MedWorm: Autism

Irish Examiner Responds to "Autism Controvery"

The Voyage — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:55:00 +0100

After all our letter writing, tweeting and blogging, the Irish Examiner today published their response. It is wholly inadequate. They have published an editorial basically saying that they were correct to publish the article because, they say, in a democratic society, everyone has the right to their opinion. It's nice of them to offer us all a civics lesson. I shall however, examine their editorial in detail. They published wonderful letters from parents and people critical of the article. There was also a letter from Waterford music therapist, Jim Cosgrove in agreement with Humphreys. I wonder is he has any autistic children as clients. I wonder if he still will after today. There is an excellent article by Kevin Whelan, the chief executive of Irish Autism Action, refuting the article ...

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Totally Unnecessary Danger? Another Autistic Child Left Alone on School Bus

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Surely, of all the dangers that confront many autistic children the simplest danger to eradicate, the one that doesn't have to exist, is the danger of an autistic child being left alone on a school bus, van or other vehicle while parked in scorching heat or while it departs for other destinations. Yesterday though, as reported on Newsday, a 6 year old autistic boy in Nassau, Long Island, was left on a school bus unattended that left before school personnel became aware he was missing. There are many problems involving autistic children including self injurious behavior, serious food aversions, wandering and lack of understanding of every day risks such as automobile traffic that can pose serious risks to the well being of autistic children. One that does not have to...

Tony Humphreys Toxic Autism Article

The Voyage — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:09:00 +0100

This article sounds a lot like the sort of judgemental nonsense we heard from priests and bishops over many years.After listing the errors in the Examiner article he makes a valid point: If you're a scientist, present your research. Publish your research papers. List the peer-reviewed publications you've produced. If you're not a scientist, don't presume to talk about things you don't understand.If only we lived in a world where it worked like this. The last post I have noticed is by Magnumlady who writes: We are living in a world where it’s hard to get by if you have a disability (especially an unseen one) and are trying to get people to understand about autism. It’s not helped by articles like this.I quite agree. Many people have expressed their hurt and shock at the ...

Tips on Arranging Professional Child Care

Random Reminiscing Ramblings — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

One of the most beautiful phases in life is to bring up your own children, but most families have to arrange child care at some point. This is because the economy calls for both parents to work outside the home. It has its own challenges as you just cannot leave your precious child with anyone, especially in the wake of rising crimes.All of the families that have both partners working regular hours, want to find the right child care area. There are many things on their minds. First, they want their child to be safe and get the best care possible. They want nutritional meals to be provided. They want quality and professional staff to care for their child. They want the environment to be safe, educational and fun for their child. Parents also want a child care area that is easy to access bec...

Tips for a Nanny To Help a Child Get More Exercise

Random Reminiscing Ramblings — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Decades ago, children ran freely throughout neighborhoods. Now they sit in front of the TV or computer screen for hours on end, eating sugary and fattening snacks. Even the well-meaning, concerned nanny may wonder how to compete against the pull of the TV and video games.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity among children has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The effects are devastating - dramatically more children are at risk today of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and bone and joint problems.Notably, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that a child participate in at least an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every single day.So how is a nanny supposed to ensure that a child receives the proper amount of exercise?The ...

Tips on Saving for Your Child's Education

Random Reminiscing Ramblings — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

It's the beginning of the school year and you're thinking about your child's future education. Your child is bright and will be going to college, so the time to start planning is now. Many parents begin planning for college early to create an education savings account for their child's education. How to save for your child's education is the big question that is asked, as there are many different ways to save for educational purposes. One potential problem with an education savings account is taxation and asset responsibility as it pertains to financial aid eligibility.There are some different methods parents and grandparents can use to save for a child's education. It's important to consider taxation, eligibility and growth aspects of the different savings plans. Many financial advisors r...

