Well, it's been about five and a half years. When I started on this site, my son was just a little guy. At that time, I wanted to know all about autism spectrum disorders. And over the years, I have learned! The wealth of information I collected - all I ever wanted to know, and more! - will still be here, on these web pages, for a while to come. That's because any site guide starting out today to cover topics in autism would have to start almost from scratch in just a year and a half, when the new diagnostic manual is published. At that time, much of what I've written…
Autism
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Most Topular Stories
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A Farewell to the About.com Autism Site
About.com Autism28 Sep 2011 | 8:56 am -
Changes in DSM-5 Autism Definition Could Negatively Impact Millions
AGE OF AUTISM26 Jan 2012 | 8:15 pmAutism organizations concerned that autism diagnostic changes will jeopardize services, impair tracking, and disrupt research around the globe. WASHINGTON, DC – Proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual... -
The "New" DAN! and Autism Research Institute
About.com Autism23 Sep 2011 | 6:51 amThe Autism Research Institute was out there first, and that's why they own that coveted URL: http://www.autism.com! Given that the organization has been around for a very long time, it makes sense that there would be changes to their approach to autism treatment....Read Full Post -
IOM vaccine report receives wide coverage
Autism News Beat25 Aug 2011 | 5:00 pmIn yet another setback for Jenny McCarthy and her angry mob, the Institute of Medicine reports that vaccines are very safe, that they prevent diseases, and that they don’t cause autism or diabetes. The IOM’s conclusion, which is based on 1,000 published studies, will help the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to administer the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The 800-page report covers the eight vaccines that comprise the majority of claims filed in “vaccine court”, which compensates people for alleged injuries from any of 11 vaccines. The… -
An Earlier Sign Of Autism In The Brain
Autism News From Medical News Today27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 amIn their first year of life, babies who will go on to develop autism already show different brain responses when someone looks at or away from them...
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Autism News From Medical News Today
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Evolved, Mutated Gene Module Linked To Syndromic Autism
28 Jan 2012 | 2:00 amA team led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine reports that newly discovered mutations in an evolved assembly of genes cause Joubert syndrome, a form of syndromic autism. The findings are published in the online issue of Science Express... -
Family History Of Psychiatric Disorders May Shape Intellectual Interests
28 Jan 2012 | 2:00 amA hallmark of the individual is the cultivation of personal interests, but for some people, their intellectual pursuits might actually be genetically predetermined. Survey results published by Princeton University researchers in the journal PLoS ONE suggest that a family history of psychiatric conditions such as autism and depression could influence the subjects a person finds engaging... -
Sign Of Autism Can Be Seen In Infants
27 Jan 2012 | 4:00 pmA recent study that took place at the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, and was published in the January edition of Current Biology, states that detecting autism symptoms in babies as young as 6 months old can help to determine how the autism will develop later in the child's life... -
An Earlier Sign Of Autism In The Brain
27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 amIn their first year of life, babies who will go on to develop autism already show different brain responses when someone looks at or away from them... -
Adolescents With Autism Spend Free Time Using Solitary, Screen-Based Media
27 Jan 2012 | 2:00 amChildren with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) tend to be fascinated by screen-based technology. A new study by a University of Missouri researcher found that adolescents with autism spend the majority of their free time using non-social media, including television and video-games...
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Autism Twins
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The Paintbrush
27 Jan 2012 | 1:58 pmOh, John. After years of making Mommy spell words for you, of pulling my hand and insisting that I draw pictures for you (in crayon, in pencil, on paper, on the computer, once in the sand), after an eternity of my being Chief Scribe — now you're ready to do it yourself?The watercolor paints are new — we have not cracked them open since Christmas — so when you brought them to me with a paintbrush and said "Open Blue?" I took in the situation and your earnest face and thought, Well? Let's give it a shot.Of course I hoped that you would paint yourself but I wasn't optimistic. I mean… -
The Artist
22 Jan 2012 | 7:45 amWell my child? You sure have been busy. We were running out the door and I yelled "John, where is my phone, honey?" because truth be told, you use it more than I do. You stopped in your tracks and disappeared downstairs. When you returned and gave it to me, I was incredibly proud that you listened, followed a direction and brought it to me.Then I looked at my phone. I scrolled and scrolled…Seven hundred and twenty photos of the TV screen? Seven hundred and twenty?I'm thrilled you mastered changing the DVDs without breaking them — we did lose a few to your learning curve. I was curious why… -
Those Pesky Producers
11 Jan 2012 | 10:42 pmSam runs in to the kitchen where I am working on dinner and says, "Mom, it was Jamie Kellner." I am confused, I don't know a Jamie. Or a Kellner. "It was Jamie Kellner, Mom," he says, pointing at the ipad. "He canceled the Animaniacs in 1998!" I tell him that I still don't know who he is talking about."He was an executive, the WB kind," he says matter-of-factly. Sam has made it quite clear that while he loves DVDs (specifically Volumes 1, 2, and 3 from his Aunt JT), what he'd really like is to watch his favorite show on television, you know — like on Boomerang? Or Cartoon Network? They… -
National Geographic: Twins
6 Jan 2012 | 2:17 pmHappy New Year, dear readers. Lately my blog traffic has increased ten-fold; probably because my boys are profiled in the January 2012 issue of National Geographic Magazine. Pretty cool to have visitors from around the globe — stunning, actually.If you're new here, welcome.As you can see, I write about my two beautiful, endlessly complex, twin boys. When we agreed to be interviewed for the NG story, life was a bit more predictable. Leave a crisis to change things a bit — stupid crisis is all me, me, me. It's hard to focus when the fabric of your life is shifting. I must honor that… -
The Order of Things
22 Dec 2011 | 7:08 amHe says, "Mom? You're number one." I'm curious, mostly because he has an uncanny way of remembering the order of things.So I reply, "You mean like you're number six at school?" Because in second grade, that's how they do it — each child lines up for lunch, recess, specials — all by a special number assigned alphabetically by the teacher.A week in to the school year, when Sam is able to recite who is what number, I'm fascinated. When I point out that the order is done alphabetically, he says "No, it's not. Number one is Maddie, number two is Alex." I explain that the order is by last name…
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AGE OF AUTISM
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Harvard Neurologist Responds to NYT Article on DSM-5
28 Jan 2012 | 4:46 amManaging Editor's Note: Thank you to Dr. Martha Herbert for writing this letter to The New York Time: Re “New Autism Rule Will Trim Many, a Study Suggests” (front page, Jan. 20): Narrowing the definition of autism is a bad... -
President Obama: "I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning.."
28 Jan 2012 | 4:45 am"I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning or making sure that our food is safe and our water is clean. I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power... -
OSHA's Official Position on Flu Vaccination of Healthcare Workers
28 Jan 2012 | 4:43 am"The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is strongly supportive of efforts to increase influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers in accordance with the Healthy People 2020 goals. However, at this time, OSHA believes there is insufficient scientific evidence for... -
The Name Game
27 Jan 2012 | 4:45 amBy Teresa Conrick With tics and Tourette-like illness in the news so much right now due to the increasing number of students at LeRoy HS in NY exhibiting them, it is with irony that P.A.N.D.A.S., a possible medical diagnosis for... -
Changes in DSM-5 Autism Definition Could Negatively Impact Millions
26 Jan 2012 | 8:15 pmAutism organizations concerned that autism diagnostic changes will jeopardize services, impair tracking, and disrupt research around the globe. WASHINGTON, DC – Proposed changes to the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual...
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About.com Autism
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Proposed Changes to DSM's Autism Definition Likely to Raise Eyebrows
23 Jan 2012 | 9:08 amFew conditions seem to generate as much controversy as autism. The latest potential hornet's nest centers on the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is due out in 2013. The DSM, which is put out by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is the mental health profession's bible, setting the standard for research, treatment and insurance decisions....Read Full Post -
A Farewell to the About.com Autism Site
28 Sep 2011 | 8:56 amWell, it's been about five and a half years. When I started on this site, my son was just a little guy. At that time, I wanted to know all about autism spectrum disorders. And over the years, I have learned! The wealth of information I collected - all I ever wanted to know, and more! - will still be here, on these web pages, for a while to come. That's because any site guide starting out today to cover topics in autism would have to start almost from scratch in just a year and a half, when the new diagnostic manual is published. At that time, much of what I've written… -
An Adult with Autism Follows His Passion
23 Sep 2011 | 7:14 amWhat can an adult with autism do with his life? Some adults with autism are fortunate enough to find the supports to pursue their passion. Lee is an adult with autism who followed his fascination with remote controlled cars - and found friendship, respect, opportunities and more!...Read Full Post -
The "New" DAN! and Autism Research Institute
23 Sep 2011 | 6:51 amThe Autism Research Institute was out there first, and that's why they own that coveted URL: http://www.autism.com! Given that the organization has been around for a very long time, it makes sense that there would be changes to their approach to autism treatment....Read Full Post -
Married: With Autism! Is Your Spouse on the Spectrum?
19 Sep 2011 | 6:46 amBack in 2006, I wrote a blog post asking for insights into marriage and autism. The blog's title was "Is Your Spouse Autistic?" Every week now, it seems, I get another comment or two on that very old blog post. It's obviously a topic that hits a nerve. And while a number of books have come out on the topic of marriage and Asperger syndrome, I get the feeling that most people need a place to vent more than a book of advice....Read Full Post
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ScienceDaily: Autism News
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Family history of psychiatric disorders shapes intellectual interests, study suggests
26 Jan 2012 | 9:43 pmA family history of psychiatric conditions such as autism and depression could influence the subjects a person finds engaging, new research suggests. Although preliminary, the findings provide a new look at the oft-studied link between psychiatric conditions and aptitude in the arts or sciences. -
Scientists link evolved, mutated gene module to syndromic autism
26 Jan 2012 | 1:36 pmMedical researchers reports that newly discovered mutations in an evolved assembly of genes cause Joubert syndrome, a form of syndromic autism. -
In the brain, signs of autism as early as 6 months old
26 Jan 2012 | 11:37 amMeasuring brain activity in infants as young as six months may help to predict the future development of autism symptoms. In their first year of life, babies who will go on to develop autism already show different brain responses when someone looks at or away from them. The findings suggest that direct brain measures might help to predict the future development of autism symptoms in infants as young as six months. -
Adolescents with autism spend free time using solitary, screen-based media
25 Jan 2012 | 1:31 pmChildren with autism spectrum disorders tend to be fascinated by screen-based technology. A new study found that adolescents with autism (64.2 percent) spend most of their free time using solitary, or non-social, screen-based media (television and video games) while only 13.2 percent spend time on socially interactive media (e-mail, Internet chatting). -
How kids with autism spend screen time
25 Jan 2012 | 1:22 pmChildren with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) tend to be preoccupied with screen-based media. A new study looks at how children with ASDs spend their “screen time.” Researchers found a very high rate of use of solitary screen-based media such as video games and television with a markedly lower rate of use of social interactive media, including email.
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Autism News Beat
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About that DSM 5 story
24 Jan 2012 | 10:19 pmThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is sometimes called the Bible of modern psychiatry. First published in 1952 as DSM I, the reference book lays out the diagnostic criteria for most psychiatric conditions and illnesses. The current DSM IV was published in 1994, then revised in 2000. And now it’s due for a rewrite. The DSM 5 (they dropped the Roman numerology) is expected to be released in May, 2013. Now this may not be as big news as, say, a Duran Duran reunion tour, or Kate Middleton’s anticipated baby bump, but it’s still creating a buzz among those who advocate for persons… -
Is Chuck Norris the new Jenny McCarthy?
6 Nov 2011 | 10:47 pmYou may know him as TV’s Walker, Texas Ranger, or the star of low-budget shoot-em-ups. Now Chuck Norris is venturing into new territory – self-appointed anti-vaccine spokesperson. Blogging on the right-wing website World Net Daily, Norris takes aim at the CDC, IOM, and the FDA in an article clumsily titled The Venom in Fed’s Vaccinations: While most mainstream news covers presidential campaigns or economic conditions, the feds are going under the radar and your skin – literally – with something that could be detrimental to your children’s and your health. And… -
A video dramatizationof the Wakefield scandal
13 Sep 2011 | 9:16 pmMuch has been written about Andrew Wakefield’s fraudulent Lancet study. This is the first video dramatization I’ve seen. In two parts, from Vaccines: Getting to the Point, by FAIR Media, 2011. Disclosure: I was interviewed for the video, but alas, my face didn’t make the final cut. -
Contagion, the movie
10 Sep 2011 | 1:50 amIn Contagion, Steven Soderbergh’s dark medical thriller about a viral pandemic, Jude Law plays Alan Krumwiede, a hyperventilating, overexposed anti-science blogger who convinces his 12 million “unique visitors” not to vaccinate. He also makes millions pushing a quack homeopathic remedy, and stalks a CDC scientist, tape recorder in hand. Sound familiar? To those us who have been monitoring the real-life Krumwiedes, it’s obvious that Law spent some serious Google time to learn the anti-vaccine talking points. “I don’t want to list anyone in particular,” Law told a… -
IOM vaccine report receives wide coverage
25 Aug 2011 | 5:00 pmIn yet another setback for Jenny McCarthy and her angry mob, the Institute of Medicine reports that vaccines are very safe, that they prevent diseases, and that they don’t cause autism or diabetes. The IOM’s conclusion, which is based on 1,000 published studies, will help the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to administer the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The 800-page report covers the eight vaccines that comprise the majority of claims filed in “vaccine court”, which compensates people for alleged injuries from any of 11 vaccines. The…
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LoriB.me
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Video: The Dragonborn Comes
9 Jan 2012 | 1:01 pmBeautiful rendition of ‘The Dragonborn Comes’ (Skyrim Bard Song and Main Theme) by Malukah. You can download the mp3 for free at http://www.malukah.com/free/ Chords - The Dragonborn Comes Related posts: Minesweeper Madness The best version of Minesweeper I have played so far... WordPress 2.7 Earlier today, I updated this site to WordPress 2.7. It... Autism Women’s Network After 3 months of complete immersion, the Autism Women’s Network... -
2011
30 Dec 2011 | 12:31 pmBaltimore Mandala by Nikolas R. Schiller In a word, 2011 has been CRAZY! I’ve had some crazy years in my time, and while this year is not nearly as crazy as some have been, it definitely holds a place on the “Craziest Years Ever” list. A Brief Summary of 2011: Moving Karen and I gave up hopes of selling our house after waiting 3 years for the economy to improve so we could move to Baltimore to be closer to K’s parents and help them out. Lorena and Tess offered to live in our house, pay mortgage, etc. so that we could move. Thanks Lorena and Tess! Karen quit her long… -
The Autistic Freelancer :: Autistics Speaking Day 2011
1 Nov 2011 | 3:47 pmI have been running my freelance web development business for over 15 years, the last 8 of which have actually involved a business license, paying taxes, and making money. Each year, I do a little better than the last. Running a business can be challenging to everyone, and as with most things, can provide extra challenges for autistic people. Also, as with most things, we may have skills and abilities that give us a greater chance of succeeding despite the extra challenges. In honor of Autistics Speaking Day 2011, I will write about my personal experience of running a business with these… -
RIP Steve Jobs, Derrick Bell, and Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth
10 Oct 2011 | 4:05 pmDerrick Bell, Steve Jobs, and Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth.(Photo: David Shankbone/Wikicommons, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, REUTERS/Tami Chappell) I am sad that Steve Jobs is gone. I didn’t know him, but like many other people, he changed my life. There have been many tributes to Mr. Jobs in the past week and it is easy to see how widespread his influence was. There is also some negative sentiment in which people are furious that so much attention and honor is given to the death of a corporate billionaire while the deaths of race scholar Derrick Bell and civil rights leader Rev. Fred… -
Change Admin Post/Page List Color By Status
9 Sep 2011 | 11:18 amFavorite WordPress tip of the week: This snippet will change the background colors of posts, pages, and custom post types in the administration post/page lists based on their status, i.e. draft, private, pending, etc. add_action('admin_footer','posts_status_color'); function posts_status_color(){ ?> <style> .status-draft { background: #ffffe0 !important ; } .status-future { background: #cf9 !important; } .status-publish { /* no background - keep alternating rows */ } .status-pending { background: #87c5d6 !important; } .status-private { background:#fc9; } </style> <?php }…
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A Photon In The Darkness
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It’s Natural!
