Autism

• Most Topular Stories

• Study : A common X-linked inborn error of carnitine biosynthesis may be a risk factor for nondysmorphic autism.

  Autism Jabberwocky

  MJ

  13 May 2012 | 10:29 am

  It isn't often that I read a paper on autism that presents a complete picture of what autism might be (for some people) from genetic cause to biological pathways to possible treatment.  But a paper on an inborn error of carnitine biosynthesis from last week might fit the bill.This paper ties together a genetic mutation, the effect of the mutation on the body's biological pathways, possible dietary factors in early childhood, and hints at a possible way to treat existing autism or to decrease the risk of autism developing in the first place.The abstract is below and, if you are…

• Cripples, Idiots, Lepers, and Freaks

  Square 8

  27 Apr 2012 | 9:38 am

  It was a different sort of autism workshop from those in which I have usually been asked to participate. The topics included video games and manga. The presenters were academics, mostly English professors. The invitation I received referred to me as an autism scholar (!) I started to think about the meaning of the word “scholar” and whether I was or wasn’t. It was a spiral of thought resembling what happens when I think about the word “autism.” I like the idea of looking at the concept of autism in different contexts. I very much like the idea of expanding the definition of…

• The Freedom to Offend

  Countering...

  K Wombles

  14 May 2012 | 3:38 pm

  There are plenty of reasons to avoid the internet--so many unsafe spots, so many places to be made aware of just how awful or clueless people can be.Simon Baron-Cohen started the inevitable comparisons between autism and psychopathy with his Zero Degrees of Empathy book and theory, but at least he had as much empathy for those with psychopathy as he did with autism (although some would question his degree of empathy for those with autism). The latest person to really decide to step in and then be self-righteous is Amanda Marcotte, who started on twitter and continued on Slate.Psychopathy and…

• Link Between Anxiety Disorders And Cellular Metabolism

  Autism News From Medical News Today

  16 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  Anxiety disorders, ranging from social phobia to post-traumatic stress disorder, are the most common psychiatric diseases in the United States. Research in mice suggests a link between the gene that encodes Glyoxylase 1 (GLO1) and increased anxiety; however, the mechanism underlying this association has remained unclear...

• Risperdal and S100B: Prolactin, Tumors and Tardive Dyskinesia

  AGE OF AUTISM

  Age of Autism

  16 May 2012 | 4:46 am

  By Teresa Conrick With Autism numbers climbing, there are those who look to the profit margin of knowing thousands of children, teens and young adults may need medications to "target behavior." It is unfortunate and incorrect that Autism is still...

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  Autism News From Medical News Today

• Link Between Anxiety Disorders And Cellular Metabolism

  16 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  Anxiety disorders, ranging from social phobia to post-traumatic stress disorder, are the most common psychiatric diseases in the United States. Research in mice suggests a link between the gene that encodes Glyoxylase 1 (GLO1) and increased anxiety; however, the mechanism underlying this association has remained unclear...

• Schoolyard Designed For Children With Autism

  9 May 2012 | 2:00 am

  A Kansas State University graduate student is creating a schoolyard that can become a therapeutic landscape for children with autism. Chelsey King, master's student in landscape architecture, St. Peters, Mo., is working with Katie Kingery-Page, assistant professor of landscape architecture, to envision a place where elementary school children with autism could feel comfortable and included...

• Defective Carnitine Metabolism May Play Role In Autism

  8 May 2012 | 4:00 am

  The deletion of part of a gene that plays a role in the synthesis of carnitine - an amino acid derivative that helps the body use fat for energy - may play a role in milder forms of autism, said a group of researchers led by those at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. "This is a novel inborn error of metabolism," said Dr...

• Instant Leap In Human Brain Evolution May Have Been Driven By Extra Gene

  7 May 2012 | 2:00 am

  A partial, duplicate copy of a gene appears to be responsible for the critical features of the human brain that distinguish us from our closest primate kin...

• Genetic Systems Disrupted In Autistic Brain

  3 May 2012 | 3:00 am

  Autism has a strong genetic basis, but so far efforts to identify the responsible genes have had mixed results. The reason for this is that autism is influenced by many different genes, and different genes are involved in different individuals, making it hard to find the common genetic ground between patients...

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  AGE OF AUTISM

• Risperdal and S100B: Prolactin, Tumors and Tardive Dyskinesia

  Age of Autism

  16 May 2012 | 4:46 am

  By Teresa Conrick With Autism numbers climbing, there are those who look to the profit margin of knowing thousands of children, teens and young adults may need medications to "target behavior." It is unfortunate and incorrect that Autism is still...

• The Other 1%

  Age of Autism

  16 May 2012 | 4:42 am

  By Jamie Pacton We may be the 99%, but my son isn’t. As a severely autistic 4-year old who doesn’t talk, can’t sit still, hurts himself and others, and must be trained to do everything from hugging properly to playing...

• Autism Acceptance and Aging Out

  Age of Autism

  15 May 2012 | 4:46 am

  By Natalie Palumbo As a younger sibling of a 21 year old young man with autism, I was recently asked to give my perspective on a story about services for people with autism beyond high school in Vermont, as shown...

• A Mother's Day Look at Autism Featuring Kim Stagliano

  Age of Autism

  14 May 2012 | 4:45 am

  The Sun Chronicle is my hometown newspaper. (Photo credit to Martin Gavin.) I was raised in a small town called Plainville - in Massachusetts. Growing up, we had a Drive in Theatre (fun as a child, more fun as a...

• Retired 9/11 Firefighter Writes to President Obama About Urgency of Autism

  Age of Autism

  14 May 2012 | 4:42 am

  By Tim Dwyer President Obama I am sending you these boots to symbolize the fact that my son Colin will never be a third generation NYC Firefighter, Colin like 1.5 million other American children and young adults has Autism. Our...

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  ScienceDaily: Autism News

• Mice with big brains provide insight into brain regeneration and developmental disorders

  15 May 2012 | 8:41 am

  Scientists have discovered that mice that lack a gene called Snf2l have brains that are 35 percent larger than normal. The research could lead to new approaches to stimulate brain regeneration and may provide important insight into developmental disorders such as autism and Rett syndrome.

• Evolution's gift may also be at the root of a form of autism

  10 May 2012 | 11:28 am

  A recently evolved pattern of gene activity in the language and decision-making centers of the human brain is missing in a disorder associated with autism and learning disabilities, a new study shows.

• Defective carnitine metabolism may play role in autism

  7 May 2012 | 2:41 pm

  The deletion of part of a gene that plays a role in the synthesis of carnitine – an amino acid derivative that helps the body use fat for energy – may play a role in milder forms of autism, said a group of researchers.

• Schoolyard designed for children with autism

  7 May 2012 | 12:19 pm

  Landscape architects are creating a schoolyard that can become a therapeutic landscape for children with autism. They have designed a place where elementary school children with autism can feel comfortable and included.

• Of Mice and Men: Characterization of a new autism gene

  3 May 2012 | 9:43 am

  Malfunctioning single proteins can cause disruptions in neuronal junctions leading to autistic forms of behavior. A new study comes to this conclusion after examining genetically altered mice.

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  Alien in a Foreign Field

• Clues that's you're short-sighted and semi-senile

  Maddy

  23 Apr 2012 | 2:44 pm

  After a long walk in the park with the dog.Wife:  "What's that?"Husband:  "What?""That thing on the floor.""Where?""Just there.  See?""Is it a coffee bean?""Yes." "Or is it some kind of bug?""I think it's moving.  It's got legs.""Can't be a bean then, must be a bug.""I've never seen an insect like that before.  Have you?""Nope.  Must be some kind of rare Californian thing.""Give it freedom or death?" "Do you think it bites?""It looks pretty harmless, big and fat and round.  Eeow!  You didn't have to squash it like that.  Poor little insect. …

• Ladies in Waiting

  Maddy

  22 Feb 2010 | 1:06 am

  I transfer the load to the drier and put the last batch on to dry before heading upstairs in the pitch black to restock the towels, when I hear him come home from work at the ungodly hour of 11:30. I finish up swiftly and move on to matching socks as I hear him below go from garage to utility room and back again, several times, many times. After more than 20 minutes he’s still at it, so I nip down to check. I step over the pile of soggy laundry and peer into the garage, lit by a yellow light. It’s been more than ten days after the event, but I see him watch it now, parked on the cement,…

• Goodwill to all Peoplekind

  Maddy

  18 Dec 2009 | 6:44 pm

  I escape from the house in a hurry. Although generally I can find any excuse to avoid shopping, currently it’s a valid excuse for freedom. Now that Target provides groceries and prescription refills, I shall probably never need to shop anywhere else ever again. With luck on my side, I should be able to make a round trip in under an hour, long before Nonna awakens. It’s a short list of necessaries, essentials, extras and maybe’s. I cast grumpiness aside, or is it fatigue – this must be the true definition of retail therapy; the chance to move about freely in a crowd, anonymous with a…

• 11 + Cake Topper for Twins

  Maddy

  14 Dec 2009 | 3:29 pm

  This is a ding bat design for some chums of mine who successfully passed the 11+ examination. The boys are twins and took the exam in the States which enables them to enter the Grammar School System back in England = an amazing feat!I have no idea how often twins both manage to pass this test, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to celebrate with a dingbat on binary.Interestingly it was all the thicky adults like me who had a hard time figuring out the message.

• Who are you?

  Maddy

  20 Nov 2009 | 5:23 pm

  Take the Quiz here!

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  Square 8

• More about Freaks

  4 May 2012 | 10:49 am

  This is Part 2 of a series on my participation in CUNY's ESA Conferece 2012. Part 1 is here. My initial thought was to explore the meaning of “autism scholar.” What are the credentials? Does blogging count? Even if it does, I haven’t done a lot of that in a while. Do I deserve the label based on my degree or the publication of a single paper? And if so, who is being left out? What can be done to create an atmosphere of learning and shared knowledge that would expand the notion of scholarship beyond academia? What types of knowledge and learning are currently ignored or discounted? I…

• BADD: Connecting dots

  1 May 2012 | 10:14 am

  Somebody calls autism a tragedy. Somebody kills an autistic person. Somebody doesn’t see how these two events are connected. I try to explain. I try harder. It happens again and again and again and somebody ‘splains it away. The topic here is devaluation. When it becomes commonplace to pair the words autism and tragedy, the pairing seeps deep down into the collective mind. When the puzzle piece becomes the recognized symbol for autism, the message comes over and over that there is something unfinished about the person. Something mysterious that the general public cannot be expected to…

• Attention

  30 Apr 2012 | 12:59 pm

  There’s an old Zen story: A student said to Master Ichu, “Please write for me something of great wisdom.” Master Ichu picked up his brush and wrote one word: “Attention.” The student said, “Is that all?” The master wrote, “Attention. Attention.” The student became irritable. “That doesn’t seem profound or subtle to me.” In response, Master Ichu wrote simply, “Attention. Attention. Attention.” In frustration, the student demanded, “What does this word attention mean?” Master Ichu replied, “Attention means attention.” -Beck, C.J. (1993). Nothing special:…

• Cripples, Idiots, Lepers, and Freaks

  27 Apr 2012 | 9:38 am

  It was a different sort of autism workshop from those in which I have usually been asked to participate. The topics included video games and manga. The presenters were academics, mostly English professors. The invitation I received referred to me as an autism scholar (!) I started to think about the meaning of the word “scholar” and whether I was or wasn’t. It was a spiral of thought resembling what happens when I think about the word “autism.” I like the idea of looking at the concept of autism in different contexts. I very much like the idea of expanding the definition of…

• Puzzling excuse number 128: It doesn't represent autistic people!

  25 Apr 2012 | 7:27 pm

  It comes with the look halfway between perplexed and pitying. Because how could I not get it? And yet how could I, supposedly lacking Theory of Mind and understanding of symbolic language? It comes with an edge to the voice and the slightest roll of the eye. The puzzle piece, she explains, slowly, pointedly, as to an errant child, stands for the mystery of autism! Not autistic people, but how we still don't know what causes it!And because it stands for what causes me to be me, well, obviously I shouldn't be offended. I try to explain that autism is not, cannot be, separate from the person,…

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  Thrive On the Autism Spectrum

• Book Review: Is It You, Me, or Adult ADD?

  Patricia Robinson MFT

  30 Apr 2012 | 3:35 pm

  Marriage always involves compromise and adjusting for differences, and that’s even more true when one partner has a diagnosis, like autism, Asperger’s, or ADHD. In my therapy practice I work with many of these mixed couples, where it’s not just two different personalities, but also two different ways of experiencing and dealing with the world. These differences can bring a refreshing sense of novelty, perspective, and balance to a relationship, but they can also result in conflict, disappointment, and disconnect. Fortunately, understanding those differences between partners can be the…

• Working for a Boss on the Autism Spectrum

  Patricia Robinson MFT

  27 Mar 2012 | 4:27 pm

  Back in 2008, I posted about working for a boss with Asperger’s. Now, more than three years later, I’m still getting comments on that post, mostly from employees complaining about the difficulties, but also trying to be productive with their boss with Asperger’s. I like to focus this blog on the positives, and ways to make difficult situations better. The reality is that both neurotypicals and those on the Autism Spectrum are usually trying to do a good job, get along with each other, and communicate effectively. But, differences in expectations, communication style, and social…

• Book Review: George and Sam

  Patricia Robinson MFT

  20 Mar 2012 | 6:18 pm

  I review many books on this blog, mostly because I love to read, and I want to share those books that I find compelling or interesting. There are many books written by parents, chronicling their personal journeys of raising autistic children, and I’ve read and enjoyed a lot of them. But, after so many examples, I’m now looking for these first person accounts that bring something a bit different to the reader. George and Sam, Two Boys, One Family, and Autism , by Charlotte Moore, 2006, is just that book. The author discusses her life with her two autistic son, George and Sam. With two…

• Free Monthly Webinar on Autism

  Patricia Robinson MFT

  14 Mar 2012 | 8:08 pm

  Champions of Autism and ADHD is a non-profit based in Iowa. I wasn’t familiar with them until I got a flier about their free monthly webinars, on various applicable topics. It’s expensive to deal with autism, so I’m happy to recommend free information. It looks like tomorrow’s talk on IEP, mediation and IDEA is the second in the series, with the webinars being archived for future viewing.   From the flier:  Working Together — Promoting Effective Communication and Dispute Resolution under the IDEA Date:  Thursday, March 15, 2012 Time:  12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CST Register online…

• Transition Options Program

  Patricia Robinson MFT

  8 Mar 2012 | 8:37 pm

  Finding support for adults on the autism spectrum can be especially difficult. Once students leave high school, many of the formal and informal support options are no longer available. Without the structure of school, and with difficulty in finding appropriate post high school education or employment, many individuals struggle to remain connected and productive. One valuable resource is the Transition Options Program, (TOPS) from Mount Diablo Adult Education. I’ll draw directly from their flier: The Transition Options Program (TOPS) addresses the unique needs of adults with Asperger’s…

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  Childhood Education

• Where to Sell your Books Online

  rusuli

  7 May 2012 | 5:49 am

  If you experienced selling books online, then you will know for sure all the steps that you are required to go through and the hectic preparation that you need to do. Getting the right customer to buy at a smart price takes time, hence if you need quick cash, going through all this alone is certainly the least you need to be going through. This team knows exactly how much needs to be taken care

• Getting the Best Thesis Help

  rusuli

  26 Apr 2012 | 5:12 pm

  Masterthesiswriting.com is one of the best links that provides thesis help for those who are in search of high quality thesis writing service for their college matter. It has been understandable that writing thesis is not something that is easy to do by every college student. The fact that all college students should write thesis as the requirement of passing their bachelor degree makes most of

• WHAT MAKES FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERESTING

  rusuli

  10 Apr 2012 | 1:10 am

              Some people learn forensic science because of several reasons. It can be caused by the large amount of forensic psychologist salary or they just find out that forensic science is interesting. Being a forensic scientist may sound cool because it is related to justice system and has an important role to fight for proof. Crime and civil actions always occur in this society. Every person

• Help for Physic Assignment

  rusuli

  17 Mar 2012 | 6:33 am

  Education in this modern world must be the most important thing because it is the greatest support of our life whether for our career or for our family life. It is true that anyone have to get proper education which at least can help them to get the understanding about any transaction properly so we will not be lost in the transaction. There are many kinds of knowledge which we have to know at

• Some Help to Smothering Different Assignment

  rusuli

  26 Feb 2012 | 11:56 pm

  There is numerous numbers of programming languages that has been existed in this world, each of which can be used in accordance to the specific need of a programmer. Some type of programming language, such as C, C++, Java, or MATLAB, can be used to manipulate data while the rest of these can also be used to implement some algorithms. In more narrow scope, especially if there is a person who want

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  Normal Is Overrated

• Accessibility: One Size Doesn’t Fit All

  codeman38

  1 May 2012 | 9:58 pm

  [This is my admittedly belated post for Blogging Against Disablism Day 2012. Be sure to check out the other posts linked in the master post as well---there's some great stuff there!] I’ve noticed quite often lately that when people think about accessibility, it’s often in one particular form: making things usable for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Now, of course, that’s not a bad thing; any effort toward making things accessible to anyone with disabilities, assuming it’s actually done well, is a much needed improvement. But as important as this…

• How ironic…

  codeman38

  2 Apr 2012 | 9:12 pm

  …on Autism Awareness Day, my brain is just too exhausted from a day at work to really post anything substantial about autism here. Go figure. I’ll try to get something up at some point this week; after all, although Autism Awareness Day is nearly over, there’s a whole 28 days still left in Autism Awareness Month. Edited to add: If you can handle more snark and irreverence than I usually post here, feel free to check out the ‘autism’ tag on my Tumblr blog, where I’ve been reblogging and commenting on stuff for a good part of the day. Less effort than writing…

• On employment and accommodations: a belated post for Autistics Speaking Day

  codeman38

  6 Nov 2011 | 7:57 pm

  This year, I was too busy and stressed to post anything on Autistics Speaking Day, despite desperately wanting to. But there’s a reason I was too busy: I had just begun my first week of work at a full-time job since leaving graduate school. Yes, even in spite of all the employment challenges I’ve mentioned in the past, I still managed to find work in this economy. And it’s not just any job; it’s a chance to work on something I’m quite interested in. Though my life-long dream of being a contestant on Jeopardy! still remains unfulfilled, I’ve managed to do…

• Ability: Not as simple as you think

  codeman38

  4 May 2011 | 5:05 pm

  A confession to make: I still have trouble with a lot of basic daily living activities. No, it’s not that I can’t do them. I’ve proven without a doubt that I can, having lived in my own apartment for several years. It’s just that they’re significantly more stressful and overwhelming than they are for your average neurotypical person. Take getting groceries, for instance. For most people, the steps are basically: Drive to the grocery store. Take as long as you need to get groceries. Get them. Cart them back out to the car. Drive home, and get them back out. For…

• A Guide For Discouraging Self-Advocacy

  codeman38

  30 Apr 2011 | 11:00 pm

  [This is my post for Blogging Against Disablism Day 2011.] The following list is based entirely on my own experiences with several recent self-advocacy opportunities that opened themselves up to me. Despite the fact that many of these events may sound like something out of an absurdist comedy, all of the below occurrences are things that actually happened to me in trying to participate in one conference or another. How Not To Invite Self-Advocates To Your Disability Conference Require physical attendance at the conference. Do not provide any way for a self-advocate to contribute via the…

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  Ballastexistenz

• To the woman who accosted me on my way to the para transit van tonight.