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

All About Your Early Childhood Education Salary

Random Reminiscing Ramblings — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The field of prekindergarten teaching is a growing one, but you might want to check out early childhood education salary levels before choosing this career. Of course, money is not the only incentive to teach very young children in a daycare center or preschool.Because teaching in a daycare or a preschool does not require the same credentials as teaching in kindergarten or in higher grades in a public school, the salary is often lower. There are many openings for lower-paying positions that will look good on a resume later on - when you have experience, have gained a few more credits, and are looking for advancement.To teach in public school at kindergarten or higher levels, full certification is usually required. Salaries are set by the state, so check out each locality for the pay scale....

How Early Childhood Education Affects A Child

Random Reminiscing Ramblings — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Parents who are thinking of enrolling their children in an early childhood education may encounter a lot of issues regarding the appropriateness. There is an on-going debate with regards to sending children to school before they even reach 5 years old. Some people believe that kids are better off playing and enjoying their childhood, while others think that children need to be taught early on. Both of these may be due to the fact that they just want their children to enjoy, while others simply want to take advantage of the intelligence they possess during this stage.While there may be some facilities offering educational activities for children below 5 years old called day care, this is not really the formal early childhood education. It is simply much like a baby sitting service since it ...

Importance of Early Childhood Education

Random Reminiscing Ramblings — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Early childhood generally encompasses the first eight years in the life of an individual. The education given during these years of a child's life plays a very important role and helps in proper development of children. Early childhood education can be fundamentally termed as "Learning through play". Recent research have shown that early eight years in any children life are crucial time because during this phase their brain develops and much of its 'wiring' is laid down. The education experiences and relationships a child has along with nutrition can actually affect child mental growth enormously. While good early childhood education helps the brain to develop in healthy ways, improper education or study without play on other hand may affect brain development in different manner. So the ex...

Understanding Different Aspects of Early Childhood Education

Random Reminiscing Ramblings — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A child can start learning almost immediately after they are born. They learn that crying will get them held, changed, or fed; they learn that they sleep better when they are in mommy's or daddy's arms. These behaviors are learned and they are a part of early childhood education. It is important to teach your child different things at different stages in their life.When a child is under the age of one, he or she will go through many changes quickly. These changes include turning over from side to side, reaching for things, holding things, recognizing different shapes, colors, and sizes. They also learn how to crawl, pull up, and eventually stand up and walk.When a child is placed in day care it is important that this time is spent learning for your child. He or she does not need to learn 2...

Autism Ordure in Irish Examiner- Why Worry?

The Voyage — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:56:00 +0100

This article was so bad though it even hurt many of us hardened old-timers. It hurt to hear a so-called professional get it so very wrong about our families, to slander us by claiming that instead of doing our best for our child/children with a neurological condition causing developmental delay, we caused it. And we caused it by failing at the one thing that matters most to us- our parenting. He tells the world that we are cold and unloving, that we seek help for our children to avoid our own issues. What tosh. Now having a disabled child certainly doesn't make anyone a perfect parent. I've witnessed some bad behaviour from the parents of autistic children in my time among the online autism communities. But we're just like any other set of people, we're fallible, some good some bad and mo...

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Irish Examiner and Tony Humphreys- A New/Old Theory of Autism

The Voyage — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:39:00 +0100

I've been justifiably angry often lately. First there is the Welfare Reform Bill that will cause real harm to disabled people and those already poor and vulnerable. Much of the media and many politicians have been busy spinning the truth about people's lives and impairments to portray people who require support as scroungers and layabouts, out to milk the system. Then there was the quack clinic, purporting to prevent and cure autism in infants showing "pre-autistic traits" and which received uncritical publicity in the media because celebrity Melanie Sykes gives it support. But with this my ire boils over and if I don't blog a bit to release the pressure, I fear I may blow. A man called Tony Humphreys has written an article available in the print edition of The Irish Examiner on February...