25 Jan 2012 | 12:24 pmI think I need to switch radio stations. If you remember, last summer, the station I was listening to on my weekly drive to Downstate Univ. was carrying advertisements for a pseudo-study of a “natural” remedy for “low testosterone”. Lately, the same station has been bombarding me with ads for a “natural” way for post-menopausal women to ”restore hormonal balance”. This “hormonal balance”, we are told, will not only eliminate the hot flashes and other problems of menopause, it will allow us to “eliminate that stubborn belly… -
Autism and Insurance: Myths vs Reality
22 Dec 2011 | 5:01 pmEarlier this week, I had arranged to have coffee with a close friend of mine. When I arrived, she was holding a copy of the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal and was quite upset about an article on the “Affordable Care Act” (”Obama-care”). In this article, it was mentioned that the department of Health and Human Services was planning to leave it up to the various states whether or not to mandate “autism treatment” coverage. This, she felt, was a cruel blow to families with autistic children. Fortunately, I had been through this all before, many… -
“Latex causes autism”: a “Brave (but dead) Maverick Hypothesis“? [Part 3]
9 Dec 2011 | 11:05 amEnough people have shown interest in having a “part 3″ of this series, so here it is! These are the “odd bits” I thought were curious but didn’t fit neatly into the main posts. How much latex is in vaccine or medication vials? In the book, Vaccine Delivery and Autism (The Latex Connection), the authors repeatedly assert that H. brasiliensis proteins (and genetic material, but more on that later) leach out of latex-containing vaccine vial stoppers and into the vaccine. In support of this, they cite one study (Primeau et al 2001) and one case report (Hoffman… -
“Latex causes autism”: a “Brave (but dead) Maverick Hypothesis“? [Part 2]
4 Dec 2011 | 10:59 pmWelcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends…. In the last episode, we saw how Mr. Dochniak goaded me into reviewing his latest book, Vaccine Delivery and Autism (the Latex Connection) and my impressions of the format of that book. Now, we get to the meat of the book - and the science! A few positive notes: One of my mentors, early in my graduate school career, taught me that whenever I graded a paper or reviewed a proposal, article or book, I should first endeavor to find at least two positive things. That, I was told, would help me retain my objectivity, since every piece of… -
“Latex causes autism”: a “Brave (but dead) Maverick Hypothesis“? [Part 1]
1 Dec 2011 | 3:14 pmLet the Nonsense begin!: Before May of this year, I was in blissfiul ignorance of the “hypothesis” that latex - specifically, latex in vaccines (of course) - was the cause (or a cause) of regressive autism. But then Orac (of the Respectful Insolence ‘blog) posted a short notice (here) of a press release for the book Vaccine Delivery and Autism (The Latex Connection), by Dochiak and Dunn. It was a small post, with only a minimum of “respectful insolence” added, since the premise of the book seemed laughable enough. The press release described the authors…
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Ballastexistenz
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What Makes Institutions Bad
22 Jan 2012 | 11:52 pm[I wrote this in response to a Dave Hingsburger post. Andrea Shettle asked me to post it here. Summary of my very long response: Most people don't have the foggiest clue what's bad about institutions. What's bad is something you pretty much never hear about, which is the violence it does to people's insides at a very deep level. And that can't be stopped by just removing the things that LOOK bad and throwing a layer of glamour on top.] Please, please, please everyone who talks about this in the past tense — STOP. This is still going on. Everywhere. I can’t even explain what it… -
One More Picture from the Redwoods
7 Dec 2011 | 9:57 pm[Image description: An old photo with yellowing borders (previously white) shows me and my brother. The background is blurred and splotchy, there seems to be a small pond and some trees. The foreground shows my brother holding me as a baby in his lap. My brother is sitting with his back along the right border, and his legs stretched out in front of him along the bottom border. He’s in shadow so you can’t really see any features, and he’s wearing a baseball cap, an orange-pink-looking t-shirt, and brown boots. I’m sitting on his lap. I’m also mostly in shadow, but you can see a white… -
Redwoods On Top Of Redwoods
5 Dec 2011 | 2:32 pmI found a really cool video today, but before I link to it, some background on how and why I found it. When I was born, my family lived in a redwood forest in the coastal mountain range of California. I was recently reminded of the place by photos of redwoods — close to the only things that can make me homesick for California. This is a photo of my dad holding me on the porch of our house. [Photo Description: A photo of my dad holding me as a baby. My dad is a big guy with black hair, a full black beard and mustache with grey starting to show, a straight nose, and medium brown skin. -
Forgiven
2 Dec 2011 | 11:28 amBy TL Forsberg. The video has audio, captions, and sign language for once. And aside from a few parts, it pretty much speaks for me in certain areas of life. Better than I can. -
Southern (USA) text to speech
23 Nov 2011 | 7:08 pmText to speech voices tend to be in the dominant dialect and accent of their country — or of their whole language. British English voices are in a posh accent. American English voices are in that weird accent I don’t recognize the location of, but I do recognize as that strange group of people who (falsely) think of themselves as accentless. And so on. Being half or more Southern in origin, and someone who got speech therapy partly as the result of having what sounded like a nonstandard accent, and got openly mocked by teachers over things like this, this has always pissed me off.
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AutismParents.NET!
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The Big List of S*%# Linked to Autism: Winter Conception
12 Jan 2012 | 2:50 pmA 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! ]] -
Autism Haunts Dreams
9 Jan 2012 | 12:21 pmCan’t an autism dad get a break even when unconscious enjoying some rapid eye movements? The dreams I remember when I woke up this morning … Being at a relatives house who in the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Sensory Friendly Movies: Good, Bad, or Both?
28 Oct 2011 | 1:57 pmWe are attending a Halloween costume party / sensory friendly movie (Monster’s Inc) tonight at a local special needs organization. I have mixed feelings about the sensory friendly movie. We... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Apps for Autism segment on CBS 60 Minutes Tonight (Preview)
23 Oct 2011 | 9:42 amPreview: Apps for autism - 60 Minutes - CBS News Continue Reading--1 words totally [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Funding extended for Combating Autism Act
27 Sep 2011 | 1:27 pmIt looks like the bottleneck in the Senate was broken and the funding for the Combating Autism Act will flow. WASHINGTON — The Senate sent President Barack Obama a bill Monday night to extend... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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The Art of Being Asperger Woman
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stop sopa
17 Jan 2012 | 2:42 pmAs I am strongly against SOPA, this blog will be black/ invisible for 1 day. Starting now.I Hope to see you soon! -
Happy New Year!
1 Jan 2012 | 2:38 pmHappy New Year to you all! As I have done before, I am gonna try to write here on a daily base. I did sleep during the change from 2011 to 2012. Well, to be honest that was not a bad thing...;) This way the sensory overload was reduced. Well, I have to go to bed now, otherwise my ritm will be broken. Take care all of you! -
4 Oct 2011 | 2:17 am
4 Oct 2011 | 2:17 amAutumn 2011. After a long and wet summer, we had some lovely summer days with high temperatures this week. What a way to start October. Later this week storm is expected and autumn will finally begin. The two pictures, made by myself, illustrate my life now. I enjoy and share love with a new boyfriend. Sometimes you need to close your eyes and let all things happen. The second picture shows that one has to start his own engine to get the best result out of the 'windmill' of your own life. Take care. -
August 2011
26 Aug 2011 | 7:45 amSummer 2011 has brought many pleasant things, despite the rain I managed tot make some nice trips around the country.My new computer works very well, and working on it gives me many pleasant hours. It is fun to be able to create e.g. a new header for a weblog. The agyrophobia seems to have become less. That is really good. We, my therapist and I, have now found out that the sensory overload and the fears for traffic, mainly have such an impact because of my living situation. Living in a small village with few hundred inhabitants I must find a way to handle the transition from silence to… -
Summertime
12 Jun 2011 | 3:03 pmYes, I did remember this blog ;). It has been too long since my last blog post. Lots of things happened. Still going strong and improving my quality of life. Life is wonderful. Will write more soon. ZZZ here. Goodnight world.
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Sheila Schoonmaker's Blog
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My 1980 Journey to Volcán Barú and Boquete in Panama
23 Jan 2012 | 3:11 pmThe photos I shot of Volcán Barú and Boquete in Panama were taken in August and September of 1980. Much of their quality has been lost due to the prints aging. The photos begin with where I stayed [Volcán Barú] while in Panama and end with the Boquete area. To me, being up on that mountain was paradise. It was heavenly to be without the noises and smells of civilization. The richness of the oxygen in the air was impossible to miss. Being in the lush jungle made me feel healthier than ever! The scent of flowers was everywhere! Every basic necessity of life felt like a luxury. Breathing… -
Explanations destroy respect?
22 Jan 2012 | 4:06 amBack in early October of 2009, I was told explaining yourself to others can cause them to lose respect towards you. No one ever pointed that out to me before. Also back then, I finished reading Child Training Tips: What I wish I knew when my children were young by Reb Bradley. That book opened my eyes to seeing that the same principle behind the way parents should be towards their children is the same way healthy relationships between adults are maintained. Children must first show signs of respect towards their parents before they are allowed the privilege of gaining an explanation for why… -
Enslavement Explained
20 Jan 2012 | 11:04 amThe 13 minute video about democracy at the end of this post, on The Story of Your Enslavement, claims to say how we can finally become free from enslavement. It is correct in saying how we are enslaved. It does happen because of the fear of future loss and death. Most definitely, the fear of death causes slavery. Every kind of slavery. Not just the kind the video portrays. We become slaves to our own lusts. What starts within us ends up externally controlling us. That is the symptom of the disease called human nature. Those who are on the government’s payroll are the empowered slaves of… -
A Dangerous Woman
18 Jan 2012 | 6:14 amBack in January of 1995, while searching for a movie to rent in a local video rental store (before I knew about Aspergers), I prayed for God to show me what He would like me to experience watching. Minutes later, I found the movie “A Dangerous Woman” on the shelf. On the back of the box, it said, “Martha Horgan has always been ‘different’. Slow, awkward, and hopelessly out of sync, she is incapable of telling a lie.” It described her as, “A fragile, childlike spirit in a grown woman’s body, Martha lives in the guest house…” The words… -
The Proof of Real Love
15 Jan 2012 | 10:23 amTo the same measure we love our enemies is the same measure we value Christ’s love. Love is proven not by how we treat our friends, but how we treat those who oppose us. God loves those who deserve to be judged and condemned. In His eyes, we all deserve to be judged and condemned. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in…
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Reports from a Resident Alien
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Obligatory SOPA/PIPA-related post
18 Jan 2012 | 9:55 amYou've seen it; it's all over the Internet. Wikipedia is blacked out and there are banners everywhere. So I don't really need to explain, do I?But, for the record, here are my thoughts on it.First of all: These bills wouldn't do any good, if they got passed. I'm a writer, though as yet unpublished; I've thought about how much it would suck for people to steal my stuff instead of paying for it or checking it out of the library or just reading what I've put up here on the Internet for everybody to read. It's not cool when people do that, because if somebody… -
The Embarrassment Contagion
16 Jan 2012 | 11:12 amYou ever notice that, when you embarrass yourself, the people around you also feel embarrassed? Maybe it's in sympathy, maybe because they feel like facepalming; but it seems like embarrassment spreads like some kind of humiliating virus.Which means that, if you're socially maladroit, your embarrassing yourself means that you embarrass those around you too.Sucks, doesn't it?I hate that. I hate, hate, hate it. I've gotten used to doing stupid things and having people look at me like I left my brain at home that morning; but I don't think I'll ever get used to the… -
Note to Self on the First Day of School
3 Jan 2012 | 11:33 amRaise your hand.Don't fidget.No, don't twitch either.Flicking your fingers in front of your face is even more obvious. Stop it; you're distracting the others.The professor is not your personal knowledge databank; she is teaching an entire class. Stop monopolizing her attention.One question per lecture.Okay, one more, but then you really have to shut up and go to her office hours instead.The professor is supposed to answer other students' questions. Not you. No, not even if you studied this yesterday and found it really fascinating and can't wait to lecture about it.On that… -
Why I Don't Eat Fish
2 Jan 2012 | 1:45 amI don't eat fish. Or, hardly ever.This is a different thing from not liking to eat fish. In fact, I have no problem with that. The taste is fine, the texture is fine. I'm quite fond of salmon steaks, actually. But I don't eat fish.It's not some sort of PETA sea-kittens thing. It's quite simply this: Fish smells like fish.The smell of fish is distracting, pungent, always-there. Unlike most other people, I'm unable to ignore it, and it distracts me for as long as it is detectable--which, for me, is apparently longer than it is for most people. There's a phenomenon… -
Impulse Control, Conversations, and Annoyed Friends
17 Dec 2011 | 6:43 pmOnce again I come to the autism-spectrum community for advice.One of my friends (yeah, I have friends now; shocking, isn't it?), with whom I play tabletop role-playing games, has a pet peeve: He hates being interrupted. I don't blame him. It most likely makes him feel like people aren't listening to him or don't care what he's saying. Totally understandable, am I right?The problem: I absolutely, positively suck at conversations. I can never figure out when to say something, and I can never figure out when what I'm going to say is relevant to the conversation.No, let me…
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drive mom crazy
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A New Year, A New Bridge as we start 2012
1 Jan 2012 | 7:36 am2012: What can I say? It’s another year and another chance to do what we have to do to set things right. We have to embark on a journey where we become the person we are meant to be. However sometimes we find a bridge on our journey waiting for us to cross to another side of our adventure. If we don’t cross, we have to turn back to the lands we already discovered living in the past. By crossing the bridge, we enter in to another unknown land for an unknown future to build on what we already know. Some bridges are harder to cross because every bridge is built differently with its… -
Part I of the First ASAN Symposium
16 Dec 2011 | 7:11 pmThe 3 part blogging edition of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network’s symposium: Scientific research, Education/Employment/Inclusion in the community, and Pre-natal testing issues. I am not a trained scientist, but this is what I brought out of this meeting. Here is Part I: An interesting slogan that came up during the symposium: Admit how little we know, Admit how much of our knowledge is invented/shorthand/tentative What I learned about ETHICS from the symposium: Equity and Excellence Tender care High expectations and presumed competence Inclusion (separate is not equal) Community… -
A Week of physical illness and now I feel more gratified reflecting on who I am
4 Dec 2011 | 6:46 amAs I sit my room reflecting on a horrified week of how a stomach virus almost wiped me out completely, I am hearing a song on the radio; “You Gotta Be” by DES’REE. So, this past week I was sick. I had not written a post and most of you were probably thinking “What’s going on?” I have been reflecting this morning on what new future endeavors I can actually pursue building my future. Sometimes I think about this song “What’s Up?” by 4 Non-Blondes because it really takes the words right out of my mouth, WHAT’S UP?!! I think about who I… -
Silence is a Golden Opportunity to learn more
27 Nov 2011 | 8:29 amThe best way to teach someone a lesson when they can’t learn any thing else is by giving that person the silent treatment. Silence is very powerful in a lot of ways more powerful than hearing someone speak. Sometimes you need to be silent in order to get your meaning across. Powerful messages are sent across at least 2 people when nothing is being said. Body language expresses more feeling than the spoken word. Think about it! Before we could talk, thousands of years ago, there were no telephones, televisions, computers, or even conversations between 2 people. Instead there was… -
A Social Support Group I am starting where I live!!
23 Nov 2011 | 5:07 pmRelated Posts: Part I of the First ASAN Symposium How connecting to others truly heals us! Part 3 of the 3 part Blogging edition: Neurodiversity A Neurodiverse world where every one specialize in unique perspectives to gain momentum A posting from an AS meeting in Staten Island
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Have a Heart of Fire; Have a Heart of Gold
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An open letter to Kate DiCamillo
18 Jan 2012 | 10:58 pmI just finished reading my son The Tale of Despereaux. And when I got to the coda, Storyteller, I wept. Because right now, I am in a fair bit of darkness. (I am fighting it, like our hero, with needles -- not one brave needle pointed straight at a rat's heart with all of my might and passion, but with many ones: placed by a professional in proper acupuncture points.)Storyteller, I did what you asked: I imagined, for a moment, you as a tiny mouse, telling me your story with the whole of your heart, whispering in my ear in order to to save yourself and me from the darkness. And I thought: yes. -
Dear President Obama,
19 Dec 2011 | 11:14 amThank you for your letter which made it clear that your staff had not bothered to read my message regarding my horror at your support for the indefinite detention bill contained in the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.You wrote to me that "As Commander in Chief, I have no greater responsibility than keeping the American people safe." You are incorrect. You have no greater responsibility than to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. You swore an oath to protect it, and you are instead destroying one of its most important amendments. -
MERRY HOLIDAYS MY PEOPLE
17 Dec 2011 | 6:51 pm -
Writer's Block: Chicken soup
17 Dec 2011 | 10:12 amWhat is your cure for the common cold? View 562 Answers I hate to break it to you guys, but there isn't one. That's why I'm home with a fever today instead of going out and doing the awesome fun things I had planned.THANKS FOR RUBBING IT IN LJ -
cane geekery
8 Dec 2011 | 12:07 pmOH MY GOD YOU GUYS Thomas Fetterman, Inc. has tornado tips for canes now I AM GEEKING OUT SO MUCHhttp://www.fetterman-crutches.com/tips/cane/They also have the best ice/snow tips I have ever seen. Even if you only use a cane sometimes for stability on the ice or something I cannot recommend these enough. They look expensive but they last so long that you wind up saving money, and my tornado tips don't even slip on wet marble. Also they absorb impact so well your wrists will thank you.I rarely use canes anymore at all but I'm considering getting a tip anyway.