  Amanda

  14 May 2012 | 11:40 pm

  I agreed to meet you tomorrow. That was before you made it clear that I really do not want to meet you tomorrow. It is not ever okay to demand that I look at your face, especially not by getting in my face. For the record, I didn’t see your face even when you did that. I saw a weird swirl of blue and brown. Since your skin is pale and you have blonde hair, I’m pretty certain none of that was your face. That’s what happens when you seriously overload a person with bad visual perception. I was using those eyes before you wrecked them like that. It is never okay to demand that…

• The Mother Tree At Ground Level.

  Amanda

  30 Apr 2012 | 1:47 pm

  I finally found a photo of the Mother Tree at ground level. For those that don’t know, this is a tree in the redwood forest I lived in when I was really little. I figure something like this is in order after the awfulness in the last post. [Photo: A little out of focus, with a light leak in the upper left corner. A large redwood tree, including the ground area. Some piece of an iteration is visible hanging down on the left.] I hadn’t uploaded this one because I thought the light leak made it look bad. This was before those were trendy. But now I like this one a good deal. It shows…

• BADD: Pulling Back Curtains

  Amanda

  30 Apr 2012 | 12:37 pm

  This is my other post for Blogging Against Disablism Day (BADD) on May 1, both about caregiver abuse, this one about the most extreme kind. It’s in a heavy topic, but a necessary one given the public’s response to several recent murders of disabled people. The situations I’m describing are somewhat different from the recent murders that have come to light. But what we can learn from them is important to all such situations. 1. Introduction: Pulling Back the Curtains on Hate and Love This is my first attempt to write about something extremely serious while avoiding a dark,…

• BADD: Caregiver abuse takes many forms

  Amanda

  30 Apr 2012 | 12:04 pm

  This is one of two posts I’m making for Blogging Against Disablism Day. Both are about caregiver abuse. This one is about misusing power in caregiving relationships. In particular, abuse that most people wouldn’t think of as abuse. A note on vocabulary. Caregivers are called different things in different contexts. Caregivers, aides, personal assistants, attendants, staff, etc. Sometimes they also have more specific titles like LNA for Licensed Nursing Assistant. Regardless of how any of these terms are used outside of the disability world, every single one of them, in the context…

• On (Not) Having A Guardian

  Amanda

  1 Mar 2012 | 10:34 am

  [I wrote this in an email to someone who was looking for people's stories regarding guardianship and lack thereof. She asked me to put it in a blog post so she could link to it in something she's writing. So here it is. It contains lots of information most people here know, because it wasn't originally written for here. This is also similar to a presentation I gave on this topic years ago.] When I was nineteen years old, my psychologist told me that I was not a real adult. He told me that by virtue of being in the system I would always be a child. And that this was actually true legally so he…

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  AutismParents.NET!

• What Causes Autism? Flowchart.

  admin

  3 May 2012 | 1:18 pm

  Your browser is not able to display frames.  Please visit the mind map: Autism Causes? on Mind Mapping - MindMeister. Tweet This Post [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• The Big List of S*%# Linked to Autism: Curvy Women & Serotonin Transporters

  admin

  23 Mar 2012 | 7:10 am

  Two new entries on The Big List of S*%# Linked to Autism today.  One that sounds like it makes some sense and another that sounds like some researchers with too much time on their hands.  First,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• West Tennessee Autism School, The K.I.T.E. Center, held first fundraiser for the year

  admin

  15 Mar 2012 | 1:46 pm

  The K.I.T.E. Center: Wine & Cheese Fundraiser 2012 The K.I.T.E. Center held its first annual Wine & Cheese Fundraiser March 10th at The Crown Winery in Humboldt. The event was an... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• The Big List of S*%# Linked to Autism: Immigration to Sweden

  admin

  23 Feb 2012 | 9:21 am

  A new one for the “might cause Autism” list …  IMMIGRATION.  Specifically in this study, immigrating to Sweden. “This is an intriguing discovery, in which we can see strong... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• The Big List of S*%# Linked to Autism: Winter Conception

  admin

  12 Jan 2012 | 2:50 pm

  A new one for the “might cause Autism” list … Winter Conception. A new study has revealed that those conceived in winter have up to a 16 per cent greater risk of autism than those... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

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  Reports from a Resident Alien

• Q&A: Newly Diagnosed Toddler

  Lisa D.

  22 Apr 2012 | 6:10 pm

  I was hanging out at Wrong Planet when a new topic popped up, one that's very common at WP. A parent with a newly diagnosed three-year-old, worrying about her future. I replied to the topic and someone suggested I should put this on my blog, so I did.Question (Summarized): "I have a newly diagnosed three-year-old daughter. She is beautiful and healthy, but she doesn't talk. My wife calls our daughter's autism a "curse", and feels guilty about somehow having caused it. I am worried about my daughter's future. When will she start talking? Will people take…

• Gift-Giving

  Lisa D.

  21 Apr 2012 | 12:20 am

  Gifts are a form of social communication--a ritual meant to strengthen social bonds.When someone gives you a gift, it's because they're following that ritual, to strengthen the connection between you. So, the communication you are receiving is something along the lines of, "I feel connected to you," in some way. It could be a matter of being in the same social group (a family, a class, a team at work), romance, or friendship; or it could be a way of strengthening social connections during a time of transition (a wedding, a funeral, a move, or a new family member).So what…

• Eye Contact

  Lisa D.

  16 Apr 2012 | 4:21 pm

  When it comes to making eye contact, there's one hang-up that often needs to be taken into account. Autistic brains like ours have a hard time multi-tasking; and that means that when I look someone in the eye, I often can't concentrate very well on what they are saying. That's a problem--I care about what they're saying and I want to listen to it!So, for me, the solution to the eye-contact issue was--believe it or not--to avoid eye contact. Well--not completely avoid. What I did was to train myself to look in the direction of the other person, rather than making actual eye…

• LOST: My Motivation

  Lisa D.

  14 Apr 2012 | 6:02 pm

  LOST: My MotivationSmall, bright spark of energy. Answers to "interest", "focus", or "perseverance".Very attracted to coffee, libraries, and difficult math problems.Very friendly (but may ignore you in the presence of interesting challenges).Last seen in Dr. G.'s Research Methods class on the morning of 4-6-2012.If found, please call (235) 711-1317.**Please help! I cannot imagine life without him!REWARD!!!**May or may not consist of pocket lint, thirty-seven cents, and half a packet of ramen.**No, that is not my real phone number.

• Link: "What Makes Institutions Bad"

  Lisa D.

  2 Apr 2012 | 2:40 pm

  I don't have anything of my own to say today, but I'd like you all to go over to ballastexistenz and read one of her recent entries about institutions. The point she makes about institutional abuse being a current--not historical--problem is very salient. And what she says about the most horrible places often being the most beautiful is also true. I know; I've been there.What Makes Institutions Bad

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  drive mom crazy

• The Truth of what Dreams may come in the Future

  theamazinj

  8 May 2012 | 9:30 pm

  It’s reason to believe that there are so many people who judge a person by functioning level. Should this be happening? Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants, is the liberty of appearing. Thomas Paine (1737 – 1809) The truth is we are all individuals who are Human and no body should be felt discriminated. Every one is a dream away from their vision of success. Whether you are an amazing artist, a talented musician, a working writer, a healing heart, an incredible healer, a skillful trade, a motivational speaker, or any mixture of the above;…

• Being Autistic and Being Proud of what you Can Do, Smile!

  theamazinj

  3 May 2012 | 6:23 am

  Autistic or not, you have to understand who you are to appreciate what you can do. Autistic people know what its like for themselves, no body else knows what it’s like to be Autistic. Being an Autistic Adult is an experience any one would not really know because its my experience. Notwithstanding, there are similar experiences all Autistics do experience. There are many Autistic people who often say “If there were a magic pill to make me Non-Autistic, they would not take it.” I do feel the same. It’s important to embrace who you are and own everything about yourself,…

• What Bullying really does to a Person!

  theamazinj

  28 Apr 2012 | 4:59 am

  Bullying is a horrible experience any one can go through. Some of the most painful impacts bullying results in are not being able to approve of the things we want to do, always seeking approval from others. Some of the most painful bullying experiences can detract us from society. Some victims of bullying even commit heinous crimes like suicide or homicide, while others live a life of isolation and fear. Some victims of bullying try staying strong even with their anxiety in constant hyper mode. These people who are victims with their extreme anxiety tend to want to please, seek approval, and…

• Working Builds Confidence, Independence, and Stability for Any One

  theamazinj

  25 Apr 2012 | 4:25 am

  Why are people in the disability community including Autistic people not extended a chance to work or are thought of as a second thought by an employer? Why can’t any one in the disability community be accepted in to a job like any body else? Instead most of us are pushed to the side. Although some of us do get lucky. I can only speak for who I am as an Autistic person (Aspergers). We all have our quirks, we all have our eccentricities, we all have our emotions, we all are human. However many Neurotypical people are considered for a job far more times than a person with a disability.

• Words of Wisdom from a DMC reader

  theamazinj

  15 Apr 2012 | 9:49 pm

  A message from a DMC reader: “Diabetes is a challenge. You can run away and pretend you don’t have it, but it will catch up with you eventually. You can take care of it grudgingly, hide it, and even use it as an excuse when you trip over rocks, but that will only make you resent yourself for not doing all you can to overcome. Or you can run with it, in your heart, not as a burden, but as a reminder that you are doing something difficult to others without diabetes; living a normal life. When you have to slow down because of problems that occur, don’t be afraid to walk, but still go in…

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  Club 166

• A Hero in New Jersey

  Club 166

  29 Apr 2012 | 12:18 am

  I've seen a lot of stories that have almost made me come out of blogging hibernation.  But this one just speaks to me, on many different levels, that I had to put my 2 cents in.Stu Chaifetz is a divorced 44 year old dad that lives in New Jersey.  His 10 year old son, Aiken, lives mostly with him.  I don't know what he does, but he strikes me as a "regular guy" that finally got fed up with being run around by the system, and found an effective way to get to the bottom of what was bothering his son, and correct it.  I highly encourage you to watch this video if you haven't…

• Missing Important Social Clues

  Club 166

  22 May 2011 | 10:09 pm

  Photo credit-topgoldCreative Commons LicenseOne of the hallmarks of autism that is often cited is that autistics tend to miss important social clues. I must admit that this is something that we see often with our son, Buddy Boy (though he has made great strides in carving out "his own way" of initiating interactions).Most people think that if they see someone that "doesn't get" typical social clues, that that must mean that that person is autistic. Well, not necessarily.Take David Geier, for instance.As the whole world now knows, David's dad, Mark Geier, had an emergency suspension of his…

• The Pigeons Have Come Home to Roost

  Club 166

  11 May 2011 | 11:03 pm

  photo credit-Eric the FishCreative Commons licenseA medical license is a precious thing. Most people that have one have worked darn hard to get it. They've put in decades of education, paid a lot of money, and sat for numerous exams. They usually feel proud to have earned their diploma, and often don't think much about their medical license, once they've passed the appropriate exams (that is, they don't think about it until they get close to their mandatory re-certification exams every 10 years). The license is often viewed as just "one more hoop" that they have to jump through before they…

• Your Guest Speaker Has Arrived!

  Club 166

  5 Jan 2011 | 9:46 pm

  photo credit-SeaDaveCreative Commons licenseLiz related that these were the words that Buddy Boy said when he entered the meeting at the school this afternoon. Was this a disciplinary meeting, an IEP meeting, something worse? No. Buddy Boy's principal (who has a special education background) asked Buddy Boy if he would mind talking to a group of teachers and staff about autism. Dr. D. is a fair person who has high expectations from all of her students, and has also gone out of her way to give Buddy Boy the benefit of the doubt in multiple instances when he has gotten into "situations" at…

• Christmas Spirit, and New Year's Resolution

  Club 166

  31 Dec 2010 | 9:04 pm

  for some reason Blogger's not letting me post pictures tonight, so no pictures for youThis year the kids are 8 and 10. Sometime soon after last Christmas, Buddy Boy stopped believing in Santa, and ever since then when talking to us about him would make some "air quotes" with his fingers when saying his name. Letting us know that he was big now, and he knew that it was a scam. He promised not to tell Sweet Pea, but of course such promises are hard to keep, and he spent the run-up to the holiday this year in telling her repeatedly that it was just parents.Sweet Pea has asked several questions,…

• 

  neurodiversity weblog

• Geier Suspension Upheld [2]

  Kathleen Seidel

  18 Apr 2012 | 2:45 pm

  Following a lengthy appeals process, on March 22, 2012, the Maryland Board of Physicians upheld the suspension of Dr. Mark Geier’s license to practice medicine. The decision follows that of the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings, which ruled in September 2011 that the Board had “proved by a preponderance of the evidence that summary suspension of [Dr. Geier’s] license to practice medicine is imperatively required to protect the public health, safety or welfare”; and a Cease and Desist Order issued by the Board on January 25, 2012, and amended on February 22,…

• Maryland Authorities Charge "Lupron Protocol" Promoters With Unprofessional Conduct, Unlicensed Practice of Medicine [10]

  Kathleen Seidel

  19 May 2011 | 9:00 am

  On Monday, May 16, 2011, the Maryland Board of Physicians charged Dr. Mark Geier with numerous violations of the Maryland Medical Practice Act, and charged his son, David Geier, with practicing medicine without a license. The charges come three weeks after the Board summarily suspended Dr. Geier’s license to practice medicine, in order to prevent harm to the many autistic children entrusted to his care. The suspension was upheld by a subsequent order issued by the Board on May 12, one day after a hearing at which Dr. Geier protested the suspension and submitted affidavits of support…

• Geiers Sue OAP Petitioners' Attorneys For $600,000 [6]

  Kathleen Seidel

  8 May 2011 | 2:30 pm

  Dr. Mark Geier and his son, David Geier have filed suit against the Petitioners’ Steering Committee of the Omnibus Autism Proceeding and the law firm of Williams, Love, O’Leary & Powers, P.C., which coordinated PSC activities, demanding $600,000 allegedly owed for consulting services in vaccine injury and civil litigation. The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland, on April 26, 2011 — one day before Dr. Geier’s license to practice medicine was summarily suspended by the Maryland Board of Physicians — asserts two breach of…

• Maryland Medical Board Suspends Dr. Mark Geier's License [23]

  Kathleen Seidel

  3 May 2011 | 7:00 pm

  On April 27, 2011, the Maryland Board of Medical Practice issued a 48-page order summarily suspending Dr. Mark Geier’s license to practice medicine in that state, finding that “the public health, safety or welfare imperatively requires emergency action” to prevent harm to autistic children entrusted to his care. At issue was Dr. Geier’s implementation of the Lupron Protocol, an experimental autism treatment involving the administration of high doses of a drug that suppresses reproductive hormone function, in combination with chelators intended to remedy alleged…

• Fraud Watchdog Sounds Autism Fundraising Scam Alert [1]

  Kathleen Seidel

  9 Mar 2011 | 9:00 pm

  The St. Louis Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be cautious about responding to allegedly misleading “fundraising sweepstakes” solicitations from seven nonprofit organizations, including the Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation, subject of the articles Dialing for Autism Dollars and Waist Deep in the Autism Fundraising Hole, published on this weblog in 2009. Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation, Schererville, Indiana National Cancer Assistance Foundation, Sarasota, Florida (which operates the Breast Cancer Assistance Fund, Children’s Cancer Assistance Fund and…

• 

  Left Brain/Right Brain

• Prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders in Tripoli, Libya: the need for more research and planned services.

