MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'asperger's syndrome'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:26:38 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3515557&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Flife-is-for-living-a-review-of-get-out-explore-and-have-fun%2F On her blog at About.com:Autism, Lisa Jo Rudy usually asks questions. In her soon to be released new book, Get Out, Explore, and Have Fun!: How Families of Children With Autism or Asperger Syndrome Can Get the Most Out of Community Activities, she answers two very important questions: Why should you “get out, explore, and have fun” with your autistic child? How do you do this? By far the more important of these two questions (in my opinion) is the first, the “why”. Too many parents of children diagnosed as autistic spend all of their “free” time trying to make their child “more normal” or “less autistic”, and not enough time on letting their child be a kid. As Lisa explains, this is true even in – especially in – sch... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3515557 Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:19:14 +0100 3515557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3505072&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fa-world-without-autism%2F If autism could be cured, and if we, as a society, chose to cure it, what would that mean for our future? How would it impact our lives, and the lives of our children (and descendants many generations down the line)? What would society look like 50 years from now? 100 years from now, when autism (or autism-like traits) were no longer a part of our world? (Source: 29 Marbles) 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3505072 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 23:05:56 +0100 3505072 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3502929&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fwhat-if-they-had-been-diagnosed-autistic%2F In his book Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism, author Roy Richard Grinker mentions chess legend Bobby Fischer (p. 63) as someone who may have been an undiagnosed autistic. When I read David Edmonds’ book Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How A Lone American Star Defeated the Soviet Chess Machine, I thought the same thing. (For more discussion on the subject check out the Bobby Fischer talk page on Wikipedia.) I can’t help wondering, if Fischer were indeed autistic, how would his life – and the history of chess, among other things – have been different if he had been diagnosed when he was young? If he had been provided the treatment and services that are typically demanded today for Asperger’s diagnoses, would he have had the impact he did? Would he have been able to... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3502929 Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:55:47 +0100 3502929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3449067&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fdysfunction-as-high-function%2F During his New Year’s Day seminar, author Dan Pink shared five trends that he is following in 2010. In the science category, the trend he is keeping an eye on is dysfunction is high function. During the discussion he referenced the Atlantic Monthly article The Science of Success, which considers the possible “up-side” of genetic dysfunction: Yes, this new thinking goes, these bad genes can create dysfunction in unfavorable contexts—but they can also enhance function in favorable contexts. Re-reading the article last night reminded me of a story I heard, and wrote about, several years ago. Here is a slightly edited version of what I wrote back then. - – — — —– From McGee’s Musings is this personal story of someone else who, on learning m... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3449067 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:52:34 +0100 3449067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443668&cid=t_301047_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fthe-agony-of-asperger%25e2%2580%2599s-syndrome-in-children%2F Asperger’s syndrome is pervasive development disorder (PDD), as well as an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Some refer to Asperger’s syndrome as a highly functional form of autism, and the symptoms of Asperger’s vary tremendously from very mild to quite severe. Some things to look for in children include: Difficulty interacting socially – Kids with Asperger’s syndrome don’t make friends easily and have difficulty interacting with others. They may also be clumsy in their movements. Obsessive, repetitive behavior – Similar to OCD, children with Asperger’s may show odd and repetitive behaviors, preoccupations, and rituals. Communication issues – Though children with Asperger’s syndrome are usually of average or above-average intelligence, they ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3443668 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:09:08 +0100 3443668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3440983&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fcultivate-your-kids-strengths%2F I found this bit of wisdom in the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. Though geared at self improvement, this quote struck a chord with me as a parent: The trick is not to work obsessively on the skills and talents you lack, but to focus and cultivate your strengths so that your weaknesses matter less. The story of Tony DeBlois is an example of this in action. His mother recognized that Tony had serious weaknesses/disabilities to overcome, but also realized that his strength in music could make much of that weakness irrelevant. All of our kids have their own strengths. Much of it may be hidden from us as parents*, or their strength may be something that we don’t quite understand or appreciate as worth cultivating. But it is by cultivating these strengths, in all of our kids (and o... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3440983 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:20:18 +0100 3440983 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3437857&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fdont-write-them-off%2F Seth Godin doesn’t write about autism, and yet much of what he writes and says comes across as if it were written just for the parents of an autistic child. Today’s article – Accepting limits – from his blog is a perfect example (emphasis is mine): Isn’t it absurd to focus so much energy on ‘practical’ skills that prep someone for a life of following instructions but relentlessly avoid the difficult work necessary to push someone to reinvent themselves into becoming someone who makes a difference? And isn’t it even worse to write off a person or an organization merely because of what they are instead of what they might become? Much of what counts as autism intervention these days focuses on making the child – or the adult - “more ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3437857 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:45:27 +0100 3437857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3437858&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fyoure-going-to-love-this-kid-and-this-book%2F You’re 22 years old, fresh out of school. It’s your first day as a teacher, and you learn that one of your students is a 6 year old autistic boy. You are given a stack of reports and files that tell you, in detail, how “bad” this little boy is and how hard it is going to be to teach him. You want to sneak out the back and run away. And right then the school administrator – grinning, animated, excited – finds you and says: “You’re going to be Jacob’s teacher. That’s fantastic. You’re going to LOVE this kid!” That is the story of Paula Kluth’s first day, as she recounts it in the preface to her book You’re Going to Love This Kid!. This is an incredible book. If you are the parent or teacher of a school age a... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3437858 Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:16:10 +0100 3437858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435185&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fdifferent-is-the-new-normal%2F What does it mean to be normal? What does it mean to be different? These are big questions in any discussion about autism and autism awareness. I like what Kristin has to say on the matter (the emphasis is hers): “Normal” is such a complicated word. We each grow up with our own entrenched ideas of what normal is, which means, of course, there is no such thing. Yet the world loves to pretend like there is—if normal doesn’t exist, exactly, then at least there’s a perceived ideal normalcy that we should all strive for, or even pretend to have grasped…. There is no “normal”—at least not in a societal sense—and we need to stop pretending there is. We need to stop talking about it, observing the world through it, and assuming it as we report on and read the news. Most of... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435185 Sat, 03 Apr 2010 14:06:57 +0100 3435185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3433096&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fparenting-is-parenting%2F I started blogging about autism, and being the parent of an autistic son, 5 years ago. My main goal was to help myself make sense of it all, to understand my own feelings about my son’s autism. Here is some of what I’ve figured out. I hope it helps. Parenting is a challenge, no matter who your kid is. No matter what you do, someone somewhere will tell you that you are doing it wrong. If you are already a parent, you know what I mean. How many times have you heard someone tell you that your kids should spend more time outside, less time on the computer or with their video games, more time reading, less time on the phone; that you should spend more / less time with them, give them more / less independence, etc etc. It is no different being the parent of an autistic child, except... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3433096 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:33:14 +0100 3433096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3429368&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fa-theme-for-autism-awareness-month%2F Every year when April – otherwise known as Autism Awareness Month – rolls around, I ask myself, “Awareness? Awareness of what exactly?” Most times I forget my own advice and try to find a “one-size-fits-all” answer to the question. (My advice: there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all for anything.) Some times I just bail on the question altogether. This year I decided to try something different. Instead of trying to go “big picture” awareness, I’m going to focus on one aspect – a theme, if you will – of autism awareness. A consistent theme throughout all the various incarnations of this blog, not to mention my life as the parent of an autistic son, has always been that autistic people are just people like everyone else, w... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3429368 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 22:47:03 +0100 3429368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3425052&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Flearning-from-failure-is-overrated%2F Failure and the fear of failure are two completely different things. That’s what I wrote in my copy of Rework at the end of the “Learning from failure is overrated” section. It came to mind last night as I was reading Children With Disabilities and Making Mistakes. In the article, Zach brings up one of the (often true) stereotypes about parents of disabled kids – overprotectiveness – with some thoughts on the importance of mistakes. Parents don’t realise how them being overprotective is in fact harmful to their children’s development. The number one way people learn, yes including those with disabilities is by making mistakes. If people are not allowed to make mistakes they will never learn. Parents of children with disabilities often protect their childre... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3425052 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:19:25 +0100 3425052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354287&cid=t_301047_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fparenthood-premie%2F Reviews of NBC’s new primetime series “Parenthood” have been mixed, but whether you loved or hated the latest iteration of Lauren Graham’s messed-up Mommy character, the show’s pilot took on some hefty parenting issues. (Spoiler Alert) Parenthood follows the “very large, very colorful, and imperfect Braverman family”, and kicks off when single mother Sarah (played by Lauren Graham) moves back home with her kids. Dramas quickly unfold: Sarah finds condoms in her Dad’s office, her sister Julia struggles to balance career and motherhood, the kids get caught with drugs, and her brother Crosby discovers that his girlfriend is pursuing artificial insemination in response to his inability to commit. But one of the most fascinating and sensitive topics to riddle the Braverman famil... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354287 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:33:44 +0100 3354287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302559&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fwhats-in-a-label-take-2%2F In my last posting, I wrote the following about the consolidation of Asperger’s Disorder and PDD-NOS into a single classification for Autism Spectrum Disorder: My experience leads me to believe that many people don’t understand the concept of a spectrum unless they can clearly see the boundaries between the different layers of the spectrum. This generated some interesting conversations that have helped me as I figure out what I think. Of course, the problem I had with combining these separate diagnoses into a single one – that people would tend to see all autistics as “the same” – also exists with the more “specific” diagnoses. It’s just that now you’ve got several variations on the theme: all Asperger’s is the same, all PDD-NOS... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302559 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:59:30 +0100 3302559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3290951&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fwhats-in-a-label-autism-aspergers-and-the-dsm-v%2F Several years ago, I wrote a two part article on my thoughts about whether autism should remain in the DSM. Here’s what I came up with: For now, we need to keep autism in the DSM, because it serves as the way for autism parents to help their children get the services they need to succeed in the world. The current draft of the DSM V, available for review and comment, still includes autism – now referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (instead of  Autistic Disorder). However, the DSM V proposal recommends that Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) “be subsumed into an existing disorder: Autistic Disorder (Autism Spectrum Disorder)“. As you might imagine, there has been a lot of discussion about this. I’m ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3290951 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:25:37 +0100 3290951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267118&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Frude-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder%2F Quite a while back, Scott (aka @nametagscott) tweeted the following words of wisdom: It’s not the traffic that stresses you out, it is your reaction to traffic that stresses you out. I’d like to modify that just a bit and say: It’s not rudeness of others that stresses you out, it is your reaction to what you think is rudeness that stresses you out. Are you a presenter who gets stressed out – or pissed off – when you see people paying more attention to their electronic gadgets than to what you are saying?  Olivia Mitchell provides some insight to this in her article How to Handle a Texting Audience with an answer to the question, “Is it rude?” Rude is in the mind of the beholder. Rude to you, not rude to them. To label a behavior as rude is to make... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267118 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:15:23 +0100 3267118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2958934&cid=t_301047_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Frw1N2TFodqE%2F In 1944, an Austrian pediatrician, Hans Asperger, wrote about some characteristics he was seeing in some people, such as clumsiness, repetitive routines or rituals, different speech patterns (monotone, overly formal), inappropriate social behavior, and difficulties with non-verbal communication. Over the years, not much notice was taken until the 1980s when a doctor in the United Kingdom, Lorna Wing, noticed children with similar characteristics and she named what she saw as Aspergers syndrome. Since then,  the disorder was studied more, and in 1994, Asperger syndrome was labeled as an autism spectrum disorder. With that, it was officially recognized in the “bible” of the American Psychiatric Association, the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). Asperger syndrome is not th... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2958934 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:12:00 +0100 2958934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2927505&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FHZIPU1gHIVo%2F Slate’s Erica Westly takes an interesting look at the increasing incidence of Asperger’s as a legal defense, citing the recent headline case of British computer whiz Gary McKinnon, who hacked into almost 100 U.S. government and NASA computers after becoming obsessed with the United States covering up UFO contact. “Criminal defendants in the United States have been using similar tactics with varying degrees of success in recent years,” Westly writes. “In fact, it’s not all that rare for criminal defendants with Asperger’s to argue for leniency in cases of computer fraud, sexual misconduct, and murder. Three years ago, the defense even made its way into an episode of ‘Boston Legal.’” Photo/D Sharon Pruitt (Pink Sherbet Photograph... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2927505 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:55:50 +0100 2927505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920423&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fljd4dsbpaMM%2F Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have uncovered a new genetic signature that correlates strongly with autism and which doesn’t involve changes to the DNA sequence itself, a finding that may suggest new approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Researchers found higher-than-usual numbers of gene-regulating molecules called methyl groups in a region of the genome that regulates oxytocin receptor expression in people with autism. Previous studies have shown that giving oxytocin can improve social engagement behavior and it’s being explored as a potential treatment, and although the methylation status of the OXTR gene is not a definitive diagnosis of autism by itself, a test for methylation might be used along with other clinical tests for diagnosing autism. Methylation-m... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920423 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:34:55 +0100 2920423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908832&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FJCA4tf4uRbg%2F I attended the first part of Dr. Tony Atwood’s lecture on Asperger’s and high-functioning autism today in New York, presented by YAI. Though I could only attend the first part of the day-long talk, I’d highly recommend Dr. Atwood as a speaker: clear, humorous, and engaging. In announcing how he had to stop himself for the the morning break, for instance: “The longer you spend living with and working with those with ASDs, the more aspects of an ASD you pick up yourself!” Dr. Tony Atwood (photo courtesy YAI) Atwood, who has worked with Aspies for years and founded a clinic some 17 years ago to work specifically with those with the condition, spelled out many interesting aspects of Aspies, some well-known and some lesser-known: social awkwardness; obsessive int... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908832 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:59:13 +0100 2908832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2881292&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrD6b9N3hKxA%2F The Net has certainly let loose the dogs of both support and criticism for some parents of children with ASD. In El Paso, Texas, parents and teachers around the world have chimed in regarding a 10-year-old with boy with Asperger’s who got a ticket for $260 for disrupting class. Students can be ticketed and their parents fined in the state for such actions, and the mom says her son kept falling asleep in class, made noise in the hall, and got down on the floor and refused to get up. She agrees the behavior is not okay and that he should be punished, but she disagrees that this punishment was “suitable” for what her son did, claiming he he didn’t hurt anyone or break anything. The ticket was later dismissed.  Local news outlet KFOX got several e-mails and comments rega... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2881292 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:09:11 +0100 2881292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2842721&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FymxmocolWic%2F UCLA has a class that offers an instruction to ASD teens that’s often lacking from a menu of therapies: How to make friends. The teen years are tough enough, but for those with ASD this time could only be a nightmare in terms of interacting with peers. The UCLA program teaches its 33 students (28 of them male) to watch for all the social clues they might commonly miss — body language, hand gestures, facial expressions, speech inflections — and try to turn those improved interpretations into connections. The class, called PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills), involves students meeting once a week for 12 weeks for 90-minute sessions, with instruction given in groups of seven to 10 teens. Parents were also required to attend separate, conc... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2842721 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:50:15 +0100 2842721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2307018&cid=t_301047_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fworld-autism-day-aspergers-syndrome.html A two-dimensional cardboard cut out portrayal, maybe, but valid all the same. I have always been fascinated by Asperger’s Syndrome and of course one of my (literally) guiding lights must surely have had the condition.Now a new blog has been started by a medical student who also has Asperger’s Syndrome. Should be fascinating. I hope he keeps it going . It’s a good time to draw your attention to this new blog as today is World Autism Awareness Day. Did you know that?And on a personal, happy note, an NHS BLOG DOCTOR reader advises me that a new series of Wainwright’s Walks is about to start on the BBC.  I did not know one was planned. Excellent. Essential viewing for those, like me, currently unable to get to the Lake District. (Source: NHS Blog Doctor) NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2307018 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:50:00 +0100 2307018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2052840&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F3ewwARh2ST4%2F The Florida legislature has declared the first half of October as Disability History and Awareness Weeks, today’s West Volusia Beacon notes. Indeed, the legislature is said to be “trying to change the negative image, perception and treatment of people with disabilities.” The article highlights programs for disabled students throughout the county, such as Deltona High School’s Multi-VE program. VE stands for varying exceptionalities. Multi-VE students’ disabilities and challenges include hearing or language impairments, mental handicaps, emotional and behavioral disorders, multiple physical handicaps and disorders all across the autism spectrum. Located in Building Z on the 92-acre campus, Deltona High School’s Multi-VE program serves more than 50 students, ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2052840 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:51:37 +0100 2052840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2052741&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fbuilding-on-our-strengths%2F All too often I see people focusing on their own personal weaknesses or shortcomings.  Worse still, many parents do the same thing with their kids and many employers with their employees.   I’ve often wondered why this is, why the focus on negativity when we, and the people around us, all have such incredible strengths to appreciate and use. This focus on the negative is the most blatant when it comes to working with those with disabilities.  As the father of an autistic son, I’ve seen this first hand.  In a recent interview with WNET, Temple Grandin has the following to say on the matter: Grandin is good at thinking in photorealistic pictures, but she is unable to grasp simple concepts such as numbers. Grandin, who flunked out of algebra in school, said teachers approach ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2052741 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:06:42 +0100 2052741 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027198&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FmNvwhs2L-t8%2F On October 12, while presiding as the honorary chair for an Autism Speaks walk on the campus of Ohio State University, President Gordon Gee made remarks including the statement that “‘It [autism] should not exist.’” Melanie Yergeau, a 2nd-year Ph.D. student in English, wrote this letter, which is posted on the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network blog. As Yergeau, who notes that she has Asperger’s Syndrome, writes: Until very recently, I have felt incredibly welcome at Ohio State—due to the interdisciplinary work of the Disability Studies Program and the Department of English, the Office of Disability Services, and the programs for high-functioning/Asperger’s adults at the Nisonger Center. I would urge you, as you continue in your autism advocacy, to consider wh... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027198 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:30:50 +0100 2027198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027019&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fautism-twitter-day%2F It has taken me a while, but I’ve finally joined Twitter.   The catalyst behind getting me to join at this time is an event being organized by Bonnie Sayers called Autism Twitter Day, scheduled for Tuesday 16 December, a week from today.  Mark your calendars!  (Thanks to Kev and his post Autism Twitter Day for the heads up.) Autism Twitter Day - Tuesday, Dec 16th pacific standard time - 9AM, 12:30 PM and 8 PM.  Prizes will be given out and a panel will be available with information and to answer questions. This is open to twitter members, specifically those who are members of the autism community, whether it be a parent, sibling or relative.  If you are on the spectrum you are welcome to take part.  Most of the prizes are geared to children and young adults with autism or aspe... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027019 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:00:26 +0100 2027019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021452&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Ftake-me-as-i-am%2F I wrote recently about the Dream Theater song “Solitary Shell” and how it brought to mind the impressions many people have of autistic individuals.  Tonight I popped in Dream Theater - Live at Budokan to help get the creative juices flowing.  The first song in their set list for this show is a song called “As I Am”, an excellent opening. Anyway….  I’m pretty confident that this song wasn’t written with autism in mind, but the message the writer is trying to get across - that he is a unique individual and should be accepted as that - reminds me of what many of my autistic friends ask for.   (Like most poetry, this is best appreciated in spoken, or in this case, sung form.   Just imagine a driving guitar, bass and pounding drums as you read th... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021452 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:55:36 +0100 2021452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017835&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlKiExNLGdI4%2F Emmett Doyle and Michael Wesely are students—a senior and a junior, respectively— at Apollo High School in Minnesota and are both acting in a school production of A Christmas Carol. Doyle is playing Scrooge and Wesely is playing Marley, who visit Scrooge in ghostly form. As noted in the December 6th St. Cloud Times, both have Asperger’s Syndrome and have found acting a way to work on their social and communication skills. Elements of theater such as following a script (which enforces turn-taking in conversation), interpreting body language, developing empathy for their characters and working as a team all help with their everyday lives. Through acting, they are memorizing social cues, which can in turn become more instinctive to them offstage. “One of the cool things ab... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017835 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:58:43 +0100 2017835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996298&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fon-the-internet-no-one-knows-youre-autistic%2F When people with autism or other disabilities try to engage in face-to-face communications, it is often made difficult because of a bias, intentional or not, on the part of the other person in the conversation.  Another aspect of the value of social media to autistic people and others with various disabilities is the fact that they are judged not by their appearance nor the quality of their voice, but by what they have to say. Consider the following excerpt from an autism advocacy blog: What started the conversation was a person we know offline who has acquired a new condition over the course of the time we have known her. She has always been extreme in both her ableism and her refusal to even contemplate thinking politically about disability, more extreme than most people. Her entire ide... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996298 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:18:50 +0100 1996298 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1968951&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FRealShlFgl8%2F Sunday I wrote about singer Pip Brown aka Ladyhawke, who has Asperger’s Syndrome; a profile of her in the Independent noted how having Asperger’s is one reason that live shows aren’t the easiest for her. Another musician, singer Craig Nicholls of The Vines, was diagnosed with Asperger’s four years ago: It’s been reported in Reuters via the Calgary Herald that the band has had to cancel their upcoming shows “due to a deterioration in the mental condition” and the “erratic behavior” of Nicholls. Some news sources refer to him as having a “mental illness” though what he has is Asperger’s syndrome—-the singer was diagnosed with Asperger’s after “abusing fans and assaulting a Sydney photographer.” As... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1968951 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:34:51 +0100 1968951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1968959&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fkwz1kNK1OR0%2F The November 13th Newsweek has an article, More Than Just Quirky, about girls and women with Asperger’s Syndrome: Are girls and women sometimes not diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum because they do not have the same symptoms as boys and men do? Girls, it’s noted, have more “socially acceptable” obsessions—”horse and books,” perhaps, rather than “vacuum cleaners or oscillating fans”: “Girls tend to get obsessed with things that are a little less strange,” says Elizabeth Roberts, a neuropsychologist at the Asperger Institute at the New York University Child Study Center. “That makes it harder to distinguish normal from abnormal.” That observation is consistent with a 2007 study of 700 children on the spect... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1968959 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:22:45 +0100 1968959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1964129&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fb-JG1JsBYEU%2F “Young, gifted, and autistic”: That’s how the November 16th Independent profile describes New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Pip Brown of Ladyhawke: recently, she revealed to a British newspaper that she has Asperger’s syndrome (a form of autism) which suddenly shifted media interest from her music to her autism……… But it’s not the story that the singer wants to be defined by. “I really regret talking about it,” she says. “There’s a kid with Asperger’s who wrote to me on MySpace, saying I was a liar. It was really hurtful. I was like, you have no idea what I’ve been through. Yeah, I’m a bit weird. I do weird things. I’ve been really wary since then.” Not that it shows. Brown is chatty, war... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1964129 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:36:42 +0100 1964129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1927811&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fadvocates-and-allies%2F I had originally planned for this post to be an in-depth look at what it means for a non-autistic person to be an advocate or ally for autistic people.  There has been a lot written on the subject over the past couple of months and I was going to use this as a way to sort it all out in my mind.  Luckily (especially for you, since this post is now much shorter), a recent discussion on this blog helped me understand it all in a nutshell. In a comment to a recent post, CS had the following to say about the vaccine-autism debate: The vaccine argument is causing a lot of harm I believe because it is taking our limited time we have in the news and monopolizing it with trivalities (sp?) that aren’t important for inclusion, education, opportunity, independence and safety which is what most aut... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1927811 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:11:52 +0100 1927811 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924476&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fautistic-or-introverted-or-both%2F My thoughts about introversion in my post Monday morning lunatics got me thinking about a possible relationship between introversion and Asperger’s Syndrome.  That, and a thread at Computerworld discussing Asperger’s in the field of Information Technology. Not long after starting my first post-college job, I took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and discovered that I was introverted.  (INTP, to be exact.)  