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Whitterer on Autism
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Interview with Alexei Maxim Russell
2 Jan 2012 | 11:06 amAn interview with Alexei Maxim Russell and a signed book give away! What [or who] is the inspiration behind Trueman Bradley? My inspiration, ultimately, was my brother. He was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome(AS) from a very early age and I have been close to him since birth. It was only due to him that I learned what Asperger’s was. In my day, growing up in 1980s Canada, there was no test for Asperger’s in schools. So, if I have it, or any other member of my family has it, we are largely unaware of it. Aspies can be adaptable and, if their natural tendencies… -
More Malapropisms
27 Dec 2011 | 2:46 pm“What does it mean?” “What does what mean?” “Suffering from Moose Wings?” “I think you mean mood swings.” -
Trueman Bradley, Aspie Detective by Alexei Maxim Russell
25 Dec 2011 | 6:31 pmI have just been reading this fiction novel and I think you might like it too. I plan to harass the author for more information in a most shameless fashion. Any first hand experience of stalking? Want to share? There must be lots of grandmotherly types, who track down and snare young men. Right? Oh right, I’m not a cougar:- More of a Tiggy Winkle:- But, far more dangerous with those prickles. Watch this space. Available for JKP and Amazon. You can follow him on Twitter, or facebook, or tap into his website. -
Malapropisms
24 Dec 2011 | 10:51 pmThere seem to a lot more of them lately. Maturity means a fresh perspective. Things which used to be invisible, are now noticeable. In the kitchen, after dinner, he takes his dirty plate over to the machine. “Why is it called that?” “Why is what called what dear?” “This thing, why is it called a death wisher?” “It’s not, it’s called a dish washer.” -
I Am in Here by Elizabeth M. Bonker and Virginia G Breen
20 Dec 2011 | 4:45 pmHow refreshing to find the story of an autistic girl for a change? Not that this is the first by any means, but there are certainly fewer. Here we read about Elizabeth, who is non-verbal, and how she learns to communicate through her poetry, which provides a staggering insight into the complex and super-sensitive world that many of our children experience. It is also the story of a journey of faith, about the comfort of prayer, the search for health and a cure, if only to learn and understand the true healing power of acceptance. Together, they provide inspiration to others to stay…
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Left Brain/Right Brain
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Does MMR vaccine travel in time?
27 Jan 2012 | 11:46 amThe news that the diagnosis of autism may be brought forward is primarily of importance because it may help identify children who will require specialised support. However, it is also interesting because it breaks the co-incidental temporal association that has been part of the reason the MMR vaccine-autism hypothesis gained traction. Since the behavioural cues for autism can’t be picked up well until after one year of age, parental concern about their child being different and autism diagnoses rose after administration of the MMR vaccine. This had unfortunate consequences for the… -
Infant Neural Sensitivity to Dynamic Eye Gaze Is Associated with Later Emerging Autism
26 Jan 2012 | 7:25 pmA study out today is causing much discussion. Infant Neural Sensitivity to Dynamic Eye Gaze Is Associated with Later Emerging Autism is by researchers from the UK, Canada and Australia: 1 Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UK 2 Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A1, Canada 3 Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia 4 Centre for Research in Autism and Education, Institute of Education, University of London,… -
The DSM 5 and autism
23 Jan 2012 | 7:32 pmA recent article in the New York Times has sparked a renewed heated discussion on the topic of Autism and how the DSM 5 may change how it is diagnosed. The Times article, New Definition of Autism Will Exclude Many, Study Suggests, has already been discussed here at Left Brain/Right Brain. At that time there was a paragraph from the Times which was troubling: The changes would narrow the diagnosis so much that it could effectively end the autism surge, said Dr. Fred R. Volkmar, director of the Child Study Center at the Yale School of Medicine and an author of the new analysis of the proposal. -
The Omnibus Autism Proceeding: effectively over
21 Jan 2012 | 12:00 amThe Omnibus Autism Proceeding (OAP) was held in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to group the large number of claims filed involving autism and vaccines. The Docket was opened on July 3, 2002, nearly 10 years ago. The last entry was placed 1 year ago. Since then many cases have been dismissed. About half the cases are left to hear, but the fact that the two causation theories presented (that the MMR vaccine causes autism and that Thimerosal causes autism) were both found to have no merit (“not even close” one special master put it) and no new theory is proposed by the… -
Trying to avoid bullying: like a groundhog trying to run from its shadow
20 Jan 2012 | 6:09 pmKids get bullied, and special needs kids even more so. Doesn’t make it right. But what happens when people are so proud of it that they want it recorded to video and posted to the web? That’s what happens in this video. A group of kids are bullying an autistic kid. Only one throws the punch, but another is ready and waiting with a cell phone camera to record the event. Kaleb wants to put the bullying behind him but, as he says, “It’s like a groundhog trying to run from its shadow.’ The bully has been charged with 2nd degree assault. 4 comment(s) for this post:…
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Susan's Blog
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“Dirt” Reviewed in Parents Magazine
26 Jan 2012 | 9:03 pmDirt has had a lovely interview and review in Parents Magazine. Yay! -
Milestones to go before I sleep
22 Jan 2012 | 7:16 pmWhen Nat was a baby, and we thought we were just “typical” parents, we celebrated each milestone just as all parents do; we acted and felt as if he were the first human ever. No one in the history of man had ever been as wondrous. He was our first baby, and the first grandbaby on both sides, and the first baby of my generation of cousins, and the first baby of all of my friends. Nat was “The Baby of All the World,” my mother used to proclaim — it didn’t make sense, and yet it makes complete sense. Nat was The Baby. To Ned, Nat’s nicknames were… -
Extremely Accurate and Incredibly Beautiful
22 Jan 2012 | 3:41 pm“Now what I have is disappointment. And that’s better than having nothing.” This is what young Oskar Schell tells one of the many people named Black that he visits, in search of information about his father Thomas. Oskar is the main character of Stephen Daldry’s film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, based on the beautiful novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. (That’s right, click on the Amazon link and buy the book, it is one of my all-time favorites, a stellar portrait of grief in the face of senseless tragedy; 9/11 writ small through the story of a darling… -
Next time hold the rice
17 Jan 2012 | 9:16 pm“It’s funny to see you with them,” Ned said to me on the escalator ride to the Cheesecake Factory. I was standing among my three giant sons, Nat, Max, and Ben (yes, Ben is now taller than me). We were going out to dinner for the last time before Max was to go back to college. “They’re all so much bigger than you.” I dropped back behind them. “Just let me bask in them,” I said. We walked in and waited for the table, which was odd because no one else was waiting, and yet the host said, “It may be a few minutes.” Nat then said to… -
Huffington Post/Amelia Rivera
16 Jan 2012 | 2:54 pmHere is my piece in today’s Huffington Post on Amelia Rivera and the medical establishment’s close-mindedness.
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Autism's Edges
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Moving Ahead in 2012
1 Jan 2012 | 2:30 pmIt'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 amI. 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 pmOur 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 -
An American (School) Girl: The Autism Edition
29 Sep 2011 | 6:47 pmOne of the worst things about eighth grade for our girl is the ringing of the bells between periods. Every time the alarm sounds, it jangles her keenly sensitive auditory neural pathways, and sets off a cascade of neurotransmitters to generate a flood of adrenaline. Instead of shrugging and heading from class to class, she races through the hallways as though pursued by a saber tooth tiger or a -
Swag: Or the Genius in Things
17 Sep 2011 | 9:40 am"Stressed? It's going to take more than a squishy ball. Right?" from www.supportforspecialneeds.com. Two weeks back I was finally getting around to storing the things from the BlogHer swag bags I'd hauled home from San Diego. The electric orange stress balls from Support for Special Needs were on top of the swag bags just as our girl was getting her backpack ready for school. Without much
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The Voyage
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Books by the Boy
23 Jan 2012 | 4:14 pmLately the boy has been drawing and editing pictures using his huge cast of characters to tell stories. He's fascinated by heroes and villains and works through his ideas via photos, videos and drawings. He made a book by printing out the following pictures, cutting and tapping the pages together. It looked perfect. I wanted to store and share these pages Duncan (to resurrect his old blog name) created. He is Robin 3D/Ryan, his friend is Zunarmy/Isaac and his brother is Sezon. Front cover Cast of characters -
Newspaper Article
2 Jul 2011 | 2:50 amI'm copying the recent article here as I don't expect it will stay on the newspaper's website for long. Sharon Fennell and her son Ryan on a flight to Orlando last yearPublished on Thursday 30 June 2011 09:12A local mum and member of the National Autistic Society Northern Ireland wants to help other parents/carers of autistic children get the most out of the school holidays and increase people’s understanding of autism. HELEN MCGURK finds out moreSCHOOL summer holidays can present a real challenge for parents of children with autism in Northern Ireland. People with autism often encounter… -
Hey Johnny Ball, how about an apology?
31 Mar 2011 | 4:40 amHi Johnny, old friend.You've been leading those poor gullible journalists a merry dance, haven't you, you old rogue?! Perhaps you never expected them to be so lazy that they wouldn't check what you claimed and learn for themselves that it was much ado about nothing? But what can we say, they're probably humanities graduates, can't be doing with all that old evidence nonsense eh!How did you come to find my blog post anyway? A Google search of your name didn't link here in the 1st 4 pages and I gave up after that, you must have gone deep to get to that post! I admire your stamina. But somehow,… -
Identity
30 Mar 2011 | 7:43 amI was driving with just Duncan in the car with me. He was quiet, taking time to dream, ponder, plan or whatever. I don't know- it's none of my business. Then he said a single word, "autism."I said nothing, just waited. He said it again. I said, "yes, autism...What is autism?"His response; "charming and delightful."I've often mentioned in passing when talking with him, that he is autistic, is a boy with autism. It's another facet of him like his curly hair, blue eyes and love of animated films. I've also told him over and over how wonderful he is, how he's perfect to me, funny, sweet, and yes… -
Celebrate the New School
24 Mar 2011 | 1:49 pmSo how about a charming anecdote?Today, Duncan's school held a sod cutting ceremony to mark the start of the new school building project. This is a really big deal- the building was approved 9 whole years ago but finalising funding was held up time and again. The current school buildings are totally inadequate- most classes are in flimsy, temporary buildings and the whole site is on a steep hill- and since many of the pupils are wheelchair users, that's just not good enough. So everyone in the school is really pleased that finally, the school the students need and deserve is to be…
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Life With Joey
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A Chord Once Struck
16 Jan 2012 | 9:06 pmI remember That Meeting. We were in a preschool classroom, and the topic was ESY. We had covered for the school the year before by placing Joey basically in daycare, and we knew it didn't really work very well. We came with the idea that we would be discussing Joey's issues of the year and how they might be addressed, and the need for him to have year-round service. We knew every educational study done supported autistic students having year-round services. We knew the government offices published guidelines that recommended year-round service for autistic kids. We knew the doctor, the speech… -
The Fight for Amelia
15 Jan 2012 | 3:17 pmIn my last post, I noted the post where Amelia Rivera's parents were told by a doctor that Amelia did not have a right to live because she is "mentally retarded" and "brain damaged." I was right. I didn't get any sleep that night. The thought that there are people- professionals who are supposed to be familiar with disabilities and the rights of people with disabilities- is terrifying. Note I didn't say "surprising." Unfortunately, we know better. We know the ignorance remains, even in people who should know better. Who are trained to know better. Who we trust to know better. Even people who… -
Nightmares
13 Jan 2012 | 5:01 pmI am not likely to get much sleep tonight. I read a blog entry about a child denied a life-saving kidney transplant- from a family donor- because she is "mentally retarded" and "brain damaged." That is a nightmare I have all too often: that Joey might be denied medical care because someone deems him to have "low quality of life" because he is autistic. It is a very real and near fear. After all, we have to fight- often fight hard- for people to respect his right to an education. We had insurance that denied his right to certain therapies (fortunately, JoeyAndyDad got a new job with new… -
All taken care of
11 Jan 2012 | 2:06 pmOne of the strangest things people say to me when we talk about Joey is "God has a special place for you in heaven!" or the now-more-common, "God will reward you!" No, really, That's just... odd to me. Now, I know some folks get very offended by such statements. I don't. I understand that the person means to be friendly, comforting, and sympathetic to my role as a parent of a child with special needs. Sometimes it is hard to have a conversation with someone, and hear about hard days, and know what to say to a world that is totally outside your experience as a person or a parent. I used to say… -
A Growing Problem: Curbing Anger
5 Jan 2012 | 8:34 pmJoey is getting big. Like, big. He's nine and a half, and he's going to be a big man- even if I get his weight under control. We are starting to really understand the issues that come with being the parent of an autistic young man. For one, if he loses control, he could really hurt somebody. Like me. Or like Andy. I know I often leave off the blacker side of living with Joey, and trying to help him, but I am realizing that many more of us are dealing with issues of temper and anger than perhaps we want to admit. It is a challenge to teach any child about controlling frustration and expressing…
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Autism Spectrum Disorders @ BellaOnline
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Discrepancies through Support Network
22 Jan 2012 | 10:25 pmHoping to maintain positive support through our network of professionals. -
New ABA Skills for New Year
3 Jan 2012 | 12:06 amStarting second year of ABA in home for nonverbal teen son. Creating new life skills goals to work on for sessions. -
IHSS for 2012
4 Dec 2011 | 11:02 pmProposed changes to In Home Supportive Services for the State of California that may take place in January 2012.
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I Speak of Dreams
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Are You a Dyslexic Adult About to Take A Standardized Exam? DRA Wants to Hear From You!
27 Jan 2012 | 5:48 pmDisability Rights Advocates (DRA), a non profit legal center located in Berkeley, CA is seeking stories from individuals concerning issues of retesting on high-stakes graduate tests. If you have taken or will take standardized tests (LSAT, GMAT, and MCAT), DRA is interested in speaking with you. Watch the PSA below, featuring Ben Foss The 2 1/2 minute film below introduces DRA and Ben Foss If you just want to cut to the chase: http://www.dralegal.org/cases/education_testing/exit_exam_surveys/lsat-sat/ Cross posted at Academic Remediation -
Changing the French Approach to Autism
21 Jan 2012 | 3:12 amDavid Heurtevent is a 32 year-old autistic self-advocate from France, and is a spokesperson for “Support the Wall – Autism : Help Stop Abuse of Autistics in France Now” (in French, Soutenons le Mur) January 17, 2012: Wrong Planet published an article by David: Autism in France: Psychoanalysis, Packing, and Other Travesties: Why it Matters Selected quotes: Unlike most modern countries, the Autism Spectrum in France is viewed as a disease that can and should be cured. The dark-ages culture of neglect and abuse remains extremely strong. The documentary The Wall or…
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Look Me In The Eye
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What will the new DSM definition of autism mean to us?