  Sullivan

  15 May 2012 | 1:00 am

  Autism prevalence studies are being performed in more and more locations around the globe. It’s somewhat amazing how little is known about autism prevalence outside of Europe and the U.S.. There are data from Japan and data has been coming in from Australia and elsewhere. There is very little data from Africa. Prevalence of autistic spectrum disorders in Tripoli, Libya: the need for more research and planned services. Data on autism are lacking for Libya. We conducted a hospital-based study in the Neurodevelopment Clinic of AI-Khadra Hospital in Tripoli to estimate the prevalence of…

• Postsecondary education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder

  Sullivan

  14 May 2012 | 1:21 pm

  Prof. Paull Shattuck’s group from Washington University in St. Louis has published a study in the journal Pediatrics today entitled Postsecondary education and employment among youth with an autism spectrum disorder. The full study is available free on the Pediatrics website. Prof. Shattuck’s group presented results on autistic adults and the transition from school to adulthood previously. At IMFAR last year they presented The Role of Parental Expectations In Predicting Post-High School Outcomes for Youth with ASD and a paper in Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine…

• Baltimore Sun drops the ball on Jenny McCarthy fluff

  Sullivan

  11 May 2012 | 7:27 pm

  Sometimes you just gotta laugh. And cry. For a Mother’s day picture roundup, the Baltimore Sun included Jenny McCarthy. She’s a mom, sure. But check out the caption. Actress Jenny McCarthy is a vocal advocate for parents making informed healthcare decisions and has written a best-selling book about her struggle to heal her son’s autism. Pictured: McCarthy, host of the new reality series “Love in the Wild,” takes part in a panel discussion at the NBCUniversal Summer Press Day 2012 introducing new television shows for the summer season in Pasadena, California on…

• Deficit, Difference, or Both? Autism and Neurodiversity

  Sullivan

  11 May 2012 | 4:42 pm

  A pubmed abstract out this week Deficit, Difference, or Both? Autism and Neurodiversity brings the fourth entry in pubmed using the term “neurodiversity”. One other paper is in Portuguese, and another is from Sweden. That said, I am looking forward to reading this study. I say looking forward because when I checked the the full paper was not available yet. I know of the first author, though. Steven Kapp is an autistic researcher at UCLA. He is a member of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) and was on my list of people to speak with at IMFAR last year. Here is the abstract.

• Autism Criteria Critics Blasted by DSM-5 Leader

  Sullivan

  10 May 2012 | 4:59 pm

  Remember how some comments in a scientific talk about the DSM 5 in Iceland was picked up by the New York Times, leading to a media and advocate firestorm of activity? The Times article was New Definition of Autism Will Exclude Many, Study Suggests. Medpagetoday.com has another chapter in this story: Autism Criteria Critics Blasted by DSM-5 Leader. The term “blasted” doesn’t strike this reader as helping to bring some order to the discussion. The new article reports on a talk by Sue Swedo, who is a member of the DSM 5 committee. The New York Times article was focused on a…

• 

  Susan's Blog

• Autism Mommy Swami #2: How will I tell her?

  Susan Senator

  13 May 2012 | 8:52 am

  Dear Autism Mommy Swami, I have a question I was wondering if you could help me with. How long do I let my daughter live in her own world that involves driving, babysitting, getting married, having children, etc.? She is 11 years old, moderately cognitively impaired, high functioning autism, severe auditory processing disorder and understands about only 50% of very short familiar sentences. She has severe short term memory loss, seizures and a number of other medical issues. Language is lost on her. She tries, bless her heart, but she doesn’t understand what she is hearing most of the…

• Autism Mommy Swami Question #1: Teaching New Skills?

  Susan Senator

  12 May 2012 | 6:21 am

  Dear Swami, We are backing away from years of ABA, and now working more on recreation and ADL skills in-home with Jack (who is 10).  We are “staffed” for a significant amount of time — 25 hours a week. We have him working on things like emptying the dishwasher, carrying laundry baskets, feeding the dog, etc.  Do you have any other ideas?  How about for hygiene or recreation skills (he has none — not even interested in computers)?  Do you have anything you can draw on from your experience setting up Nat in a house, etc.? – Catherine the Great Mom Dear…

• Eyes on your kid!

  Susan Senator

  9 May 2012 | 6:14 pm

  While raising our kids to be able to advocate for themselves, we also need to still advocate for them. That job never ends. In my case, Nat is currently not communicative enough to tell us specifically what he needs in terms of housing, so I have had to use my best judgement. I don’t think parents realize their own power. I don’t mean power in terms of beating or besting someone; I am talking about the ability to make things happen — the power to fulfill certain dreams. Many of us give up, to one degree or another.  But the thing is, we should not. So many of you come to me…

• House Budget Reconciliation Bill: Vote No

  Susan Senator

  9 May 2012 | 2:51 pm

  Please contact your US Rep! It is easy when you use the capwiz application.  This is not about handouts. This is about a leg up! House to Vote on Bill that will Cut Billions from Disability-Related Programs Tell Your Representative to VOTE NO on the House Budget Reconciliation bill. The House Budget Reconciliation bill is expected to reach the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday, May 10.  Programs for low-income people – children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities – would be hit hard by cuts in the bill. Your help is needed to educate your Representative…

• It’s a wonderful life

  Susan Senator

  5 May 2012 | 7:39 pm

  Every now and then Nat tells us he would like to send an email — well, we ask him if he wants to and usually he says no. But today he wanted to. This was after we had a conversation about his new job, which is at a supermarket near his day program. Nat told us that he “used the computer” (and indeed, the job coach trained Nat in safety skills on the computer) and also that he put the carts “in the right order.” We asked him where he put the carts and he said, “in the cart,” which is also accurate; they get shoved one into the other, as we all know.

• 

  Odd One Out

• Oil Spill Problems Continue

  lastcrazyhorn

  22 Apr 2012 | 1:59 pm

  Okay, so I haven’t updated this blog in a while, but I figured that I should at least share with you one of my newest interests. Call me paranoid, but I have some pretty good reasons not to trust the people in charge, and neither should you. Are you aware that the problems caused by the oil spill in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico by BP aren’t resolved yet?  Are you aware that it’s actually getting worse?  That people and animals (ground and water both) are dying and suffering horrible complications? Articles like this would have you believing that all is well or getting…

• I hate answering questions like this

  lastcrazyhorn

  21 Jun 2011 | 4:54 pm

  Questions without a response will receive no score. * You observe one of your co-workers stealing items from the Store during one of your shifts. What would you be MOST likely to do? Continue with what you are doing and report the co-worker later. Stare at the co-worker so he/she will know you are watching him/her. Pretend not to notice what the co-worker is doing. Go find your supervisor and report the co-worker immediately. Ask your co-worker to stop stealing. * You are re-stocking shelves when you notice that some of your co-workers are standing around talking when they’re supposed…

• Recently

  lastcrazyhorn

  13 Jun 2011 | 11:11 am

  Recently had an appointment with an independent psychologist in order to get an outside opinion on my Asperger’s diagnosis to see if I can qualify for Social Security. At the end of the meeting, he said, “Some people’s presentation of Asperger’s is more subtle. No offense, but I’m surprised that it took you until your 20′s to get diagnosed. Yours is a very obvious case.” So that’s two doctors on my side (one is a MD and the other is a Ph.D). I’d say it’s definite. In other news, I added a new link:  Burning Organ Fanfic Database.

• On A COMPLETELY Different Note

  lastcrazyhorn

  11 Jan 2011 | 1:00 pm

  http://improveverywhere.com/missions/the-no-pants-subway-ride/ I laughed. I wheezed with laughter. I literally WHEEZED with laughter.

• Just Added A New Link

  lastcrazyhorn

  11 Jan 2011 | 12:36 pm

  Yes, I’m actually trying to get this blog going (a bit) again, and I’ve updated the site (a bit). lol http://autism.typepad.com/autism/ – Called, “We Go With Him.” Go there. Good stuff.

• 

  Autism's Edges

• Happy Mother's Day One and Wow.

  13 May 2012 | 5:29 pm

  Mother's Day 2012.

• The Willful Child

  8 Apr 2012 | 1:16 pm

  On Tuesday the principal of our girl's school called because our girl has been more anxious than usual of late — she's fallen back into that habit of raising her hand and frantically waving to be called on.  She's been irritable and snaps at classmates and teachers. The principal was also calling to talk about the upcoming IEP meeting: about whether we could somehow get the Department of

• Moving Ahead in 2012

  1 Jan 2012 | 2:30 pm

  It's been quiet over here at Autism's Edges. At the blog, that is. In our lives it has been a bit noisier than usual this past three months because of our relative proximity to Zuccotti Park. It's about 12 blocks to the south, so we're between the former occupation site and other useful sites for protest: Washington Square Park, New York University, the New School, and Union Square. October 8,

• It's a Famiracle (In Three Parts)

  30 Oct 2011 | 10:49 am

  I. Last week I was in California for a conference and one afternoon I called home to check-in with our girl and her dad. I was planning on staying in California for an extra day, so I told our girl that I would be seeing her grandmother, and also possibly her two uncles. "Great," she said, "Tell them I said hi, would you?" I almost dropped the phone in shock. Although this would be an ordinary

• Autism's Edges Visits Occupy Wall Street

  2 Oct 2011 | 4:03 pm

  Our girl hard at work at Occupy Wall Street. After what appeared to be the arrest of a 13-year-old girl by the NYPD yesterday as she crossed the Brooklyn Bridge as part of the Occupy Wall Street-99% Movement, my own 13-year-old girl and I decided that we couldn't just stand by doing nothing. So this morning we headed down to Liberty Square to see what democracy looks like. What we saw were

• 

  The Voyage

• Ryan has autism but he's adorable and makes me laugh every day

  9 May 2012 | 10:55 am

  There was an article about Ryan (aka Duncan) and me in yesterday's Belfast Telegraph. It's based on a piece I sent in to promote the NAS. I managed to get lots of my personal philosophy on autism in there and I'm well pleased with how it reads. It's not online yet so I scanned the article to share here. From Belfast Telegraph autism article, May 8, 2012 From Belfast Telegraph autism article, May 8, 2012 Click on the picture to enlarge.  And my life is now complete, I have shared a page in a newspaper with Rocky.

• Awareness, Acceptance, Action

  2 Apr 2012 | 6:18 am

  Today is World Autism Awareness Day and marks the start of Autism Acceptance Month. Awareness is a useless, nebulous concept. Only acceptance, action, understanding and support matter. I would like to see the day rebranded as Word Autism Action Day. I oppose the "Light it up blue" campaign for autism awareness as it is an Autism $peaks backed movement calling for funds to "research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism". I'm not going to support an organisation dedicated to eradicating autism. However I am as impressed by the UN Secretary-General's message for the day…

• Vatican's Autism Message

  1 Apr 2012 | 4:37 pm

  They've never heard of the social mode of disability down at the Vatican. This is a breathtakingly backwards view of autism. Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, get in touch and I'll set you straight on a few things. Here's his take on autism: "On the occasion of the Fifth World Autism Day, the Church intends to express her nearness to those who are burdened by the weight of this profound suffering. In large measure still to be explored, autistic spectrum disorders constitute, indeed, for those who are affected by them, a grave alteration of behaviour, of verbal and non-verbal communication, and of…

• Soaring Autism Children

  25 Mar 2012 | 9:14 am

  Soaring autism; I envision loads of autistic children running down a grassy slope, arms outstretched, pretending to be aeroplanes. A few who enjoy a good spinning session could be helicopters instead. But sadly that's not what this post is about. Last week, several newspapers published articles on increasing numbers of children in schools having diagnoses of autism. Among these were: Daily Telegraph: Number of children with autism soars by more than 50 per cent in five years Daily Mail: Number of schoolchildren classified as being autistic soars by 56% in five years Irish Independent: Number…

• Charlotte Moore on Autism

  25 Mar 2012 | 7:52 am

  There's a lovely article in the Guardian from Charlotte Moore about her 2 autistic sons. I always enjoy her writing on autism, it's full of heart and truth and I can relate to much of what she says. I don't like her use of the word "autist" to describe her sons in this. It's a word that is best left for people to self-identify if they so choose, it's presumptuous for a non-autistic person to use that term. She over-generalises traits her sons possess when she writes, "Autists can go for days without eating." Not so Charlotte. This made me laugh, "The autistic will is one of the most powerful…

• 

  Life With Joey

• Moms Rock My World

  Joeymom

  15 May 2012 | 8:42 pm

  I just wanted to pop in and say, you moms and dads, raising your awesome kids, or helping raise awesome kids even if you aren't a mom or dad yet, you guys are awesome. And I wanted to take a minute and mention some moms who have recently been rockin' my world, since we seem to be going through our Spring Fling with the boys- big changes. When the world is rockin' and rollin', it can be nice to just think about the awesome rocks that keep reality pinned into place.And, yes, I could go on. I seem to know a lot of awesome moms. I think I just kinda leave the not-awesome ones by the wayside. To…

• Repost: Guide to the Day After Diagnosis

  Joeymom

  12 May 2012 | 9:43 pm

  For a friend, who wanted just the Guide, and not the rest of the original post. Quick Guide for Parents for the Day After Diagnosis: 

(The Day Of Diagnosis, just go home and enjoy your child. Maybe put a fresh pot of coffee on, or take up drinking coffee.)

1. Here are the people to call: 
*Local Autism clinic, if you didn't get get the diagnosis there. Here, that would both Kluge Children's Rehab and Kennedy Krieger. Some centers, like Kennedy Krieger, take a year to get an appointment for anything. Kluge takes a couple of months. A year is a little long, but a couple of…

• Riding the Roller Coaster (and Ryan Break)

  Joeymom

  12 May 2012 | 9:06 pm

  I am totally sorry about not blogging. I have a ton of stuff to splash across the blogosphere, and a ton more stuff that I can't, but is really super important. I have to take care the stuff I can't put out to the public first right now, but I'm getting there. So I'll put out some stuff that is perfectly public-worthy.First, the bad news. We had another major personnel shift at school- very suddenly, with no warning. We knew right away at home. Hence, roller-coaster city. Joey's anxiety has skyrocketed, and so he is barely holding it together, all the time. The smallest of upsets can put him…

• Expectations

  Joeymom

  2 May 2012 | 7:20 pm

  Joey is ten years old now. I keep thinking back to when I turned ten. I liked to walk through the woods. I liked to make stuff. I could get on my bike and ride down the road to pick blackberries. I could make Christmas cookies. I still liked my Barbie dolls and my dollhouse. I liked to make cassettes of my favorite music- with my fancy record-player, I could take the music right off the records. That was a big deal, very fancy (I could also record tape-to-tape... woo-hoo!)I also have been looking at what other 10-year-olds I know or knew like/d and do/did. For the Cousins' tenth birthday, we…

• A Month Comes to an End

  Joeymom

  30 Apr 2012 | 7:45 pm

  Looking back through my April blogs, you might notice something distinctly different this year: not a whole lot of autism awareness pots this month. In fact, it appears blogging has taken a serious back seat in life here. Blogging requires things like time and energy. This spring is being a bit of a roller-coaster, leaving me short on both. I am looking forward desperately to next week, when I will have all my classes graded and closed out, no soccer practice, and just a few more minutes on Tuesday or Thursday (probably not both) to do stuff like... clean. Or read. Or maybe even blog.Andy's…

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  Autism Spectrum Disorders @ BellaOnline

• Speech and Language Services

  22 Apr 2012 | 11:36 pm

  Exploring the role of the Speech Pathologist for school services and what they cover in the Educational Program, specifically for those students who are nonverbal.

• When Therapy Suddenly Stops

  26 Feb 2012 | 9:37 pm

  The changes that take place after a therapy ends in the midst of working on life skills.

• Discrepancies through Support Network

  22 Jan 2012 | 10:25 pm

  Hoping to maintain positive support through our network of professionals.