Discovered is probably too strong a word, though, since I already knew I was introverted, as described in this definition: I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924476 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:28:02 +0100 1924476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908841&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FZrDI9K1oEL0%2F Shortly after 9/11, Gary McKinnon—a “UFO-obsessed computer hacker”—allegedly hacked his way into 97 computers belonging to NASA, the Department of Defense and several branches of the US military. The European Court of Human Rights has cleared the way for McKinnon, who is British, to be extradited to the US where he would face eight charges of computer fraud. McKinnon appealed this decision and lost, and autism experts, politicians, lawyers and civil rights campaigners have been urging home secretary Jacqui Smith to intervene so McKinnon can be tried in Britain rather than being extradited to the US. Experts including Simon Baron-Cohen, professor of developmental psychopathology at Cambridge University, were commissioned to access McKinnon, who has been recently diag... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908841 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:09:32 +0100 1908841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1892047&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F1Q4ib2yeABY%2F Regardless of whether or not BitTorrent founder Bram Cohen has Asperger’s Syndrome as reported in the October 16th Business Week, this post about Cohen in Valleywag—according to which Asperger’s is “a sort of autism lite thought to be common among geeks” and a “mental condition”—might lead you to at least raise an eyebrow or sigh in annoyance. Or exasperation. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, bittorrent, bram cohen, disabilities, disabilities blog, disability, Education, Health, jobs, silicon valley, software, Technology, WorkShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1892047 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:00:02 +0100 1892047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1888283&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FcaVj8ItrXYI%2F A study from Minnesota look at how adults with Asperger’s Syndrome compare to others and offers a sense of hope. The study was done by Kim Klein, a pediatric neuropsychologist at the Fraser Center and Pat Pulice. From today’s CBS4.com: “We’ve found that in some ways, this population is doing as well as their peers. They’ve been successful in obtaining employment. They’ve been successful in pursuing their hobbies,” said Pulice. “Virtually all of the young adults with Asperger’s disorder graduated from high school, same as our control group,” said Klein. “Forty-five percent went on to college or some type of post-secondary education; identical rates to the control group.” Klein and Pulice also noted that no one in the ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1888283 Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:33:24 +0100 1888283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1870900&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FgCcByaTWylk%2F Deborah Lipsky was in her 40s when she found out that has autism, today’s Carroll County Times notes. Others have described getting diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in their 50s; Nicky Gottlieb was 21 when he was diagnosed, after his sister, Lizzie Gottlieb, started to make a documentary about him, Today’s Man. When claims of a recent and dramatic increase in the autism rate are used as evidence for an “epidemic of autism,” the question is asked about where are all the adults with autism. Psychology professor Simon Baron-Cohen has written about the very late diagnosis of autism: Baron-Cohen describes a “lost generation” of adults with AS who did not know what diagnosis they have—who did not know that what they have even existed. It was 25 years ago tha... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1870900 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:34:56 +0100 1870900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852672&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FR2XrfqH8kmQ%2F A 14-year-old boy, Gerwyn Morgan, has been missing from his home in Merthyr Tydfil, today’s BBC News reports. Morgan has Asperger’s Syndrome and there have been several reports of sightings of him; officers are worried that he has run away and residents have been asked to check “such places as outbuildings, garages and sheds.” Definitely hope he is found and home soon, and safe. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, bbc, disabilities blog, disability, Family, family blog, Health, Parenting, pdd-nos, runaway, sleeping rough, south walesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852672 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:04:40 +0100 1852672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825641&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fmilitary-service%2F This article applies to those who live in the U.S. = = == === ===== If your autistic child is in an inclusion setting in high school, attending as a “regular” student, you will eventually encounter military recruiters. As part of No Child Left Behind, public schools are obligated to provide student information to the local recruiters. A recent story in the Oregonian (excerpted below) shows the problems that can occur. To help prevent this kind of problem, you can take the following steps: Have appropriate documents of diagnosis, treatment, IEPs, etc. for your child If possible, obtain a letter from the school district case manager, pediatrician and others Be proactive, and find out who the local recruiters are, for all services Be even more proactive, find out the chain of co... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825641 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:37:32 +0100 1825641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811351&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fg--GFyEjtAE%2F A recent post asking if autism is different in girls led to an interesting discussion; Sullivan also noted that the IACC Strategic Plan specifically mentioned “research on females with ASD to better characterize clinical, biological and protective features.” Back in August of 2007, the Telergraph, Charlotte Moore (author of George and Sam and the mother of three sons, two of whom are autistic) interviews four autistic women—one of whom (Lauren) was only diagnosed at the age of 23—-and asks whether the rate of autism in women is lower than that in men is due to women being better able to pretend to be “normal.” The women whom Moore interviews are very much aware of being different and of struggling to “conform to normal social expectations of female... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811351 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 06:08:46 +0100 1811351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809759&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fautism-and-the-tragedy-of-the-commons%2F Last summer, I put Cooperation and the tragedy of the commons, from the Anecdote blog,  in my “to blog” pile.  It seemed relevant, but I just couldn’t quite figure out how.  In his post about an Alliance for Autism, Mike Stanton raises the problem of reconciling the individual wishes and desires of parents and adults with autism with the long term goals of autism advocacy, which has helped me better understand the relevance. The problem Mike raises shows up in many different domains and is known as the tragedy of the commons.  Simply stated, tragedy of the commons is: a dilemma in which multiple individuals acting independently in their own self-interest can ultimately destroy a shared resource even where it is clear that it is not in anyone’s long term interest... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809759 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:09:08 +0100 1809759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806277&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fis-your-sen-or-rep-attending-rep-maloneys-vaccine-autism-meeting%2F As the folks at Age of Autism have pointed out, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) is hosting a special briefing next Wednesday (24 September 2008) for Members of Congress and their Staff to update them on recent developments in the vaccine-autism debate.  I took their advice (kind of) and sent my Senators and Congressman a quick note about the meeting: Dear …  , On Wednesday 24 September, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) is hosting a special briefing for Members of Congress and their Staff to update them on recent developments in the vaccine-autism debate.  As the parent of an autistic son, now 17, I’m asking that you not spend the valuable time of you or your staff at this meeting. As you may have guessed, I don’t subscribe to the belief that vaccines, or anything in them, cause... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806277 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:23:21 +0100 1806277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1802697&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2F%25e2%2580%259cmen-must-attend-iep-meetings%25e2%2580%259d-reprint%2F I originally posted this over two years ago, and like my last post thought it would be worthwhile to reprint it as many parents are preparing for IEPs. = = == === ===== “Men must attend IEP meetings.” This advice comes from Charles Fox at the Special Education Law Blog in a Father’s Day post discussing the role of fathers in the advocacy process. A short excerpt: Fathers and men too often fail to realize that sometimes just showing up at a meeting in support of the child can make an enormous difference. In my list of essential advocacy points, I list that “men must attend meetings.” [number 11] I was actually accused of being a male chauvinist for stating this position at a parent training.What was lost in translation was not that women are incompetent advocates because nothing c... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802697 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:11:37 +0100 1802697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798133&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fsun-tzu-and-the-art-of-the-iep-reprint-2%2F I’ve posted this a couple of times before, but it seems worthwhile to post again as many of us enter IEP season.  (originally posted last August) = = == === ===== As a young Army officer, I read Sun Tzu’s Art of War many times (in different versions). When I transitioned into the civilian workforce, I realized that many of the ideas would translate to the world of business. (Not literally, of course. For example, Sun Tzu’s demonstration of leadership ability using the Emperor’s concubines as soldiers.) The Art of War can also be applied to many other common activities, such as the IEP. You can pull from many quotes, but here is my favorite: Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798133 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:11:36 +0100 1798133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1794404&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fdifferent-no-doubt-but-disabled%2F In a recent post suggesting the formation of an Alliance for Autism, Mike Stanton raised a few issues on which parents and adults with autism as a group may need to come to some sort of agreement.  One of those issues are the questions:  Is autism a disability or a difference? Can it be both? More than just an academic debate, the answers to these questions have very definite real world consequences.  Disabilities are covered by various laws, policies, etc. etc..  Differences, on the other hand, are not.  This was brought home to me when I read the aspie:talk post an adult trying to get accomodations. Although his issues were more related to not having an official diagnosis, the situation presents a good point of comparison. If treated as a disability, supported by the proper diagnosi... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794404 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:01:40 +0100 1794404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1768967&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fk-0AzB31coY%2F Courtesy of Wired magazine, a wiki about how to deal with your mild autism. Tips include: 1 Interrupt party chatter 2 Time yourself 3 Be honest at work 4 Look ‘em in the eye 5 Make it work for you 6 Know thyself 7 Reminders, Reminders, Reminders 8 Reduce Distractions 9 Find an Editor From item #5,  Make it work for you: Asperger’s isn’t an illness, it’s a set of characteristics, and you can turn these to your advantage. Find roles where your relentless curiosity can be a plus. Become an expert in your company or field, the go-to guy* for details, but learn to offer only what’s needed when asked. (* more than 95% of Aspies are male) I appreciated the positive outlook here and emphasis on using Asperger’s to one’s advantage, and the small Socratic... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1768967 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:14:00 +0100 1768967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742804&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-s4socx25m0%2F Gary McKinnon allegedly hacked his way into 97 computers belonging to NASA, the Department of Defense and several branches of the military, shortly after 9/11 occurred. The Associated Press says that the European Court of Human Rights has cleared the way for McKinnon, who is British, to be extradited to the US where he would face eight charges of computer fraud. McKinnon allegedly shut down the U.S. Army district responsible for protecting Washington, D.C., and cleared logs from computers at the Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey, which “tracks the location and battle-readiness of U.S. Navy ships.” McKinnon was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. According to the July 30th Wired, McKinnon’s hacking activity was “a search for evidence of a milit... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742804 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:30:19 +0100 1742804 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709271&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FWFg-WXCI_JA%2F 16-year-old Andy Beattie has been missing since August 10; he was last seen in Tacoma, Washington. He has Asperger’s Syndrome and has, according to a post by his mother on an online forum, “run off in the past and [was] sleeping in public parks and in street bus stops.” You can find more information here, including contact numbers for his mother, Samantha Underwood. Tags: andy beattie, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Family, family blog, Health, missing children, Parenting, pdd-nos, tacoma, washingtonShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709271 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:18:12 +0100 1709271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1655455&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fwhat-can-parents-do-to-help-the-cause-of-autism-advocacy%2F My recent posts, and your comments to them, has got me thinking about the following question: Aside from being a good parent, advocating for our autistic children when they are young, and helping them learn how to advocate for themselves as they get older, what are some things that parents can do advocate for autistics in general? I know what the basic message is, but what I’m not sure of is how best to get that message out; to friends, family, local media, educators, etc etc. I’m going to be “off the grid” for the next 10 days, so I won’t respond to anything right away. But I’m looking forward to reading your ideas and suggestions. (Source: 29 Marbles) 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1655455 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:37:05 +0100 1655455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652327&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fjust-a-plain-ordinary-loving-proud-parent%2F I started writing about autism, specifically about being an autism parent, just over three years ago. One of my goals was to provide information that would be useful for parents who have recently received a diagnosis of autism for their child. This post is my attempt to give you, as a parent of a newly diagnosed autistic child, an idea of what you will likely find as you try to understand what that diagnosis means to you and your child. Parenting is a challenge, no matter who your kid is. No matter what you do, someone somewhere will tell you that you are doing it wrong. If you are already a parent, you know what I mean. How many times have you heard someone tell you that your kids should spend more time outside, less time on the computer or with their video games, more time reading, less... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652327 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:29:23 +0100 1652327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1649012&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fsome-thoughts-on-advocacy%2F In our society today, autistic children and adults are publicly represented almost exclusively by non-autistic advocates; sometimes parents or other friends/family, sometimes medical professionals, sometimes others with their own particular reasons. There are, of course, an increasing number of autistic autism advocates, but they have a hard time gaining acceptance as “legitimate” advocates. In fact, there are several bloggers and commentators who decry the fact that the most vocal autistic autism advocates are those with Asperger’s Syndrome, and that these “high-functioning” autistics can’t (don’t) speak for those with classical (or “low-functioning”) autism. Which brought to mind something I read a couple of months ago in Richard Fars... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1649012 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:46:16 +0100 1649012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1637768&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fautism-neurodiversity-and-parenting%2F After over three years of blogging about autism, I’ve finally found the right words to express my feelings, as a parent, about autism and neurodiversity. I admire and appreciate the important and necessary work of Jim Sinclair for both autism, and in general for people with disabilities. It is an extremely well-written and concise expression of rights of those with disabilities, the folly of many parents in missing the individual beauty and development of their own child in the constant misguided comparison with an incomparable standard, and the need for public accommodation and acceptance of autism as a different way of being. I myself have used that expression, “a different way of being”‘ in conversation, and it describes autism well, without defining it as less-t... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1637768 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:06:21 +0100 1637768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543195&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fenjoying-the-scenery-redux%2F A consistent theme in my writing here is that parenting an autistic child is, first and foremost, nothing more than parenting a child. Yes it is different, and sometimes (OK, much of the time) more difficult than being the parent of a “normal” child, but that doesn’t change the fundamental nature of being a parent. In response to Steve D’s call to revisit a favorite post I am reposting Enjoying the Scenery, which I originally posted in February 2006. I don’t know if this is my absolute favorite, but it is right there at the top. = = == === ===== Sometimes our kids surprise us. We try and try and try to get them to do something, understand something, say something. They go for a long time, apparently ignoring (avoiding?) all of our best attempts. Then, all of a... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543195 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:22:22 +0100 1543195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1536712&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F317564526%2F While out in California last week, I spent some time in Berkeley and saw the site of the tree protest outside the University of California’s Memorial Stadium: Treesitters have been protesting about the University’s plans to cut the trees for the past 18 months and things have gotten volatile. Nathan Pitts, a “disability rights advocate (particularly for Asperger’s and related conditions) and budding environmental advocate,” wrote about being assaulted by a UCB police officer when he went to see a friend who is a treesitter on January 28th in a letter in the February 1st Berkeley Planet. Today in IndyBay, Pitts notes that an advocate from the Autism Spectrum Liberation Front is considering suing the University of California-Berkeley’s police for the no-coinc... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1536712 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 18:20:55 +0100 1536712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1522226&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F312556538%2F 43 year old Darius McCollum was arrested Saturday for the 23rd time for being in a secure area of the Columbus Circle subway station in Manhattan while wearing clothing that resembles that of a transit worker’s uniform. According to WCBS news radio, “Sympathizers claim McCollum’s nocturnal infiltrations stem from Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism typically reflected in obsessive behavior.” McCollum was first arrested in 1981 when he took control of a subway laden with passengers and steered it to the World Trade Center: Hardly just a youthful prank, it was the first of many forbidden rides. By the mid-1990s, frustrated Transit Authority officials posted thousands of wanted posters in trains and stations so riders could report McCollum sightings. But most r... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522226 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:27:09 +0100 1522226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492137&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F304161901%2F Writes Bridget Orr, a young woman with Asperger’s Syndrome in a piece accompanying It’s not just boys who are autistic, an article in the June 4th Guardian: Female “invisibility” in the autistic spectrum should be a feminist issue. Selina Postgate, 53, was only diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome last summer; she expresses a similar sentiment: “Being an autistic woman has been pivotal to everything that’s happened to me. If I’d been an autistic man, my story could have been very different.” Another woman with Asperger’s, 21-year-old Robyn Seward, also notes “the invisibility of girls on the autistic spectrum and by the association of autistic traits - social awkwardness, for instance - with masculinity.” Four times as m... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492137 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:40:11 +0100 1492137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1484945&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F302593742%2F As a freshman at Leominster High School in Massachusetts, Michael Comeau joined the wrestling team. An article in today’s Sentinel and Enterprise notes that being on the team has helped Comeau—who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at the age of 12—to develop social skills. (And to learn to take down a teammate on the mat.) As his mother, Amy Comeau, notes, “‘Before I knew it, he was a member of the team……..It was pretty exciting for us because he’s never shown any interest in sports.’” If Charlie has any inclination for this sport, I don’t think I’ll be practicing with him……. Tags: asd, asperger, athletes, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, Family, family blog, high school, Parenting, pdd-nos, Sport... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1484945 Mon, 02 Jun 2008 04:22:53 +0100 1484945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478043&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F300711842%2F Just up on the Palm Beach Post are more details about what happened last Wednesday at Morningside Elementary School in Port St. Lucie, Florida: Wendy Portillo, a kindergarten teacher who has drawn national attention for asking her students to vote on whether an autistic boy should stay in class after he misbehaved, told police she asked students to tell the child what they disliked about his behavior, but only because she wanted him to hear how he affected other students, according to a police report. Portillo, who was removed from contact with students this week, admitted that she “polled” her students on whether Alex Barton should be removed from class for the day. The class voted 14-2 for him to leave. The report, released today by the Port St. Lucie Police Department, sheds... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478043 Thu, 29 May 2008 18:26:07 +0100 1478043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1469758&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F298733007%2F The class mom in Charlie’s class has been sending out emails in preparation for their year end party. Charlie’s entire class is moving onto middle school and we’ve been planning a special ceremony and a party, with special (secret) presents for the teachers and therapists: It’s the boys’ last week at their elementary school, as they will be attending Extended School Year at the middle school and with their new teacher. (And here is a recent article about new classrooms for autistic teens opening in nothern New Jersey.) And—in Jefferson City, Missouri (the state Charlie was born in)—22-year-old Chad Winkler is is graduating from college. Diagnosed at 4 with autism and in the 4th grade with Asperger’s syndrome, Winkler is graduating cum laude f... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1469758 Tue, 27 May 2008 01:19:10 +0100 1469758 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1466120&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F296694844%2F Discussion/debate/dissent about Adam Race and the parish of St. Joseph’s continues—–and here’s another case involving an autistic child and a discrimination suit. Over a year ago, the parents of 14-year-old Casey Reilly, who has Asperger’s, filed a lawsuit against Pacific Palisades Boy Scout Troop 223. As reported in the May 22nd Palisadian Post: The parents, Palisades residents Jane Dubovy and Mike Reilly, argue that Boy Scout Troop 223 violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when the Scout leaders excluded their son, Casey Reilly, from a week-long scouting trip, which prevented him from advancing in rank. In October 2006, Federal District Court Judge S. James Otero dismissed the case, ruling that the Boy Scouts is a private club that does not hav... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466120 Fri, 23 May 2008 17:00:33 +0100 1466120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1449387&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F292106281%2F This past Thursday in Virginia, a 24 year old autistic man was tazered by James City County police after he was to “become unruly with employees at Wilsons Leather at the Prime Outlets-Williamsburg shopping mall,” according to the Daily Press. It was only after the man was placed under arrest and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest that police learned that he had Asperger’s Syndrome. Needless to say, incidents like these make training about autism for police and other first responders more than essential. The Daily Press quotes a James City Police spokesman, Mike Spearsman, as saying that the 24-year-old man was “‘rather large’”—-these are words that strike home with me more and more. Almost every day someone comments to me that Cha... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1449387 Sat, 17 May 2008 05:34:01 +0100 1449387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1434542&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F287862435%2F First, Happy Mother’s Day to every mother reading this and many more (my own included, of course)! An essay by Robert Hughes in today’s Chicago Tribune is entitled What Autism Means to a Father and much of what he says strikes home with me as a parent. Hughes captures how a parent feels as he or she strives so patiently to help an autistic child, and how bad a parent can feel when you’re not “doing the right thing,” even though you’re trying your best. Hughes’ son is 21 years old and, on being asked about the “meaning of the latest statistic on autistic births”—that 1 in 150 children in the US have autism—-Hughes offers this “emotional, seldom-discussed meaning to the 1 in 150 statistic”: It means that the chance... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1434542 Sun, 11 May 2008 04:33:33 +0100 1434542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1383725&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fwhat-if-they-had-been-diagnosed-autistic%2F In his book Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism, author Roy Richard Grinker mentions chess legend Bobby Fischer (p. 63) as someone who may have been an undiagnosed autistic. I’ve just started reading David Edmonds’ book Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How A Lone American Star Defeated the Soviet Chess Machine (P.S.), and have to say that I was thinking the same thing. (For more discussion on the subject check out the Bobby Fischer talk page on Wikipedia.) Which got me thinking: If Fischer were indeed autistic, how would his life - and the history of chess, among other things - have been different if he had been diagnosed when he was young? If he had been provided the treatment and services that are typically demanded today for Asperger’s diagnoses, would he have had... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1383725 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:58:34 +0100 1383725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1380531&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fsun-tzu-and-the-art-of-the-iep-reprint%2F With IEP season upon us (at least for us), I thought it would be worthwhile to re-post this, which I originally posted last August. The text has been altered slightly based on Joe’s recommendations to the original. = = == === ===== As a young Army officer, I read Sun Tzu’s Art of War many times (in different versions). When I transitioned into the civilian workforce, I realized that many of the ideas would translate to the world of business. (Not literally, of course. For example, Sun Tzu’s demonstration of leadership ability using the Emperor’s concubines as soldiers.) The Art of War can also be applied to many other common activities, such as the IEP. You can pull from many quotes, but here is my favorite: Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1380531 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:28:02 +0100 1380531 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1377969&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fgenetic-engineering-and-autism%2F As far as I know, all of the arguments about the increase in autism diagnoses being too rapid to be purely genetic are based on an assumption of randomness in the process. From that perspective I must admit that it seems unlikely that you could explain the increase in autism diagnoses purely to genetics. But is this really a random process? This thought occurred to me yesterday when I heard a teaser for yesterday’s Talk of the Nation on NPR, on which they had a segment titled Genetically Engineering a ‘Perfect’ Baby. In the teaser, they played a quote from one of the guests in which he said something along the lines of: We’ve been engaged in genetic engineering for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It happens every night in bars and clubs and every where around ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1377969 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:29:50 +0100 1377969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1371935&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fis-this-neglect-or-just-good-parenting%2F What would you think if your friend/neighbor/sibling told you that they had left their 9 year old son at a department store in mid-town Manhattan, by himself, because “he had been begging for me to please leave him somewhere, anywhere, and let him try to figure out how to get home on his own”? Would you call Child Protective Services, or would you say “good for you”? Would you ever do something like that? After you’ve had a chance to think about it for a second, check out the essay Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone by Lenore Skenazy (also available on her new blog, Free Range Kids). Was I worried? Yes, a tinge. But it didn’t strike me as that daring, either. Isn’t New York as safe now as it was in 1963? It’s not like we’re living in downtow... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1371935 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:43:07 +0100 1371935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1366677&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fthey-shoot-horses-dont-they%2F The anecdote The Family Doctor , published by Julie Obradovic on Age of Autism a couple of months back, is a well told story of how she finally succeeds in converting her brother, a pediatrician, to her understanding that vaccines are bad and likely a cause for autism. If you are new to the question of autism and its causes, and come across this story early on in your search for answers, chances are it might be pretty influential. But something has been bugging me about the story since I first read it. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, so I haven’t written about it until now. It was a discussion I had with Autistic Bitch From Hell in the comments to my recent post A View From the Middle that made me realize what was so troubling to me about the story. Here are Obradovic&#82... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1366677 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:51:00 +0100 1366677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1364953&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F268179082%2F “Happy is he who knows the causes of things,” writes the Roman poet Virgil in Book 2 of his Georgics. Virgil was writing about the stars and the sun and the moon, about why there are eclipses and earthquakes, about natural phenomena, about the cosmos—-and his words can be applied to a much more specific concern, the discussion today about the cause of autism. The need to figure out “what causes it” seems, indeed, to be the main goal of so much research about autism. Certainly this need is what principally fuels the discussion/debate/issue about vaccines and autism. Today in Washington, D.C., the federal government is holding a public meeting of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) Vaccine Safety Working Group, to “discuss a government-wide rese... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1364953 Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:49:50 +0100 1364953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1363716&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fjohn-robinson-on-an-autism-cure%2F This is kind of a follow-up to my most recent post. In responding to Some Asperger questions from the audience, John Elder Robinson - author of the book Look Me in the Eye and a blog of the same name - takes on the cure question: If there were ever a cure would you take it, or would you think it was like taking a piece away? At age 50, I am comfortable the way I am and I would not want to take any pieces away. As a teenager, though, life was a lot harder and I’d have had a different answer if you asked me this at age 15. I guess we become more comfortable with ourselves as we get older and hopefully wiser. If you’ve read the book, you know that Robinson’s life was anything but easy. Interesting, no doubt. But not easy, especially in a time when pretty much all kids - autisti... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1363716 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:10:07 +0100 1363716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1362421&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fwhose-decision-is-it%2F A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to give a short talk on autism. Here’s a rough transcript of what I said. A few years ago, a friend asked me the question: “If someone told you there was a pill you could give your son that would cure his autism overnight, would you give it to him?” Sounds like an easy question, right? (general murmur of agreement from the small audience) I hadn’t really thought much about it for some time, as it had been nearly ten years since his autism diagnosis, so I answered with a very non-committal, “I don’t know, I guess so.” That evening I gave the question some more serious thought, and was surprised by I learned. If the child study team that gave us the diagnosis had asked that question right after giving us the diagnos... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1362421 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:13:08 +0100 1362421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1353075&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F265110543%2F “…….happy endings are possible, even if they’re not quite the endings originally envisaged.” So an article in today’s Telegraph about love and Asperger’s syndrome describes the relationship between Sarah Hendrickx and Keith Newton. The couple met through internet dating: ……the first stage of their relationship was fiery and fraught. To Sarah, Keith was ‘a puzzle’. He’d plainly state that their blissful weekends were enough for him, that he’d never live with her or even move nearer. Sarah frequently found him selfish, cold and distant. Keith found Sarah hard work, demanding and ’screechy’. Hendrickx got a job with ASpire, an organization which works with adults with Asperger’s, and realized that ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1353075 Sun, 06 Apr 2008 15:14:51 +0100 1353075 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1349656&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F263634164%2F A new study to be presented at the British Psychological Society’s Annual Conference in Dublin has found that “people who showed more signs of games addiction exhibit the following personality traits: neuroticism, lack of extraversion and lack of agreeableness”—all of which are signs of Asperger’s Syndrome, today’s Next Generation reports. I do have to say that, when I asked my college students what they had done over Spring Break, the main response (after “sleep”) was “play video games.” To which I responded: I have played video games exactly one time in my life. I played Sonic the Hedgehog at a friend’s. In the words of her boyfriend: “I’ve never seen anyone lose so quickly.” But I can type 100 words a minute... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1349656 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:38:09 +0100 1349656 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1347372&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fa-view-from-the-middle%2F I had lunch with an old friend recently, and the topic of conversation wound its way to autism. I, of course, am the parent of an autistic son. As it turns out, his nephew is also autistic. He wanted to understand autism, and I wanted to help him understand. But I didn’t know where to start. Sure, there are many angles from which to approach the question. I could start with: Vaccines cause autism, once they have it, it’s a long struggle to recover them. Or how about: Nothing “causes” autism, it is just another aspect of this neurodiverse world we live in. As far as treatment: Chelation, to get rid of the mercury and other metals. Or: A special diet that is almost impossible, and incredibly expensive, to adhere to. Or: ABA. Or: (add your favorite treatment here). To ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1347372 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:15:00 +0100 1347372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1340674&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F261601683%2F More than a few autistic people, parents, and professionals have noted that software and technology has helped them or an autistic child learn about real-life situations (from emotions to street traffic). CNN recently reported about Naughty Auties, a “virtual resource center for those with autism” created by 22-year-old David Savill of Gloucester, England, using the virtual world of Second Life. According to Savill, the ” graphical representations of real people create a ‘comfort zone’ that can coax users out of their shells and get them communicating with others.” On the basic of this, Silicon Valley blog Valleywag suggests that Second Life’s backers should market it as “market it as the next Prozac, and sell it to Eli Lilly”—-as... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1340674 Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:55:59 +0100 1340674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1311118&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F253743793%2F The first thing to keep in mind is that “classification” is not the same thing as a diagnosis. So writes Andrew Tirrell, a lawyer with the nonprofit organization Advocates for Children of New York, in City Room on the New York Times website (March 17). Tirrell took questions from parents and readers about the rights of students in New York City public schools; two parents asked about how getting an autism diagnosis for their children might affect the services and programs that might be received (I have italicized some sentences in the excerpts below): My son has been medically diagnosed by Blythedale Children’s Hospital with PDD-NOS and more recently with Asperger’s Syndrome by a private psychologist. We want our son classified as autistic because his disruptive educational behavio... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1311118 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:00:15 +0100 1311118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1255114&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F241022690%2F Michael Fitzgerald, a professor of psychiatry at Trinity College in Dublin, recently argued that the genes for creativity and for autism and autism spectrum disorders are “‘essentially the same,’” the February 21st Telegraph notes. Historical figures ranging from scientists Isaac Newton to Albert Einstein, from composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to writer George Orwell, from US President Thomas Jefferson and philosopher Immanuel Kant, from science fiction writer H.G. Wells to politician Charles de Gaulle, are said to have been on the autism spectrum. Interesting. But does post, or rather post mortem, diagnosis of historical personnages help autistic children and autistic individuals today, and especially those who are for sure special, but who have many needs and will... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1255114 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:36:41 +0100 1255114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1252853&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F240382339%2F Back in December, the New York University Child Study Center launched a public awareness advertisement campaign called “Ransom Notes,” in which. The campaign was pulled a few weeks later, in no small part due to the work of disability rights advocacy groups, parents, and many concerned individuals, who questioned the negative portrayal of autism and psychiatric disorders by the “Ransom Notes” campaign. On Tuesday, February 26, 2008 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., the NYU Child Study Center is holding an Online Town Hall on Children’s Mental Health. Details can be found her. How can we improve awareness and care of these issues, in ways that do not simply denounce and shame those with conditions like autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, bulimia, OCD, depression? Tags: adv... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1252853 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:29:40 +0100 1252853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1246645&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F238517043%2F A 39-year-old man with Asperger Syndrome was found chained by his wrist in a house in Kitsap County (WA), today’s Scripps News reports. The man was found by a sheriff’s deputy after someone saw him chained inside the house. While a representative from Adult Protective Services was present, a woman who lives in the house appeared. The man, who had also been sprayed with pepper spray when he became aggressive, was taken to a medical center for evaluation. The Kitsap Sun interviewed the woman and the details are puzzling, and disturbing: …..the woman said she chained and padlocked the man when she left him alone in the house with his blessing. She said the chain allowed him freedom of movement to use the restroom, the kitchen and access to a telephone. “He said it was... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1246645 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:17:15 +0100 1246645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1240223&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F237225252%2F 35-year-old John Lang is the new president of Alpha Autism, which provides a number of services for autistic adults and those with similar needs in Australia. Lang was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at the age of 17 and, in a February 18th article in The Age, talks about being “mercilessly bullied” in secondary school: Looking back, he realises he didn’t know how to relate to other students. “I was a huge train fan,” Mr Lang says. “Sometimes, to relieve stress, I would do fairly realistic train impressions.” This, he now recognises, made him a target. But like many young people with an ASD, he had a particular interest and his, since age three, had been trains. As a young boy his house backed on to a train line. When he left school he worked for ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1240223 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:59:17 +0100 1240223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1225289&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fautism-and-new-jersey-law-enforcement.html Over the weekend, Kristina Chew wrote about yet another tasing of an autistic teenager, and mentions a bill in New Jersey to promote autism training for first responders. While that bill makes its way through the New Jersey state legislature, first responders in Hillsborough, NJ are taking the initiative getting the training for themselves. From Cops learn about autism to help prevent tragedy:With more than 1,200 children and adults diagnosed with autism in the township -- and thousands more in neighboring communities -- Hillsborough police officers are reaching out to better serve those families during serious law-enforcement situations.Hillsborough police Chief Paul Kaminsky recently participated in a four-hour seminar, "Autism Shield Program for Autism Recognition and Response." Its goa... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1225289 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 04:55:00 +0100 1225289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1215327&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F231116129%2F Scientists from Baylor University have identified a physiological marker that might be used to create an assessment tool for those with “higher functioning autism.” The researchers looked at the brain responses of adolescents with Asperger Syndrome when they played an interactive trust game: In the game, one person, designated the investor, chooses an amount of money to send to a second player, the trustee. The money is tripled en route, and the trustee must then decide how much to give back to the investor. When played by normal volunteers, the game unfolds in a very characteristic fashion: generous gestures are met with generous responses, while selfish ones inspire selfishness in return. ………………… According to the new findings, p... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1215327 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:56:26 +0100 1215327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1204659&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fautoimmune-epidemic.html While wandering the aisles in the local Borders book store, I saw Donna Nakazawa's new book, The Autoimmune Epidemic: Bodies Gone Haywire in a World out of Balance and the Cutting Edge Science that Promises Hope. This description is from the book's official site:Multiple sclerosis, lupus, Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and nearly a hundred other chronic autoimmune illnesses are part of this devastating epidemic, in which the human body, acting on misread signals, literally begins to destroy itself. Alarmingly, the occurrence of many of these diseases has more than doubled in the last three decades, signaling a disturbing trend that can be directly tied to environmental factors in everyday modern life—including our daily exposure to a dizzying array of toxic chemicals.With the con... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1204659 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:53:44 +0100 1204659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1190000&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fnot-in-my-backyard-vaccines-autism-and.html In her post The AAP vs. Eli Stone (January 2008), Ginger Taylor at Adventures in Autism tells the AAP that her son is not "an acceptable loss in the war against TREATABLE viruses" (emphasis hers). The steel trap that is my mind (ha!) remembered that Ginger had brought this up before when talking about vaccines. In Where I stand on vaccines (June 2005), Ginger wrote:The CDC’s vaccine policy is based on the principle that the good done for the many outweighs the harm to the few. And that is fine if you are making vaccine policy for 300 million people. But I am not responsible for holding back another Rubella epidemic; I am responsible for two little boys who just may fall into that sliver of the population that the CDC considers an acceptable loss. (my emphasis)An anonymous commenter resp... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1190000 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:14:00 +0100 1190000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1187140&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fpower-of-pop-culture-redux.html A lot is being said about the pilot episode of ABC's new legal drama Eli Stone, in which the title character successfully sues a vaccine manufacturer on behalf of a family who believes their son's autism was caused by the vaccine (or, more accurately, an extra substance in the vaccine). Instead of discussing this show in particular, I decided to re-post this from last February. (The bold passages toward the end of the post were added for this re-post.)= = == === =====I will be the first to admit that I am a huge consumer of pop culture. I like to watch good TV (no, it's not an oxymoron) and film, I keep up with the latest in music (yes, some of it is awful), love video games, and read the occasional novel (though most of my reading these days is non-fiction). It comes through every now and... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1187140 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:56:00 +0100 1187140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1165339&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F220286699%2F “We put a lot of energy into birth to 3 and somewhat through the teen years, but depending on when they graduate, they fall off the end of the earth.” “Why put resources, energy and money into them and then have nothing when we know that if our young adults are supported into the next stage, they are going to do OK.” So Lois Rosenwald, co-director of the Connecticut Autism Spectrum Resource Center says in the January 20th Hartford Courant about autistic adults. Rosenwald was instrumental in developing a $1million pilot program that was created by the Connecticut legislature a few years ago “to assist adults of normal intelligence with diagnoses on what is called the autism spectrum”; it is the first such program (according to the Hartford Courant). T... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1165339 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:02:10 +0100 1165339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1134632&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fwhat-would-it-take-or-why-debate-will.html Before you read the rest of this post, please take a moment (or, if you read as slow as I do, several moments) to read these two posts, by different authors, discussing the study Continuing Increases in Autism Reported to California’s Developmental Services System: Mercury in Retrograde and the accompanying essay Thimerosal Disappears but Autism Remains published in this month's Archives of General Psychiatry:Thimerosal Exposure Declines, Autism Rates Increase (Autism Vox)Making Sense of the California Autism Numbers (Age of Autism)So, what do you think? Does the study prove anything? Disprove anything? If you believed before reading these posts that autism is caused primarily by thimerosal (or mercury in general), did reading these posts change your mind, or cause you to doubt that posi... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1134632 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:16:00 +0100 1134632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1133914&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F212634311%2F Today’s Man is a new documentary about 28-year-old Nicky Gottlieb, who has Asperger’s syndrome; the film was made by his sister, New York director Lizzie Gottlieb. You can go here and watch a short preview of the film, in which Nicky Gottlieb’s parents, Robert Gottlieb (who was Editor in Chief of Simon and Schuster, Knopf, and of The New Yorker) and actress Maria Tucci, describe his babyhood: When he was nine months old, Gottlieb had a number of seizures; his mother also noted that he “connected” in a different way to people. A top New York neurologist told his parents that Gottlieb might never talk and might be a “vegetable”—– on the preview, you can see a black and white video of Gottlieb saying his first word, “bread.” ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1133914 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:24:53 +0100 1133914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1128697&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fautism-and-law-enforcement.html I've written about autism and law enforcement before, but in a time when it is becoming increasingly dangerous to be different it is worth mentioning again. The catalyst for this particular post is the NY Times article Helping Police Officers Understand Autism, which talks about the ongoing efforts of Dennis Debbaudt (who is an autism dad and, as it turns out, also provided the inspiration for my previous post on the topic).Some key points from the article:People with developmental disabilities, including autism, have up to seven times more contact with law enforcement officers than others, according to an article in the F.B.I. Law Enforcement Bulletin in April 2001.[W]hen Mr. Debbaudt asked whether any of the police officers, from departments throughout New Jersey, had received training o... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1128697 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:55:00 +0100 1128697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1124868&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fideology-and-partisanship-of-autism.html In US politics, we've got Republicans and Democrats, also known as the Conservatives and the Liberals. (Please feel free to substitute the two main political parties from your country if you are not from the US.) I don't know if the following is accurate, but I remember hearing it somewhere in the seemingly constant barrage of US election year news: 30% of the population is Republican, 30% Democrat, and 40% Independent. Kind of makes sense if you think about it in terms of the "bell curve" and normal distributions in a population.I've come to think that the same may hold true in the world of autism ideology. I use the term ideology quite deliberately here. From dictionary.com, ideology is defined as:the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, inst... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1124868 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 04:38:00 +0100 1124868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1116169&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F206306526%2F Houston Texas players Jason Simmons and Ahman Green helped make it possible for single mother Regina Foster, whose son Reggie is autistic, to make a $50,000 down payment on a house in a Houston suburb, today’s Sports Illustrated reports. A mother in the Chicago area, Kristin M. Scott, writes a letter reflecting on all those who have loved her teenage son Daniel, who recently moved to a residential school in Wisconsin for developmentally disabled children and teens. The Great Falls Tribune notes that 5-year-old Elijah is excelling “beautifully”; his father Eric Johnson called him “autastic.” Students at the ACES Village School in North Haven, CT, sing in a chorus, as the Hartford Courant describes. Also in Connecticut, getting a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome h... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1116169 Wed, 26 Dec 2007 01:47:57 +0100 1116169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1108716&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F203557746%2F A legislative commission on autism education met today in Rhode Island, today’s Providence Journal reports. According to Sue Constable, director of the autism support center at the state’s Department of Education: “From my perspective, the biggest issue is a lack of specific training on autism for staff in our public schools,” Constable says. “With [the federal education law] No Child Left Behind and IDEA [Individuals with Disabilities Education Act], students with autism spectrum disorders are in more general education classrooms than ever before — with teachers and staff who have never been trained in autism.” Physical education teachers, art teachers, librarians and music teachers have autistic students in their classes, but may know little about the disorder, ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1108716 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:30:11 +0100 1108716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1094212&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F200146495%2F Campaign on Childhood Illness Succeeds at Being Provocative is the headline for an article in today’s New York Times by Joanne Kaufman about the New York University Child Study Center’s “Ransom Notes” public service campaign. “Provocative” is the right word: Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, founder and director of the center, notes that the campaign was intentionally “edgy” and “harsh and upsetting.” He further notes: “the facts of mental illness are even more upsetting. “I am disappointed. I thought the people we’d be arguing with are the people who believe psychiatric illness doesn’t exist”or those who believe children are being overmedicated, he said. “I thought we’d be fighting ignorance. I didn’t think we’d ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1094212 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:37:06 +0100 1094212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523573&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35095&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FAutismsEdges%2F%7E3%2FqdFUVwMGLoQ%2Fhostage-negotiations.html (Source: Autism's Edges) Autism's Edges blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523573 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:24:00 +0100 2523573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1085665&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F198422911%2F Rescue me: That is the essence of the message of the “Ransom Notes” “public awareness campaign” that the New York University Child Study Center is launching. I’ve noted the use of shocking and alarmist language in the ads, which feature fictional “ransom notes,” with the captors being “untreated psychiatric disorders,” including autism, Asperger Syndrome, bulimia, depression, ADHD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The image of these conditions as kidnappers, abductors, criminals—normal child snatchers—who have gotten hold of our children is troubling and, further, harmful and offensive—and many autistic self-advocates and parents have been blogging about why: Action for Autism Crimson Thoughts Autista Whose Planet ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1085665 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:51:06 +0100 1085665 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1074997&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F196179191%2F 13-year-old Forest Lyvers, who has Asperger Syndrome, is facing expulsion from a Mishawaka, Indiana middle school. As reported by WNDU on December 5th, Forest’s father, Glenn Lyvers, said that his son “made an inappropriate comment to his teacher.” A website created by Lyvers, Forest Matters, provides more information about Forest and his needs, and about a December 5th meeting with the school district. Notes WNDU:  NewsCenter 16 spoke with Lyvers’ Dad, Glenn, before he learned that is son would be able to stay at the school. Late Wednesday, Lyvers says the school has decided that they don’t have enough evidence on the Aspergers disorder to expel Forest. For the past few days, Forest has been at home, suspended from school. Officials at Mishawaka schools did ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1074997 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:00:45 +0100 1074997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1070274&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F195029552%2F Asperger’s Syndrome Gets a Very Public Face announces today’s Well blog by Tara Parker-Pope—–the “face” referred to is that of Heather Kuzmich, the 21-year-old art student who was eliminated last week from American’s Next Top Model. Notes Parker-Pope: One girl is frustrated when Heather, concentrating on packing a bag, doesn’t hear a request to move out of the way. At one point, the others laugh when they stake out their beds and Heather has no place to sleep. “I wish I could get the joke,” Heather laments. “You. You’re the joke,” retorts another model, Bianca, an 18-year-old college student who is from Queens. But while Heather’s odd mannerisms separate her from her roommates, those same traits translate as on-the-edge high f... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1070274 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:39:36 +0100 1070274 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1064889&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F194012733%2F A child is now able to attend school in the same grade as his same-aged peers—without an aide or any special services; his academic skills are at grade level or above; he plays video games. The above description equals “recovery from autism,” in the words of two parents I recently encountered. This “recovery” was attributed strictly to biomedical methods including various intravenous treatments, injections, detoxifying processes, and so forth. (Whether or not the child was receiving any educational services—if not ABA,perhaps speech therapy—-or occupational therapy to address sensory processing needs—or assistance with social skills, was not mentioned.) Many questions enter my mind on hearing of this as a definition of “recovery from a... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1064889 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:16:20 +0100 1064889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1060055&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F192621637%2F Medical Condition Won’t Stop Model from Competing: ‘America’s Next Top Model’ Contestant Makes It to Final Five, Despite Disability reads a headline in today’s ABC News. Heather Kuzmich, who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and ADHD at the age of 13, was eliminated from ANTM last night. Speaking to Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America today, Heather noted: “It actually was a big step for me when I first got on the show. I came out the first few moments and just told everyone,” she said. She said it took courage to come right out and talk about her condition, but she did it so that she wouldn’t be misunderstood. “I wanted people … [to know] and not just look at me like I’m a freak of nature. I also wanted to show other girl... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1060055 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:20:40 +0100 1060055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1017690&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F182339865%2F Not everyone agrees about the notion of the “autism spectrum, in which “autism” is a term that refers to persons with diagnoses ranging from Asperger Syndrom to what some call “severe” autism.” Perhaps it is not a perfect metaphor, but I think it has its uses in understanding autism—in thinking about how, while Charlie’s speech is much less than that of a child his age with Asperger, they nonetheless share a number of traits, such as patterns of thinking, sensory processing difficulties, and a tendency towards obsessive thiniing. “The Colors of Autism” is the name of a gallery talk to be given by Dr. Dan Ingram, PsyD, NCSP, psychologist and clinical instructor, at the Art Institute of York in Pennsylvania, on November 14 (next Wed... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1017690 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:42:26 +0100 1017690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1002299&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F179355729%2F 13-year-old Megan has Asperger Syndrome and attends a mainstream school in Atherton in the UK and “looks just like any 13-year-old school girl,” an article in Wigan Today notes. When she behaves differently among other students, she has been bullied and misunderstood; her mother, Mel Roach, notes that these things happen in part because Megan’s disability is “hidden”: …..fellow pupils, and sometimes teachers, fail to understand her condition. Mel said: “Megan has endured physical, mental and verbal bullying and if it isn’t dealt with properly it becomes like the ripples on a pond, spreading wider and wider. “I would like to see more acceptance and understanding of people with autism. Inclusion in schools still has a long way to go and I... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002299 Thu, 01 Nov 2007 20:16:33 +0100 1002299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=982593&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F175527748%2F Autism has been mentioned as a possible diagnosis in the recent court cases of two defendents. One is a 19 year old Japanese teenager who fatally stabbed a teacher and wounded another teacher and a dietitian at an elementary school in suburban Osaka in 2005. He has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Osaka High Court. In southern Illinois, 52-year-old Martha Hampton, a former coroner investigator, was accused in 2005 of stealing from dead people—-taking cash and a coin collection from the homes of two dead men and also stealing from a third man’s home. Her attorney has now filed a motion to have her declared “mentally unable to stand trial”: [John] Delaney described Hampton as a “very nice lady” who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, a form ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=982593 Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:10:27 +0100 982593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=979230&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F175018721%2F Not quite sure what to make of this one: Last night on America’s Next Top Model, Heather who is said to have “mild Asperger’s syndrome,” won a challenge and got to model for Carol’s Daughter, a line of beauty products for women of color. Guest stylist Mary J. Blige suggested that Heather be “painted brown” or, as Jezebel puts it, to appear in “mildly offensive blackface.” Go here to see a video clip; Heather is now featured on Carol’s Daughter’s website (and here are photos of her appearing in front of a back drop of recycled aluminum cans). Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=979230 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:24:24 +0100 979230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=932052&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F166059557%2F A lot is being said about the effects of a special diet on autistic children: A few more items of note, including a technological device designed to help a user understand social expressions. UK grandfather donates sperm to father his own grandchildScientists cite the “older dads” theory of autism: At least mom wouldn’t get all the blame in this case. That tuna fish sandwich is ok after allOverriding debates about mercury in fish, a new study urges pregnant women to eat fish But hold the bread, oatmeal, cheese and definitely the pizzaThe LA Times notes that Jenny McCarthy’s “celebrity status is likely to lend credence” (which is just, well, credence) to the gluten-free casein-free diet. Did Isaac Newton have Asperger’s?And if he did, would this ha... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=932052 Sat, 06 Oct 2007 07:43:51 +0100 932052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=906116&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F161587612%2F Kev asks this in a comment on the post on Jenny McCarthy, Autism Mother. This is the DSM-IV’s criteria. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=906116 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:18:38 +0100 906116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=903413&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F161085723%2F Look Me in the Eye: An Aspergian Book Author Writes About Books, Asperger’s, Autism, and Life, John Elder Robison’s memoir of growing up with Asperger’s (before knowing that he had Asperger’s), appears in bookstores today and the author will be at the Union Square Barnes and Noble in New York City tonight at 7pm. I was kindly invited to attend and I want to very much to be there. I first heard about Look Me in the Eye back in February and have been eagerly, and curiously, looking forward to its publication. What better way to spend an evening than among books in a bookstore, and hearing about a book about……books. I’m not able to go: It would be something of a trip to make with Charlie on a weekday night; he has been through too many transitions of ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=903413 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:06:44 +0100 903413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=867331&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F155675675%2F New Jersey Governor Joseph Corzine signed a package of seven bills relating to autism today. Previous posts on Autism Vox about the legislation: 6 Autism Bills to go to NJ State Assembly I can assure you that no one knows the autism spectrum better than someone on it (testimony by ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) President Ari Ne’eman) 9 Autism Bills in New Jersey lists the package of bills My Testimony on the New Jersey Autism Bills (I didn’t give the testimony because Charlie had the flu and I had to stay home) NJ Autism Bills Advance to Senate My husband Jim is a New Jersey native and I am glad that we gave up our jobs and moved back here from St. Louis, Missouri some six years ago, to get Charlie the school he needed and a whole lot more. Share This (Source: Autism V... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=867331 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:45:46 +0100 867331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=867332&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F155546371%2F The “top story” in the September 17th Newsweek is entitled You and Your Quirky Kid and might also have been called “To diagnose or not to diagnose: That is the question.” Writer Lorraine Ali opens the article by discussing her own 4-year-old son who is one among the 13 other kids who, when he is to sing “Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing” for a preschool musical, broke ranks and began marching to his own tune (involving him singing something about “babies and broccoli”). Ali’s son is already “different” at the age of 4, but is he a “nonconformist kid” or does he have—ought he to have—a diagnosis of ADHD or autism spectrum disorder? Is “quirky” enough of a diagnosis and an explanat... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=867332 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:56:19 +0100 867332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=858402&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F154650878%2F 2pm to 5pm has never been an easy time for Charlie. It’s the transition period between school and dinner, a hump to get over when he and I are feeling low-energy. The day goes by more easily when Charlie has something structured, such as speech therapy or ABA; if not, we usually go on a walk or (if the pool is open for “family swim”) a swim, or an “outing in public” (a store, the library). After-school programs have been off-limits: Charlie would need an aide and the activities, level of possible chaos due to a lot of children and not so many staff, and general “looseness” all end up to a phone call to me, frantically trying to go pick him up after rushing away from work. Charlie briefly went to a daycare after school when he was five years old for... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=858402 Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:37:28 +0100 858402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=849980&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fautism-and-complex-social-environment.html Mike Stanton's post Of mice and men and autistic fruit flies includes the following criticism of an autism related study using fruit flies:But autistic fruit flies? Autism is a complex social disorder. Fruit flies are not complex social beings.My first thought was, if autism is a "complex social disorder" it is only because we live in a complex social environment. In the comments, Amanda disagrees with Mike that autism is a social disorder at all, and I think I agree with her.True, autism is measured against the "norms" of the complex social environment in which we live, but the "condition" of autism exists independently of those norms. If those norms didn't exist, or if our social environment was different, those who are autistic in our world would still be autistic in this alternate worl... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=849980 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:07:00 +0100 849980 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=843786&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F152559968%2F 20-year-old John Yasment was suspended for one semester from Adirondack Community College back in April for repeatedly typing the words “must die” on a college computer and then printing out five pages with those words on them. The September 4th Post-Star (NY) notes that the discovery of those five pages occurred on April 18th, two days after the shootings at Virginia Tech. Yasment was also charged with second-degree aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, but these charges were dropped. His lawyer, Richard Moran, notes that Yasment is a part-time student in the college accessibility program for those with disabilities (Yasment has Asperger’s Syndrome). The Post-Star provides further details of what happened. Yasment types his feelings as a means of therapy to deal with fru... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=843786 Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:39:32 +0100 843786 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=804438&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F145132550%2F “Is anorexia the female Asperger’s?” asks Janet Treasure, Professor of Psychiatry at King’s College, London, and head of the Eating Disorders Unit at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, in the August 17th Times Online. Noting that “we now realise is that we need to be looking at underlying neural networks in the brain – how patterns of information are processed, how this affects both behaviour and the way an individual reacts to her environment, and why this goes wrong,” she notes these similarities: A “distorted pattern of processing information”: Treasure notes that those with eating disorders find it difficult “to change self-set rules and learnt behaviour once fixed in the brain” and “see the world in close-up detail... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=804438 Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:51:39 +0100 804438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=799238&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fso-called-autism-epidemic-is-just.html In The lure of the conspiracy theory (subscription required, full article here), author Patrick Leman discusses some thoughts on the nature of conspiracy theories and why people believe them (or don't). I learned of the article from the blog Schneier on Security, in which Schneier excerpts some key points.From the perspective of an autism parent, and my discussions with others on the subject, this paragraph jumped out at me the most (emphasis is mine):To appreciate why this form of reasoning is seductive, consider the alternative: major events having minor or mundane causes -- for example, the assassination of a president by a single, possibly mentally unstable, gunman, or the death of a princess because of a drunk driver. This presents us with a rather chaotic and unpredictable relationsh... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=799238 Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:09:00 +0100 799238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=791317&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Ffor-what-its-worth-einstein-was.html ...not autistic, at least not in my mind. Alas, I do not have an answer of my own to offer to the question of "Does it matter?" If you were to press me, I would say that it doesn't matter if it matters to me, it depends on whether or not it matters to you.We all have our own point of view, and the answer to this question is - yes - relative to that point of view. Several people commented to my post Was Einstein autistic? Does it matter?. I encourage you to read those to get an idea of the answer from some diverse points of view (parents, autists, anonymous anti-autistic fundamentalists).Was Einstein aloof? Yes. Emotionally distant? He could be, but wasn't always. Obsessive? I'd say passionate.In the comments to that previous post, Joseph questioned Einstein's view toward his mentally ill s... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=791317 Fri, 10 Aug 2007 04:30:00 +0100 791317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=785926&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F141775083%2F “Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s” (John Elder Robison), John Elder Robison’s memoir of growing up with Asperger’s (before knowing that he had Asperger’s), appears in bookstores September 25. In the meantime, the July 31st Library Journal interviews the author; here are some of his Robison’s views on Asperger’s as a “positive character trait for someone in business,” his favorite car to fix (Robison owns a successful repair business in western Massachusetts), and what is normal. Asperger’s as a “positive character trait for someone in business” People with Asperger’s can do really well in many highly technical occupations. Car repair (my field) is a good example. Software engineering is another. Som... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=785926 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:04:58 +0100 785926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=783893&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fhas-autistic-intelligence-been.html Has autistic intelligence been underestimated through the years? I think many of you know what my answer is going to be (YES! of course), but I actually have a scientific study that backs up that claim that I (and many others) have known all along.I discovered the study, entitled The Level and Nature of Autistic Intelligence (available online through the journal Psychological Science, on the Autism pages of About.com in the article Once Again, the World Discovers That People with Autism are Bright but Different. There is also a discussion of the study on the Science Daily website.The study was written by Michelle Dawson, Isabelle Soulières, Morton Ann Gernsbacher, and Laurent Mottron. Here's the abstract of the paper:Autistics are presumed to be characterized by cognitive impairment,... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=783893 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:13:00 +0100 783893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=776121&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fsun-tzu-and-art-of-iep.html As a young Army officer, I read Sun Tzu's Art of War many times (in different versions). When I transitioned into the civilian workforce, I realized that many of the ideas would translate to the world of business. (Not literally, of course. For example, Sun Tzu's demonstration of leadership ability using the Emperor's concubines as soldiers.)The Art of War can also be applied to many other common activities, such as the IEP. You can pull from many quotes, but here is my favorite:Know the enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles you will never be in peril. When you are ignorant of the enemy, but know yourself, your chances of winning or losing are equal. If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain in every battle to be in peril.Of course, this may need some translation... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=776121 Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:52:00 +0100 776121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=775428&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F139970122%2F You can “determine your Asperger’s quotient” by taking this 50 question online multiple-choice test. (The test is, of course, no substitute for an actual diagnosis by a trained professional.) Dr. Joan Bushwell’s Chimpanzee Refuge notes that The most interesting thing about Asperger’s syndrome is that its “discoverer” decided he had it and named it after himself, which he might have done even if not “suffering” from this “disorder.” Maybe. and asks if is AS simply an “almost whimsical diagnosis of exclusion”: I would say, I think not; saying that one’s child has Asperger’s is more than just a way of saying that child is “quirky” or “anti-social” or is shy or has difficulty makin... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=775428 Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:55:32 +0100 775428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=771601&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fwas-einstein-autistic-does-it-matter.html When I started reading Walter Isaacson's new biography of Albert Einstein, one of the first things I did was look in the index to see if autism or Asperger's was listed. No on both counts. As I've read the book, I've found myself unconsciously evaluating the information presented through a diagnostic lens, trying to decide if he was indeed autistic. (See this Google search for a lot of discussion about the topic.)I'll post my thoughts on the matter after I've finished the book and had the chance to digest it all, but in the meantime the following question came to mind:Does it really matter if Einstein were autistic or not?- - -- --- ----- (c) by Brett Miller 2005-2007 Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License . (Source: 29 Marbles... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=771601 Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:21:00 +0100 771601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=765014&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F138643781%2F In February of 2006, 17-year-old Tim Whattler hung himself from a doorknob in his room in a psychatric unit Beech Court in Bridgwater, in England, just six hours after he had been admitted. Whattler had Asperger’s syndrome and had a history of difficulty with both educational and psychiatric placements; he had attempted suicide before and had several self-inflicted cuts on his arms. The coroner, Michael Rose, ruled that staff were not guilty of neglect but needed more training in Asperger’s Syndrome, as reported by the May 10 BBC News. The July 30th Telegraph chronicles Whattler’s life. He was ten years old, his parents, Dean and Elizabeth Whattler note, when “his life started to go badly wrong.” The Whattlers behave with extraordinary control, but there is no... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=765014 Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:34:27 +0100 765014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=760460&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Faspergers-and-video-games.html This is a slightly modified version of a post I made to my blog No Straight Lines.I use SiteMeter on this and other sites to track visits (look in the bottom of the right column if you’ve missed it). It is interesting to see how many people visit the site, and where they come from (all over the world), but what fascinates me the most is the referrer log. I get the odd link from someone else’s blog or other site, but the vast majority of referrals to this blog come from search engine queries. It is interesting to see what search terms people use that find my sites. Even more interesting are the other sites that those search terms turn up. For instance, a search for “video games and autism and gee” returned a link to my blog No Straight Lines, but also a link to Gaming and Students w... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=760460 Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:04:00 +0100 760460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=755689&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F136994553%2F While I am myself not (quelle horreur!) a fan of Harry Potter, Charlie—in the days when he wore glasses with prism lenses—-was compared more than a few times to the famous wizard. Harry and J. K. Rowling’s books have meant more than a great deal to my friend Lisa’s son, Brandon: Here she relates how Harry Potter changed our lives—-a marvelous tale in which Brandon writes and publishes an essay in about Harry and gets an IRA. (Talk about magic!) And, today’s Easter Seals and Autism weblog describes how much Harry has meant for 18-year-old James Williams, who has autism, and who has written and given speeches, one of which is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Autism. Williams compares Harry’s feeling of relief on learning that he is a wizard to his own... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=755689 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:57:53 +0100 755689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=752881&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F136717462%2F , if there’s no autism epidemic? Read this from USA Today. Kathy Marshack, a psychologist in Vancouver, Washington, has Asperger’s and says that her late mother and her adopted daughter also have it. William Loughman of Berkeley, California, is a retired director of a hospital cytogenetics lab and has six grandchild. Three years ago—at the age of 71—-he found out that he has Asperger’s syndrome. Those adults with autism are right here, working and living among us. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=752881 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 03:42:09 +0100 752881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=695325&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F127807549%2F “One Out of 150 Children is Diagnosed with Autism” is the name of a display of artwork by autistic artists at the TSETSE Gallery in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The June 25th Pawtucket Times describes the show and discusses the artists. 24-year-old Roon Das’s paintings include one of the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, one entitled the “Roon Express” (”given his fascination with trains, that’s no surprise”) and also”Fall Foliage.” 21-year-old Andrew Randall uses acrylic mixed with sand and colors ranging from “deep violet and iridescent greens and yellows. Notes Carrie Sandman, who works with Randall: “I’ve been working with Andrew since October, and his paintings are amazing…..The sand makes the paint thicker and g... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=695325 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 17:00:16 +0100 695325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=592216&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F114479589%2F From Ask MetaFilter via HealthBolt: I’ve been “mentoring” a kid with Asperger’s Syndrome for years. He’s about to graduate from High School and he needs a Summer job. I need recommendations on how to make this as smooth as possible for him. I’ve known this kid since he was 11, I fixed his first computer and gave him his first PowerMac (his true obsession). He comes from a home that could politely be described as dysfunctional. If all goes according to plan he’ll be moving out on his own after graduation, but he’s going to need a job, but he’s never held one before. Hell, today’s the first day he’s gotten to school and back without a ride from his mother. This is a very big step for him. Read more………. A numb... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=592216 Sun, 06 May 2007 02:33:09 +0100 592216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=580546&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F113219717%2F Back in January 2006, I spoke on a panel following a production of a play entitled The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Robot by Edward Einhorn; the play was part of NEUROfest with Untitled Theater in New York City. The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Robot is described as “a Pinocchio tale in reverse, presented as a fairy tale from a foreign culture—the culture of people with Asperger’s Syndrome” and featured “puppetry and design elements inspired by the work of autistic artists.” I was thinking of the play today—and of the use plastic rollers for part of the robot’s anatomy—in reading about two autistic boys and their robots: Middle-schooler Kyle Gilland (Arizona) helped to make a miniature robot with his fellow students and some engineering students. 12-y... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=580546 Tue, 01 May 2007 00:18:31 +0100 580546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=560486&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F111089876%2F Reid Mariani was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome five years ago, at the age of 49. As writes in his poem, “Tackled by Asperger”: If you had me write what I do wrong I might correctly answer you But I always seem to goof things up My mind, it breaks my heart in two. Mariani is profiled in an article in the April 22nd TheDay.com (CT). His younger sister Debbie Parise notes that: “He did a lot of unusual things,” she recalls [of their childhood]. “He used to run back and forth from the corner of our living room, shaking his hands. He wore a path in my mother’s rug. But, as a little girl, I thought that’s what everybody’s brother did.” Parise says their mother took Mariani to doctors and psychologists, but “back then, they didn’t know what... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=560486 Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:24:42 +0100 560486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=535437&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F108067760%2F Brendan McRae is a 14-year-old who goes to public school in Chatham, south of Springfield, Illionois. Brendan was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of 9. An article in today’s The Telegraph tells his story and opens and closes with two observations that can’t be said enough: The next time a child throws a tantrum in a store, be careful not to immediately label the child as undisciplined or spoiled. The child’s typical appearance could be hiding the face of autism. “Having a diagnosis of autism or Asperger Syndrome can seen devastating, but it isn’t the end of the world,” said [Tina McRae, Brendan’s mother]. I have to second that—-it’s just the beginning, the first step into a whole new journey, in great company. (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=535437 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:14:00 +0100 535437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=522130&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F106716694%2F The title of an article about detecting and diagnosis autism early in young children in today’s Albert Lea Tribune almost makes it sound as if all parents better have their children “checked” for autism as if it is a common disorder of childhood: Get Your Child Checked For Autism Disorder I guess this is the fruit of so much autism awareness; another is a two-day (April 4-5) ABC News special on Asperger’s Syndrome, “Echoes of Autism: Different in the Middle.” One article at ABCNews.com refers to AS as a distinct disorder from “higher levels of autism.” Says Henry Roane, director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at the Munroe-Meyer Institute in Omaha, Nebraska: “A lot of people talk about Asperger’s and compare it to aut... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=522130 Thu, 05 Apr 2007 00:35:10 +0100 522130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=519488&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F106418286%2F We have recently heard a lot about the very early diagnosis of autism; one sign of “developmental abnormality” is (as yesterday’s MedPageToday” notes) an infant who, by the age of one, does not respond to her or his name. Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University, notes something quite the opposite, the “very late diagnosis” of Asperger’s Syndrome in adults in Very late diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome: The Cambridge Lifespan Asperger Syndrome Service (CLASS). The article can be found on the Interactive Autism Network (IAN) website. Baron-Cohen describes a “lost generation” of adults with AS who did not know what diagnosis they have—who did not know that what they have even existed. It was 25 ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=519488 Tue, 03 Apr 2007 22:10:35 +0100 519488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=515259&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F105825126%2F Eighth-grader Jimmy Humphrey can memorize 700 words in a half-hour—-no surprise that he placed second in the Middle Tennessee Regional Spelling Bee at Belmont University on March 12, as reported in todays Tennessean.com. Humphrey, who has Asperger’s Syndrome says “’I imagine how the words are pronounced using the origin and the root,” he said. “It’s all in the mind,’” in a statement recalling Daniel Tammet’s visualization of pi to 22,514 places. Autism may not be “all in the head,” but perhaps something of it surely is. (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=515259 Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:57:49 +0100 515259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=509597&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F105192176%2F A “dash of autism” is “how much” one expert told Deanna Mackey that her son as she writes yesterday in Tales of a Working Mother: A is for Autism. Mackey’s son has Asperger’s Syndrome: he’s always been a little quirky and that doesn’t go unnoticed, even by him. When he was five he told me that he knows he’s different than everyone else in his kindergarten class. He explained it like this: “Mom, it’s like everyone else’s favorite color is blue and mine is green. They all like blue, but I like green. I see everything through the color green.” I knew exactly what he meant because for the past four years I’ve watched him try to fit his green-loving self into a blue world. Asperger’s is often referred to as “high-functioning”... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=509597 Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:23:38 +0100 509597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=505767&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fthought-for-day-living-your-own-life.html A consistent, recurring theme for parents of autistic children has long been, "You know your child best." While this is not always easy for parents with a new diagnosis to accept, or understand, those of us who have been doing this for a while recognize what it means.Listen to the doctors, the teachers, the experts. Read whatever you can find. Try different approaches to helping you and your child. But in the end, do what YOU as the parent believe is best, based on your knowledge of your child. Specific programs - whether it be ABA, chelation, mainstreaming in school, etc - will never be successful if they are blindly implemented without your or your child's individual needs being used as part of the decision.A while back I picked up Deng Ming-Dao's 365 Tao - Daily Meditations. As its name... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=505767 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:34:00 +0100 505767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487726&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F103151909%2F Russ Wagner just got diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome—-at the age of 73. “‘I’ve known since the age of 11 that something was wrong…..What’s really bad is that people can’t see your disability, as they could if my leg was in a cast.,’” Wagner notes in an article in today’s Ann Arbor News. Wagner—who notes that he “‘tends to see things in black and white’”—graduated from Michigan State University, worked in a food lab, was a saleman; since 1991 until his retirement last year, he has been a custodian at Eastern Michigan State University. The Ann Arbor News article is entitled Asperger’s an unseen disorder: Early detection critical to treatment; Wagner’s remark about how &#8220... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487726 Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:46:16 +0100 487726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487730&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F102833246%2F The ‘genius’ disease is the not-so-great title of an article in today’s Daily Bulletin (Ontario, CA) that opens by describing 20-year-old Ben Anderson, who has AS, knows the lyrics for all 208 of the Beatles’ songs, and is making a recording (with him on all the instruments) of the entire catalogue. It is not the word “genius” that I so much take issue with as “disease,” with its associations of something contagious that one could catch, of something that suggests that person its not healthy—-not well—-even ill. As I understand it, that’s not what being Asperger’s and autistic is. (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487730 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:18:58 +0100 487730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486989&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fwhy-dont-more-people-understand-this.html One of the dangers of being too close to a topic like autism and autism awareness is that you sometimes forget that not everyone has caught up with you in their perception of that issue. Even people you think should know better by now.An example that recently struck me was how many people still don't realize that "low-functioning" autistics can be very intelligent.In her new book Strange Son, author Portia Iverson describes her initial reaction to the idea of an intelligent "low-functioning" autistic:“There’s a boy I think you should know about,” Francesca Happe began, gesturing for me to sit down. “His name is Tito.” The renowned psychologist from England, whose specialty was autism, continued: “He’s eleven years old and he lives in India. He’s quite autistic, but he can r... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486989 Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:57:00 +0100 486989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486990&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fdiagnosis-autism-nothing-new-on-60.html A quick follow up to 29 Marbles: Autism on 60 Minutes - 18 Feb 07 . My first thoughts after watching the 60 Minutes piece Diagnosis: Autism on Sunday night was, "Wow, this was a non-event." Maybe it's just me, and the fact that over the past year I've been soaking in just about every autism story, theory, etc and reading several autism related books, but the show didn't seem to shed any new light on anything. Of course, if I were the parent of a recently diagnosed child, or (gasp) the parent of a 6-12 month old who wasn't responding when I called his name, it would have been a different story. But what exactly would I have learned? (c) by Brett Miller 2005-2007 Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License . (Source: 29 Marbles) 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486990 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:09:00 +0100 486990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486991&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fevery-child-is-unique.html Yesterday, abfh wrote something that captures perfectly how I feel about being a parent - not just of an autistic son, but of both my kids (emphasis is mine):Children are always different from their parents and from one another in a great many ways, and each child is uncharted territory. No one ever knows how well they can deal with parenting any child. It's always a matter of gaining experience on the job, observing how the child grows and learns, and loving the child enough to let the natural process of growth take place, unconstrained by the parents' needs and assumptions.This has now found a place in my trusty notebook of things I want to have handy. If anyone asks me how I "deal" with parenting an autistic child, I'll simply show them this. (c) by Brett Miller 2005-2007 Except where ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486991 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:17:00 +0100 486991 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486992&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fautism-on-60-minutes-18-feb-07.html I've already set the DVR to record this. Though the teaser article gives a little preview of what they'll talk about, I'll withold any comments until I've had a chance to watch it.With no known cause or cure for autism yet, researchers are trying to detect the earliest signs of the disorder so they can begin treatment earlier, giving parents some hope against a condition the government now says affects about one in every 150 children. 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl reports on ongoing research this Sunday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m. ET/PT. (c) by Brett Miller 2005-2007 Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License . (Source: 29 Marbles) 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486992 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 04:18:00 +0100 486992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486993&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fhomogenized-education.html Quite a while back I posed the (mostly) rhetorical question, "Why doesn't every child have an IEP?" I was brought back to this train of thought recently by a passage in Roy Richard Grinker's Unstrange Minds (emphasis is mine):To be sure, debate is brewing about whether some of the these higher-functioning children should be classified as autistic or even disabled. Some disability experts contend that the problems encountered in educating children with Asperger's Disorder lie less with the individual child than with the educational system. The U.S. educational system, they suggest, has disseminated Asperger's Disorder as a category because it is useful to its attempt to make the student body as homogeneous as possible. The paradox they identify is that a child who doesn't fit in has to be s... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486993 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 02:53:00 +0100 486993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487001&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F12%2Fmore-thoughts-on-not-quite-aspergers.html In my post 'Not-quite-Asperger's-Syndrome Syndrome' I intentionally kept the satirical/sarcastic tone of the original article, my only acknowledgment of the true nature of that article being an emoticon at the end and a 'satire' technorati tag. Most of the conversation I've seen on this article - some resulting from my original post - has been critical of the intent and execution of the article. I must admit, though, that I found it - if not humorous - entertaining and well-aimed. (For more discussion on the original article, check out How DARE They! What Do NTs Know Anyway?) A recent episode of the TV show House, which Joseph also mentions in his response-post and which Autism Diva blogged, came to mind.But my real thoughts were along the lines of, "Wow, now we know that autism awarenes... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487001 Fri, 29 Dec 2006 01:08:00 +0100 487001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=487002&cid=t_301047_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2006%2F12%2Fnot-quite-aspergers-syndrome-syndrome.html I have my Google News page set up to show top stories in several categories, including Autism and Asperger's Syndrome. Most of the stories are routine types of things, personal stories, communities trying to deal with autism, and the latest medical studies. One of the latter caught my eye today; how can you miss a story with a title like Study: Most Self-Diagnosed "Asperger's" Patients Just Assholes?The article addresses the recent phenomenon of people, mostly young adults, who are self-diagnosing Asperger's as an explanation for their "peculiar and often abrasive personality."For years Soshul wondered what was wrong with her. Although her online life was rich and fulfilling, her "real life" inability to get along with coworkers or maintain a romantic relationship had become a source of de... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=487002 Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:11:00 +0100 487002