23 Jan 2012 | 2:55 pmThere’s been a lot of talk about how the upcoming DSM V definition of autism will affect people on the spectrum. Last week’s news stories really got people talking, especially when one doctors suggested 75% of today’s Asperger population would not qualify for a diagnosis under the new definitions. Let me say at the outset, I think that 75% statement is inaccurate, and a substantial over-reaction to the available data. Many in the community were already upset at the DSM V proposal to combine the various autistic conditions under the single category of autism spectrum… -
Snakes Attack When You Least Expect It
3 Jan 2012 | 3:01 pmYou know, I have had a lot of strange experiences during my lifetime. Some are shared with other people. Others are not. Until today, I never thought I'd meet someone else who was attacked by a Flying Snake. But folks, here he is: January's Guest Blog, You Can Choose Your Own Adventure, by David Finch When I resigned from engineering to write full-time, my first order of business was to convert the spare bedroom in my parents’ house into my own, personal office space. I’m married, I have two kids, and I have my own house, but my parents still work -- my… -
Looking forward at the autism spectrum
2 Jan 2012 | 8:09 pmWhere is this autism spectrum of ours headed? It’s the time for New Year resolution, and mine is that we autistic individuals rethink how we present autism to the public. By now you’ve likely read that the latest version of the DSM guide proposes to merge Asperger’s, PDD-NOS, and all other autistic conditions into one diagnostic category, to be called Autism Spectrum Disorder. A number of parents and advocates for people with very severe autistic impairment have criticized that move, saying it will render people with both severe autism and intellectual disability almost… -
Christmas
24 Dec 2011 | 4:44 pmAre you ready for Christmas once again? I’m getting there . . . When it came time to wrap the presents for tomorrow, I found my supply of coal depleted. Nothing remained but a few crumbs. Local urchins must have been pilfering when I wasn’t looking. Something had to be done, and fast. I drove a few miles north to an area where the railroad runs close to Northeast street. Parking the car in the weeds, I set off down the track. A mile or so later, my objective came into sight: the old University coaling station. I walked down the line until I reached the… -
Toys
23 Dec 2011 | 3:08 pmThis morning one of the guys at work showed up with a doll for his kid. Look, he showed me, it pees and poops! I turned it over and sure enough, it did. Looking at the box, I saw the thing was a product of a major toy company, to boot. It reminded me of some of the other toy ideas that passed before our eyes, back when I worked in R&D at Milton Bradley. For example, there was Baby Black And Blue. BB and B had a special plastic skin, that changed color if you grabbed her by the legs and whacked her hard against a tabletop. Just like a real…
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Adventures in Autism
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OSHA Supports Health Care Workers Rights To Decline The Flu Shot
26 Jan 2012 | 11:11 amStatement from OSHA:OSHA's Official Position on Flu Vaccination of Healthcare Workers"The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is strongly supportive of efforts to increase influenza vaccination rates among healthcare workers in accordance with the Healthy People 2020 goals. However, at this time, OSHA believes there is insufficient scientific evidence for the federal government to promote mandatory influenza vaccination programs that do not have an option for the HCP to decline for medical, religious and/or personal philosophical reasons. … -
Offit Teaches Physicians How to Talk To The Public About Vaccines: Contemptuously Lecture, Stonewall, Bully and Throw Them Out
20 Jan 2012 | 9:46 amReading Jake Crosby's piece today on being thrown out of yet another Paul Offit speech, I am struck by the ironic pattern in these speaking engagements. Paul Offit (and Seth Mnookin) have been holding events at prestigious institutions to tell medical professionals and academics how to handle the public on the vaccine controversy. Yet I think that it is completely lost on them that they are not just giving a speech on how to handle people who question the current vaccine program, they are actually holding a lab, will full scale demonstrations, on how to handle… -
Hepatitis B Vaccine Can Cause Mitochondrial Disorders and Cell Death
19 Jan 2012 | 7:44 amApoptosis. 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 of this study was to… -
AMA Proposes Forcing People to Participate In Vaccine Trials
18 Jan 2012 | 7:05 pmYou read that right. The American Medical Association has published a piece in the Policy Forum entitled:Should Participation in Vaccine Clinical Trials be Mandated?I am absolutely apoplectic.The article, written by Suzanne Sheehy and Joel Meyer begins its argument for forced participation in vaccine trials with a quote from Highly Esteemed and Eminent Physician Ethically Challenged College Dropout Bill Gates. Because he is truly who you should be going to for medical advice. Cause... you know... he's rich.Few would argue with Bill Gates when he describes… -
Mechanisms of Aluminum Adjuvant Toxicity and Autoimmunity in Pediatric Populations
13 Jan 2012 | 8:16 amMechanisms of aluminum adjuvant toxicity and autoimmunity in pediatric populationsLupus (2012) 21, 223–230.L Tomljenovic1 and CA Shaw21Neural Dynamics Research Group, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC,Canada and 2Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Experimental Medicine and the Graduate Program in Neuroscience,University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, CanadaImmune challenges during early development, including those vaccine-induced, can lead topermanent detrimental alterations of the brain and immune…
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Hyperlexicon
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Subtype: Goofball
25 Jan 2012 | 1:29 pmI've been noticing that autistic characters, or characters with autistic traits, have been showing up in lots of TV shows and movies lately. Joseph Kahn at the Boston Globe noticed this too and wrote an article about it.I like that this is happening. Autistic traits are, after all, part of the spectrum of human traits, and they deserve to be represented in a variety of ways (not just in a Hallmark Hall of Fame tragic way) and they can make for pretty interesting material for character development and interaction within a story. But what I've noticed is that when I see autistic/Asperger's… -
It's been a good week
9 Dec 2011 | 8:43 pm -
You said "yes!"
1 Dec 2011 | 4:43 pmOn Monday night, I watched as donations to Flummox and Friends came in one after another, pushing us closer and closer to the $30K goal. But along with all the excitement, I was, frankly, exhausted.It's been quite an eventful fall, with this video project being just one of several things I'm juggling (though none quite as fun as this). We were $600 away from the goal and I assumed we'd hit it in the morning. "Wake me if we go over," I told Chris, somewhat as a formality, and got in bed.Ten minutes later, he shouted for me to get up and yes, we had gotten a donation that pushed the total to… -
Data visualization
5 Nov 2011 | 6:05 pm(Disclosure: I stole most of this post from my husband Chris' Tumblr.)After years of resisting art and non-homework-related writing, Ben has taken to drawing in the last couple of weeks in an astonishing way. Our dining room table is now covered with sheets of paper with his drawings and he'll happily sit for up to 30 minutes at a stretch, drawing scenes of from his favorite stories and movies.This one is my favorite. It's so revealing of how Ben's mind works. I'm glad he's found another way to express what's going on in there.(The description and reference image is from Chris.)Data… -
Walking and reading
31 Oct 2011 | 12:47 amThis might be my favorite picture of Ben ever. If you want to know who he is, this picture pretty much says it all.Taken by Chris, via Instagram
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Kim Stagliano
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Like Strohmeyer's Hair Color!!
24 Jan 2012 | 2:52 pm -
21 Jan 2012 | 6:37 am
21 Jan 2012 | 6:37 amDan Olmsted on Leroy New York Injured Girls: Beyond the Buildings.My colleague at Age of Autism Dan Olmsted is an investigative journalist. He was with USA Today when they launched and wrote the "Age of Autism" series for UPI. He and his writing partner Mark Benjamin broke the story of Lariam, a malaria drug given to US soldiers, causing neurological damage that lead to murder suicides. Here he takes on the poor girls of Leroy, New York, who have suffered tics and Tourette's like syndrome - and have been told by neurologists that they are "hysterical" - and have a Conversion Disorder. Which… -
House of Cards #16 on Amazon Free Downloads!
15 Jan 2012 | 8:16 pm -
14 Jan 2012 | 6:43 am
14 Jan 2012 | 6:43 amHouse of Cards by Kim Stagliano FREE This Weekend!My gift to you - FREE download of my funny, fast paced romantic suspense House of Cards. Don't forget the Kindle app is available for every device except your toasters and Nooks! Scroll down my blog for a free chapter too!Book Description:Bounty Hunter Stephanie Plum would think her life is easy compared to Kat Cavicchio's. When a car crash with a New England Patriot lands her sister in the hospital, Kat has to move in with her brother-in-law to take care of her young niece and nephew – with autism.The windfall accident settlement should… -
12 Jan 2012 | 5:36 am
12 Jan 2012 | 5:36 amCoffee And Coromega!I've been working on my health since January of '11. I started kickboxing. First I went two times a week. Then three. Then, as I got to know the participants and Shihan who owns the dojo, four times week. So now I go up to six times a week - every class offered. I was eyeing the Karate classes.... But I was too chicken to sign up. In September Shihan placed a uniform in my hand "You try." (Italian accent.) I tried. I now take 3 Karate classes a week. So the exercise part of health is well covered.Food: I'm a terrible eater. I don't love to eat to begin with - and after…
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speak softly....
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NICU Family Support
22 Jan 2012 | 3:04 pmLast fall, I had the honor of being asked to speak at a meeting of the South Carolina Perinatal Association. I gave a talk entitled “Through a Mother’s Eyes: The NICU Experience,” addressing how issues surrounding NICU culture can affect communication, privacy, and bonding. The audience was a wonderful mix of perinatal professionals, including physicians, researchers, nurses, social workers and developmental specialists. I’m sure I gained as much if not more from hearing the others speak as they may have learned from my simple words. From that talk, I was then… -
Three years
24 Jul 2011 | 10:56 amAnd still ever present in our hearts. Listen to bongos, swing high and hold those you love dear. Nothing else matters, in the end. -
Joy For Beginners
7 Jul 2011 | 10:23 amIn February of 2009, a treasure of a novel crossed my desk–The School For Essential Ingredients–one I read, reviewed and passed along. Enter the internet and a subsequent lovely contact from the author herself, Erica Bauermeister, who also happens to be mutual friends with some other dear folks from Literary Mama. This spring, Erica wrote to tell me about her new book, Joy For Beginners, which appeared this June. Like School, Joy offers up shifting and multiple points of view, reminding me of what I love about multiple points of view done well: not only do the storylines… -
And then it was summer
1 Jul 2011 | 3:51 pmReally? How is this possible? Never mind, it just is. I missed the rest of April, all of May and June but the blog is back, at least temporarily, for July and August. Since it’s summer, I must post the obligatory beach photo, taken yesterday, on the obligatory birthday beach visit: It was a beautiful day: warm water, decent waves, great company in the form of The Girl and two of her friends. I don’t have much to say about another year passing, another year older, except that I did manage to fit into a reasonably-sized swimsuit and boogie boarded for most of the… -
Spring break!
21 Apr 2011 | 10:03 amThank goodness, as I need at least a week to collect myself, answer emails, update the blog, you name it. As a result, the following is quite a hodgepodge, taken from my never-ending list of “to-do’s” and “to-done’s” (and the occasional “to-didn’t”–if I owe you an email, forgive me). First, in response to my post about reading in January, I received a note from a contributor to Elevate Difference, who herself wrote a review of Michelle Latiolais’ Widow. Head over to the site to read Kari O’Driscoll’s wonderful…
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Squidalicious
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A Case for Your iPad
26 Jan 2012 | 12:34 amA question I hear a lot, especially at iPad workshops, is "what case should I buy for my iPad?" My answer, unsurprisingly, is "it depends."Do you just need something to make your iPad grippable and/or protect the screen? Do you need it HULK SMASH-proof? Do you want to attach to the back of car seats so kids can watch videos in the car? Do you want it to convert to a stand in both landscape and portrait mode? Do you want it to be gorgeous, and go incognito as a book? Do you want a built-in keyboard? Do you want a soft, pillow-like stand? Here are some of the cases we and our friends use, but… -
Pizza Anxiety
23 Jan 2012 | 2:11 pmPizza *&* naan on his birthday. Thx, Zante's!Remember what a great thing pizza was for Leo? How it took an aeon of therapist-led food chaining to get him to eat it, how then he became such a fan that we we had pizza cake for his 10th birthday?Unfortunately, Leo now likes pizza so much that he's developed a severe case of Pizza Anxiety. If he knows there's pizza in the house, he can't think of anything else, can't focus on anything else. If he knows there's leftover pizza from dinner, he gets agitated and has a hard time going to sleep. If he knows there's pizza in his lunch box at school,… -
SF Locals: Camp Azure Fundraiser Concert Feb 18!
22 Jan 2012 | 2:30 pmSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 - SILENT MOVIE COMEDY CLASSIC WITH LIVE MUSIC!!A fun event that can be enjoyed by ages 5 to 100 -- autism and other abilities welcome!Camp Azure provides children on the Autism Spectrum with an affordable and unforgettable Summer Camp experience through San Francisco Recreation and Parks. Our first session last Summer was a great success! For 4 weeks, 32 kids ages 6 to 12 had a chance to enjoy outdoor fun and to "just be kids" alongside their peers. We had a long waiting list, though, and so we are happy to announce that this coming Summer, Recreation… -
Thirteen
17 Jan 2012 | 1:17 amIz isn't a tweener any more -- she's thirteen now, she's passed into actual teenhood, and it's mesmerizing. I'm grateful she still respects us, talks with us, and values our opinion, and we try to take care to reciprocate. I'm fascinated by the talented, articulate, increasingly coltish girl we drag out of bed every morning. While I know not all girls her age turn banshee, I also know that I was a bitchy, self-absorbed teenager -- so it's possible things might go south or at least get distant. For now, I'm cherishing every moment.So here's whats' going on with her. She's getting a cell phone. -
Happy New Year, Cephalopodistas
11 Jan 2012 | 12:16 amOh hey look it's the new year! Has been for a while. Erm.We did make a holiday card. We just didn't get around to sending out many. So I'm posting it here because I suspect we just won't get around to sending most out. Sigh. Road to Hell and all. (For those interested: drawn on an iPad using Zen Brush, then captions and colors added on my laptop via GIMP). Just how busy have you been? We have been approaching hyperventilation warp 10. We're ramping up on spreading the word about this new autism book you need to buy (and an interview by Laura Shumaker with the TPGA crew that you need to…
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The Karianna Spectrum
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The Bully. And the Truth.
24 Jan 2012 | 8:12 pmI was tracing my son's nose with my finger as he slept last night - Oh, come on parents, you know you do that. And you stiff their heads, even if the newborn smell is long gone - and I had a memory flash. For months, my younger son has had a problem with a specific bully. Most kids do at one time or another, and most of the time the kids who pick on my son end up showing remorse when an adult notices, or they are simply fickle, so any perceived slight one day is forgotten when the kids are... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Glory Days
23 Jan 2012 | 8:52 amSo, the Niners aren't going to the Superbowl. But for a moment I was reliving the Glory Days, if only for a second. I remember how I used to play with my grandpa's football, even though since it had all the signatures of the players, I really shouldn't have even been touching it. I remember eating in the Niners' cafeteria, knowing that I was exceptionally lucky to be ingesting the same lunch as the team, if only in smaller quantities. Rice and Montana were folks I met, not just people I saw on... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Watching Football, not at the Factory
22 Jan 2012 | 5:05 pmMy grandma lived a lot longer than my grandpa, but she didn't have to work or worry after his death because of his pension. Of course "pension" is a word practically unheard of these days, as is the concept of job loyalty, because of course, companies aren't loyal to their employees, so why would there be reciprocal feelings? Still, as I sat down to read the paper this morning, I saw a photo of Google employees bowling. The accompanying article naming Google the best place to work in America... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Lone Lime
21 Jan 2012 | 3:41 pm[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
A Brush with Greatness
14 Jan 2012 | 11:49 amI've been fortunate to have met a bunch of famous, influential, and/or special people in my lifetime thus far. Sometimes it is random, like running into David Hasselhoff in the parking lot of a mall, and sometimes it is a bit more planned, like attending a luncheon with Gorbachev, Queen Noor, and Colin Powell or hanging out with Elizabeth Edwards. Yesterday, my younger son and I had the opportunity to meet Shannon Miller. Many people may not recognize that name, but gymnastics fans who... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Stimeyland
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:(
24 Jan 2012 | 9:50 pmHey. It's not been an awesome couple of weeks, has it? If you're looking for funny and self-righteous outrage, can we just pretend that I posted this column about how terrible homework is here? Mostly, however, I just want to send my love to my friend Susan. She's one of the good ones. -
The Izz-Bird
18 Jan 2012 | 10:49 pmI had a cat named Izzy. She used to be Isabella, but about five minutes after I brought her home, I realized that Isabella was way too sophisticated for her, and Izzy she became. Also, sometimes Izz-Bird, or more accurately, The Izz-Bird. This is her: Now, I'm sure YOUR cat is awesome and all, but Izzy is the best cat. She spent the first half of her life being a silly, playful cat and then she relaxed into a wonderful, cuddly cat for a long time. I used to have to fake sleep in the morning, because if she caught me with my eyes open, she would poke at my face with her paw so I would pet her. -
Rear Window
17 Jan 2012 | 9:40 pmMy family is having a little bit of a pet crisis today. It will be "resolved" tomorrow, but not in the happy way. I'll tell you about it later. I decided to tell you about something different and light and funny because it is less sad. Somewhere along the line, I decided that the light and funny post should be about my rear windshield wiper. Because that is a logical leap. I think I mistook "light and funny" with "stupid and boring." I even Photoshopped a whole graphic about the rear windshield wiper story. Then, I got ready to actually write the post and I looked at the notes that I'd… -
Finally. A Good Parenting Decision.