• 

  I Speak of Dreams

• The Quack Clinic Checklist

  Liz

  12 May 2012 | 9:56 am

  My friend and colleague Emily Willingham has written a similar checklist with autism (and other conditions) in mind, at Distinguishing Between Science and Pseudoscience at the Thinking Person's Guide To AutismThe Quack Clinic Checklist. By Dr. Steven Novella    Saturday, 12 May 2012 09:00 I am asked almost daily about one kind of medical pseudoscience or another. The free market has produced a seemingly endless variation of medical quackery and nonsense for sale. I could never address all of them, because by the time I worked by way through the catalogue of chicanery there…

• Totally False in at Least Two Dimensions "New Study: Baby monkeys develop autism after routine CDC vaccinations"

  Liz

  8 May 2012 | 1:03 pm

   I have no idea why the Hewitson macaque-vaccine "study" is being presented as news, or as meaningful.  Hewitson's team's research (and ethics) were severely criticized from 2008 to 2010 by research scientists.  Also, I don't think either the amygdala growth study or the HepB study have been replicated. First it's Catherine J. Frompovich at VacTruth on April 29, 2012: Monkeys Get Autism-like Reactions to MMR & Other Vaccines In University of Pittsburgh Vaccine Study Then Ethan A. Huff at Natural News picks up the beat  on May 6, 2012:…

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  Look Me In The Eye

• News from China

  10 May 2012 | 8:33 pm

  Xi’an, China – Archaeologists in this Chinese city have reportedly found what may be the earliest terra-cotta figures of domestic dogs.  The dog figurines, each about ten inches high, are believed to represent Imperial War Pugs.  They were discovered by accident during excavations at an 11th century BCE Zhou Dynasty site last week. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Dynasty According to Chinese legend, War Pugs were first bred by Emperor Ku, who was said to bestow the dogs on his most favored generals.  The dogs were not meant to be warlike; indeed their serenity was said to…

• John Elder Robison delivers a 17th century sermon on hypocrisy

  24 Apr 2012 | 8:19 pm

  My ancestor Rowland Jones was the first rector of Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Virginia.  He was an Oxford graduate, from Merton College, ordained by Bishop Henry King and sent to Virginia six years later.  Arriving at Jamestown, he traveled to Williamsburg to become their first rector. He served the congregation faithfully from 1674 until his death in 1688.  I always wondered what he might have preached in his church . . . now I have an idea.  The pastor who followed him - James Blair - recorded some of his sermons for posterity. This evening, I decided to read…

• It's Cubby's Birthday!

  12 Apr 2012 | 8:37 am

  It’s Cubby’s birthday today.  He’s 22.  Born April 12, 1990 I still remember the first time I saw that date.  It was on a white plastic nametag, attached to his cage at The Kid Store in the Holyoke Mall.  Even now, I remember what a close-run thing it was.  I almost didn’t buy him. “You can’t get a kid in those places,” my friends had cautioned me.  “All those mall stores sell are kiddie mill babies.  They’re awful, the way you take them home and they just go bad.  I've seen them turn crazy, and gnaw their own legs off.  It's…

• Vote now and vote often!

  9 Apr 2012 | 7:33 pm

  It looks like the folks at Babble.com have chosen Look Me in the Eye as a nominee in their blog competition.  That's never happened before.  If you agree this is a good autism blog - whatever that means - please vote for it at the link above. Woof That's me staring back at you below . . . at age two: (c) 2007-2011 John Elder Robison

• The Bear Bell

  1 Apr 2012 | 12:55 pm

  I’m sure you see this before.  You come home, walk out behind the house, and there they are.  Footprints at the base of your windows.   It’s one thing when they are human, and you have a lowlife peeping tom to contend with.  It’s something else entirely when the paw prints are from a member of the Ursus family; a black bear. You see the claw marks at the edge of the glass, and the meaning is clear.  If he had thumbs, he would have raised the window.  And he walked all around the house, looking for one that was open.  Luckily, they were all closed…

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  Adventures in Autism

• Romney Campaign Shenanigans at the Maine GOP Convention

  Ginger Taylor

  5 May 2012 | 8:04 pm

  The whole story, including the answer to the question, "Who is Charlie Cheater?"The long version:The short version:Original Post:We interrupt our regular reporting on the corruption in the autism epidemic, to report on the corruption in the Romney for President Campaign.So this was my day:   I think that the guy is an actual Romney campaign guy. After the video was finished, I saw him outside the venue and confronted him. He had changed his shirt as to become stealthy I guess? Not working.I asked him who he was and he would not tell me. Where he got the slate and he said he…

• Fire Tom Insel

  Ginger Taylor

  13 Apr 2012 | 8:21 am

  Chandler woke up at 3am and cried because it was not 6am.  After I finally got him back to sleep, all I could do was lay in bed and stew about what a corrupt and horrible man Tom Insel is for working so hard to keep our kids trapped in autism land, and to fill our ranks with new families that have their children poisoned every day, that I had to get out of bed and get the bad thoughts out of my brain. So this.

• Kim Stagliano Sues The Bus Company That Allowed The Abuse Of Her Bella

  Ginger Taylor

  6 Apr 2012 | 9:16 am

  Mother sues bus company over daughter's treatmentThis story is so hard for me.  Because of who Kim is and because who Bella is. First they are my friends, and I am horrified that this happened to them.Second Kim is a nationally known autism activist and author, and if someone feels bold enough to abuse her daughter, then none of our children are safe.Lastly, and most importantly, if you have ever met Bella, you know she is a complete angel.  She is so interested in people, and wants to engage them, but can only say, "Hello" and "Momma" and is just... well a total angel.  When…

• Hepatitis B Vaccine Causes Mitochondrial Disorders and Cell Death

  Ginger Taylor

  6 Apr 2012 | 8:22 am

  Apoptosis. 2012 Jan 17. [Epub ahead of print]Hepatitis B vaccine induces apoptotic death in Hepa1-6 cells.Hamza H, Cao J, Li X, Li C, Zhu M, Zhao S.SourceKey Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China, Heyam68_hamza@yahoo.com.AbstractVaccines can have adverse side-effects, and these are predominantly associated with the inclusion of chemical additives such as aluminum hydroxide adjuvant. The objective…

• Tom Insel's Lame Attempt to Save His Job

  Ginger Taylor

  4 Apr 2012 | 1:58 pm

  Monday our community called for the unceremonious firing of The man who has spent the last six years perpetuating the autism epidemic by sabotaging the natural progress of research and inquiry.  IACC chief Tom Insel (brother to a  vaccine maker) has directed research from this environmentally caused epidemic to genetics... wasting millions of dollars and lives.So about ten minutes ago, Insel sends out a link to a new blog he has written entitled: The New Genetics of Autism – Why Environment MattersSo my immediate thought is... "Well apparently we have gotten…

• 

  Kim Stagliano

• Look! I'm Mad Men'd!

  Kim Rossi Stagliano

  6 May 2012 | 4:22 pm

  Look! I'm Mad Men'd! Thanks to the fabulous Adriana for this amazing graphic.

• 19 Apr 2012 | 12:14 pm

  Kim Rossi Stagliano

  19 Apr 2012 | 12:14 pm

  April is not OKToday is the 17th anniversary of the bombing in Oklahoma City, OK. Swing by Fox News if you're so inclined. Nothing on the home page. Pop over to MSNBC. Nothing on the home page.How is it that the nation has simply "gotten over" the horrific day when a deranged man who looked a lot like many of us white Americans murdered 168 men, women and children? From the Memorial website: On the morning of April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh parked a rental truck with explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and at 9:02am, a massive explosion occurred which sheared the…

• 6 Apr 2012 | 8:36 am

  Kim Rossi Stagliano

  6 Apr 2012 | 8:36 am

• 2 Apr 2012 | 5:22 am

  Kim Rossi Stagliano

  2 Apr 2012 | 5:22 am

  Light it Up TRUE. By Kim StaglianoToday is April 2nd. Some are celebrating Autism Awareness Day. I am not. To me, today is like Good Friday and Yom Kippur - somber days of reflection. Above is a photo of my daughter's leg. She has autism. A week ago, I put her into the bathtub, and while undressing her - was visually assaulted by these two angry red scratches - parallel, as you can see.I touched them. She winced. She did not say to me, "Mama, I hurt myself doing such and such." I held back tears and examined her wounds. Did she scrape against something sharp under the kitchen table? I've been…

• Like Strohmeyer's Hair Color!!

  Kim Rossi Stagliano

  24 Jan 2012 | 2:52 pm

• 

  Squidalicious

• Expectations Adjustment: Professional Hair Styling for 8th Grade Graduation

  Shannon Des Roches Rosa

  9 May 2012 | 2:07 pm

  Iz, as you may be shocked to learn if you've been reading this blog since I was dithering over whether to put her in kindergarten or first grade, will be going to high school in the fall. HIGH SCHOOL. Which means avalanches of shock and denial on my part. What the hell, people? She is almost as tall as me, definitely more athletic and academic than I ever was, and -- based on superficial factors -- certainly more likely to leave a trail of broken hearts in her wake. If she wasn't so damn cheeky I'd be mired in appreciative rather than irritated disbelief at the marvelous being Seymour and I…

• Food Tolerance Win: Saag Paneer!

  Shannon Des Roches Rosa

  4 May 2012 | 7:47 pm

  With Leo, sometimes routine trumps all. I'm guessing that's why, after almost two years of me dipping naan in saag and handing it to him, he took over the damn saag-dipping himself.And now our boy eats spinach voluntarily, just as he does his daily dose of cod liver oil. And his diet is a rounder arena than it once was. Now we just need to help our boy with some of his own roundness. He's got that pre-adolescent lingering chub thing going on. Cute, but just on the cusp of unhealthy, according to his pediatrician, with whom he had his annual exam two weeks ago.I prescribe: More hiking! Hiking…

• UU Sex Ed FTW

  Shannon Des Roches Rosa

  1 May 2012 | 1:44 am

  Iz is just finishing up her OWL (Our Whole Lives) sex ed class at our Unitarian church. She's been going for three hours every Sunday evening for several months. They've covered a wide range of topics, from dating to gender identity to STDs to reproduction to sexual identity (including a PFLAG presentation), and plenty of frank, frank talk. I very much wish I'd had access to this kind of clear, non-judgmental information sharing when I was thirteen, and then spent time in an open and accepting Q&A arena. Wasn't going to happen in a Catholic RE class in 1983, no sir. But how many of…

• Autism Apps: Comic Strip - CS

  Shannon Des Roches Rosa

  22 Apr 2012 | 1:58 am

  And so sometimes your son's home program supervisor says, "but isn't there an even simpler app for  making social stories and scripts, you know, like a comic strip?" A ten-second iTunes search and voila: Comic Strip - CS! For only 99 cents, even!The ice cream story above took less than five minutes to make on the iPad once we'd taken the pictures, as the interface is extremely simple and straightforward. The options aren't extensive, and I wish some of them were more flexible (scaling thought bubble and font size, flipping speech balloons), but hey -- the app cost 99 cents.Mali was…

• Identifying & Accepting Happy Autistic Kids at the Playground

  Shannon Des Roches Rosa

  12 Apr 2012 | 8:38 am

  Tell me the truth: What would your reaction be, if you encountered a kid like Leo endlessly pacing a playground structure as in the video below? If you didn't read this blog, or blogs like it; if you didn't have your own Leo, if you weren't a variation on Leo yourself? Would you back away awkwardly from the weird kid while scanning the perimeter for his adult? Would you tell your own children in an intentionally over-loud voice, "well, I don't know what he's doing so we'll wait until he's all done"? Or would you relax into his joy, recognize it, accept that pacing a circuit is some kids' idea…

• 

  The Karianna Spectrum

• School's Out! Sort of.

  15 May 2012 | 11:31 am

  Starting in May, the kids no longer had homework, even though the last day of school was then over a month away. Thanks to STAR tests that first week of the month, teachers wanted the kids to spend their energy only on the test, not distracted from extra work at home. But then after the STAR tests were over, the homework didn't return. Now, instead of math, spelling, and reading, the kids are finishing up their Open House projects. There is a class play, which of course is tons of fun for the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• I am Not a Failure

  9 May 2012 | 1:55 pm

  The surgeon told me something today that I've been longing to hear: I am not a failure. He told me I did everything "right." I am not weak. I followed instructions that would have been perfect for 98% of the back-pain population. I am the 2%. The surgeon has a sense of humor: He printed out the photo at right for me. "Carry this around," he told me. "Whenever anyone asks you to do anything, whip it out and show them!" Spines are not supposed to go vertical like that. Those little disks... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• This and That

  2 May 2012 | 7:35 pm

  From my cat vomiting in my desk chair (and me sitting in it) to one of those poignant moments where the best response is none at all, life has been a whirlwind. One son has triumphs at the same time as he becomes injured. (Those neighbor kids will be the death of me; one slammed my son into a rock via bicycle.) The other son shows he is becoming a young man, and it is bittersweet. I am so proud of him, and yet I'm shocked at how quickly he is growing up. I ponder "serious things" one... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• C'mon and Blog, Get Happy! Put on a Happy Face!

  27 Apr 2012 | 7:30 pm

  This week's Life Well Lived Getting Happy question is: How does blogging, journaling, writing and connecting online help to increase your happiness? I started blogging when a friend of mine invited me to join a group blog. It was called tamponblog. My second pregnancy provided plenty of fodder for this female-oriented endeavor. We did it to laugh at ourselves, and to hopefully give others a chuckle as well. When I was feeling the aches and pains of the pregnancy, it definitely made me smile to... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Poem in Your Pocket

  26 Apr 2012 | 5:54 pm

  My sons have created the following er... questionable poems for today: The stars are gone, and the moon is, too. The sun is out, and so are you. - and - The evil man, and the fat pan; The pan smacked you in the face, then you smash your vase; Then you die, and you don't have any pie; Ye old dust mop, that's your pop! As for what I had in my pocket? Just a cellphone and a constantly-in-use-right-now handkerchief. I had library duty today, so got to hear the students share their poems and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 

  Stimeyland

• Fired

  15 May 2012 | 9:31 pm

  Jack, with tears rolling down his cheeks, fired me as his mother today. It was that kind of day. I won't go into the details and the steep downhill slide that comes with reading his school communication log and then trying to do homework with him every day. All I will really say is that the end of this school year cannot come fast enough. I will miss my mid-day alone time, but I know at least one kid who is badly in need of some time off from all responsibilities and stress. Hint: It's Jack. Because I'm not going into all of that, I'll just point you to my White Knuckle Parenting column…

• A Brief History of the Weekend

  13 May 2012 | 11:00 pm

  This was a big weekend for Team Stimey. Saturday was not just Jack's birthday, but also the Cheetah-thon. Sam had a soccer game. My mother-in-law was in town visiting. Sunday, of course, was mother's day, so I was busy sleeping in and going to the park with my kids and having friends over for dinner. I have lots of thoughts about these things and even more photos. The only problem is that I am too exhausted to do any of these topics justice right now. So what Imma do is give you this photo of Jack on his 9th birthday. Such a rock star. Yeah, it's a little weird to get your 9-year-old son a…

• The End of IEP Season

  10 May 2012 | 10:43 pm

  So, it turns out that I have done two things with my post about Jack's IEP meeting. I have (a) caused every parent of a second grader to freak the fuck out about what is going to happen to their kid next year, and (b) learned that an Asperger's program is not a common thing in public school systems. I would like to start today by addressing Issue the First. I am sorry. Please don't freak out. Every kid is different. Your kid will be okay because you are advocating for him or her. Keep an eye on said child and keep doing what you have been doing. Really. Hope for the best, prepare for the…

• Motherhood on Stage

  8 May 2012 | 6:50 pm

  Last Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege to go here... ...and do this... ...in front of these people... ...with these amazing women. It was quite an experience. There were 14 of us who spoke last Sunday in the DC version of Listen to Your Mother. In that photo above, from left to right, you will see: me!, Elena Sonnino, Lindsay Felix, Nicole Crowley, Lis Fogt, Cindy Green, Sue Wagner (at the podium), Stephanie Stearns Dulli (also the director), Sarah Braesch, Chrissy Boylan, Anna Whiston-Donaldson, Monica Sakala, Kate Coveny Hood (also the producer), and Devra Gordon. It was an incredible…

• I Would Just Like to State for the Record That the System is Stupid

  5 May 2012 | 11:14 pm

  It is not a secret that Jack has been struggling in school this year. His inclusion classroom isn't the right place for him anymore. His teacher is fantastic, she really is, but it is just not working. I can't even begin to tell you how many IEP meetings I've sat through this year. Our most recent meeting for Jack was last Thursday, but I should go back to last fall to give you the whole background. Jack started struggling early this year. Third grade is a big transition for anyone and it was a huge transition for Jack. I started to see early on that things weren't going well and called a…

• 

  from here to there and back

• Seven up

  kristen

  11 May 2012 | 12:52 pm

  Somehow in the day-to-day busyness of the last couple weeks, I lost track of our California countdown. So, imagine my surprise when I realized this morning that we have exactly six weeks of school left, which means just seven weeks until we board a plane for that other coast. Seven weeks. It seems almost touchable now, a timeline I can visualize and embrace. I am surprised still by how much I need it. How much I anticipate it and look forward to it. I—almost literally—cannot wait. And I know my son feels the same. Fifth grade has been a long haul. For reasons I can’t exactly…

• Home

  kristen

  10 May 2012 | 7:16 am

  There are no pictures of the homecoming. It was one of those moments to live, not record. When my son stepped off the bus and into my arms, he buried his face in my shoulder and through his happy-to-be-home tears, told me he had had the best time ever. Later he sat on the couch and shared some of his adventures, and as evening approached he slowly, tentatively, confided more about his rite-of-passage field trip. His favorite activity was canoeing. The food wasn’t bad, save for the barbeque chicken, which was covered in barbeque sauce (sauce is a no-no in his book). The sleeping was…

• Away

  kristen

  7 May 2012 | 12:00 pm

  This morning the boy left on a two-night science field trip with the rest of his fifth grade class. He looked less like a boy than a young man as he pulled his duffel bag toward the waiting bus. He sat by the window and gave me the thumbs up as I stood with all the other parents and waved as the buses pulled away. In anticipation of today’s journey, we spent a mostly quiet day at home yesterday. There was laundry to be done and packing, but most of all I was hoping to simply have a day without obligations, a day to hang out us three and relax, to talk about the trip and what he might…

• The sound of hope

  kristen

  3 May 2012 | 7:20 pm

  Our boy has wanted to play guitar for as long as I can remember. And yet we knew a traditional path, a music teacher intent on teaching notes and reading music, would never work for him. So we opted for something a little different. When our son was born, one of James’s oldest and dearest friends, an amazing guitarist in his own right, gifted us guitar lessons for life. It was a thoughtful and generous gift. As unique as the friend giving it. And for a while, they tried on Saturday mornings to meet and play. A chord here, a lick there. But eventually, the promise of a donut after…

• My kind of town

  kristen

  28 Apr 2012 | 5:35 pm

  Saturday afternoon at the Brooklyn Smorgasburg. The truth is, I will never tire of this city.