February

The Art of Being Asperger Woman — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:31:00 +0100

The outside world looks like a fairytale. Bright blue sky, lots of snow. Watching skaters along the frozen waters here is such a pleasue. The last weeks lots of things happened. My fear for traffic has become a minor fear. It is indeed true that every day practice is a way to overcome a phobia. I train my brain, I reconsider what to think. This afternoon I came across a path which has been difficult for me. Instead of getting grip by touching the hedge of a garden, I just walked past it freely. It is amazing if you walk there and realise that you have come so far! I am very proud of myself. But we are not here yet. Yes, when I am stressed noises can overwhelm me and make me feel small again. It has almost been 10 years now, and there is no answer yet to the question of Asperger hacker Ga...

Autism Vaccine War: Is Scientific Inquiry Being Suppressed?

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Dr. Beatrice Golomb's presentation This Is Your Brain On Politics pulls no punches in its critique of conflicts of interest, bias, censorship and intimidation involving pharmaceutical companies, health authorities and academic institutions and publications. Professor Golomb's presentation includes commentary on pressure tactics, including intimidation, used by some pharmaceutical industry representatives to silence criticism of their products and the research that accompanies them. Professor Golomb's presentation provides an interesting framework with which to consider the continued pressures exerted on Dr. Andrew Wakefield over an article he wrote in 1998 for which, in 2011, he was denounced, by journalistic decree, as being guilty of fraud. A refutation of the Wakefiel...

Additional Comments on Twitter in Class

Asperger's Conversations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:09:48 +0100

Yesterday I posted some preliminary thoughts on my talk at the "Secret Revolution" tech conference on campus where I'll be talking about Twitter in the classroom. I'd like to add a couple of others: 9. I can provide up-to-date information on new research or controversies as they unfold. For example, I just passed on information about the raging controversy in changes in DSM criteria for Autism. The conversation can get started before we meet (at 2pm today). 10. Students can be encourage to use their phones or laptops during class at specified times: They can tweet comments and questions which can appear instantly on the screen next to the professor's powerpoint slides. These can help foster more detailed discussion in class (or later). Note...

From John Carley of GRASP: A Patient Advocacy Group's View on DSM Changes

Asperger's Conversations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:58:39 +0100

Interesting arguments are being made on both sides of the divide on whether to tighten up DSM criteria for Autism Specturm Disorders. Here's a message sent out by John Carley from GRASP which advocates for individuals with Asperger's: 1. Spectrum conditions are over-diagnosed. Speculating that the DSM-IV's broadening of the criteria caused an over-diagnosis problem is purely that: speculative, as it's realistically unprovable. Equally speculative perhaps is GRASP's statement from our petition stating that these conditions are under-diagnosed (as examples we use the truths of how our understanding of spectrum conditions in women is still in its infancy, as well citing the many economically-challenged communities that have yet to recei...

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

From the Archives: Parenting & the Importance of Self-Care

From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:08:00 +0100

Soon after A. was diagnosed with autism, she started receiving even more services, and I received even more support. I was amazed at the work that her team did with her, and I could see the progress she made on an almost daily basis. While I put a lot...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism)

Tech, Twitter, Chalkboard: What to Say at "Secret Revolution" Tech Conference?

Asperger's Conversations — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:07:14 +0100

I'll be giving a brief talk this friday at "The Secret Revolution" Tech/Ed conference at the College (1:50pm, Student Center). I'll discuss my experiment this year using Twitter in the classroom (you can check it out on Twitter at #kscabn (for my class in Abnormal Psychology) or #kscautism (for my Seminar in Autism). I'll show some student Tweets, talk about some cool surprises, and wonder about the future. I'll also exhibit my own neurosis by talking out of two sides of my mouth: The wonderful effects of using technology in the classroom and...my fears of losing the importance of in-class dialogue about ideas, reading books...and even walking in the woods without your iPhone. A few emerging ideas from using Twitter in the classroom: 1. More c...