16 Jan 2012 | 10:44 pmYou know how I always dress Jack in camouflage, which is the dumbest thing ever because he likes to explore plants and dirt and whatnot, but always at the periphery of whatever location we are in? Well, Alex and I smartened up. After Jack took apart the zipper on his last winter coat (which was black with camouflage-y markings), making it substantially less warm, we bought him a new coat—in the brightest color the store had. It's even brighter than it looks. We will never lose him again. Also, because January is apparently spring, all winter coats seem to be 50-70% off. Awesome. And, yes,… -
A Little Bit About Everyone
12 Jan 2012 | 10:22 pmI'm kind of avoiding a lot of stuff right now, so I decided to tell you about a few things that have been happening around here, things that might not make their own successful post, but will do nicely when stacked together. Hey, do you remember Quinn's school photo? The one that was so bad that I had it retaken? The one wherein his eyes were closed? If you don't remember, you should go look at it now before you continue on. Well, I sent him in for his retake and told him to try to keep his eyes open. Then I sat back and waited for the arrival of a retake photo in which Quinn's eyes were…
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Bringsmejoy
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I forgot…
14 Jan 2012 | 6:55 pmSometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to help Brandon navigate thru his life with Autism I forget he is also dealing with another challenge, Epilepsy. I hit me tonight as we got close to bed time, I was getting his vitamins and meds ready. Brandon has be on anti-seizure medication since he was 3 years old. His meds were just increased in the past 6 months because he is growing so fast so he needed more to keep the seizures under control. He has not had any in sometime and honestly I hope I never witness one of them again. I must say if I could pick one of the challenges Brandon has to… -
WOW! I feel like I found gold!
8 Jan 2012 | 8:22 amI found a website that has got to be one of the best tools out there for a parent who has a child on the Autism Spectrum. Please check it out and sign up. See below for what this website can help you do. http://www.myautismteam.com What is MyAutismTeam and how do I use it? MyAutismTeam gives you the easiest way to find the best providers who can help your child thrive. Share with other parents like you, and learn from their experience. We’re still in the early stages of MyAutismTeam, and have already pre-populated our searchable database with over 30,000 providers from our growing list… -
Louder Than Words
7 Jan 2012 | 7:23 pmI finally got around to catching up on some reading. I just finished Louder Than Words by Jenny McCarthy. A very good read and a great perspective on how a parent navigates through learning their son has Epilepsy and Autism. Jenny does a great job of capturing the raw emotions as a parent, particularly a mother goes through upon learning there is something seriously wrong with their child. Jenny walks you though the process all of us who have a child with Autism go through on a daily basis, from being frustrated with doctors who don’t seem to have a clue to the TSS… -
Regression or growth spurt?
4 Jan 2012 | 10:52 amThe past couple of weeks have been extremely rough on the family. Brandon who is currently 7 years old and has Autism has increased his self stimming actives by 1000% or at least it feels that way. His stimming activities include uncontrolled laughter when there is nothing funny, finger tip skin picking, throwing himself on the ground (hard to the point of causing pain) to name a few. He has also shown an increase in the amount of emotional breakdowns. This past weekend he broke down at a restaurant because he could not decide what to have for breakfast, french toast or pancakes. -
What is it like to have an Autistic kid.
2 Jan 2012 | 7:19 pmRecently I have been watching a tv show called Parenthood on NBC. This show for me as a parent of an Autistic boy hits the nail on the head. The core family in the show has a son who is Autistic who is about nine years old and they have a daughter who is in her teens. The mother stays at home to help facilitate getting help for her son with special doctor appointments, and therapy workers. While the father works at a company that makes shoes. I honestly think this has got to be one of the best advocacy agents for awareness of Autism. And I thank all those involved in making of the show…
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from here to there and back
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Friday moments
27 Jan 2012 | 9:02 amOh, the irony of having spent much of the week reluctantly shuffling off to school, only to wake up at 4am Friday morning with a croupy, sinus-y, yucky cough. Friday, you see, is his favorite school day and now, in his words, he must wait an entire long and boring week for his favorite day to roll around again. So we have rain and convalescence. Pajamas and new books from yesterday’s book fair. We have something like 26 recorded episodes of Top Gear on BBC, and hopefully this afternoon there will be naps. Please. It’s been one of those weeks. Extreme highs and extreme lows. -
State of the art
24 Jan 2012 | 7:13 pmAt dinner with friends Saturday night, a celebration—amazing food, good wine, even better conversation—a dear friend asked, “So, when do we get to read your book?” This friend, a talented and savvy musician who writes beautiful lyrics, asks me this question every time we are together, and usually I demur, change the subject or drink another glass of wine. But here’s what I told him, “Soon.” I am creeping up on the halfway mark. Finally. And while I don’t want to question where the inspiration is coming from, I am grateful to find it in abundance. I go… -
Before
20 Jan 2012 | 3:26 pmA long time ago, before I was a mom and before I moved to Mayberry, I took a writing class at NYU. It was my first foray into the world of writing fiction. The instructor was dynamic and persuasive and she must have seen something in my effort because she somehow convinced me to join her private writing group. She called it a salon. So, there I was, workshopping my fiction with Sarah Lawrence MFA grads and Breadloaf alumni and I really had no idea at all how to write a short story. I wrote scenes. Vignettes. Bits and pieces of things that I thought could be the opening chapters of a novel. I… -
Notes from a scene
17 Jan 2012 | 4:46 pmToday, out for a short walk, I composed the book’s next scene in my head. I was inspired by the early light, the brisk wet morning, the rain glistening on the sidewalks. When I got to my destination, I opened the notes app on my iPhone and frantically typed so I would not forget my ideas, my thoughts. Later, back at my desk, I saw the note was already in my computer via the Cloud. After a long day of freelance work, I opened it then, to see what could be salvaged from that early morning flash of inspiration. Here’s what I found: Emma saw him again the next day. And the day after… -
Small and nearly insignificant
16 Jan 2012 | 9:08 amSometimes it’s the little things that give me a big boost. Like finding a cool fish eye lens app for my iPhone. Or getting lost inside the pages of a good book. It can even be something as small and nearly insignificant as the graceful bend of a tree dimly lit by the rising moon. Last night James and I sat at a small table in a beautiful restaurant. The dining room, once the heart of a bustling old bank, was filled with gold and blue light. Windows, stretching up to the 30 foot ceiling, lined the exterior wall. It was a special room. One that made me think of weddings and private…
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The Quirk Factor: Resistance is futile...
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Happy New Year!
31 Dec 2011 | 10:55 am -
2011 can suck it.
29 Dec 2011 | 1:51 pmHang 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
25 Dec 2011 | 10:23 pmWishing everyone a very Happy Holiday Season!Love,Chez Quirk -
The big 5 -
14 Dec 2011 | 7:40 amHappy 5th BirthdayRYLAN!You are full of all kinds of awesome.We love you! -
It's a *Red Rider BB* gun...
13 Dec 2011 | 1:39 pmThe kids saw Christmas Story for the first time, and apparently it was a hit, because now Rylan wants a "Red Rocket Beaver Gun".Nice.He may shoot more than just his eye out.
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Elvis Sightings
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The Peking Acrobats, Redux
28 Jan 2012 | 6:52 amMy favorite post from my first year of blogging (all the way back in 2008!) was called Spin, Spin, Spin. It referenced an occasion when I'd gone as a chaperone with Rose's class on a field trip to see the Peking Acrobats, and one particular part of the act where a troupe of women danced while spinning multiple plates on sticks. I mused that the spinning-plates act had a great deal in common with my life! Actually the controlled chaos of the field trip itself was something of a spinning plates act. Busloads of kindergarteners and first-graders from all over the district descended on Madison's… -
Stuff We Don't Let Her Do
23 Jan 2012 | 4:22 pmSo I was home with Joy today in between school and her afternoon therapy session, and she was happily watching a video upstairs in the living room, and I thought "Surely it wouldn't do any harm to sneak downstairs and answer a quick e-mail, right?" So I did that, and then one e-mail led to another, and then I quick peeked at Facebook, and Joy was still making happy sounds and so several minutes did go by before I trotted upstairs again to check.And there was Joy, with her sister's new Christmas camera, which had been imprudently left on the mantel that morning.The camera was on, rather… -
She Has a Dream
16 Jan 2012 | 6:17 amI have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.In the middle of a conversation about school earlier this week, Rose told me about an activity that her class had done. In anticipation of the holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., they talked about King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech, and then they were assigned to come up with a dream of their own to share with the class.Rose's dream was that her sister Joy would get a good education and… -
Satisfaction
31 Dec 2011 | 7:46 amDuring the holiday-preparation whirlwind earlier this month, I also had the chance to help out a couple of students doing end-of-semester projects relating to special needs. My niece interviewed me by e-mail with a series of questions about Joy's diagnosis and development and how our family manages. Between my answers and this blog, she wrote up a paper that earned her a 100% grade, highly satisfactory!The other interview was by phone with one of the LEND trainees we mentored this fall, who had an occupational-therapy survey for me about OT goals and progress. There was one flavor of question… -
Songs of the Season, Part 3
24 Dec 2011 | 6:30 amChristmas Eve, and the final installment in this Songs of the Season series.I wasn't the only one to set up an annual holiday letter with a musical lead-in this year. GrandpaJ and GrandmaJoy sent an entire letter premised on the blessing of music in their lives in 2011. Their letter began with a story that involved their granddaughter.Both grandparents volunteer regularly to visit inmates at a correctional facility. GrandpaJ has been matched with one fellow in particular for quite a few years now, developing a cautious but meaningful relationship over time. In early December, this man sang a…
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Disability Scoop
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Teens With Autism Avoid Email, Social Media
27 Jan 2012 | 12:26 pmEven as teens with autism use television, computers and other screen-based media more than their peers, new research suggests that they're shunning some of the Web's most popular offerings. -
Institutions To Close Under Deal With Feds
26 Jan 2012 | 11:23 pmIn what Justice Department officials are hailing as their third landmark ADA agreement in as many years, one state will make strides toward enhancing community living for people with disabilities. -
For Kids With Autism, ‘Inner Speech’ Key To Problem-Solving
25 Jan 2012 | 11:25 pmTeaching kids with autism to talk things through in their heads could dramatically improve their ability to deal with everyday problems, new research indicates. -
State Special Education Rates Vary Widely
24 Jan 2012 | 11:05 pmRhode Island is the smallest state in the country, but it has every other state beat by one measure: A higher percentage of its students are in special education than anywhere else. -
Most Parents Pleased With Role In Child’s IEP
24 Jan 2012 | 12:37 pmDeveloping a special education program for any child can be a contentious process, but new research suggests most parents are satisfied with their inclusion at IEP meetings.
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Morgan Autism Center
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Moving to a Group Home
13 Jan 2012 | 2:40 pmClearly one of the most agonizing decisions a parent has to make is when and how to place their child with autism (or any other significant disability). This morning, we got a call from a distressed single parent, overwhelmed by the needs of her adult daughter, Jane. Over the years, Jane's mom has carefully explored the options for her daughter, but even in very difficult times, still decided to keep her daughter at home. Like so many other parents, she has concerns about her daughter's safety. She also knows no one will care for Jane in the same way she does. Who will talk with Jane when she… -
A New Year's Resolution...2012
1 Jan 2012 | 12:48 pmWatching TV, internet or reading the newspapers, we are bombarded with 2011 lists, based on whomever's opinions; 10 best/worst movies, 50 most significant events, 75 topics most discussed, etc. Just who are these people anyway who make up these lists, and why should we assume their opinions are ours? But more importantly, what do these lists have to do with real people? I suppose it makes us reflect somewhat on what occupied our minds over the last year, but let's face it, its all hindsight now. And unless it makes us change our direction to not repeat mistakes, its probably better left in… -
Learning by Doing
2 Dec 2011 | 3:37 pm"To 'learn from experience' is to make a backward and forward connection between what we do to things and what we enjoy or suffer from things in consequence. Under such conditions, doing becomes a trying; an experiment with the world to find out what it is like; the undergoing becomes instruction--discovery of the connection of things." John Dewey wrote those words about education way back in 1916 and they are still very relevant today. And even more so regarding the learning process of autistic persons. While rote learning is important in autism to master routines, it is also important to… -
Thoughts on Thanksgiving
23 Nov 2011 | 1:45 pmNotwithstanding the difficulties that families have living with autism, there are still many positive things we all learn from being around autism. Probably the one thing I find the most valuable is the Zen concept of living in the moment. The world around us may be falling apart, our budgets may be cut to the bone and discord among our politicians reigns, but that doesn't bother kids with autism. What do they care about all that and indeed, why would they? They are much more concerned with the present and what is right in front of them. They make us all practice "mindfulness", and teach us… -
Adolescence and Autism - Don't Stop Teaching!
18 Nov 2011 | 4:29 pmPeople with autism may go through many differentdevelopmental stages in their lifetimes, probably the most dramatic beingadolescence. Puberty is typically evident in our autistic kids a year or twobefore there are any physical signs, and then, most unfairly, lasts much longerthan it seems to linger with typically developing students. Very few peoplerecall those mostly middle and early high school years with nostalgia, so justimagine the chaos the hormones inflict on kids with autism. But there is somegood news for those families in the throes of adolescence. If we can get theirkids safely…
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Facing Autism in New Brunswick
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Millions for Woodstock Civic Center But No Time to Answer a Simple Adult Autism Care Question
25 Jan 2012 | 1:55 amSecond from Left, NB Premier and Woodstock MLA David Alward PHOTO BY MICHAEL MACDONALD/NBCC WOODSTOCK On January 4 2012 I emailed New Brunswick Premier David Alward and relevant cabinet ministers the following inquiry which asked simply whether his government was considering helping autistic adults and is working on a modern, reality based model. I also asked if such an undertaking was not being considered to please say so straight up. Health Minister Madeleine Dubé's office was the only one to acknowledge receipt of my email. I have received no substantive response to… -
Catherine Lord Confesses: DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder Intended To Exclude Intellectually Disabled
21 Jan 2012 | 1:07 pm"Catherine Lord, the director of the Institute for Brain Development at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and a member of the committee overseeing the [DSM-5 autism] revisions, said that the goal was to ensure that autism was not used as a “fallback diagnosis” for children whose primary trait might be, for instance, an intellectual disability or aggression." [Bracketed terms added for context - HLD] - Dr. Catherine Lord, as reported by NYT High Functioning Autism/Asperger's reporter, Amy Harmon, A Specialists’ Debate on Autism Has Many Worried Observers, New York Times, January… -
NB Ombudsman's Centre of Excellence is a Fantasy That Will Not Fill Residential Care and Treatment Needs of Severely Autistic Adults
15 Jan 2012 | 5:14 pmThe Bricks and Mortar Office of the Ombudsman 548 York Street,Fredericton,New Brunswick, at the Staying Connected consultations,in which I participated, Ombudsman Bernard Richard and NBACLPresident Clarence Box both dismissed Long Term ResidentialCare and Treatment Facilities for Autistic Youth and Adults as "Bricks andMortar Solutions" The Centre of Excellence which the Ombudsman'soffice has promoted so heavily is not an actual center, it is abureaucratic fantasy which will not provide a place to live and receive treatment for severely autistic youth and adults. As a former Autism… -
2011 Autism Progress or Back to the Future?
14 Jan 2012 | 7:30 amWas there any progress in addressing autism disorder issues in 2011? In the humble opinion of this father of a severely autistic 16 year old there was very slight progress on the research front, very slight, and that progress was more than offset by the regression on other fronts particularly in the area of autism awareness. The hard core reality is that in the six years since I began this blog and in the nearly 14 years since my son was diagnosed with autistic disorder no substantial progress has been made towards curing, treating or even understanding autism disorders. -
Autism, Obesity and Medication: Our Run, Jump, Fly Boy Says NO THANK YOU!