• 

  The Quirk Factor: Resistance is futile...

• Cereal killer

  mommy~dearest

  20 Apr 2012 | 10:57 am

  Can you still consider them Lucky Charms if someone ate all of your marshmallows?I say no.

• This is how you rock a first concert.

  mommy~dearest

  8 Mar 2012 | 8:26 am

  Jaysen had his first school concert.I can't even describe how freakin' proud I am of this kid...Hey! Stop texting....we gots to go! Oh wait...do those boots look familiar? ;)Excited!Practicing...(Notice the gray blur in the back.That's the evil ex-principal from the shitty school)Hey- where's Waldo? (Back row, right, blonde kid)Ah! There he is!*proud*I have no idea if the video will work, but I had to try. So there it is, folks. The big update you've all been waiting for.Be still my beating heart.Hang in there, and keep checking in~ I'll be back. xoxoxo

• Happy New Year!

  mommy~dearest

  31 Dec 2011 | 10:55 am

• 2011 can suck it.

  mommy~dearest

  29 Dec 2011 | 1:51 pm

  Hang in there, folks.I'm having some techical difficulties with Ye Ole Blog of Yore here.Technically, I don't know what the heck is wrong with it. I still love you.All 3 of my followers...*muah*

• Christmahanukkwaanzika 2011

  mommy~dearest

  25 Dec 2011 | 10:23 pm

  Wishing everyone a very Happy Holiday Season!Love,Chez Quirk

• 

  Elvis Sightings

• Joy's iPad, iPad's Joys

  6 May 2012 | 8:09 am

  When I first heard what Apple had named their new tablet-technology, back when it came out a couple of years ago, I chortled along with the wags who made Kotex jokes.  What company in their right mind would give their product a name that sounded as if it belonged in the "that-time-of-the-month" aisle?OK, fine, nobody's laughing anymore, and that includes me (except at myself for my skepticism).  Two years later I'm happy to admit: the iPad is an amazing piece of technology, and Joy is reaping the benefits in a big way.As long-time readers of this blog know, we've been making…

• Global Warming?

  2 May 2012 | 6:08 pm

  May 2, 2004 Rose, pre-Joy May 2, 2012 Rose and Joy

• Easter Sunrise

  8 Apr 2012 | 10:48 am

  Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain;Love lives again, that with the dead has been:Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.In the grave they laid him, love whom men had slain,Thinking that never he would wake again,Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,He that for three days in the grave had lain,Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.When our hearts are wintry,…

• 1 in 88, 1 in 252, 1 in a million

  1 Apr 2012 | 6:45 am

  The new autism-prevalence estimate numbers are out from the Centers for Disease Control.One in 88 is the new number. One in 54 among boys, one in 252 among girls.For Joy, I'm also always aware that the autism diagnosis is on top of her linear nevus sebaceous syndrome, for which numbers are not collected and estimates are rough and wacky. My guess is that the combination makes her, yes, one in a million. At least.Nobody really knows what the numbers mean (though opinions abound) -- how much of this increase heralds a new and dramatic change for who we are as human beings collectively, and how…

• Mad Props

  23 Mar 2012 | 6:33 am

  The top definition in the Urban Dictionary for "mad props" goes like this:"mad" = extreme; "props" = support (in a congratulatory sense)Mad props to the creator of this site!In Wisconsin, mad props are due to a dedicated contingent of disability advocates who've been working on various legislative initiatives that were decided this month in the Capitol. It seems almost strange to have so much to celebrate on the disability-advocacy front in Wisconsin, in a year when so many things have careened in such a miserable direction. But it's true -- and it was bi-partisan, too!I wrote in greater…

• 

  Disability Scoop

• Millions On Tap For Disability Housing

  Shaun Heasley

  15 May 2012 | 11:16 pm

  The federal government plans to send an additional $85 million to states to provide rental assistance for people with disabilities living on extremely modest incomes.

• States Look To End ‘Wrongful Birth’ Suits

  Shaun Heasley

  15 May 2012 | 1:20 pm

  With a number of parents turning to the courts to sue after unexpectedly giving birth to a child with a disability, several states are considering legislation to ban "wrongful birth" suits.

• In Bid To Cope, Man With Asperger’s Offers Free Hugs

  Shaun Heasley

  15 May 2012 | 12:44 pm

  Social skills don't come naturally to Christopher Webster who has Asperger's syndrome, but offering free hugs to strangers is helping the San Antonio man come out of his shell.

• In First, Feds Issue Advice On Restraint And Seclusion

  Michelle Diament

  15 May 2012 | 11:42 am

  The U.S. Department of Education weighed in on the use of restraint and seclusion in schools Tuesday with a 45-page resource document, but stopped short of issuing formal guidance to educators.

• Path To Adulthood Rocky For Most With Autism, Study Finds

  Michelle Diament

  13 May 2012 | 11:42 pm

  Transition is proving especially difficult for those with autism as compared to other disabilities, with most on the spectrum struggling to move into the workforce or additional schooling.

• 

  Morgan Autism Center

• Being Aware of Autism

  29 Apr 2012 | 10:20 pm

  We have certainly come a long way in raising awareness of autism from the days when I first started working with these kids 35 years ago (35??- really???). I would tell people I worked with autistic kids and they would respond with "oh, are you artistic yourself?" And then a lengthy explanation of what autism was in response to suggestions that these children were really emotionally disturbed, brats, spoiled, rude,  etc. Now, most people know or have some idea of what autism is and accept that it is not caused by 'refrigerator' mothers. And usually they are aware of someone who has…

• The Rise in Autism's Prevalence

  29 Mar 2012 | 8:39 pm

  All over the news today is the CDC's reported findings of a significant rise in the numbers of children being diagnosed with autism - 23% in cases from 2006 to 2008 and 78% since 2002. The incidence is now 1 in 88 children, and with boys, who have five times the rate as girls, the incidence is a shocking 1 in 54. Some of this is due to better diagnosis and increased overall awareness, so parents are more likely to request an assessment regarding concerns of their child. Hopefully, this new research will lead to some kind of standardization of diagnosis, so there will be fewer children being…

• The Toll of Caretaking

  20 Mar 2012 | 5:42 pm

  Two weeks ago, our small community experienced a horrific tragedy with the murder-suicide of a mother and her autistic adult son. Although we can never speculate as to the mindset of any another person, I believe we can likely assume that the stress of caregiving may have played a part in this very sad event. At a grief counseling session with the parents shortly after this tragedy, many there spoke of their own excessive anxiety and stress levels. They expressed understanding of how it was possible that a parent could be driven to do something so drastic. There are so many stresses…

• A Convergence of Autism and Alzheimer's

  5 Mar 2012 | 12:50 pm

  Those of us immersed in the world of autism know that the numbers of children receiving that diagnosis are truly increasing, and likely will continue even with the upcoming changes of the DSM-V. Providing the education, housing and overall assistance that the families and these children require will cost everyone - and lots! There simply is no inexpensive way to educate these kids short of denying them services. And that may be a by-product of the new DSM-V; eliminating some of the previous categories of people who fall under the 'spectrum' label and thereby not providing them the services…

• Abuse in State Hospitals

  24 Feb 2012 | 3:22 pm

  This morning in the San Francisco Chronicle was a chilling article regarding the possible (and very likely) abuse of people with severe disabilities in California State Hospitals. Apparently, the State hospitals have their own police force who should be monitoring and investigating the allegations of abuse, but aren't. A significant number of clients have mysterious cuts, bruises, broken bones and even deaths that are not thoroughly examined, leaving the families to wonder what could have happened in this place where they thought their loved ones would be safe. With a staff:client ratio…

• 

  Square 8

• More about Freaks

  4 May 2012 | 10:49 am

  This is Part 2 of a series on my participation in CUNY's ESA Conferece 2012. Part 1 is here. My initial thought was to explore the meaning of “autism scholar.” What are the credentials? Does blogging count? Even if it does, I haven’t done a lot of that in a while. Do I deserve the label based on my degree or the publication of a single paper? And if so, who is being left out? What can be done to create an atmosphere of learning and shared knowledge that would expand the notion of scholarship beyond academia? What types of knowledge and learning are currently ignored or discounted? I…

• BADD: Connecting dots

  1 May 2012 | 10:14 am

  Somebody calls autism a tragedy. Somebody kills an autistic person. Somebody doesn’t see how these two events are connected. I try to explain. I try harder. It happens again and again and again and somebody ‘splains it away. The topic here is devaluation. When it becomes commonplace to pair the words autism and tragedy, the pairing seeps deep down into the collective mind. When the puzzle piece becomes the recognized symbol for autism, the message comes over and over that there is something unfinished about the person. Something mysterious that the general public cannot be expected to…

• Attention

  30 Apr 2012 | 12:59 pm

  There’s an old Zen story: A student said to Master Ichu, “Please write for me something of great wisdom.” Master Ichu picked up his brush and wrote one word: “Attention.” The student said, “Is that all?” The master wrote, “Attention. Attention.” The student became irritable. “That doesn’t seem profound or subtle to me.” In response, Master Ichu wrote simply, “Attention. Attention. Attention.” In frustration, the student demanded, “What does this word attention mean?” Master Ichu replied, “Attention means attention.” -Beck, C.J. (1993). Nothing special:…

• Cripples, Idiots, Lepers, and Freaks

  27 Apr 2012 | 9:38 am

  It was a different sort of autism workshop from those in which I have usually been asked to participate. The topics included video games and manga. The presenters were academics, mostly English professors. The invitation I received referred to me as an autism scholar (!) I started to think about the meaning of the word “scholar” and whether I was or wasn’t. It was a spiral of thought resembling what happens when I think about the word “autism.” I like the idea of looking at the concept of autism in different contexts. I very much like the idea of expanding the definition of…

• Puzzling excuse number 128: It doesn't represent autistic people!

  25 Apr 2012 | 7:27 pm

  It comes with the look halfway between perplexed and pitying. Because how could I not get it? And yet how could I, supposedly lacking Theory of Mind and understanding of symbolic language? It comes with an edge to the voice and the slightest roll of the eye. The puzzle piece, she explains, slowly, pointedly, as to an errant child, stands for the mystery of autism! Not autistic people, but how we still don't know what causes it!And because it stands for what causes me to be me, well, obviously I shouldn't be offended. I try to explain that autism is not, cannot be, separate from the person,…

• 

  Facing Autism in New Brunswick

• Autism Reality NB at IMFAR 2012 in Toronto, Canada

  Autism Reality NB

  15 May 2012 | 7:54 pm

  I am off tomorrow morning, very early tomorrow morning, for the IMFAR 2012 convention in Toronto.  I am very excited to be attending and blogging courtesy of Autism Speaks, Autism Speaks Canada, Dana Marnane and Suzanne Lanthier.  It was a tough day today though. Conor knows Dad won't be home for a few days and he has been a bit agitated.  This afternoon I received a call from the good people at the Leo Hayes High School that Conor was not having a good afternoon. They thought it better that he stay at school until his regular departure time though and I agreed.  When I…

• No Nature-Deficit Disorder For Conor In Fredericton,The Green City

  Autism Reality NB

  13 May 2012 | 5:18 am

  Conor enjoying some time at the Saint John River All photos were taken within a short walking distance from our home in Fredericton, New Brunswick The Green City My younger son Conor, 16, suffers from severe Autistic Disorder.  He does not, however, suffer from Nature-Deficit Disorder in part because of our family life style choices and in part because we live in a city, and a neighborhood, with easy access to nature here in Fredericton.  I was pleased to see Fredericton referred to as a Green City in a recent article in the Brantford Examiner: City should look to Fredericton for…

• Shocking WebMD Medscape Autism Article

  Autism Reality NB

  10 May 2012 | 3:02 am

  WebMD Medscape has published a shocking autism article in which it .... acknowledges the existence of large numbers of persons with Autistic Disorder and .... Intellectual Disability.  The article even dares to refer to Intellectual Disability under its name in the DSM-IV ... Mental Retardation.  Apparently the Medscape article authors do not appreciate the decades of committed research aimed at helping persons with MR that have resulted in profound medical advances like ... renaming Mental Retardation as Intellectual Disability  (DSM5).   Dr. Laurent Mottron, and his…

• DSM5's Most Fundamental Flaw? Combining The Autism Disorders Into One Disorder

  Autism Reality NB

  6 May 2012 | 5:10 am

  Autism Advocate Ari Ne'eman Speaking At the National Press Club My  son's severe Autistic Disorder is not the same  autism disorder as Mr. Ne'eman's. The DSM5  autism do-over, the New Autism Spectrum Disorder, will come into effect in 2013.  There is a further opportunity to offer public comment about the radical changes being forced upon the public but the DSM5 committees who have shaped the New ASD in the image of their own research biases have shown no inclination to acknowledge the merits of any of the many criticisms of their handiwork. It does not matter whether the…

• Strategic Research of Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

  Autism Reality NB

  29 Apr 2012 | 7:57 pm

  In A Research Strategy to Discover the Environmental Causes of Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, an editorial in the current issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, authors Philip J. Landrigan, Luca Lambertini and Linda S. Birnbaum make a  compelling argument for strategically researching environmental causes of autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities. In the process they provide an understanding of autism as a family of disorders.   The authors point out that, despite the attention paid to genetic causes of autism disorders,  a large number of genes have…

• 

  Everyday Adventures

• Angry Birds

  danette

  12 May 2012 | 6:37 pm

  Bitty asked me to help him make a slingshot. Turns out this is what he had in mind: Yep, we made a slingshot out of old pantyhose, lol. I set up the pigs at the bottom of the stairs for him, and Bitty had the birds lined up behind the slingshot (just like on the game). He's really into Angry Birds these days... he asks me almost every day, "Do you wike Angry Birds? I wike Angry Birds. Do you wike da bwoo bird? Is da bwoo bird cute?" (note: the correct answer is yes, the blue bird IS cute!) He has even expressed some interest in the plot line of the game, which I thought was pretty cool: "Why…

• On IEP's, speech, and girls

  danette

  6 May 2012 | 7:17 pm

  So last month we had the IEP meetings for Cuddlebug and Bearhug to set up their transition-to-middle-school IEPs. The ASD resource teacher from the middle school was there, which was great because we were able to get a lot of our questions answered as to how things work in middle school, both in general and specific to the autism program. I am feeling a little better about the whole thing now that we have *some* idea of what to expect. This week there is a field trip for the 5th graders to visit the middle school, and also an informational meeting for parents. While they will have an open…

• Spring Break

  danette

  6 May 2012 | 6:22 pm

  This year we stayed home for spring break, and my parents came to visit. We had a ton of fun going somewhere different each day. For the most part, we went to places that were familiar to the boys but we did try out one new place which turned out to be a lot of fun. We spent a day at the park. We let the boys bring their scooters to ride on the trails, and we also brought bread to feed to the ducks. Bearhug's typical "camera face" lol He surprised me by actually smiling for a picture :) Cuddlebug Bitty feeding the ducks I love Bearhug's expression in this one... Cuddlebug and Bitty are into…

• Flipnotes

  danette

  28 Apr 2012 | 5:10 pm

  I didn't really plan to take a blogging hiatus, it just kind of happened... I didn't think it had been THAT long, but I came back and blogger has totally changed... ack! I have some stuff to post about but in the meantime thought I'd share some of the boys' flipnotes :). Bitty got his own Nintendo DSi for his birthday so he's been eagerly working on his animation techniques, mostly by copying his brothers which drives them crazy (they accused him of "copyright infringement," lol). I keep telling them he will start to do more of his own original stuff once he gets the hang of it (and he has…

• Pinewood Derby bound

  danette

  12 Feb 2012 | 5:58 pm

  It's almost that time of year again. A couple of weeks ago, we picked up some supplies for this year's Pinewood Derby cars. Yesterday, we headed to Home Depot to cut out our car designs. Bearhug actually got into it and let the guy show him how to use the sanding tool. Bitty supervised (with M&M's). Cuddlebug wasn't as hands-on, but he did do some of the sanding and showed me his car when he finished. Bitty decided he wanted in on the action (and he had a car too, even though he's not old enough for Cub Scouts yet we always buy him a block to make his own car along with his brothers). I…

• 

  Fickle Feline

• autism bumper cars.

  Kat

  15 May 2012 | 2:36 pm

  When the going gets tough, I get quiet. This I know for sure. It has been a roller coaster of a month, filled with a lot of fun stuff and a lot of stress (much of it self-imposed). We celebrated Birthdaypalooza with our friends and had a great turn out, beautiful weather and happy kids. After eleven years of faithful service, we sold our Camry and bought a Ford Escape. The upgrade in size is so we'll have room for Max's service dog which will be joining our family in November. I've never had a brand new car and I have to say, I'm loving it.I've been trying to quiet my brain. There are so many…

• max is six!