ABA Benefits for Autism: Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT) Educates LA Times Alan Zarembo

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The attached letter was written by ASAT Board member Sabrina Freeman Ph. D., and Secretary Florence DiGennaro Reed, Ph. D., BCBA-D to the LA Times Alan Zarembo who did such a poor job (in my humble opinion) reporting on autism issues in a recent LA Times series. In the letter Freeman and Reed attempt to educate Zarembo about the scientific, evidence based benefits that ABA has been demonstrated to bring to autistic children. I don't know if a superficial mainstream media reporter is capable of understanding the information presented in the letter or if he would make the effort to understand. I applaud ASAT for trying to break through Zarembo's self constructed brick wall of ignorance and educate him about the evidence basis behind ABA, an intervention that has help...

DSM-5 Autistic Spectrum Disorder Disaster By Kim Oakley Should Be Mandatory Reading For The DSM-5 Committees

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

I have great respect for Kim Oakley a California mother who has been honestly and courageously documenting her severely autistic son's self-injurious behavior on Youtube, Classic Autism kgaccount's channel, for several years. Within the past year she has also begun a blog, Autism, Epilepsy and Self-Injurious Behavior, on which she presents her views on autism with the same honesty and courage. Ms. Oakley's most recent blog comment DSM-5 Autistic Spectrum Disorder Disaster is as direct and to the point as the title itself. She pulls no punches in ripping (deservedly) the DSM-5's failure to acknowledge the serious and fundamental autism problem of self-injurious behavior: "Has the American Psychiatric Association (APA...

How I Talk To My Sons

Susan's Blog — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:43:08 +0100

I learned how to talk to my boys first from my middle son, Max. This is because most of my training took place when Nat was still fairly non-verbal, and Benj was a wee babe. I remember the moment I first discovered how to do it; it was during the five minute drive to the school in the morning. Max was still young, but he was in the front seat because he was already big enough to be there by the age of 9. He had been talking about Animorphs, a book series where characters can shift into certain animals. Max was telling me about one character who was becoming an animorph, perhaps against his will — something like that. But the real thing he was telling me was that this boy’s situation was incredibly poignant to Max. As I braked to let him out at the circle, I realized — b...

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Does your pharmacist know (or care) if your medication is gluten-free?

Asperger's Conversations — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:31:39 +0100

What a long strange trip its been tonight after purchasing a bottle of Equaline chewable aspirin (81mg) at my local Shaws Supermarket. My question: Is it gluten-free? While there's no mention on the box, I'd hate to give it to my daughter with Celiac if it's only going to make her sick. Under ingredients the bottle says it contains "starch" but no mention if it's a wheat or corn starch. If it's wheat, it's a no go for folks with Celiac. So, I called the number on the bottle, which lead to a long list of questions about contests, food products, and endless lists of things which had nothing to do with my question...until I finally heard "customer service" as an option. Sadly the Customer Service rep. had "no idea&qu...

Not Accounted For By General Developmental Delays: In DSM-5 Era Life for Autism's Invisible Vast Majority Is About To Get Much Harder

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder Will Exclude Autism's Vast Majority Of Intellectually Disabled While the New York Times, the CBC and other mainstream media giants debate the DSM5's potential exclusion of high functioning autistic persons from autism diagnosis barely a whisper is heard about the express exclusion of autism's vast majority of intellectually disabled. The exclusion of the intellectually disabled from the DSM5's New Autism Spectrum Disorder is not a potential effect, it is the express and intended effect of the language of mandatory criterion "A" as recently confessed by Dr. Catherine Lord. "Autism Spectrum Disorder Must meet criteria A, B, C, and D: A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across contexts,&nb...

Disability: It Really Is Okay

Susan's Blog — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:56:39 +0100

I took Nat to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) meeting on Saturday, at the invitation of a friend who is on their board. I’ve been wanting to write about this but I’m afraid to. Talking about autism is a freakin’ landmine, and the only way to get through it alive is with honesty, compassion, and sensitivity. So here I go, hopefully. I really like the people at ASAN and I approve of most of what they stand for; they do things like push for legislation that would end the use of aversives in the state of Massachusetts, or comment publicly on the new definition of autism in the DSM. To me they symbolize the neurodiversity movement, or what I think of as real autism awareness: to make society aware that autism is not a tragedy or a disease; it is a difference in neuro...