10 Jan 2012 | 4:35 amRun, Jump, Fly Boy 2007 Run, Jump, Fly Boy 2011 There are many news reports concerning possible connections between obesity and medications prescribed for children and adults with autism and other developmental disorder. Those reports help stiffen our resolve to avoid medications for our autistic son Conor, our Run, Jump, Fly Boy. In the article In Treating Disabled, Potent Drugs and Few Rules the NYT examined the psychotropic medications given with few guidelines to children with developmental disorders and the possible harmful effects, including obesity, anxiety and in some…
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Everyday Adventures
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School / IEP update for Bitty
8 Jan 2012 | 7:06 pmA while back I posted about some of the difficulties Bitty has been having in school. Shortly before Thanksgiving, we had a meeting with the school to review his IEP and discuss changes to help better meet his needs. We learned that he was basically requiring almost constant one-on-one support from the resource teacher / parapros in his class which isn't really what they are set up to do. The challenge comes down to communication - if the subject is straightforward and doesn't require much verbal explanation he does great. Spelling, for example. He is a spelling kung fu master :). On the… -
Little Bitty and Talkin' Santa
26 Dec 2011 | 10:54 amDh found a talking Santa app for his phone, basically it repeats back whatever you say and Bitty LOVES it. I love his laugh, and the way he pronounces "talkin'" :). Thanks for reading my feed! Feel free to stop by and leave a comment to let me know what you think :). -
End of November: Getting ready for Christmas
26 Dec 2011 | 10:46 amFound this in my drafts from 11/27, apparently I left it unposted until I could upload the pictures to go with it, and then forgot about it. Can't believe it's been a month since I posted! ---------------------------- Sometimes it's nice to get a break from the routine, even if we do pay a price for it (it's always such an ordeal to get back into the routine once it's been disrupted, especially for Bitty). The boys had the whole week this past week off from school, so I took some time off from work too. We already had Thursday and Friday off, so I took an extra day and a half so I could spend… -
Sweetness
19 Nov 2011 | 9:56 pmLittle Bitty actually sleeps in his own bed these days (that was a several-years-long process) but he likes for me to stay with him until he falls asleep. On the rare days that I try to just tuck him in and not climb in next to him, he reminds me, "you wan' to sweep wif me." He's just too cute, and I know I'm going to miss this time when he's older (I already do with Cuddlebug and Bearhug) so I just go with it :). Anyway, so tonight I was laying there next to him, waiting for him to go to sleep when he reached over and put his little arm around me, patted me on the back and said, "I wuv you."… -
Backyard photo session
19 Nov 2011 | 9:41 pmWe took the boys to have their pictures done (we haven't done that in two years, because it is such an ordeal). Despite talking with the photographer ahead of time to give them a heads up about the boys' issues and the fact that it generally takes some extra time and patience to get some decent pictures of them, it didn't go so well. She tried, but made it kind of a chore and the boys ended up having an "off" day and weren't being particularly cooperative. I decided to try taking some myself instead. I have friends who do their own photo sessions with their kids around town and was inspired…
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Fickle Feline
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embrace the journey, forget about the destination.
5 Jan 2012 | 7:54 pmResults are very important to me. In fact, perfection is preferred, and planned for. Even the things I do to "relax" are about creating a final product that will be pleasing. Cooking a meal that will taste good to everyone. Working out so I can look like the folks in the P90X dvds (a girl can wish). Taking a photo that will accurately capture how beautiful my children are. No matter what, I'm always scoring myself and internally telling myself how I can improve next time.What if I didn't care about the results at all? If I had nothing invested, except the time it took to sit and breathe? -
tearing down christmas.
2 Jan 2012 | 6:18 pmI find solace in taking down all of my Christmas decorations after the new year. I breathe a sigh of relief with every breakable ornament I wrap up, sorting through stockings, folding the poinsettia table cloth and snow man napkins, and figuring out how to get the nutcracker back into his box. If there were any champagne left in the house, I would have finished it off, as if to celebrate making it through another Christmas.For the most part, I love the holiday season. And it's way better with kids. This year we saw (most of) a Christmas movie in the theatre, made gingerbread cookies (and… -
the big kahuna of depression.
31 Dec 2011 | 9:46 amAs I reflect back on what was 2011 consider what I will strive for in 2012, the elephant in the room is "depression". Unfortunately, it played a dominant role in 2011 and put a damper on some incredible experiences and opportunities. It made me doubt myself and hate myself and held on with all its might no matter what I tried to do to shake it. Thankfully, my doctor, family and friends are a patient and supportive bunch and they stuck by me while I worked through this "big kahuna of depression".The fun thing about meds is that you don't just magically start taking a new one and stop taking an… -
this is how i do it: katrina of fickle feline.
30 Dec 2011 | 11:51 amWhen Ellen of Love That Max (she has her own Max) asked me to write a guest post for her site, I was completely honoured (she is a big deal and an incredible mom). If you'd like to check it out - it's online here. -
a christmas lesson from cam.
20 Dec 2011 | 2:05 pmChristmas is a strange time of year for me. I am tempted to completely overdo it, but I'm also stressed out because there is just so much to do. And I want it to be perfect, but I know it can't be. Most of all, I want my kids to grow up feeling like Christmas is a fun and relaxing holiday where everyone is happy (damn it!).Part of my picture of a perfect (and fun and relaxing) Christmas, is the kids having Christmas sheets for their beds. Specifically, flannel Christmas sheets. I have no idea where this came from (or exactly what is fun for kids about sheets?). I certainly never had Christmas…
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autismsciencefoundation.wordpress.com
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Sleep and Autism: Melatonin Study Adds Options for Sleepless Families
24 Jan 2012 | 8:00 amThis is a guest post from ASF Science Writer Jerri Sparks Kaiser. Jerri, a parent of four children, one of whom has autism, blogs for ASF from a parent’s perspective about the latest autism research. A former Congressional Press Secretary, Jerri is an experienced science writer and has written specifically about autism for many years. Before her life in PR, she was a trained researcher having earned her B.A. in Psychology at UCLA. She currently lives with her family in New York. By Jerri Sparks Kaiser Photo: jshj A new study by researchers at Vanderbilt University about giving melatonin to… -
IMFAR Travel Grants Funds Enable Autism Stakeholders to Attend the Leading Autism Research Conference
17 Jan 2012 | 10:05 amWe are now accepting applications for travel grants to send a limited number of parents of children with autism, individuals with autism, special education teachers, and other stakeholders to attend the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR). This year the conference will be held in Toronto, Canada from May 17-19. The awards cover up to $1,000 of expenses to be used for registration, travel, accommodations, meals and other directly related expenses, including childcare or special accommodations to enable individuals with autism to participate. Grantees are responsible for obtaining… -
Interview: Dr. Karen Piece Discusses the Success of the 1-Year Well-Baby Check-Up Approach
12 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pmDr. Karen Pierce is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosciences at the University of California San Diego, and the Director of Clinical and Functional Brain Imaging Research at the UCSD Autism Center of Excellence (ACE). An autism researcher for over 20 years, Dr. Pierce researches early clinical and neurobiological signatures of autism. Her “1-Year Well-Baby Check-Up Approach” has been embraced by over 170 pediatricians in the San Diego area, as it provides a non-invasive screening tool for babies around their first birthday. Over 20,000 babies have been given the… -
Blinking Study Sheds New Light on My Anecdotal Findings as a Parent
10 Jan 2012 | 11:12 amASF welcomes Jerri Sparks Kaiser as our newest Science Writer. Jerri, a parent of four children, one of whom has autism, will blog for ASF from a parent’s perspective about the latest autism research. A former Congressional Press Secretary, Jerri is an experienced science writer and has written specifically about autism for many years. Before her life in PR, she was a trained researcher having earned her B.A. in Psychology at UCLA. She currently lives with her family in New York. By Jerri Sparks Kaiser A promising new study about blinking rates in autistic children caught my attention this… -
Inhibition of Eye Blinking Reveals How Toddlers with ASD Attend Differently to What They Watch
23 Dec 2011 | 7:00 amDr. Warren Jones A recent study found that eye blinking may be an early cue for autism diagnosis (abstract). The Marcus Autism Center at Emory University, with help from Dr. Warren Jones, the Director of Research at the Marcus Autism Center, and Dr. Sarah Shultz, an Emory graduate student and the first author on the PNAS-published paper, have written a blog post for ASF which summarizes the study’s findings. One of the central goals in autism research is to better the needs and experiences of individual children on the autism spectrum, even and especially children who may not be…
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Autism Jabberwocky
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Untouched
26 Jan 2012 | 10:00 pmA new show involving a child with autism called Touch had its premiere on FOX this week. The premise of the show is that Jake, an 11 year old boy who "never speaks, shows little emotion, and never allows himself to be touched by anyone" but just happens to "obsessed with numbers—writing long strings of them in his ever-present notebooks—and with discarded cell phones", has the special ability to "perceive the seemingly hidden patterns that connect every life on the planet". The child's father, Martin, who "has tried everything to reach his son" and is "haunted by an inability to… -
The New York Times' DSM 5 Autism Coverage
23 Jan 2012 | 9:42 pmThe New York Times apparently thinks that life is too calm for people in the autism community. The paper has decided to shake things up a little by publishing a story suggesting that many people who have a diagnosis of autism now will lose their diagnosis under the proposed DSM 5 autism criteria. The story was published on Thursday night and was quickly picked up by news outlets around the web.The story, which is supposedly based on a "new study", is filled with hyperbolic statements like -Proposed changes in the definition of autism would sharply reduce the skyrocketing rate… -
A Tale of Two Autisms
3 Jan 2012 | 11:14 amI found the contrast between these two articles on autism in young adults to be rather striking. One the one hand you have a tale of two young aspies who are trying to find a way to make love work in the NY Times. While on the other you have an op-ed in the Washington Post from a mother who is gearing up to once again fight for her son and find an appropriate place for him because he cannot take care of himself.If you ever wanted to understand why there is a large divide between the self-advocate/aspie crowd and parents whose children have autism, look at the differences between these… -
Yet Another Thimerosal Study
22 Dec 2011 | 6:44 pmIn what could be considered an early Christmas gift, researchers in Poland have published yet another study that fails to find an association between thimerosal and autism. Well, I say Christmas gift, but really it is the sort of like the bunny suit that Aunt Clara made for Ralphie in the Christmas Story movie. After you open the box and look at it you are left wondering what was she thinking.If you don't know what all the drama is about when it comes to thimerosal in vaccines and autism, well you must have been hiding under a rock for the past decade. You might want to just go… -
Restricted Diets for ADHD
20 Dec 2011 | 5:45 amI think the abstract and conclusion for this new study says it all. There might be something to the idea that some children with ADHD are sensitive to synthetic food colors and could benefit from a restricted diet.What's old is new again...Meta-Analysis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms, Restriction Diet, and Synthetic Food Color AdditivesObjectiveThe role of diet and of food colors in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or its symptoms warrants updated quantitative meta-analysis, in light of recent divergent…
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AutMont
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Event Summary for the Week of January 16, 2012
15 Jan 2012 | 4:14 pmCheck out the AutMont Calendar to see all of the activities for this week as well as those coming up!Tuesday, January 17:Webinar: "Shift" and Progress in Disability Rights AwarenessNavigating the Financial World of the Special Needs FamilyWednesday, January 18:LDAMC Parent Connection: Accommodations and ModificationsExtraordinary Parents Night: Mainstreaming Students on the Autism SpectrumParent University: Help Your Child to Start Thinking OrganizedRespect, Empathy & Diversity: A School-wide Approach to Tolerance (DC)Thursday, January 19:Lecture: Gifted Children with Social Skill… -
Autism NOW January Webinars
15 Jan 2012 | 3:27 pmAutism NOW hosts webinars each Tuesday afternoon. All webinars take place from 2-3 p.m. Eastern time. The schedule for the remaining three January webinars is below.January 17: "Shift" and Progress in Disability Rights and Awareness—Mark Stairwalt of Shift journal will lead this webinar discussing the importance of press in the progression of disability rights and awareness. Space is limited. Register online.January 24: Super Allies: The Real Role of Advisors—Join the leaders and allies of the self-advocacy movement for a rich discussion on how to use advisors effectively to help them… -
M&L Special Needs Planning Workshops: Winter/Spring 2012
15 Jan 2012 | 2:45 pmM&L Special Needs Planning will host several lectures over the next few months concerning special needs planning. For more information, call 202-248-7113.January 17, 7-8:30 p.m.: Navigating the Financial World of the Special Needs Family—The workshop is an overview of the journey of the special needs family. It examines the unique process of providing and planning for such a family. Attendees will learn about about financial planning timeline and the difference between traditional vs. special needs planning. The speakers will address legal and estate issues, guardianship, special needs… -
Sports Plus Winter Programs
15 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pmSports Plus Winter programs are beginning this week. Swim programs began January 14 and Indoor Gym Programs begin on January 22nd. Access registration on the new Sports Plus website. -
Summer Opportunities Fair 2012
15 Jan 2012 | 2:27 pmThere will be s Summer Opportunities Fair for Special Needs Children, held at Ivymount School on February 26 from 1-3:30 p.m. Come explore sleep-away camps and local options for exceptional children.Ivymount is located at 11614 Seven Locks Road in Rockville. For more information, call the Ivymount School at 301-469-0223.
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Thrive On the Autism Spectrum
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Passive, Assertive, and Aggressive
4 Jan 2012 | 7:09 pmI frequently work with clients, both kids and adults, on the theme of passive, assertive and aggressive.This is an easy way to calibrate behavior in tricky situations, and a good way to interpret the behavior of others. My desktop dictionary defines passive as “accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.” Assertive is “having or showing a confident and forceful personality,” and aggressive is “ready or likely to attack or confront.” I like to think of these three words as defining a continuum, with the passive end considering only… -
The Holidays at Work
14 Dec 2011 | 6:49 pmThe holiday season can be tough for those workers who prefer a businesslike atmosphere. People have a tendency to chat more, there are lunch and party invitations, and generally more socializing throughout the day. Although individuals on the autism spectrum may prefer to focus on the job, I think it’s important to participate in some degree of the socializing. Coworkers will think you’re friendlier, and therefore more of a team player, and even more trustworthy, if they know you on a more social level. It may not make sense, but that’s the neurotypical mindset - NTs trust those they… -
Anxiety and Probability
14 Nov 2011 | 1:24 pmIn my last post, I talked about a practical and simple technique for dealing with anxiety. In this post I'd like to expand on some of those ideas. For many individuals on the autism spectrum, anxiety is a constant presence. I find it can be very helpful to view these worries in a more mathematical way. Although many people on the spectrum are very good at math, there's a common belief that math and emotions are two different things. As both an engineer and a therapist, I like to explore the intersection of math and emotion. You don't need to have an advanced understanding of… -
Dealing with Anxiety
4 Nov 2011 | 1:11 pmWhen is anxiety helpful, and when does it tip into that realm of being so distressing that it’s overwhelming? For many individuals, anxiety is too much and it prevents them from making good choices. All they want is for the anxiety to go away. But the reality is that some anxiety can be a good thing. Anxiety alerts us that something is wrong, that something needs to change. Anxiety catches our attention. The key is knowing how much anxiety is the right amount. Anxiety needs to be managed so we’re focusing on what we need to do, but that it’s not shutting us down completely. I think of… -
The Science of Evil by Simon Baron-Cohen
13 Oct 2011 | 8:09 pmSimon Baron-Cohen is a top autism researcher, and the author of numerous publications and several books. I find that his ease with explaining complex topics makes him especially easy to understand. (And, his publications are available on his webpage, which means those of us not connected to universities have access to his information. Thank you!) Dr. Baron-Cohen’s famous book, “The Essential Difference” discusses the differences between male and female brains and the idea that autism is an extreme male brain. In his new book, “The Science of Evil” Baron Cohen discusses his theory…
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Autism Blogs Directory
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A post from Autism Daddy...
16 Jan 2012 | 5:56 pmwww.autism-daddy.blogspot.com "A Letter To The Dads That Left Because Of Autism & The Ones That Are Thinking Of Leaving... (from a dad who stayed)" I hear alot on my Facebook Page from women who say that their husbands bailed out on their families/ marriages due to the stresses of autism in their lives. And every day I see another new Facebook page from single autism moms like "Single Mothers who have Children with Autism" and "Tales Of A Single Mom Raising A Child With Autism" The whole thing, the idea of leaving your family due to a disability sounds so completely bizarre to… -
When the Disability Community Works
16 Jan 2012 | 9:53 amWe're used to outrage in this community, of hearing or reading a story and running with it. Sometimes, it's to attack and condemn other parents or individuals, but sometimes, when the disability community works well, it's to gather together to bring about change, to fight for a family.This time, it's to protest a doctor at CHOP who told a family he would not recommend a transplant for their young daughter because of her cognitive disability.The mother, Chrissy, writes of this horrifying conversation at wolfhirshhorn.org in a post titled "Brick Walls." We can all imagine ourselves in… -
Showcase: Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer
14 Jan 2012 | 8:54 amCooking to Connect and CommunicateBy Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayerwww.kitchenclassroom4kids.comWe are fortunate that my son Georgegoes to school just half a block from our home at our local elementary school.He is an autism support classroom there, but our school district makes a greateffort to include George and his classmates in school events (Cheltenham'srecord on inclusion is one of the reasons that we bought a home here severalyears ago). This coming Monday, the school is hosting a service day in honor ofDr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as so many schools, places of worship and otherorganizations… -
Showcase: Catrina's Good Morning Autism!