  Kat

  23 Apr 2012 | 8:09 pm

  Max turned six years old today. I am not sure I believe it. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday, yet the last six years feels like it has lasted twenty. How can this be? I guess we've been through a lot. Max decided to take the day off today. I got the dreaded call from school at 9:45am that he was not feeling well. We spent the day chilling out at home. Well, he chilled and I stressed out wondering what was going on. Appendix? Urinary tract infection? Ear infection? Birthday blues? Since it was raining slush, we played it low key and decided to reschedule the birthday…

• fundraiser for mateo - autism from a mother's perspective.

  Kat

  22 Apr 2012 | 6:19 pm

  Max at his 2nd birthday party (a week before his sister Cameron came into the world and changed his life forever)This afternoon I had the opportunity to speak at a fundraiser for a little boy named Mateo who was recently diagnosed with autism. As much as I hate "welcoming" new families into the autism community (wouldn't wish it on anyone except our PM, Stephen Harper), it felt important to share Max's story with Matteo's parents and their friends and family. While it has been over three years since Max received his diagnosis, those raw, overwhelming feelings of initial shock and sadness are…

• dirty little secrets.

  Kat

  4 Apr 2012 | 9:23 am

  After my last post, a few people expressed concern about the fact that I divulged that I suffer from depression and I am seeking medical treatment for it, in such a public forum. Will future employers google me and find out and not want to hire me? Maybe. Would I want to work for an employer that found my willingness to be open and candid as a sign of weakness? Not on your life. Not talking about depression gives it power. Being ashamed of something that is not my fault is exhausting.One of my favourite women in the world is research professor Brené Brown, who I had the pleasure of…

• sunny day, sweepin’ the clouds away.

  Kat

  2 Apr 2012 | 8:41 am

  Have you ever witnessed something so raw, so base, that you realized that everything you thought about what "the bottom" looked like was not only wrong, but truly ignorant? Friday found me in the mental health ward of my local hospital. Not because I was being checked in (like I have often joked about and made light of), but because I was trying to figure out where the psychiatrist I was supposed to have an appointment with was hiding. Turns out my appointment time had been changed and nobody had told me. As I felt myself start to get irritated with the nurses sitting behind the safety glass,…

• 

  autismsciencefoundation.wordpress.com

• Better know an IMFAR Grantee – Melissa Shimek and Meagan Thompson

  autismsciencefoundation

  14 May 2012 | 2:38 pm

  Melissa: Blog: http://militiapennsylvania.blogspot.com/ Melissa Shimek is a recently diagnosed woman on the autism spectrum. She discovered her diagnosis as she sought information about a possible diagnosis for her twin daughters, who also have been diagnosed. As adjustments are made within her own life, Melissa finds it beneficial to share her experiences through a blog (http://militiapennsylvania.blogspot.com/) and by taking part in community outreach through support groups. She have contributed previously as a panelist during Autism Awareness events. Melissa has become a member of INSAR…

• Better know an IMFAR Grantee — Marjorie Madfis and Meagan Swanson

  autismsciencefoundation

  11 May 2012 | 10:20 am

  Marjorie Twitter: @marjorie_m Marjorie Madfis is the parent of a teenage girl with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a VP of the Pleasantville School District SEPTA, a member of Westchester County Advisory Council on Autism, a founder and member of the IBM employee Autism interest community, and a active social networker and advocate. In 2001 Marjorie joined the inaugural Westchester/Fairfield walk committee for the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and also became a walk team captain. Isabelle’s Dream Team raised over $50,000 for NAAR.  In 2006 Marjorie was invited to join the NAAR…

• Better Know an ASF IMFAR Travel Grantee — Debra Dunn and Jon Shestack

  autismsciencefoundation

  10 May 2012 | 11:42 am

  Click here to view a list of the 2012 ASF IMFAR Travel Grantees   Deb: Twitter: @CARautism Blog: http://www.centerforautismresearch.blogspot.com/. Debra Dunn is the outreach director at the Center for Autism Research at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and she is the mother of a 15-year old son with Asperger Syndrome. As outreach director, Deb’s role is to recruit research participants and to translate the research being done at CAR and elsewhere into useable information for families and community providers serving children with ASD As a litigation attorney turned full-time…

• Better Know an ASF IMFAR Travel Grantee — Eric Hogan and Karen Blackwell

  autismsciencefoundation

  9 May 2012 | 8:46 am

  Click here to view a list of the 2012 ASF IMFAR Travel Grantees Eric: Eric Hogan is an autism entrepreneur diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. He has started Autistic Advancement, a self-advocacy organization with goals of promoting a cultural shift in the workplace and changing the rules by which people with autism get good jobs. Their website can be found here: www.autisticadvancement.org/news. Eric is also setting up an IT staffing agency to employ adults with autism called AutVantage (www.autvantage.com). Eric also hopes to share what he learns with Autism groups such as TEAAM, ASAN,…

• Better know an IMFAR Grantee!

  autismsciencefoundation

  8 May 2012 | 12:54 pm

  Learn more about how ASF’s IMFAR Travel Grantees plan to take advantage of their IMFAR experience. First up, Kadi Luchsinger and Mark Shen: Click here to view a list of the 2012 ASF IMFAR Travel Grantees Kadi: Kadi Luchsinger is the Executive Director of the Dup15q Alliance, which services families all over the world who have a child with Dup15q Syndrome. Duplication 15q Syndrome is the most common cytogenetic cause of autism. Many children with Dup15q have autism, seizures, anxiety, ADHD and global developmental delays. Dup15q Alliance has recently launched an international registry…

• 

  Autism Jabberwocky

• Study : A common X-linked inborn error of carnitine biosynthesis may be a risk factor for nondysmorphic autism.

  MJ

  13 May 2012 | 10:29 am

  It isn't often that I read a paper on autism that presents a complete picture of what autism might be (for some people) from genetic cause to biological pathways to possible treatment.  But a paper on an inborn error of carnitine biosynthesis from last week might fit the bill.This paper ties together a genetic mutation, the effect of the mutation on the body's biological pathways, possible dietary factors in early childhood, and hints at a possible way to treat existing autism or to decrease the risk of autism developing in the first place.The abstract is below and, if you are…

• Revisiting The New York Times' DSM 5 Autism Coverage

  MJ

  16 Apr 2012 | 5:22 pm

  If you remember, a few months back there was a big to-do about an article  in the New York Times on the upcoming DSM 5 autism criteria.  This article, which was based on unpublished data, breathlessly suggested that many people with a current definition of autism could lose the diagnosis under the new criteria.The main claim from the article was basically this -In the new analysis, Dr. Volkmar, along with Brian Reichow and James McPartland, both at Yale, used data from a large 1993 study that served as the basis for the current criteria. They focused on 372 children and adults who…

• Study : The Extreme Male Brain Theory of Autism Revisted

  MJ

  14 Apr 2012 | 11:03 am

  Image from ComputerClipArt.comThe extreme male brain theory of autism is the idea that many of the traits of autism can be looked at as extreme versions of traits that are common in men.  Autism could then be "caused" by something that takes an ordinary brain and then turns up the male features of the brain and turning down the female features.Or something like that. To be honest, I have never really liked the theory.  Maybe that is because I have daughters with autism or maybe it is because I don't buy into the stereotypes of what men are supposed to be like.Or, just…

• New CDC Autism Number - 1 in 88

  MJ

  29 Mar 2012 | 12:13 pm

  As expected, the CDC announced yet another major increase in the estimated prevalence of autism.  As of 2008, 1 in 88 eight year old children had a form of autism.  To put this increase into perspective, consider the CDC's published autism rates for 2000 to 2008.See the pattern? Maybe this will help.Or consider this little fact - the CDC's estimated prevalence of autism has almost doubled went up 78% in the span of eight six years.  If the current pattern holds (and I hope it doesn't), children born today would have about a 1 in 50 chance of…

• Jabberwocky of the Day : Businessweek on Outsourcing to the Autistic

  MJ

  28 Mar 2012 | 11:52 am

  So, if you were a writer for Businessweek and wanted to piss off as many parts of the autism community as you could in one article, how would you do it?  Apparently, one way to do it is to write an article about a new software testing company, Square One, that is creating software testing jobs for people with autism.Yes, I know that software testing might be a good job for some people with autism and that it is good that some companies are looking to create opportunities for people with autism.But, there is a right way to go about it and then there is the wrong way.The right way is…

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  AutMont

• Event Summary for the Week of May 14, 2012

  13 May 2012 | 11:13 pm

  Check out the AutMont Calendar to see all of the activities for this week as well as those coming up! Monday, May 14: Parent Academy: Autism 101 Tuesday, May 15: Understanding SSI/Medicaid and SSDI/Medicare Wednesday, May 16: Extraordinary Parents Night: College and Post-Secondary Education Planning for Student with Autism Spectrum Disorders Thursday, May 17: Parent Academy: Anxiety in Children and Adolescents The Out-of-Sync Child: Sensory Challenges and Sensory Solutions Saturday, May 19: Germantown 5-Miler for Sports Plus Resource Fair for Individuals with Disabilities Saturday Night Alive…

• National Transition Conference

  10 May 2012 | 9:03 pm

  The 2012 National Transition Conference: College and Careers for Youth with Disabilities will take place in Washington, DC from May 30-June 1. The conference will include more than 90 breakout sessions as well as a keynote/general session each day. Conference registration is $285 and includes admission to the conference as well as continental breakfast, a reception and one lunch. Register online. The conference will take place at the Marriott Wardman Park (2660 Woodley Road, NW) in DC.

• Executive Functions from Infancy through Early Adulthood

  10 May 2012 | 8:54 pm

  CHADD will hold a lecture covering the topic of Executive Functions from Infancy through Early Adulthood on May 27 from 7:15-9:15 p.m. This talk will review recent studies of executive function development. Strategies to navigate the transition from high school to college will be discussed. The speaker will be Vincent P. Culotta, Ph.D., ABN. The meeting will take place at the Twinbrook Library (202 Meadow Hall Drive) in Rockville. Meeting registration and social time will begin at 7:15 p.m. with the speaker program to begin at 7:30.

• COPAA Webinars on Transition and Legal Issues

  10 May 2012 | 8:43 pm

  COPAA, the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, will hold two series of webinars over the next two months, one on transition issues and one covering 2012 legal issues. Transition Issues: May 24th, 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern: What Happens After High School—Planning for the Transition to Adult Lives June 5, 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern: Obtaining High Quality Transition Services in the Face of a Myriad of Obstacles: Lessons Learned June 12, 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern: Transition: Supporting Students with Executive Functioning Deficits Fees vary based on how many webinars you sign up for and in what capacity…

• Resource Fair for Individuals with Disabilities

  10 May 2012 | 11:24 am

  The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Aging and Disability Services Community Support Network and Montgomery College will present A Rainbow of Resources: A Resource Fair for Individuals with Disabilities on May 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more about programs for children and adults (birth-age 21) with disabilities. More than 50 organizations and businesses will be on hand to share their information. The resource fair will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Building (One Veterans Plaza) in Silver Spring. For more information, call 240-777-1216.

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  Autism Blogs Directory

• Stop the Judge Rotenberg Center

  K Wombles

  29 Apr 2012 | 9:32 am

  Greg Miller asks that we get two people to sign the petition. Keep passing the link on--it was at 28 signatures last night and this morning it is at 178. We see petitions all the time, I know. But if there's really outrage in our autism community and in the wider community over the disabled being tortured with painful skin shocks, here's your chance to prove it. Make the number of signatures grow. If you've got a blog, write a post. Show your outrage. Make sure that anytime someone googles the JRC, what they see first is hundreds of people's blog posts speaking out against the JRC's…

• From Asperger's and Me "I Like being an Aspie"

  kathleen

  17 Apr 2012 | 9:16 am

  One question I see come up fairly often in autism/asperger’s communities is if there was a pill that could make your autism/asperger’s go away, would you take it?  I figured I’d answer that question.Short answer: no, I wouldn’t.Long answer: I like being me.  There are so many things about myself that I really like that are directly related or due to my having Asperger’s.I tend to obsess.  It’s a neurology thing.  Thing is – I like obsessing.  It’s downright pleasurable!  I love it when I find a new thing to focus on – it leads to learning new…

• From Pia at The Crack and the Light

  K Wombles

  16 Apr 2012 | 4:14 pm

  ABA: Methods versus MissionBig Daddy with blue hair forAutism Awareness and Acceptance Month.It has nothing to do with the post,but I just had to share it.He is the coolest man on the planet.Selecting a therapy for a kid on the spectrum is a little like deciding on a religion.  Each therapeutic technique has its own set of beliefs, rules, objectives, and techniques... a little like religions.What do you believe about autism? Is autism something to be "cured", to be "tolerated", to be "accommodated", or is it to be "celebrated"?How do you think autism works?  Is it a…

• From the blog "Asperger's and Me"

  kathleen

  15 Apr 2012 | 7:00 am

  Apparently the CDC recently released a study claiming that now 1 in 88 children have autism.  I’ve been seeing a large number of articles and blogs about that, with lots of speculation as to why it could be happening.  The answers seem to largely be split between “better testing” and the usual conspiracy theorists talking about vaccines or “toxins” or other such things.  I did, however, find two articles to be particularly interesting.This article  was one that I found talking about the issue.  There was one particular sentence towards the end that…

• From Cracked Mirror in Shalott

  K Wombles

  14 Apr 2012 | 12:00 am

  The Hard ThingsApril 2, 2012 at 11:55 am (Autism, Autspeaks doesn't speak for me, Stigma) (autism acceptance,autistic pride, Baltimore, hard things, joy, neurodiversity, Southwest Airlines, the hard things)Often, but especially this month, there tends to be a false equivalency that gets promoted- that Neurodiversity advocates ignore the hard things, or that we don’t experience the hard things. From there, self-advocates are told that we can’t speak to the lives of other, usually younger, Autistics.  Obviously this is false. The hard things…

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  Countering...

• Tuesday Blessings

  K Wombles

  15 May 2012 | 7:14 am

• The Freedom to Offend

  K Wombles

  14 May 2012 | 3:38 pm

  There are plenty of reasons to avoid the internet--so many unsafe spots, so many places to be made aware of just how awful or clueless people can be.Simon Baron-Cohen started the inevitable comparisons between autism and psychopathy with his Zero Degrees of Empathy book and theory, but at least he had as much empathy for those with psychopathy as he did with autism (although some would question his degree of empathy for those with autism). The latest person to really decide to step in and then be self-righteous is Amanda Marcotte, who started on twitter and continued on Slate.Psychopathy and…

• A Thistle Morning

  K Wombles

  13 May 2012 | 9:18 am

• The People We Used To Be

  K Wombles

  13 May 2012 | 8:56 am

  Joan Didion, on keeping a notebook, writes, "It all comes back. Perhaps it is difficult to see the value in having one's self back in that kind of mood, but I do see it; I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not."A blog is a great deal like a diary, or can be, and over time, even when we aren't writing personal pieces, we leave a trail of bread crumbs that betray our inner nature to careful, consistent readers, and if we choose to go back and read our old pieces, ourselves as well. Many times we will be…

• In All Seriousness, Take Two

  K Wombles

  12 May 2012 | 10:37 am

  Yesterday, I owned up to one of my issues.My need for symmetry and balance.My slightly (ever so) obsessive need to maintain that symmetry...Fortunately, my mom and my Danny-boy talked me downfrom the need for four more potted peonies and anothergerbera daisy.Danny-boy did it his normal way of eatingthe silk plants and knocking them over.He even stopped a minute, and although I didn't catch it,swear to God, he chewed on Mary's head as he went by her!My mother gave me a stern look when I told her about the peoniesand we both agreed I should find other places for them to sit and do so…

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  Different Roads to Learning Blog

• Pick of the Week: Save OVER $100 on the Language Builder Flashcard Bundle

  Different Roads to Learning

  15 May 2012 | 9:54 am

  This is a fantastic deal and it won’t last long…The Language Builder Flashcard Bundle contains 3 sets of cards at savings of over $100! Normally, purchasing these top sellers individually costs $268.90 but this week only, wwe’re offering the Language Builder Picture Cards, Language Builder Picture Noun Cards Set 2, and the Photo Emotion Cards for $165.00 for ALL THREE! That’s over $100 in savings! To take advantage of this amazing offer, you must click on the links above! This special offer is only available to you – our readers -for one week! The offer…

• Happy Mother’s Day! Save $10.00 on any order

  Different Roads to Learning

  13 May 2012 | 3:35 am

  Happy Mother’s Day! We wish we could send you all flowers or make each of you a card to acknowledge your special day. We are awed and impressed by all that you do. This week, in honor of all the Moms out there, save $10.00 on any order for $50.00 or more through May 21. Simply enter the Promo Code MOMS12 at checkout to redeem your savings. You will see the $10.00 removed from your total on the last page before you submit your order. **Offer expires on May 21, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code when you enter it at…

• Pick of the Week: Clear Schedule with Token Strip

  Different Roads to Learning

  8 May 2012 | 10:11 am

  This new Clear Schedule with Token Strip is ingenious! It combines the value of  a schedule board with a token economy system. You can keep learners on task with either images or actual objects as they move along their picture or written schedule. The clear pockets and Velcro strips can be used on both sides so planning and transitions are easy. This week only, save 15% on the Clear Schedule with Token Strip by entering the Promo Code BLOGCST2 at checkout. *Offer expires on May 15, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code…