Stamps.com, auto grocery pay, busing your own tables at Panera's...and the Economy (Stupid)

Asperger's Conversations — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:13:48 +0100

Discussion Boards using online courseware rather than exchanging ideas in a classroom. A self-disclosure moment: I myself am a techie-type who uses Twitter and blogging in the classroom, is interested in use of online methods in teaching, invites speakers to class using Skype, and so on. But, is it not reasonable to pause...to "unplug" from this way of thinking for just a moment and recognize that our iPhones and courseware and online technology do have a downside for real people who need real jobs? I'm not suggesting we go back to entering grades by hand, or cease purchasing clothes online, but instead am arguing that some "line in the sand" should be drawn. So, here's a couple of ideas that may actually save tens of thousands of jobs: 1. Don'...

One day I woke up and I was 45…

LBnuke — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:19:43 +0100

I remember when I was younger, thinking that 45 was very old. The past few days, I have been thinking about what it means to ‘get old’. Is 45 old? 40? 65? 85? Does it matter? I don’t think it is a bad thing, and considering the alternative, it is an awesome thing! I am not one of those people that wishes that I could be young again. It was hard enough the first time. There is definitely something to be said for ‘older and wiser’. There is no way to be younger and wiser because much wisdom comes from experience, and experience is something that is accumulated over time. I think age does matter, but somehow the reasons why have been strangely twisted. It makes me sad that being old has to be such a bad thing in our society. Our culture is one that values youth o...

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

“Dirt” Reviewed in Parents Magazine

Susan's Blog — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:03:38 +0100

Dirt has had a lovely interview and review in Parents Magazine. Yay! (Source: Susan's Blog)

From the Archives: Sensory Integration & Poetry

From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:49:00 +0100

December 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) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism)

Today's Panel on Hate Grafitti on Campus: Collecting my Thoughts

Asperger's Conversations — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:01:00 +0100

I'll be part of a panel discussion today on campus at 4pm to discuss recent grafitti episodes in dormitories that involved swastikas and other hateful markings on doors of Jewish and African American students. I'm just collecting my thoughts (I'll be jumping in right after classes so it will have to be "not so scripted"). Here are a couple of ideas I've been mulling over: 1. A behavioral analysis of grafitti in general: The critical reinforcing consequence is "being seen" or "heard." So a necessary response is quick removal of offending graffitti so that we remove the reinforcing consequence. In other words, scrub it out fast. 2. Why do some want to be "heard" in this way? I wonder if there is a connection to "disco...

Millions for Woodstock Civic Center But No Time to Answer a Simple Adult Autism Care Question

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Second 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 my question or concerns to date from Premier Alward or any of the relevant Ministers. The question itself requires no research, no public consultations. It is a simple information request. ...

Change in ASD diagnosis: Word from the Street

Asperger's Conversations — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:46:33 +0100

I just this received this email from Michael Carley of GRASP re: controversy surrounding proposed changes in ASD diagnosis: On 1/24/12 12:04 AM, "Michael John Carley" <mjcarley@grasp.org> wrote: Please forward to anyone, or post wherever you deem appropriate... All, The letters are tremendous, and the calls are having an impact. Please keep it up...letters and phone calls. And if this will really effect you; if your child is at risk of losing their education funding, if you or a loved one are at risk of losing housing, health, or employment services; or if you're simply a fellow spectrumite who worries about having your behavioral differences lumped back into the category of personal defect rather than wiring . . . . . . then maybe it's worth it to call ever...

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Dare to Dream

From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:56:00 +0100

One 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) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism)

Books by the Boy

The Voyage — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:14:00 +0100

Lately 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 (Source: The Voyage)

What Makes Institutions Bad

Ballastexistenz — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:52:27 +0100

[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 feels like to read things like this. Because I think too many people get the wrong kind of idea. They will think that this is over. It’s not. They will think that the awfulness and cruelty of an i...