9 Jan 2012 | 2:46 pmPlease click here to go to Catrina's blog.Mornings blow. We all know this. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all just wake up and jump out of bed and be happy, and cheery, and ready to take on the world? Ahh, but that isn’t real life, is it?I’m a neuro-typical adult, and I know mornings are bad for me. Just imagine how a morning for a child with Autism can be.Below is a video of a mother that is facing jail time because her child with Autism has been tardy to school too many times this year.Please watch it … and then continue reading. After I watched… -
The Help Group and Music For Autism Present...
9 Jan 2012 | 1:17 pmTHE HELP GROUP & MUSIC FOR AUTISM PRESENT A FREE INTERACTIVE CONCERT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIESON SUNDAY, JANUARY 29The Help Group & Music for Autism present the fourth interactive concert for individuals with autism and their families. Music for Autism offers professionally performed, enriching musical experiences in an environment where individual differences are celebrated. The one-hour interactive concert is broken out into three segments to include “concert time”, “conducting time” and “percussion time” where concertgoers are invited to join the…
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Countering...
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What I Didn't Want
26 Jan 2012 | 7:13 pmWe've worked hard since last month to try to save Frankie--three rounds of antibiotics, two stays at the vet for caths and shots and more, but yesterday morning, I knew that the fight was over. Although he'd been doing better, Monday night he became incontinent and ended up wetting the comforter and me when he jumped up on the bed to be with me.He didn't seem to be in pain, so we moved him to the utility room, and it looked like he was doing okay, only using the litter box, and we were able to love on him and hold him Tuesday night, although we didn't risk him sleeping with us.Wednesday… -
Bears are Good For Everything
20 Jan 2012 | 8:24 pm -
Ways to Deal with Important Appointments
17 Jan 2012 | 11:10 amGiven the recent attention regarding Chrissy and Joe Rivera and their daughter Amelia, I thought it'd be good to look at ways we can protect our children and make sure we don't have to rely on memory alone when it comes to important appointments we have to attend in regards to our children.Certainly, those of us who've attended IEP meetings know that it's recommended we record the meeting so that we have documentation of anything that was said in the meeting. And yet, I bet we don't all do that. I know I don't, even though I know my emotions will color my remembrance of the meeting.We're… -
The Decisions of Life and Death
16 Jan 2012 | 10:27 amI wonder...the doctor who told Amelia's parents he wouldn't recommend a transplant for their daughter based on her cognitive disability--does he love an animal? Would he do everything he could for a beloved pet, spare no expense?Amelia's story has been in my thoughts all weekend, as it has for so many in the community: the heartache, the fear, the outrage that her parents and family must be feeling. The very real frustration that CHOP can't talk about this case, can't do anything but offer platitudes and reassurances that they're committed to offering the best care, has to be something that… -
When the Disability Community Works
15 Jan 2012 | 9:23 amWe're used to outrage in this community, of hearing or reading a story and running with it. Sometimes, it's to attack and condemn other parents or individuals, but sometimes, when the disability community works well, it's to gather together to bring about change, to fight for a family.This time, it's to protest a doctor at CHOP who told a family he would not recommend a transplant for their young daughter because of her cognitive disability.The mother, Chrissy, writes of this horrifying conversation at wolfhirshhorn.org in a post titled "Brick Walls." We can all imagine ourselves…
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Different Roads to Learning Blog
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Reinforcement Development – Strategies for Teaching Students with ASD by Autism Partnership
27 Jan 2012 | 10:02 amReinforcement Development When discussing the importance of reinforcement often parents and teachers alike will comment that reinforcement doesn’t work because there is nothing that the child finds to be reinforcing. Often this is not accurate: there are lots of potential reinforcers but they are receiving them for “free.” That is they are not earned or technically they are not contingent. They watch TV, play on the computer or go on an outing without them being earned. If they were made to be contingent upon behavior they would indeed change behaviors. Moreover,… -
Reactions to the Proposed Changes in the DSM-V
26 Jan 2012 | 10:37 amThere have been a lot of strong reactions to the proposed changes to the criteria for an Autism diagnosis in the revised DSM-V. We wanted to present some thoughts from some of the people we rely on most: From Julie Azuma: We’ve all known for some time that the DSM V is going to exclude some children on the spectrum as in the Asperger’s Syndrome student. Everyone has been asking what we think about it. The article in last week’s NY Times, alarmed many of our families. When Different Roads started participating in the autism community back in 1995, Asperger’s Syndrome was little… -
Teaching Interactions – Strategies for Teaching Students with ASD by Autism Partnership
25 Jan 2012 | 10:10 amTeaching Interactions Teaching Interactions (TI’s) are another instructional format that can be invaluable in teaching children skills. This instructional technique was developed at the University of Kansas as part of the Teaching Family Model for delinquent youth. TI’s have several benefits as it allows for structured training of more complex, often sophisticated skills in a highly natural, interpersonal, expanded conversational format. TI’s are designed to teach complex skills (e.g., social skills, problem solving, etc.). They utilize shaping and reinforcement to teach a… -
Pick of the Week: NEW! Language Builder Picture Nouns Software
24 Jan 2012 | 10:19 amThis week, we’re so excited to introduce you to the new Language Builder Picture Nouns Software. We’re also thrilled to be the first to offer this wonderful program. For the next 2 weeks - to celebrate our worldwide exclusive on this new program - we’re offering you 15% off! Based on the top-selling flashcards – The Language Builder - this innovative software program transforms basic flashcards into an interactive digital learning experience. The 550 Images are taken directly from the popular Language Builder Picture Nouns 1 & 2. There are 550 images presented… -
Drive Me to the Sea
23 Jan 2012 | 3:18 amLast month, I was asked to support a viewing of a Japanese film about autism, “Drive Me to the Sea.” I was so excited that the Japanese community was interested in autism awareness that I threw myself into promoting the film without knowing the details of the story. I was doubtful that the film would portray autism appropriately (by my standards). Upon viewing it, it does. Everyone on the ASD spectrum is different but this film thoughtfully connects all of us affected by autism. The screenwriter, Kuniaki Yamashita, was a parent of a young man on the spectrum and a core advocate…
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Autism News and Views
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The Value of Facebook For Autism Awareness
17 Jan 2012 | 6:52 pm"Try to imagine a world where we don't talk about disabilities, but only abilities (pause for a moment). Now imagine our world now (again pause for a moment). Didn't that first world make you feel a lot better?"---Jerry Komar, Editor Autism News and ViewsThe Value of Facebook for Autism AwarenessLet me begin by explaining the purpose of this piece is not to promote Facebook. The purpose of this piece is promote autism awareness. Now that I have that out of the way, I do want to point out the value of Facebook in promoting autism awareness. In short, Facebook is a wonderful resource for… -
Top 10 Autism Research Achievements of 2011; First Responders Receive Training To Help Those With Autism; Autism Frostbite 5K; Choosing The Right Jobs For Individuals With Autism
1 Jan 2012 | 8:46 pm"In my opinion, focusing on an individual's disability minimizes that person's humanity. I've always had more success in focusing on abilities and the world of possibilities. After all, isn't that what living is all about?"---Jerry Komar, Editor Autism News and ViewsBefore I begin, I want to take this opportunity to wish all a safe, happy and healthy New Year.2011 Autism Research AchievementsAutism Speaks reported on the top 10 autism research achievements for 2011. These include major genetic discoveries to the importance of earlier autism screening. Take a few minutes and visit… -
Imitation Is The Sincerest Form of Flattery; B.J., The Therapy Dog; $26.5 Million Grant for Autism Research; Best Higher Education Programs for Students with Autism; Holiday Gift Guide: Books About Autism
20 Dec 2011 | 7:17 pm"It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using."---Marlee Matlin"Imitation Is The Sincerest Form of Flattery"There's a lot of truth to that famous quote. A recent study out of Michigan State University appears to show that teaching children with autism to imitate others may improve their social skills. Researchers have long known that imitation is a critically important development skill. It enables children to interact and learn from one another in meaningful ways. This particular study analyzed children with autism ages 27 months to 47… -
Are We Underestimating The Potential Of Children With Autism?; Another Source of Information on Autism; The 10 Commandments of Parenting; Suggested Christmas Gifts for Your Child; News You Can Use
8 Dec 2011 | 7:17 pm"The limits placed on people with autism are those placed on them by others." Jerry Komar, Editor Autism News and ViewsAre We Underestimating the Potential of Children with Autism?That's a question that's being asked more often. A recent piece in Scientific American {"The Hidden Potential of Autistic Kids"} suggests we are.Rose Eveleth, the author of the piece, points out researchers are beginning to rethink what the potential of children with autism really is. Their conclusion is worthy of additional study. We might actually be underestimating the overall abilities of children with… -
Tips On Overcoming Bullying; Self-Advocacy Booklet Now Available; Learn The Warning Signs of Dyslexia; Christmas Gifts For Children With Autism
28 Nov 2011 | 6:53 pm"The only limits are, as always, those of vision."---James BroughtonTips On Overcoming BullyingThe National Autistic Society reports that over 40% of children are bullied in school. Some studies report significantly higher rates, some as high as 90%. With such high rates, what are parents and teachers to do? The National Autistic Society recommends the following strategies:Help Your Child Tell Someone. Telling someone can be a challenge for a child with autism especially if they have difficulty expressing their feelings and emotions. Nevertheless, it's vitally important your child know he/she…
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Asperger's Diary
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A Dream That Leads to a Nightmare
24 Jan 2012 | 10:39 pmLast night, I had a dream. I was in a store with family, and I had an outburst, what we in the autism community call a meltdown. As the stress and frustration boiled over, I had to get out. So I ran.read more -
Love, Identity and Disability
22 Jan 2012 | 12:11 amEarly this month, the Susan Baer of the Washington Post wrote a wrenching piece about the life of Page and Robert Melton. In 2003, Mr. Melton, a former WP reporter, experienced a stroke which resulted in an anoxic brain injury, and significant cognitive disabilities. Billed as an uplifting story, for me it brought up strong feelings in me which I am still struggling to sort through.read more -
A Letter to the Lonely
20 Dec 2011 | 11:11 pmIt's the holidays again. A time for togetherness. For family and friends. That's what they say, right? Unfortunately, that's not the reality for many of us. Several years ago, I wrote a post about the way in which loneliness and the holidays often seem to mix for me, and many others like me.read more -
Autism, Ability, and Adaptation: Asking The Right Questions
4 Dec 2011 | 11:12 pmRecently, 60 Minutes did a moving segment called, "Apps for Autism." In it, they demonstrated the impact that the iPad has had for many people with autism who are unable speak. The segment demonstrated clearly how new tools and information can lead to breakthroughs that parents and professionals might previously never have expected.read more -
Views of Disability: Seeing the World through Another's Eyes
25 Nov 2011 | 4:26 pmI was still catching up with my own thoughts when my stepmother and I left the car and knocked on the door. The door opened, and in the dark interior, I saw the outline of a person. My stepmother greeted her friend, introduced me, and he invited us to enter. We were ushered into the dark entryway, as our host reached to flip on a light.read more
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Prosper with Aspergers: Autism Spectrum Facts and Solutions
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Here’s A Quick Social Skill For Children On The Autism Spectrum
22 Jan 2012 | 7:58 pm“You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” — M. Scott Peck I remember attending a counseling skills training seminar. We worked on some role play of effective listening skills. I found that when I felt the person ‘counseling’ me truly listened, I really felt cared for. And it reminded me of how important it is for me to listen carefully to my friends, co-workers, bosses, and loved ones. Yet how many times have we been accused, “You’re not listening to me!” Children, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum may often… -
How Adults With Aspergers Have Increased My Autism Spectrum IQ
15 Jan 2012 | 8:47 pmI think it’s about time that we who do not have Aspergers take time to learn about Aspergers from friends, loved ones, and acquaintances on the autism spectrum. The world becomes a better place when we can understand and honor each other’s unique personalities, strengths, and differences. I’ve been reflecting on lessons I’ve learned from some wonderful individuals on the autism spectrum. These individuals have been adults with Aspergers. I learned a lot from them because they’ve had time to live their lives, reflect on those experiences, and share those… -
What Everybody Ought To Know About Aspergers and College
8 Jan 2012 | 7:45 pmEducation is the best provision for old age. Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC), from Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers Aristotle’s got a point. The question becomes, ”Is college the best option for an individual with Asperger’s?” We could ask the same question for any individual going to college. College is helpful for many, but not all. There are many individuals who have great careers without a college degree. In fact, here’s a list of 100 entrepreneurs who did not go to college! On the other hand, statistics show that, generally, those with… -
Give Me 5 Minutes, And I’ll Give You 3 Top Autism Spectrum Research Sites
1 Jan 2012 | 7:58 pmWhere would we be without some of the breakthroughs research has provided over the last century and more? Thanks to the scientific method, autism spectrum research continues to uncover greater insights about autism, as well as solutions for individuals and families on the autism spectrum. Why Should We Care About Autism Spectrum Research? Here are few reasons I thought of: a) if you yourself are diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition, you’ll greatly benefit from learning all about it. John Elder Robison, author of Look Me In the Eye, talked about the big difference that self-taught… -
10 Things Your Child With Autism Wants You To Know
25 Dec 2011 | 12:32 pmI am constantly roaming around the internet in search of excellent articles regarding Aspergers Syndrome and the autism spectrum conditions. Recently I found this article, posted on a Facebook page called Responding to Autism. I am posting this article and giving complete credit to them. As parents, it is essential, in parenting children with Aspergers, to understand our children’s temperament, conditions, and general “hard-wiring.” This article will go a very long way to help you do just that! I hope you will enjoy this article as much as I did! Here is a most recent…
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autisable's Autisable
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To Whom it Does not Concern
27 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pmYou may not agree and you may not understand, but you also do not live this life. Your words play on every insecurity I have as a mother of a child like Sammy. But understand my drear. I don't make this happen, I do not make this up and I don't wish this on anyone. More Here... -
Spring Semester Stress
27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amLife for our collegeman has been pretty quiet these last few weeks. He has slept till midday. He did simple chores in the house. He stayed up all night watching TV and he ate like a pig. In fact, I have not seen anyone eat so much and yet remain so skinny. If we found a way to harness the power of a young male’s metabolism we could probably solve the energy crisis. But in the past few days, he has gotten nervous. The new semester starts on Monday and he is already feeling stressed. It's transition time. More Here... -
Children with Autism have Significantly Different Gut Bacteria
26 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pmToday, I’m passing my blogging pass over to the lovely ‘Soraya Janmohamed’ from OptiBac Probiotics : A study published earlier this month has found that autistic children have significantly different gut bacteria to children without autism. A novel method of analysis called ‘PCR’ (Polymerase chain reaction – a technique where scientists copy and examine DNA) allowed researchers to detect high levels of members of the bacteria ‘Sutterrella’in many of the children with autism, and in none of the children without. Sutterrellawas found in 12… -
Yes we DO need diversity!
26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amWebsters Definition of Diversity: 1. The state or fact of being diverse. Difference. Unlikeness. 2. Variety. Multiformity. 3. A point of difference.Social diversity is the existence of multiple cultures and types of people in any given area. Throughout history people of many beliefs, lifestyles, creeds, ethnic backgrounds, religions, disability and more have staked their claim to human rights the same as any man. This has been backed and enforced by the Constitution of the United States of America, similar constitutions of other countries and laws around the world. More Here... -
Book Review: Raising Resilient Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
25 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pmIn the past, the Raising Resilient Children series has helped multitudes of families everywhere approach hard-to-discuss issues. Now, Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Sam Goldstein focus on autism spectrum with their new book, Raising Resilient Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Strategies for Maximizing Their Strengths, Coping with Adversity, and Developing a Social Mindset (McGraw-Hill Professional; January, 2012; PB, $18.00), which offers parents guideposts and takeaways they need for children who have been diagnosed to develop social skills. More Here...