• Upcoming Autism Partnership Presentations at ABAI

  Different Roads to Learning

  7 May 2012 | 2:56 pm

  If anyone is attending the upcoming ABAI Conference out in Seattle, here are some highlights of presentations being given by Autism Partnership that you won’t want to miss, including one that presents data on the cool versus not cool strategy. Workshop 1 Title: Teaching Social Skills That Change Lives: Developing Meaningful Relationships for People Diagnosed with Autism Authors: Mitch Taubman, Ron Leaf, John McEachin, Justin B. Leaf Date: 5/25/2012 8:00AM to 3:00 PM Description: Children with autism and other autism spectrum disorders (ASD) typically have qualitative impairments in…

• Introducing A Work In Progress Companion Series – A New Series of Booklets & DVDs from Autism Partnership

  Different Roads to Learning

  1 May 2012 | 10:54 am

  We are thrilled to announce the arrival of A Work In Progress Companion Series by Autism Partnership. The Companion Series consists of five booklets and DVDs that synthesize solid information on various teaching strategies with demonstrations of actual sessions with students on DVD. The goal at Autism Partnership is to blend a natural, child-friendly approach to teaching while remaining determinedly systematic. This series offers viewers the unique opportunity to see these approaches implemented in actual teaching environments. Parents and teachers will find this series to be a helpful…

• 

  Autism News and Views

• 1 in 88 Now: Why Are Autism Rates Changing So Quickly?; Will A New Blood Test Help in Diagnosing Autism?; National Autism Leadership Conference; Good News in New Jersey

  30 Apr 2012 | 9:01 pm

  "Why do I hate terms like disability and disorder? Because those are 'glass-half empty' definitions. I prefer looking at the glass as half-full." Jerry Komar, Founder and Editor of Autism News and Views.Why Are Rates of Autism Changing So Quickly?I first asked myself that question last year after reading the study out of South Korea that found 1 in 38 children in South Korea were diagnosed with autism. This was largely attributed to the lack of early detection leaving many children undiagnosed. After having spent my entire career serving this population, I found myself scratching my…

• What Do We Now Know About Contributing Factors To Autism?; What Gifts Do Parents Think Are The Best?; The Cost of Raising A Child With Autism; Autism Brainstorm: An Autism Interactive Community

  11 Apr 2012 | 2:03 pm

  "Don't dis the ABILITY."  Jerry Komar, Editor Autism News and ViewsContributing Factors To Autism: What We Now KnowWithin the last week, we've seen a study that suggests autism could be linked with mothers' obesity during pregnancy. Just a week earlier, news broke that the incidence of autism is actually 1 in 88, not 1 in 110. So these studies and more beg the next question: What do we NOW know about contributing factors to autism? We know the following with a high degree of certainty:We now know that about 15-20% of children have a genetic mutation that causes autism. We now know if…

• Light It Up Blue: April 2nd World Autism Awareness Day; 1 in 88; Children with Autism Bullied Three Times More Than Their Unaffected Siblings

  31 Mar 2012 | 4:33 pm

  Light It Up Blue!!!On April 2nd we are lighting up the world blue for World Autism Awareness Day. Thousands of Bright blue lights all over the globe will shine a bright light on autism. Great landmarks, buildings and homes will join in this great event. Some include, but are not limited to, the following:The Empire State BuildingThe New York Stock ExchangeParis Stock ExchangeCN Tower in TorontoBahrain World Trade CenterTerminal Tower in ClevelandAspen MountainChrist the Redeemer in BrazilGreat Buddha at Hyogo JapanSydney Opera House AustraliaNiagra FallsThese are but a few examples…

• You Want Resources---We Got Resources; Depression Common in Young Adults with Asperger's; Benefits of Autism Assistance Dogs; Let's Hit The Pool; Is There An Increased Risk of Autism Among Certain Immigrant Groups; Light The Country Up Blue!

  14 Mar 2012 | 3:11 pm

  "Let's be clear about something. It's all about 'ability' not disability."  Jerry KomarYou Want Resources. We Got ResourcesIn addition to the plethora of resources available on this blog alone, I'd like to take the opportunity to list additional resources that offer valuable information to parents, teachers, researches and anyone interested in Autism. All of these resources are easily accessed through any search engine. In addition, you will also find many of these resources right here on Autism News and Views. So let's start:Talk Autism. Offers a great data base of…

• African-American Children Diagnosed Later For Autism; Reviewing Signs and Symptoms Of Autism in Babies and Toddlers; What Words Should Every Child Know By Age 2?; Advocates For Special Education Disappointed in President's Proposed Budget; Dan Marino Foundation News

  21 Feb 2012 | 7:23 pm

  "The only disability in life is a bad attitude." Scott HamiltonAfrican-American Children Diagnosed Later For AutismMartell Teasley, associate professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University, reported recently that African-American children are usually diagnosed later for autism than white children.  It appears the lack of access to timely health care is among one of the reasons for the delay in treatment. In addition, because of social stigma issues, Teasley reported some Black families might be resistant or reluctant to accept a diagnosis. As a result, this…

• 

  Asperger's Diary

• Sorting out Synesthesia

  Lynne Soraya

  10 May 2012 | 11:33 pm

  “You know, it’s sad,” my father wistfully remarked to me one day, “Before MTV, you had to come up with your own pictures in your head when you listened to music.” I didn’t think there was anything unusual in his comment. After all, everyone saw pictures when they listened to music. Didn’t they?read more

• Pity, Respect, and the We/She Dynamic

  Lynne Soraya

  25 Apr 2012 | 11:22 pm

  In my last post, I talked about “othering” autism. What exactly is othering? Some who responded to the post seemed to feel that othering and ill will are synonymous. I disagree. In my experience, it can often be done by those with the best intentions.read more

• Stigma and the “Othering” of Autism

  Lynne Soraya

  1 Apr 2012 | 11:00 pm

  There’s been an ongoing debate in the autism community. One about ideology, one about words. It’s about what it means to support an autistic child (or adult), and it’s about how one feels about the word “autism.” Is it something to accept, or something to fight?read more

• The Damaging Legacy of Parent Blame

  Lynne Soraya

  20 Mar 2012 | 11:36 pm

  When I read explorations of many possible dynamics that may have caused the increases in the rates of autism diagnosis, I am pleased to see the diversity of causal factors considered. But there is one dynamic that I have yet to see covered, and it's one that's very personal for me. It's the legacy of parent blame. read more

• What Does Authenticity Look Like?

  Lynne Soraya

  4 Mar 2012 | 1:32 am

  Authenticity.  It's a simple word — but for some of us, it isn't so simple.  When it comes to those of us who have different methods of expression...what looks like authenticity may not be, and what looks like inauthenticity may actually be the opposite.read more

• 

  Prosper with Aspergers: Autism Spectrum Facts and Solutions

• Hand Flapping, Aspergers, and the Autism Spectrum

  Stephen Borgman

  14 May 2012 | 10:06 pm

  A mom described taking her son to the see the Avengers. She glanced over halfway through and was amazed not to see him flapping his hands, kicking his feet, or arching his back. She described her emotions. My son does that [hand flapping] because he has autism/aspergers. At first during the movie I never noted it. I don’t know why. Then I looked over at him and realized it. Waterworks come on like nobody’s business. I am crying in the middle of a movie that is not remotely close to being a tear jerker. At that point I am frantically trying to catch every tear that is going down…

• Improve Your Life With These Autism Spectrum Blogs

  Stephen Borgman

  29 Apr 2012 | 4:46 pm

  A blog is in many ways a continuing conversation. Andrew Sullivan I like the above quote.  Because we autism bloggers need to learn from and interact with each other! And if you are new to the subject of the wonderful autism spectrum, it helps to find many bloggers in one place. I hope to highlight other autism spectrum blogs in the future. For today’s post, I found seven autism spectrum blogs for your reading enjoyment.  Check them out early and often! The bloggers featured today are all diagnosed with Aspergers, and they’re making their mark on the world. The Autistic Me:…

• Are You Fighting For Your Aspergers Marriage?

  Stephen Borgman

  22 Apr 2012 | 7:38 pm

  Are you fighting in your Aspergers marriage? Here are some new discoveries that can make your plain Aspergers marriage beautiful. But you’ll have to fight for your marriage instead of continuing to fight fruitlessly in your Aspergers relationship. I wrote an article called What Everyone Should Know About Aspergers and Marriage a while ago.  Here is what one of the commentors said: My husband and I went to therapy after our 1st year of marriage(it was either that or I was going to leave him or kill him and I loved him too much for that… but he was driving me nuts…any…

• Read This And Increase Your Aspergers Social Skills

  Stephen Borgman

  15 Apr 2012 | 9:14 pm

  I get by with a little help from my friends. John Lennon Our friends actually help us get through a whole lot.  As humans, we’re built to be social. Yet, it can be challenging for teens and adults on the autism spectrum to connect with others in order to form and maintain friendships. The PEERS treatment manual, also known as Social Skills for Teenagers with Developmental and Autism Spectrum Disorders, is an evidenced based group training manual involving parents and teenagers. Unfortunately, too often parents have a hard time finding structured groups like these for their kids. My…

• Famous People With Aspergers: Clay Marzo

  Stephen Borgman

  8 Apr 2012 | 3:17 pm

  I feel like I’m at home in the water… waves are toys from God  ~Clay Marzo, Professional Surfer, diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome Famous People With Aspergers: A Caution I’ve written a few articles regarding famous people with Aspergers. There’s a positive and negative side to articles showcasing famous people with Aspergers. On the one hand, it’s encouraging for other young people and families on the autism spectrum to see positive examples of people on the spectrum who’ve made it to the spotlight. On the other hand, Tony Attwood reminds us that…

• 

  theAUTSPOT BLOG

• iPad gives voice to kids with autism: AMAZING what Technology could do for our kids

  Dele

  15 May 2012 | 11:48 pm

  (CNN) — Sharia stood immobile in front of the television, transfixed by its images, unaware of the world around her. Her family called her name over and over again, but she did not respond. It was that moment when they knew something was wrong. Initially, they thought it was a hearing problem. When they found [...]

• Trumpet Behavioral Health: Maximize your Insurance Coverage for Autism

  Dele

  7 May 2012 | 11:58 pm

  Meet with California Insurance Experts – click to see Dates!

• Christmas Giveaway by Triple Stories and TheAUTSPOT.com

  Dele

  19 Dec 2011 | 3:29 pm

  TheAUTSPOT.com has partnered with Triple Stories to give away 5 copies of Triple Stories to parents in the community. Part of our vision has always been to make resources more accessible and available to parents of children with special needs. We try to do our part by offering discounted pricing and satisfaction guarantees for parents. [...]

• Cambridge College offers “Weekend only” Autism Specialist Master’s of Education degree

  Dele

  6 Dec 2011 | 7:52 pm

  I wanted to let you know that Cambridge College offers one of California’s only “Weekend only” bachelors and masters degree programs.   We are currently offering our newest and fastest growing Master’s of Education degree with a concentration in Autism Specialist.  This is a three term degree and the duration is just over a year long [...]

• IHSS – Financial aid for families dealing with autism

  Dele

  3 Nov 2011 | 2:34 am

  I was aware that IHSS was available for senior citizens, but I was recently informed that it can also be of benefit to families in the autism community as well. For qualified families, the state pays an individual caregiver to stay home and care for a developmentally disabled child (please note that caregivers do not [...]

• 

  ASDspecialist: Autism Spectrum Help

• Info on our new app for Android phones: Behavior management on the go!

  barbararlester

  29 Apr 2012 | 9:04 pm

  Let’s Go! Plus allows parents to quickly establish a fun and easy to use behavior management plan when going out to common activities.   Our free Let’s Go! app covers five activities: going to a store, going to a restaurant, going in a car, going to worship, and going to a birthday party. Let’s Go! [...]

• Video Post – visit me on YouTube!

  barbararlester

  29 Apr 2012 | 3:48 pm

  Two minute video tip of the day: Adding structure and making it visual

• Donate to help girls in Kenya at the Kibera School for Girls

  barbararlester

  13 Nov 2011 | 4:56 pm

  Can you donate just $10 to Shining Hope for Communities  sometime in the next 2 days and help them win the Nike Girl Effect Challenge and $25,000?  It is a wonderful school for girls in Nairobi, Kenya, and I am going there in January to do some work with them. Learn more about them by [...]

• Finding a first job for a high-functioning young person on the autism spectrum: Part 2

  barbararlester

  21 Aug 2011 | 4:34 pm

    Once someone has landed a job interview (see Part 1 for steps to take to get to this point), then we want to look at ways to successfully get through the interview and land the job. Disclosing the diagnosis One thing to determine prior to an interview is whether the job seeker wants to [...]

• The first job for a high-functioning young person on the autism spectrum: Part I

  barbararlester

  13 Aug 2011 | 3:56 pm

  Some job seekers are negotiating this completely on their own, others are getting help from parents, and others have the services of a job coach or other types of assistance from Vocational Rehabilitation. I will not describe Voc Rehab in detail, but if you are in the U.S. and might qualify for their assistance with [...]

• 

  autisable's Autisable

• Your Child’s Autism is Not a Theory!

  15 May 2012 | 11:00 am

  TV3 Ireland AM recently interviewed an autism “expert,” a clinical psychologist, Tony Humphreys, who made a comment about autism, saying the disorder is “a theory.” So now your kid’s a theory. How about that? Chalk this up to another misunderstanding into which a naïve, clinical psychologist fell! Will these professionals ever learn that parents of children with autism are a prickly bunch? Understandably, parents are outraged at his comments. It is hard enough living with a child with autism, fighting for that child’s rights to treatment and education,…

• Autism Speaks Co-Founders Appear on NBC Nightly News

  15 May 2012 | 9:00 am

    On May 1, Autism Speaks Co-Founders Bob and Suzanne Wright appeared on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams for an interview about the Theatre Development Fund’s highly successful Autism Theatre Initiative to make theatre accessible to children and adults on the autism spectrum, and their families. Since the program’s launch in October 2011, special autism-friendly performances of The Lion King and Mary Poppins have been staged on Broadway. More Here...

• Where it Began - Life After Autism

  14 May 2012 | 1:00 pm

  It's been a crazy week here. Tantrums, refusals, non compliance and angry outbursts. I'm writing to forget about what this week is like. I need to get out of my own way.I don't know where this post is going. I don't know what to write. I just know I need to write. Where did this began? How did I get here?  More Here...

• Difficult Times

  14 May 2012 | 11:00 am

  It's challenging for me to write during hard times, like now.Money is a constant worry. My consulting jobs have dried up and I am still trying to get payment on my last invoices for last year. My daughter is moving towards teen years and while I am proud of who she is, I miss the little girl she used to be. James will be leaving his cozy K-1 school of the past two years and launch into a new 2-3 campus next year across town. No more walking to the school just down the street from us. That's a whole nostalgic post on its own. More Here...

• Autism Light: Charles Colson

  14 May 2012 | 9:00 am

  Charles "Chuck" Colson was born on October 16, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts. He died on April 21, 2012 from complications of a brain hemorrhage. Some people have heard of him as a Special Counsel from 1969-1973 for U.S. President Richard Nixon.  Colson for the last 36 years was a leader and prolific author in evangelical Christianity, and founder of the organization Prison Fellowship. Not everyone may know that Charles Colson, the towering figure that he was, was brought to his knees in order to communicate with his, now 20 year old, grandson Max who has autism.More Here...

• 

  From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism Blog

• From the Archives: A.'s First Friend

  Devon Alley

  10 May 2012 | 6:00 pm

  In this entry from the archives, my daughter reaches a very important milestone in speech therapy -- and I am absolutely overjoyed. April 24, 2003: Today was a happy day. I cut my geography class to go meet with my daughter's speech therapists and take...(read more)

• On Discovering Facebook

  Devon Alley

  9 May 2012 | 6:11 pm

  Well, we knew it would have to happen sooner or later, but -- my daughter has discovered Facebook. Of course, that's not exactly an accurate statement. It's much more accurate to say that my daughter wanted to get on Facebook because several of her friends...(read more)

• A.'s Awesome Band Performance

  Devon Alley

  4 May 2012 | 5:10 pm

  Well, between training for a new position at work, finishing up my class on mindfulness, and trying to recover from some weird sinus sickly thing, I've managed to somehow completely neglect my blog this week. I promise to provide more bountiful episodes...(read more)

• From the Archives: Reviewing Progress, Paris, and Villanelles.

  Devon Alley

  26 Apr 2012 | 5:56 am

  In these snippets from the archives, I muse over A.'s amazing progress, delight in her viewing of Disney films, and write a villanelle for her. December 31, 2002: It probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense to most of you why the fact that, this evening,...(read more)

• Watching My Daughter Become A Teenager

  Devon Alley

  23 Apr 2012 | 10:59 am

  I love my daughter because she's paranoid about missing her TCAPS. "I can't get sick," she says. "If I miss school, I'm screwed." I love my daughter because she fills her agenda with dramatic annotations: I love my daughter because she creates "remixes"...(read more)

• 

  Big Daddy Autism

• Mother’s Day

  Big Daddy

  15 May 2012 | 10:18 am

  Obviously, Mother’s Day 2012 is in the past and many a divorce lawyer is being flooded with initial consultations.  Thankfully, the Big Daddy Clan avoided (just barely) a similar fate. I think. I hope. Um, I’ll get back to you on that one. . Like many kids, Griffin made a gift for his mom in [...]