Milestones to go before I sleep

Susan's Blog — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:16:20 +0100

When 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 hooked to his milestones. As an infant, crazy young, he used to push up to standing, in my lap. I mean like just a few months old. Legs like little pistons: you could not keep him down. Ned called him ...

Extremely Accurate and Incredibly Beautiful

Susan's Blog — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:41:07 +0100

“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 neurodiverse boy and his wonderful parents. Wonderful because they get it; oy do they get it.) The simple truth Oskar learned, that having disappointment is better than having nothing, is a new spin on the ol...

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Catherine Lord Confesses: DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder Intended To Exclude Intellectually Disabled

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

"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 20, 2012 The above reference to, and quote of, Dr. Catherine's Lord about the DSM-5 committee's intent to exclude intellectually disabled from further autism diagnosis was important journalism by Amy Ha...

From the Archives: Sorrow, Creativity, & Improvements

From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:10:00 +0100

Twelve 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) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism)

Next time hold the rice

Susan's Blog — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:16:15 +0100

“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 me, “Restaurant.” Yes, indeed. Was this a restaurant, or what? Why were we waiting? We were soon led to the very back of the place, to a large round table. I felt a languid, liquidy happiness...

stop sopa

The Art of Being Asperger Woman — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:42:00 +0100

As I am strongly against SOPA, this blog will be black/ invisible for 1 day. Starting now.I Hope to see you soon! (Source: The Art of Being Asperger Woman)

Huffington Post/Amelia Rivera

Susan's Blog — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:54:28 +0100

Here is my piece in today’s Huffington Post on Amelia Rivera and the medical establishment’s close-mindedness. (Source: Susan's Blog)

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Amelia’s Kidney; Our Heart

Susan's Blog — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:09:42 +0100

Many, like the extraordinary blogger and advocate Sunday Stilwell, have been leading the charge on this story (thanks, Louise!). Amelia is being denied a kidney transplant because she has been deemed unworthy: she has an intellectual disability, mental retardation. Change.org has a petition going around to protest Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s nightmarish attitude towards this two-year-old girl. Please consider signing it and adding your voice to the wave of outcry. This should not be happening, not on our watch. (Source: Susan's Blog)

NB Ombudsman's Centre of Excellence is a Fantasy That Will Not Fill Residential Care and Treatment Needs of Severely Autistic Adults

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The 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 Society New Brunswick representative I met with government officials on several occasions to stress the need for evidence based, secure, autism specific residential care and treatment facilities for...

2011 Autism Progress or Back to the Future?

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Was 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. The displacement of the original more severely autistic population with very close links to intellectual disability by Aspergers diagnosed, in some cases self diagnosed, persons with very little, if any ...

The Drama of Almost-But-Not-Quite Snow Days

From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:51:00 +0100

The 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) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism)

From the Archives: A Spoonful of Sugar to Make the Bad Days Go Down

From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:34:00 +0100

This 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) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism)

MedWorm Message: Register forMedMatcha, MedWorm's medical advertising network, and receive $5 free advertising.

Autism is an Unexpected Party

From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:44:00 +0100

For some reason, I've been reading a lot of negative and depressing posts about autism lately. I'm guessing this may be because Extreme Makeover Home Edition is coming to my hometown, and since Jenny McCarthy is coming to Knoxville as part of that project,...(read more) (Source: From Inside the Puzzle: Raising a Child with Autism)

Autism, Obesity and Medication: Our Run, Jump, Fly Boy Says NO THANK YOU!

Facing Autism in New Brunswick — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Run, 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 instances enlarged breasts in boys requiring surgery, that can result. The NYT article also quotes sources indicating that the medications do not treat the underlying conditions. In Texas Johnson &a...

Video: The Dragonborn Comes

LBnuke — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:01:58 +0100

Beautiful 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... (Source: LBnuke)

Preschool Worksheets - Tips For Preschooling Your Preschoolers