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From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism Blog
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From the Archives: Sensory Integration & Poetry
26 Jan 2012 | 10:49 amDecember 2001 and January 2002 were especially challenging months for me, and I didn't spend much time writing in my online journal. My brother had distanced himself from the family, so he wasn't around to celebrate the holidays with us; my grandfather...(read more) -
Dare to Dream
24 Jan 2012 | 5:56 amOne of the first things I learned when I began to suspect my daughter might be autistic was that I needed to completely let go of all of my expectations about her life. As a young and clueless single mother, I didn't have very many expectations to begin...(read more) -
From the Archives: Sorrow, Creativity, & Improvements
19 Jan 2012 | 7:10 pmTwelve days after the last post I shared from my journal archives , it was September 11th, 2001. Like many others, I was horrified, stunned, and confused by the events of that day and the ensuing aftermath that followed. The intense devastation I felt...(read more) -
The Drama of Almost-But-Not-Quite Snow Days
13 Jan 2012 | 3:51 pmThe last few posts in this blog have been extremely positive, haven't they? I guess it's because things have been, in general, going so well for A., and I've been excited about her progress and accomplishments lately. Well, just so you know I'm not 100%...(read more) -
From the Archives: A Spoonful of Sugar to Make the Bad Days Go Down
12 Jan 2012 | 4:34 pmThis was written the day after the really bad day at day care that I posted in this entry . It's testimony again to the roller-coaster effect of life on the spectrum, but it also speaks a great deal to the celebration aspect I mentioned in Tuesday's post...(read more)
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Big Daddy Autism
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Strangest Cure for Insomnia. Ever.
27 Jan 2012 | 8:41 pm. . © 2012, Big Daddy. All rights reserved. -
Brand New Book from Big Daddy and Autism Army Mom
12 Jan 2012 | 9:03 pm. That’s right. Big Daddy and the Autism Army Mom have joined forces to publish a brand spanking new book. The best part? If you are a Kindle Prime member, you can read it for free. The besterer part? Discount codes for our other great books are in there. Finally, the bestest part? It’s funny [...] -
Kindle!!!
4 Jan 2012 | 3:24 pm. Finally! Wit and Wisdom is available on Kindle! . . © 2012, Big Daddy. All rights reserved. -
Haircuts are Delicious!
2 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm. . © 2012 – 2011, Big Daddy. All rights reserved. -
He Doesn’t Even Like Mustard
28 Dec 2011 | 4:30 pm. © 2011, Big Daddy. All rights reserved.
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The Autism NewsThe Autism News | The latest news, headlines and open discussions about the Autism Spectrum
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Child Killed In Fire
27 Jan 2012 | 3:57 pmThe Autism News | English Investigators are looking into a deadly fire in Jackson County that killed a young autistic child. Police say the fire started around 6 Thursday morning at a mobile home on Amos Baker Road in the Sand Gap Community. They say a woman, a 2-month-old infant, and a 7-year-old child were in the home when the fire began. The woman and infant were able to escape but the 7-year-old, who suffered from autism, did not. ABC36 LEX18 – Latest Update LEX18 – Story Followup WAVE3 WYMT TV 57 Kentucky Please share your reaction! Give your opinion by filling out the form… -
School bus flips, no serious injuries reported
27 Jan 2012 | 3:43 pmThe Autism News | English January 27, 2012 (BIG ROCK, Ill.) (WLS) — Nine students and a bus driver were aboard a school bus that overturned Friday morning in far west suburban Kane County. Several students were taken to the hospital after their school bus wound up on its side in Big Rock just after 8 a.m. The accident happened on Granart near Camp Dean Road. The Kane County Sheriff’s office said no one was seriously hurt. ABC7 News Chicago Tribune Chicago Sun-Times CBS Chicago Please share your reaction! Give your opinion by filling out the form below. Share this news with… -
Notion in Motion: Wireless Sensors Monitor Brain Waves on the Fly
27 Jan 2012 | 3:35 pmThe Autism News | English A fighter pilot heads back to base after a long mission, feeling spent. A warning light flashes on the control panel. Has she noticed? If so, is she focused enough to fix the problem? Thanks to current advances in electroencephalographic (EEG) brain-wave detection technology, military commanders may not have to guess the answers to these questions much longer. They could soon be monitoring her mental state via helmet sensors, looking for signs she is concentrating on her flying and reacting to the warning light. This is possible because of two key advances made EEG… -
Elementary school principal rescues boy from frozen New Hampshire river after fell through ice
27 Jan 2012 | 3:30 pmThe Autism News | English ROCHESTER, N.H. — An elementary school principal in New Hampshire jumped into a frozen river to save a 10-year-old student who fell through the ice. Firefighters say that because of Principal Gwen Rhodes’ quick action, Andrew Brown was in the Cocheco River for just a few minutes. He had fallen through the ice Wednesday outside the Gonic School in Rochester. Rhodes said the boy, who has autism, ran away from a teacher and through the woods behind the school onto the frozen river after a morning break. Both the teacher and Rhodes took off after him and saw him come… -
Autistic kids generally shun e-mail and chat
27 Jan 2012 | 3:11 pmThe Autism News | English Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) tend to spend a majority of their free time in front of a screen, but little if any of that time on social activities such as e-mail or chat, according to new research out of Washington University in St. Louis. Researchers analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2, which includes more than 1,000 13- to 16-year-olds in special ed who have ASDs, speech and language impairments, and learning disabilities. CNet News Please share your reaction! Give your opinion by filling out the form below. Share this…
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Thrive On the Autism Spectrum
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Passive, Assertive, and Aggressive
4 Jan 2012 | 7:09 pmI frequently work with clients, both kids and adults, on the theme of passive, assertive and aggressive.This is an easy way to calibrate behavior in tricky situations, and a good way to interpret the behavior of others. My desktop dictionary defines passive as “accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.” Assertive is “having or showing a confident and forceful personality,” and aggressive is “ready or likely to attack or confront.” I like to think of these three words as defining a continuum, with the passive end considering only… -
The Holidays at Work
14 Dec 2011 | 6:49 pmThe holiday season can be tough for those workers who prefer a businesslike atmosphere. People have a tendency to chat more, there are lunch and party invitations, and generally more socializing throughout the day. Although individuals on the autism spectrum may prefer to focus on the job, I think it’s important to participate in some degree of the socializing. Coworkers will think you’re friendlier, and therefore more of a team player, and even more trustworthy, if they know you on a more social level. It may not make sense, but that’s the neurotypical mindset - NTs trust those they… -
Anxiety and Probability
14 Nov 2011 | 1:24 pmIn my last post, I talked about a practical and simple technique for dealing with anxiety. In this post I'd like to expand on some of those ideas. For many individuals on the autism spectrum, anxiety is a constant presence. I find it can be very helpful to view these worries in a more mathematical way. Although many people on the spectrum are very good at math, there's a common belief that math and emotions are two different things. As both an engineer and a therapist, I like to explore the intersection of math and emotion. You don't need to have an advanced understanding of… -
Dealing with Anxiety
4 Nov 2011 | 1:11 pmWhen is anxiety helpful, and when does it tip into that realm of being so distressing that it’s overwhelming? For many individuals, anxiety is too much and it prevents them from making good choices. All they want is for the anxiety to go away. But the reality is that some anxiety can be a good thing. Anxiety alerts us that something is wrong, that something needs to change. Anxiety catches our attention. The key is knowing how much anxiety is the right amount. Anxiety needs to be managed so we’re focusing on what we need to do, but that it’s not shutting us down completely. I think of… -
The Science of Evil by Simon Baron-Cohen
13 Oct 2011 | 8:09 pmSimon Baron-Cohen is a top autism researcher, and the author of numerous publications and several books. I find that his ease with explaining complex topics makes him especially easy to understand. (And, his publications are available on his webpage, which means those of us not connected to universities have access to his information. Thank you!) Dr. Baron-Cohen’s famous book, “The Essential Difference” discusses the differences between male and female brains and the idea that autism is an extreme male brain. In his new book, “The Science of Evil” Baron Cohen discusses his theory…
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We Go With Him
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Mud Puddles and Moonlight
28 Jan 2012 | 1:26 amEven after a characteristically fast-paced bike ride and three walks, Charlie had one of those night owl nights, still awake with 2am approaching. Unlike the... -
He Could Fly!
26 Jan 2012 | 11:13 pmWell, he certainly does on his bike. -
Still Getting There
26 Jan 2012 | 2:01 amCharlie has been having good mornings at school that taper off to tougher afternoons. He is certainly better, but not quite out of the woods... -
Random Bit of Progress, Duly Noted
25 Jan 2012 | 12:30 amAmid being sick (all that I've been talking about for weeks, it seems), Charlie started to recycle aluminum cans, all on his own and just... -
Fable of the Staples
23 Jan 2012 | 11:16 pmSo we whisked Charlie into the white car soon as he got off the bus and went, in the pouring rain, to the pediatricia, to...
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Autism from a Father's Point of View
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Planting the seeds of independence
26 Jan 2012 | 3:45 pmIndependence, that place where you can have chocolate for breakfast every single day if you want… but that you know you shouldn’t. It sounds simple enough for those of us who just do it but having a child really has a way of putting it all into perspective. This month, we’re taking the first steps, which seem so very trivial and yet, so huge. First of all, we’re encouraging them to do some things on their own.. they can both get dressed on their own now, which is a great first step. Now we’re pushing forward with having them brush their own teeth, dry themselves… -
Stage Fright
24 Jan 2012 | 3:52 pmMy 13-year-old son Alex stands in the orange stage lights of his school’s spring talent show. He’s helping his physical therapist hold up a big sign that says either CHA CHA or DANCE. I don’t have a chance to tell which the spinning signs says before Alex vanishes stage left in the Speedy Gonzalas whirl. “Maybe he’ll be part of your road crew next year,” I’ll tell his teacher later, after the PT escorts him back to his seat. “He was cocooning himself in the curtain,” the PT tells me, “and we figured, ‘Not today.’” She sounds likes she’s trying to comfort me about… -
Different Kinds of Special [Review]
23 Jan 2012 | 1:52 pmI received the book “Different Kinds of Special” this week, written by author and poet Donna Carol Koffman. She is the grandmother of a little boy named Reese that has autism and it is for him that she writes this… or at least, he was the inspiration. As the description says: “In this book, Donna gives Reese a voice to teach young children empathic understanding, acceptance and inclusion.” Also, an interesting bit of trivia for those of you that have or get this book… the illustrations are done by Breanne Biggar but, one page, where the children are… -
Know your child is how you want your child to be
20 Jan 2012 | 8:55 amWhether you feel that Autism needs to be cured or not, we’ve all had that moment where we thought our newly diagnosed child was doomed to a complicated struggle of a life and that they will never amount to what others see as average, much less the lofty goals and dreams we had before the diagnosis. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, it is natural. It is a scary thing to have happen to you and to your child. Less than perfect For many people, that feeling of disappointment and fear of the future passes. Maybe not entirely, but for the most part. They learn to accept that their… -
The Autism documentary that will completely and totally shock you
17 Jan 2012 | 2:57 pmA few days ago, I received an email from a man named David, an autistic from France. He sent me a link to a documentary called “The wall or psychoanalysis put to the test for autism“. The documentary that you are about to see was not filmed in the 1940′s although you will think it was. This film, out of France, was released in September, 2011 by Sophie Robert. In just 52 minutes, you will see the culmination of 4 years of investigations among psychiatrists and psychoanalysis practitioners in France. Robert met over 40 professionals in putting this documentary together and…
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autisable's Autisable
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To Whom it Does not Concern
27 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pmYou may not agree and you may not understand, but you also do not live this life. Your words play on every insecurity I have as a mother of a child like Sammy. But understand my drear. I don't make this happen, I do not make this up and I don't wish this on anyone. More Here... -
Spring Semester Stress
27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amLife for our collegeman has been pretty quiet these last few weeks. He has slept till midday. He did simple chores in the house. He stayed up all night watching TV and he ate like a pig. In fact, I have not seen anyone eat so much and yet remain so skinny. If we found a way to harness the power of a young male’s metabolism we could probably solve the energy crisis. But in the past few days, he has gotten nervous. The new semester starts on Monday and he is already feeling stressed. It's transition time. More Here... -
Children with Autism have Significantly Different Gut Bacteria
26 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pmToday, I’m passing my blogging pass over to the lovely ‘Soraya Janmohamed’ from OptiBac Probiotics : A study published earlier this month has found that autistic children have significantly different gut bacteria to children without autism. A novel method of analysis called ‘PCR’ (Polymerase chain reaction – a technique where scientists copy and examine DNA) allowed researchers to detect high levels of members of the bacteria ‘Sutterrella’in many of the children with autism, and in none of the children without. Sutterrellawas found in 12… -
Yes we DO need diversity!
26 Jan 2012 | 9:00 amWebsters Definition of Diversity: 1. The state or fact of being diverse. Difference. Unlikeness. 2. Variety. Multiformity. 3. A point of difference.Social diversity is the existence of multiple cultures and types of people in any given area. Throughout history people of many beliefs, lifestyles, creeds, ethnic backgrounds, religions, disability and more have staked their claim to human rights the same as any man. This has been backed and enforced by the Constitution of the United States of America, similar constitutions of other countries and laws around the world. More Here... -
Book Review: Raising Resilient Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
25 Jan 2012 | 3:00 pmIn the past, the Raising Resilient Children series has helped multitudes of families everywhere approach hard-to-discuss issues. Now, Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Sam Goldstein focus on autism spectrum with their new book, Raising Resilient Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Strategies for Maximizing Their Strengths, Coping with Adversity, and Developing a Social Mindset (McGraw-Hill Professional; January, 2012; PB, $18.00), which offers parents guideposts and takeaways they need for children who have been diagnosed to develop social skills. More Here...
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Meet Chaz
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How Homeschooling is Working for My Aspergers Son
28 Jan 2012 | 12:10 amI cannot update on here as often since I spend a better part of my day homeschooling and taking care of six little ones. :) However, I got a comment asking how my homeschooling with my Aspergers son is going and I'd love to answer here. It's going great! No more having to deal with impatient teachers, upset calls from my son, a stressed out and tired one at that, or having to worry about him being overloaded with too much work. Chaz already had long days at school and for him that is just so much stimulation and concentration for one day. Plus, homework… -
When Your Aspergers Child Finds That Perfect Friend....
22 Dec 2011 | 12:34 pmToday I wrote on my family blog about Finding a Friend and Saying Goodbye. Chaz and Dexter playing puppets at Children's Museum Well, Chaz had found that perfect friend that he could actually relate to. They found each other at school and didn't know that they both had Aspergers Syndrome. His mom and I met and turns out we both share the struggle of ADD. We share so many similarities that it was comforting to share stories and just encourage each other. I found out that they are moving out of town. It seems to be a pattern in my life where I finally finding someone I… -
Is a Good Life Too Much To Ask For?
8 Dec 2011 | 12:24 pmChaz (right) playing on my phone When I first found out Chaz had Aspergers at 6 years old I thought, "Well, maybe somehow he'll pull out of it." That was my deep hearts desire. I still had some denial. Not for selfish reasons because I didn't want my little boy to grow up with any struggles. 5 years later I see that it's just as prevalent and it just changes as he ages. His struggles are different as he has learned to contain some behaviors. About 2 months ago I just broke down crying. I see his OCD, Aspergers, and ADHD really strong at times. I… -
Homefront in the Future Part 1
14 Nov 2011 | 5:28 pm-This post is written by Chaz on his plans for a future game. I want to make a new Homefront game when I grow up. This is my idea. I will make new guns and in the game a soldier finds a secret time machine. The general and his army have complaints about them losing the war, so when the soldier found the secret time machine the general decided to go in the future and beat the enemy in the future. -
Busy Moms Schooling Aspergers Kids
8 Nov 2011 | 9:33 pmI am sorry that I have not updated much on this blog. I can't even begin to tell you how busy it's been around here. Well, let me try..... First of all, I've had some major morning sickness with baby number 7 in my tummy. I am 12 weeks along and they think it's possibly a girl but we are not sure. Secondly, since being so sick I have greatly gotten behind on my house chores and I feel like with my house out of order, so are my thoughts. :) You know how that is? A cluttered house comes with a cluttered mind? Thirdly, we are smack dab in the middle of some…
