskog often saw the world in black and white.

Lindskog tended to be rigid — to the point of socially awkward — when it came to expectations of himself and others.

So it was no surprise, his father said, that his son responded unflinchingly when he was put to the test as an Army medic in Afghanistan.

On March 29, the 23-year-old specialist's unit came under fire in eastern Kunar province and several soldiers were hit by small-arms fire.

Lindskog rushed to the aid of one of the wounded, his parents said. He was tending to his fallen comrade when he was fatally shot himself, the family was told by Army officials.

"When the time came, he did not hesitate. He did not falter. He did his job," Lindskog's father, Curtis, said recently.

Five other soldiers were killed in the firefight.

Lindskog was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, Ky.

As a child growing up in the Bay Area suburb of Pleasanton, Lindskog struggled to fit in. He had problems making friends and got below-average grades in school. Teachers and school administrators insisted his problems were behavioral, his parents said.

But testing eventually revealed that he had a learning disability. He was found to have several traits of those with Asperger's, a condition characterized by normal intelligence but poor social skills. Someone with Asperger's, for example, may have trouble reading body language that others would consider obvious, or telling a white lie to avoid hurting another's feelings.

Lindskog's parents enrolled him in the Orion Academy, which specializes in teaching college prep courses to children with Asperger's and other learning disabilities. His grades improved dramatically. After graduation in 2006, he went to trade school and became a licensed massage therapist but had a tough time finding work in a depressed job market.

One day, he came home and declared that he had joined the Army, said his mother, Donna Walker.

Initially, Walker was not sure this was the right decision for her son, a quiet, sensitive, self-described "mama's boy" who loved animals, taught himself to play piano by ear and much preferred video games to outdoor sports.

An aptitude test Lindskog took at the recruiting center suggested that he was well-suited to become a medic, a path he chose to pursue.

As he did in civilian life, in the military Lindskog continued to tell it as he saw it, Lindskog's mother said she was told by several of her son's fellow soldiers. And he did that regardless of how many stripes the person he was talking to had on his sleeve.

"He loved to correct people," his mother said. He would typically begin such comments with the phrase, "Well, technically…"

That refrain earned him the nickname "Technically" among some of the guys in his unit, she said.

Despite the ribbing, Lindskog's single-minded, methodical approach to his job earned him respect and admiration from officers and enlisted alike, his parents said they were told.

The night before he was killed, he spent hours preparing his gear in case there were heavy casualties during the next day's mission. He pre-sized tourniquets to the different physiques of the soldiers in his unit and made sure he had supplies for any scenario that might unfold.

Even after he had been shot, Lindskog calmly instructed another soldier who came to his side on how to administer first aid to him, the soldier would later tell Lindskog's mother.

When he was done, Lindskog told him: "That's it. That's all you can do for me."

Then he added, "Just hold my hand."

scott.glover@latimes.com

A seeing-eye ferret? Now 'service animal' defined more narrowly

2011-07-21T11:20:00.000-06:00

The Americans With Disabilities Act was vague on what constituted a service animal. But now that definition is narrowed to dogs. Maybe miniature horses.

The landmark Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 stated very clearly that people with disabilities had a right to take their service animals along with them wherever they went.

But in retrospect, the law wasn't as clear as it might have been on one little point: What exactly is a service animal?

The law termed it "any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability" — but here was the rub: That seemed to imply that an elephant, just for instance, could make an excellent service animal.

Elephants are very smart. And strong. They can carry things for people and give them rides. Yet surely the lawmakers didn't intend for people to have service elephants they could go shopping with in grocery stores and travel with on planes.

Fortunately, in the last 20 years, no one ever seems to have claimed to have a service elephant. On the other hand, plenty of people have claimed to have service cats and rats and parrots and ferrets and llamas and iguanas and at least one snake (yes, really, a boa constrictor). And they've tried to take these service animals along with them everywhere — the way the law assured them they could — including into places where other people told them they were very out of place.

Impasse ensued. Confusion reigned. Until this March, when the government issued a new definition:

"Service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition." (The new rules make an exception for only miniature horses — and then only under certain conditions.)

In other words, a service animal is a service animal is a service dog.

—Karen Ravn

For Some With Autism, Jobs to Match Their Talents

2011-07-21T11:01:00.000-06:00

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Excerpt: 'The Tell-Tale Brain'

2011-07-21T10:23:00.000-06:00

by V.S. RAMACHANDRAN
original article posted at NPR

For the past quarter century I have had the marvelous privilege of being able to work in the emerging field of cognitive neuroscience. This book is a distillation of a large chunk of my life's work, which has been to unravel — strand by elusive strand — the mysterious connections between brain, mind, and body. In the chapters ahead I recount my investigations of various aspects of our inner mental life that we are naturally curious about. How do we perceive the world? What is the so-called mind-body connection? What determines your sexual identity? What is consciousness? What goes wrong in autism? How can we account for all of those mysterious faculties that are so quintessentially human, such as art, language, metaphor, creativity, self-awareness, and even religious sensibilities? As a scientist I am driven by an intense curiosity to learn how the brain of an ape — an ape! — managed to evolve such a godlike array of mental -abilities.