• Younger and Younger

  Big Daddy

  28 Apr 2012 | 6:01 pm

  A few days back, Lil Sis had a friend over for dinner.  Her friend (who just turned 11 and also has a sibling on the spectrum) had never met Griffin before.  At the dinner table, Griffin opened the conversation with our honored guest by wishing her a happy Earth Day (it was) and then asking [...]

• Going Solo

  Big Daddy

  25 Apr 2012 | 4:25 am

  John Glen, Charles Lindbergh, and now Griffin. . Long time readers know of Griffin’s infatuation with elevators and our fairly regular mall safaris required to give him his fix.  He usually goes with Mrs. Big Daddy and Lil Sis since they like to go to the mall anyway and I tend to significantly slow down [...]

• No Clue Where That Came From

  Big Daddy

  21 Apr 2012 | 8:53 pm

  . © 2012, Big Daddy. All rights reserved.

• ALF

  Big Daddy

  18 Apr 2012 | 12:31 am

  In my last post I mentioned (jokingly for those of you who may be sarcasm-impaired) that I dread the day when Griffin’s home planet sends the Mother Ship to retrieve him.  I thought a little more on this “Griffin as an Alien” idea and somehow my wandering mind landed on the horrible 1980s sitcom, ALF. [...]

• 

  The Autism NewsThe Autism News | The latest news, headlines and open discussions about the Autism Spectrum

• Autistic student denied graduation due to Georgia state law

  john

  15 May 2012 | 12:10 pm

  The Autism News | English A Georgia state law is blocking an autistic student from getting his diploma, and his family blames a lack of communication and compassion, MyFoxAtlanta reports. “I won’t be able to graduate. I can walk, but I can’t graduate,” Sinclaire Coffers, a senior from Fulton County, Ga., told MyFoxAtlanta. Coffer has good grades, but the problem is that he has not been able to pass the math exam required for every Georgia student to graduate high school. “Once he starts it, and he learns it, he can do it. But when you walk away, he forgets the…

• Chapin High Senior Will Graduate Despite Autism

  john

  15 May 2012 | 12:05 pm

  The Autism News | English Chapin, SC – A Chapin High School senior who played football for the school and has autism will turn his tassel on May 30. “I had a lot of peer pressure and a lot of hard times and I didn’t understand that I needed a little break,” said Mark Jameson, a Chapin High School Senior. “I just kind of had to learn how I’m getting things.” Jameson played tight end for the team and was voted ‘biggest flirt’ by his peers this year. However, Mark takes something to class with him everyday that makes him different from those…

• For autistic kids, art helps build bridges in Windsor area

  john

  15 May 2012 | 12:01 pm

  The Autism News | English WINDSOR, Ont. — When words fail, autistic children usually respond to music and painting. Keri Bowers, the mother of an autistic child, shows parents the ABCs of teaching autistic kids social skills using the arts as what she calls “low-cost power tools. “Often as parents or educators,” said Bowers, “we focus on the dis- part of disability instead of the -ability part.” Artistic expression, she said, is part of our “cellular memory” and can be tapped even in those who lack basic communication skills. Bowers, a leading autism advocate and subject…

• Employment prospects dim for young adults with autism

  john

  15 May 2012 | 11:52 am

  The Autism News | English Young adults with an autism spectrum disorder are less likely to continue their education or get a job after high school when compared to young adults with other disabilities, new research indicates. According to the study, only about 35 percent of young adults with autism attended college and only 55 percent had a job during the first six years after high school. Overall, they faced a greater than 50 percent chance of being unemployed or not attending college when compared to those with other disabilities, the researchers reported. More than half of autistic young…

• Program helps students with autism make connections

  john

  15 May 2012 | 11:49 am

  The Autism News | English Making connections can be a challenge for many teens, but it has been especially tough for Erron Gerstein, an 18-year-old student with autism at Vernon Hills High School. Although he wanted to socialize with other students, simply approaching them was often daunting. But Erron has become more bold since he enrolled in “Tutorial: A Program for Independence,” a new class offering this school year. “Starting a conversation — it was hard,” he said. Tutorial instructors “teach me how to take the initiative or make a conversation. I get to…

• 

  Lexiloo

• SIGH, v2.0

  Miss LexiLoo

  26 Apr 2012 | 10:38 pm

  So, as a follow up to yesterday. . . I went into the school to talk to the discipline person, because I was having trouble understanding exactly what big J was in trouble for (he had lunch detention). Turns out, he’d knee-ed another kid in the stomach before the incident I described yesterday. And then hidden his discipline form that he was *supposed* to bring home for me to sign. And then LIED about what happened, to the teacher who put the form in his folder. Way to make your mom feel like an idiot, kid. Nothing like going into the school ready to lay down the law only to be…

• SIGH.

  Miss LexiLoo

  25 Apr 2012 | 1:56 pm

  Just got a call from Big J’s teacher. Apparently there is a group of boys from his class that think it’s HI-larious to push his buttons until he gets really angry and snaps (i.e., hits one of them), and then retaliate with physical violence. Today they had him on the ground, I guess. Yeah, they got in trouble, the principal got involved, blah blah blah. They keep telling J to tell somebody if these kids are messing with him (they’ve been told repeatedly not to go near him, which is obviously oh-so-effective), but on the other side of the coin, J’s been told in…

• May I Have a Word?

  Miss LexiLoo

  23 Apr 2012 | 10:28 pm

  Like many children with autism, big J has a great memory. He will recall the most minute detail of something that happened days, weeks, even months ago. But even more amazing is that he will remember and talk about things that happened before he was verbal. Things from back when I wondered whether he understood me. Years ago. I finally have my answer: though he did not speak, he still heard and understood. On that note, I have something I have to say to autism parents out there. Because this has really been on my heart lately. And if this sounds like a lecture, well, I’m also lecturing…

• I’m officially jumping back on the wagon

  Miss LexiLoo

  13 Apr 2012 | 4:32 pm

  So, remember like, a year ago? When I was doing the focus 52 project, and then I kinda just…quit? Yeah. I’m good at stuff like that. Fact is, my camera bit the dust so I just…forgot about it. But! I’m officially jumping back in with both feet. So without further ado, this week’s theme is perspective. My photo is taken from the perspective of a scaredey-cat mama wayyy down on the ground, hovering under her little man just in case he might think about fallin’. Go see the rest of this week’s entries here.

• Book Review: A Full Life with Autism

  Miss LexiLoo

  12 Apr 2012 | 9:10 pm

  Big J is 8 (and a half, he’ll remind you!), so while the thought of his adulthood has crossed my mind from time to time, I tend to push it away just as quickly. Lord, let me survive today, for goodness’ sake. Enter A Full Life with Autism by Chantal Sicile-Kira and her son Jeremy Sicile-Kira. The first thing that hit me once I’d started this book was just how completely unaware I am of the challenges that lie ahead. A Full Life with Autism is chock-full of advice about the transition from school to adulthood, whether that means college, work, or both. I can’t fathom a…

• 

  We Go With Him

• Scenes From a Very Good BIrthday

  autismvox

  16 May 2012 | 1:42 am

  From start to finish! Thank you to everyone for the lovely birthday wishes!

• 15 on 5/15

  autismvox

  15 May 2012 | 12:27 am

  My thought was to do something special for this post for Charlie's 15th birthday. After all, he is 15 years old today, 15 May 2012,...

• Mother's Day Comes Once a Year / Motherhood Is Constant

  autismvox

  14 May 2012 | 12:31 am

  I had just brought the two black bikes out to the driveway in preparation for a ride out to Jersey horse country where the bike...

• Up Together (Updated after Charlie got a real sleep 2 nights in a row)

  autismvox

  12 May 2012 | 11:43 pm

  Charlie's blue blanket and yellow sheet were on his bed by 2am yesterday night(morning) but he was already thoroughly conked out on the blue couch....

• The Night Before

  autismvox

  12 May 2012 | 3:45 am

  Jim and I had a feeling Charlie would be (1) anxious (knowing that my parents arrive tomorrow) and therefore (2) non-sleeping. Well, thanks to the...

• 

  Autism from a Father's Point of View

• Labels – Try as we might, we can’t avoid them

  Stuart Duncan

  14 May 2012 | 2:53 pm

  I know some people that purposely don’t seek out an autism diagnosis (or any medical diagnosis) for fear of the label that it will attach to themself or their child… a label that they will have to carry for life. While I could go into quite the long winded argument about all of the ways that a diagnosis would help far more than it could ever hinder… instead, I’d like to focus on the label itself. The Unavoidable Anyone that has ever attended high school knows that you simply can not avoid getting some type of label in life. It doesn’t matter who you are or what…

• This one is for the moms

  Stuart Duncan

  12 May 2012 | 2:20 pm

  Here’s to the moms…  with your messy houses, dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor, toys everywhere, late nights and early mornings… you deserve far more than a day and far more than a thank you. Here’s to the moms… you don’t need to be called “warrior moms” any more than a lion would need to be called a “lion cat”, you have stood up to school boards, governments, insurance companies, bullies, nosy neighbors, stereotypes, judgments, assumptions and everything else that the world could throw at you and while not every battle is a…

• Understanding and acceptance means listening, even if you disagree

  Stuart Duncan

  7 May 2012 | 10:41 am

  Understanding Adjective: Sympathetically aware of other people’s feelings; tolerant and forgiving: “people expect us to be understanding”. I started the Facebook fan page called “Autism Understanding and Acceptance” a while ago with the goal of moving beyond awareness. What this means is that, rather than just simply knowing that autism exists, we must begin to do one simple, but very difficult thing… listen. We must listen to autistics, parents of autistics, “experts” and even those that we might not want to listen to… the bullies, the…

• When the care givers are the ones bullying our children

  Stuart Duncan

  4 May 2012 | 12:53 pm

  I would like to start this post stating that there’s a growing trend but it’s much likely that this is a much longer lasting trend than most of us think it is… it’s just that we’re becoming increasingly aware of it. Thanks to better recording devices and such, people are getting caught. And thank God for that. What I’m talking about is when we trust other people to care for our children… to make them feel safe, secure and comfortable…. and those people betray that trust and become the bullies that we were hoping our children would be protected…

• AutismFather to “I Wish I Didn’t Have Aspergers” – An AutismPositivity2012 Flash Blog Event

  Stuart Duncan

  30 Apr 2012 | 6:32 pm

  Do you really wish that you didn’t have Aspergers? Do you really think that your life would be better or easier? There’s a lot of advice that I’m supposed to give. Most of it can be found here: Autism Positivity Day Flash Blog While they all do have some great advice, and I do recommend reading them all, my advice is a little different. You have something that most people do not The sad truth is that life is hard for everyone. Even kids that have billionaire parents find life to be pretty hard from time to time. Just for different reasons. The thing is that most people…

• 

  autisable's Autisable

• Your Child’s Autism is Not a Theory!

  15 May 2012 | 11:00 am

  TV3 Ireland AM recently interviewed an autism “expert,” a clinical psychologist, Tony Humphreys, who made a comment about autism, saying the disorder is “a theory.” So now your kid’s a theory. How about that? Chalk this up to another misunderstanding into which a naïve, clinical psychologist fell! Will these professionals ever learn that parents of children with autism are a prickly bunch? Understandably, parents are outraged at his comments. It is hard enough living with a child with autism, fighting for that child’s rights to treatment and education,…

• Autism Speaks Co-Founders Appear on NBC Nightly News

  15 May 2012 | 9:00 am

    On May 1, Autism Speaks Co-Founders Bob and Suzanne Wright appeared on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams for an interview about the Theatre Development Fund’s highly successful Autism Theatre Initiative to make theatre accessible to children and adults on the autism spectrum, and their families. Since the program’s launch in October 2011, special autism-friendly performances of The Lion King and Mary Poppins have been staged on Broadway. More Here...

• Where it Began - Life After Autism

  14 May 2012 | 1:00 pm

  It's been a crazy week here. Tantrums, refusals, non compliance and angry outbursts. I'm writing to forget about what this week is like. I need to get out of my own way.I don't know where this post is going. I don't know what to write. I just know I need to write. Where did this began? How did I get here?  More Here...

• Difficult Times

  14 May 2012 | 11:00 am

  It's challenging for me to write during hard times, like now.Money is a constant worry. My consulting jobs have dried up and I am still trying to get payment on my last invoices for last year. My daughter is moving towards teen years and while I am proud of who she is, I miss the little girl she used to be. James will be leaving his cozy K-1 school of the past two years and launch into a new 2-3 campus next year across town. No more walking to the school just down the street from us. That's a whole nostalgic post on its own. More Here...

• Autism Light: Charles Colson

  14 May 2012 | 9:00 am

  Charles "Chuck" Colson was born on October 16, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts. He died on April 21, 2012 from complications of a brain hemorrhage. Some people have heard of him as a Special Counsel from 1969-1973 for U.S. President Richard Nixon.  Colson for the last 36 years was a leader and prolific author in evangelical Christianity, and founder of the organization Prison Fellowship. Not everyone may know that Charles Colson, the towering figure that he was, was brought to his knees in order to communicate with his, now 20 year old, grandson Max who has autism.More Here...

• 

  Adventures in Extreme Parenthood

• Social Story: No Swearing

  Sunday

  15 May 2012 | 12:51 pm

  As some of you know Sam has become quite fluent lately at using a number of unacceptable words and phrases. Last week he announced to his class that he "hates black people" and in the past week I... Click here to keep reading!

• Maya's Eye on the Trouble Brothers

  Sunday

  14 May 2012 | 1:39 pm

  Everyone knows I love to take photos.  If you follow me on Instagram you have seen my crazy Ostrich Stalker pictures and the ones I take of the Trouble Brothers and their daily antics and those... Click here to keep reading!

• Special Needs Ryan Gosling Week 14

  Sunday

  10 May 2012 | 11:00 pm

  When I found the picture for this week's link up I couldn't resist.  There were just too many humorous possible captions when you take Ryan Gosling hiding in a trash can. I hope you all... Click here to keep reading!

• Hey Girl...Take a picture it'll last longer

  Sunday

  9 May 2012 | 12:22 pm

  Is it just me or is this week crawling by at a snails pace?  It might have something to do with the weather we've been having here in the mid-atlantic.  It has been rainy, gray, and dreary... Click here to keep reading!

• Team Extreme: Meet The Mommy Psychologist

  Sunday

  7 May 2012 | 11:00 pm

  When The Mommy Psychologist contacted me about doing a guest post I was excited by the information she had to share.   Like a couple of the other members of Team Extreme she is not a parent of a... Click here to keep reading!

• 

  A Pocket Full of Rye

• Travel Training

  Lindsey

  3 May 2012 | 2:07 pm

  Another great post from author Jeff Stimpson. Please visit his blog at www.jeffslife.tripod.com/alextheboy. My son Alex (13, PDD-NOS) and I took a long subway ride the other day, on a slow local train through The Bronx. We sat on a hard plastic seat for an hour not looking at other people, studying shoes and pants-legs, either reading something we brought or watching the tunnel lights and the streetscapes drift past the windows. One big agency here in New York is celebrating something like 75 years of travel training for adults with developmental disabilities. Teaching them safety and how to…

• My Prince

  Lindsey

  28 Apr 2012 | 1:10 pm

  Jacob is full of witty bon mots this week (consolation for some really frustrating behavior), and he came up with this little gem before bed last night: "Mom, will you go to the castle and be my princess?" I DIE. And he means this castle. What is it you say? Taking a small boy with autism and anxiety to a packed theme park in the middle of summer is a bad idea? WRONG ANSWER. And when we go, he and I will skip and and sing and jump into each others arms while singing "A Whole New World." Disney World is The Most Magical Place on Earth where nothing bad happens and our…

• All Work, All Play

  Lindsey

  22 Apr 2012 | 5:35 am

  J Boy's feeling particularly put-upon this week. That's fine, I feel the same way sometimes. Among his list of complaints: His mother has banned Trix from the house. Considering that it's one of the only foods he derives any pleasure from, I can understand. However, my mounting displeasure at his demands for six Trix meals a day only left me one alternative: banishment of said poison from the house.  His parents are using birthday bootie against him, and winning. J Boy left his counsins' birthday party last week with A LOT of pinata loot (people love giving the strange…

• WOO HOO!

  Lindsey

  18 Apr 2012 | 9:32 am

  Made it onto Alltop!! For those of you who don't know about it, it's a great resource to find blogs on practically every topic you can think of. Check us out on the Autism page and browse around a bit to find some pretty awesome and talented bloggers you probably wouldn't find on your own. Happy surfing!

• How To Be Brave

  Lindsey

  28 Mar 2012 | 10:17 am

  I often wake up in the morning with mild anxiety weighing on me, only to realize it's outlived it's purpose. It's hard to shake. It sneaks up on me while I'm driving J Boy to school, attacks me as I look through our mail, and bathes my brain in gentle waves while I'm trying to go back to sleep in the middle of the night. James tells me everyone deals with it and he's probably right, but I've settled into a routine of self-talk to remind myself that we survived the storm. We're still here, still together, and for the first time in a long time the future…