My approach to these questions has been to study patients with damage or genetic quirks in different parts of their brains that produce bizarre effects on their minds or behavior. Over the years I have worked with hundreds of patients afflicted (though some feel they are blessed) with a great diversity of unusual and curious neurological disorders. For example, people who "see" musical tones or "taste" the textures of everything they touch, or the patient who experiences himself leaving his body and viewing it from above near the ceiling. In this book I describe what I have learned from these cases. Disorders like these are always baffling at first, but thanks to the magic of the scientific method we can render them comprehensible by doing the right experiments. In recounting each case I will take you through the same step-by-step reasoning — occasionally navigating the gaps with wild intuitive hunches — that I went through in my own mind as I puzzled over how to render it explicable. Often when a clinical mystery is solved, the explanation reveals something new about how the normal, healthy brain works, and yields unexpected insights into some of our most cherished mental faculties. I hope that you, the reader, will find these journeys as interesting as I did.

Readers who have assiduously followed my whole oeuvre over the years will recognize some of the case histories that I presented in my previous books, Phantoms in the Brain and A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness. These same readers will be pleased to see that I have new things to say about even my earlier findings and observations. Brain science has advanced at an astonishing pace over the past fifteen years, lending fresh perspectives on — well, just about everything. After decades of floundering in the shadow of the "hard" sciences, the age of neuroscience has truly dawned, and this rapid progress has directed and enriched my own -work.

The past two hundred years saw breathtaking progress in many areas of science. In physics, just when the late nineteenth-century intelligentsia were declaring that physical theory was all but complete, Einstein showed us that space and time were infinitely stranger than anything formerly dreamed of in our philosophy, and Heisenberg pointed out that at the subatomic level even our most basic notions of cause and effect break down. As soon as we moved past our dismay, we were rewarded by the revelation of black holes, quantum entanglement, and a hundred other mysteries that will keep stoking our sense of wonder for centuries to come. Who would have thought the universe is made up of strings vibrating in tune with "God's music"? Similar lists can be made for discoveries in other fields. Cosmology gave us the expanding universe, dark matter, and jaw-dropping vistas of endless billions of galaxies. Chemistry explained the world using the periodic table of the elements and gave us plastics and a cornucopia of wonder drugs. Mathematics gave us computers — although many "pure" mathematicians would rather not see their discipline sullied by such practical uses. In biology, the anatomy and physiology of the body were worked out in exquisite detail, and the mechanisms that drive evolution finally started to become clear. Diseases that had literally plagued humankind since the dawn of history were at last understood for what they really were (as opposed to, say, acts of witchcraft or divine retribution). Revolutions occurred in surgery, pharmacology, and public health, and human life spans in the developed world doubled in the space of just four or five generations. The ultimate revolution was the deciphering of the genetic code in the 1950s, which marks the birth of modern biology.

By comparison, the sciences of the mind — psychiatry, neurology, psychology — languished for centuries. Indeed, until the last quarter of the twentieth century, rigorous theories of perception, emotion, cognition, and intelligence were nowhere to be found (one notable exception being color vision). For most of the twentieth century, all we had to offer in the way of explaining human behavior was two theoretical edifices—Freudianism and behaviorism — both of which would be dramatically eclipsed in the 1980s and 1990s, when neuroscience finally managed to advance beyond the Bronze Age. In historical terms that isn't a very long time. Compared with physics and chemistry, neuroscience is still a young upstart. But progress is progress, and what a period of progress it has been! From genes to cells to circuits to cognition, the depth and breadth of today's neuroscience—however far short of an eventual Grand Unified Theory it may be—is light-years beyond where it was when I started working in the field. In the last decade we have even seen neuroscience becoming self-confident enough to start offering ideas to disciplines that have traditionally been claimed by the humanities. So we now for instance have neuroeconomics, neuromarketing, neuroarchitecture, neuroarcheology, neurolaw, neuropolitics, neuroesthetics (see Chapters 4 and 8), and even neurotheology. Some of these are just neurohype, but on the whole they are making real and much-needed contributions to many fields.

As heady as our progress has been, we need to stay completely honest with ourselves and acknowledge that we have only discovered a tiny fraction of what there is to know about the human brain. But the modest amount that we have discovered makes for a story more exciting than any Sherlock Holmes novel. I feel certain that as progress continues through the coming decades, the conceptual twists and technological turns we are in for are going to be at least as mind bending, at least as intuition shaking, and as simultaneously humbling and exalting to the human spirit as the conceptual revolutions that upended classical physics a century ago. The adage that fact is stranger than fiction seems to be especially true for the workings of the brain. In this book I hope I can convey at least some of the wonder and awe that my colleagues and I have felt over the years as we have patiently peeled back the layers of the mind-brain mystery. Hopefully it will kindle your interest in what the pioneering neurosurgeon Wilder Penfield called "the organ of destiny" and Woody Allen, in a less reverential mood, referred to as man's "second favorite organ."