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 'autistic'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:28 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820922&cid=t_130406_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Funderstanding-research-methodology-5-applied-and-basic-research%2F In conclusion, I will leave you with the words of Keith Stanovich: [I]t is probably a mistake to view the basic-versus-applied distinction solely in terms of whether a study has practical applications, because this difference often simply boils down to a matter of time.  Applied findings are of use immediately.  However, there is nothing so practical as a general and accurate theory. (2007, p.107) References Stanovich, K. (2007).  How to Think Straight About Psychology: 8th Edition.  Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Photo by Helen Cook, available under a Creative Commons attribution license. (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820922 Thu, 12 May 2011 19:55:10 +0100 4820922 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693335&cid=t_130406_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F04%2F08%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-april-8-2011%2F I’m going to skip my biweekly words of reflection today and talk about something important going on this month. While bees spread pollen during spring, organizations are spreading awareness about autism in April. There will be several activities running this month that will help raise awareness about autism, which is defined by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke as, “complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior.” It is estimated that “three to six children out of every 1,000 will have an autism spectrum disorder.” For more information, you can check out the NINDS website. And to find out what you can do participate i... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693335 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:56:52 +0100 4693335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281468&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35124&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspergerwoman%2F%7E3%2Fy5IX4Si7nBk%2Fautism-lifelong-solitary-confinement.html It's always a great pleasure to see the amount of people following this blog has increased.Thank you my dear followers, please let me know if you miss something I should blog about. As Julian Assange - heaven thanks- was released from prison last week, he spoke about his nine day stay in solitary confinement. People with autism can be seen as potential prisoners in their own lifelong solitary confinement I think. We have freedom of speech, freedom to walk around, no bail needed to explore the outdoor world. But somehow autistic people are locked up in their own mind, not to be able to share things, express their deepest inner feelings and many more. Just a thought. Soon one of the world's most famous cities will be visited again! My ex-bf is coming with me! Happy with this! Happy X-mas e... The Art of Being Asperger Woman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281468 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:17:00 +0100 4281468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3808667&cid=t_130406_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-doctors-feelings-about-caring-for-abnormal-kids%2F2010.08.01 I’ve been practicing for sixteen years now, doing both internal medicine and pediatrics. One of the joys of that is watching kids under my care grow up and not having to give up their care just because they get older. The spectrum is wide, with some kids growing up in “normal” families with “normal lives,” others in “abnormal” families, and yet others with inherently “abnormal” lives due to illness or disability. But the kids aren’t the only thing that has changed over the past sixteen years. Their doctor has changed as well. My comfort zones have widened, not getting rattled by “abnormal” as I once did. I used to feel uncomfortable with the mentally and emotionally disabled, now I am not. I used to feel sorry for parents with “abnormal” children. I used to feel... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3808667 Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:00:16 +0100 3808667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3621685&cid=t_130406_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-autism-caused-by-fertility-treatment%2F2010.06.01 In the latest media barrage on autism, fertility treatment has come into question as a possible cause for this increasingly common developmental disorder. The reason is two research abstracts recently presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia. One study assessed the history of IVF (in vitro fertilization) among 574 children evaluated at a special center for autism in Israel. The researchers found that 10% of the group diagnosed as autistic had had IVF, compared to a background rate in the overall population which they quote as 3.5%. Not surprisingly, maternal age was higher in the IVF group and the rate of prematurity was higher in the autistic children. The second study was a look into a pre-existing database — the Nurse’s Health Study — ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3621685 Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3621685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618036&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Froses.html When I wrote a post last month about pruning my rosebushes, Clay commented that he'd like to see another photo when they came into bloom. All the cold wet weather in the northeastern United States this year has been good for the plants, whatever else we might have to say about it. The roses are blooming quite nicely:I've been reflecting on how much our society's understanding of neurodiversity, like my rose garden, has grown over the past five years. At the end of 2004, shortly before I started blogging, typing "neurodiversity" into a search engine yielded very few results. Finding a new self-advocate website or a parent site that wasn't doom and gloom was like discovering an oasis in a vast scorching desert of intolerance.At that time Kathleen Seidel had just recently set up neurodiversit... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618036 Mon, 31 May 2010 16:22:00 +0100 3618036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511609&cid=t_130406_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2Fy_fl2QFkSP8%2F           Autism is a developmental disability that comes from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain.  It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills and reasoning.  Males are affected four times as often as females.  Children may appear normal until around the age of 30 months.  Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) varies significantly in character and severity, it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group.  Experts estimate that three to six children out of every 1,000 will have ASD.  The cause of autism remains unclear, but a psychological one has been ruled out.  Neurological studies seem to indicate a primary brain dysfunction, and a genetic component is sugges... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511609 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:35:04 +0100 3511609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443668&cid=t_130406_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=3433109&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fbattle-fatigue.html Regular readers of my blog will have noticed that I've been posting less often for the past several months. At first I thought my lack of interest in blogging might have been caused by seasonal depression over the long, gloomy winter. But it's been sunny and warm in my area all week; the birds are chirping merrily, the daffodils are blooming, and the grass is looking much greener; and now I feel, if anything, even less inclined to blog. For now, I just want to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and be part of the real world, far away from all the pointless bickering that has been going on in the online autistic community.I had a conversation last year with a friend who described autistic rights bloggers as "always at the barricades." That observation struck me as very accurate. We've ... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3433109 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:53:00 +0100 3433109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3342824&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D611 A disclaimer: I don’t believe in real distinctions between aspies, auties, LFA, and HFA. When I use these words I am discussing the beliefs of people who do believe in them. Edited to add: aspie supremacy is a shorthand and people should be aware that the prejudice contained within it can and does affect many with the AS dx. I think I am the person who coined the term autistic supremacy. At the least, I came up with it without having heard it before. It was 1999 and I came up with the term to explain certain trends to my psychologist. This, by the way, means that those people who are running around gloating about how us autistic activists brought these people’s offensiveness on ourselves, or ranting about how nobody cared until recently? They have no grasp of the history. None... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342824 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:24:37 +0100 3342824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3272997&cid=t_130406_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fxmww43wvlsw%2F (Editor’s Note: contributor Scott Barry Kaufman recently interviewed Daniel Tammet, one of the 100 known prodigious savants living at the present time. Their in-depth conversation –summary and links follow Scott’s reflections below– provoked a powerful reaction in Scott’s mind, as you are about to read). Last night I was eating dinner with my parents back in my hometown in Philadelphia. I was telling them about my interview with Daniel Tammet, and how I was working on a post about my reflections on the interview. My father, who reads everything I write (which can be awkward sometimes!), looked at me and said, plainly and simply, “I see a lot of similarities between you and Daniel, Scott.” Those words were a kind of crystallizing moment for me. I su... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3272997 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 03:13:06 +0100 3272997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3271153&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35084&url=http%3A%2F%2Fballastexistenz.autistics.org%2F%3Fp%3D601 I have seen a lot of “aspies” whining lately about the proposed changes in the DSM. Not productive critique of the new criteria, the medicalization of autistic lives, or the fact that the things most autistic people have truly in common have been left out of the criteria while peripheral things nonautistic people want to fix are spotlighted. No, nothing that useful. Just out and out whining. “I don’t want to be associated with that other kind of autistic people,” goes the standard whine line. “You know… Those Ones.” The crazy drooling retarded low functioning diaper wearing nonverbal ones who can’t take care of themselves and need to be on welfare. Which one of those or many other pejorative categories depends on the individual variati... Ballastexistenz blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3271153 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:13:42 +0100 3271153 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3271157&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fconversations.html Reflecting on Mark Stairwalt's post about autism as a family reunion, I have to confess that I can't wholly relate to his well-crafted analogy from my own experience because my family never has held large gatherings. But I had what might be called a mini-reunion when I had lunch with my mom at a nearby restaurant on Thursday, catching up on the latest family gossip about who cheated on whom, and so forth.We also briefly talked about the proposed changes in the autism diagnostic criteria. I mentioned that I thought we would see more changes in the future as researchers identify biomarkers, such as in this study showing a significant delay in auditory processing."That's interesting," said my mom, lowering her voice almost to a whisper as she confided, "I never thought of myself as autistic, ... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3271157 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:03:00 +0100 3271157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3059636&cid=t_130406_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fsleep-in-children-with-autism.html A new study examined sleep behaviors and sleep quality in children with autism spectrum disorder. The results were published Dec. 1 in the journal Sleep.The study involved 59 children with ASD. They were between 4 and 10 years of age. They were compared with 40 typically developing children.Parents completed the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire. They also completed a sleep diary for their child each morning for 17 days. Sleep was monitored for 10 nights by actigraphy. The actigraph was hidden in a pocket in the upper sleeve of a snug-fitting pajama top.Results show that the average bedtime on weekdays was around 8:30 p.m. for children in both groups. But children with ASD had an average wake time of 6:27 a.m. This was 38 minutes earlier than the other children’s wake time.About 58... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3059636 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:15:00 +0100 3059636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2981289&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F11%2Fcommunity-and-respect.html In the military, as Clay describes in the first post of an excellent series on leadership training and respect, officers salute not only other officers but also enlisted personnel. This is not simply because of regulations and tradition, but because the salute signifies mutual respect between people working together toward a common goal. There is, however, a considerable difference between the rote show of respect for the uniform and the more meaningful respect that must be earned throughout the career of the person wearing it.Applying this point more broadly to groups other than the military, I would say that meaningful participation in a community is not a matter of symbolic representations of group status such as a uniform or document issued to signify a person's membership in the group... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2981289 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:20:00 +0100 2981289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832350&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fautism-speaks-deceives-parents.html As a recent post on the Left Brain/Right Brain blog pointed out, Autism Speaks engaged in a "bait and switch" when Suzanne Wright asked parents to contribute video footage of their autistic children for a new project, without disclosing any of the nasty details of what she planned to do with it. Would the contributors to the "I Am Autism" video have agreed to participate if Autism Speaks had admitted at the outset that it was planning to demonize autistic kids as embarrassing burdens who destroy their parents' marriages and dreams?Well, at least one parent who posted a comment on the video's YouTube page, under the name BarrysDaughter, made it quite plain that she felt deceived by Autism Speaks' request for video contributions from parents. She wrote:"I do have 2 autistic children and a hu... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832350 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:26:00 +0100 2832350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2745599&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhey-good-lookin.html My children enjoy yet another year in the public school education system. Whilst the speech delays are still with us nevertheless they grow and change daily. We arrive at the weekend after completing the first successful week, hopefully the first of many. It is whilst I am cooking lunch that my son accosts me in the kitchen.“Wot?”“What what dear?”“Wot is it being?”“What am I cooking? Um.....a fragrant concoction.”"Wot it is being?""Concoction?""No.""Fragrant?""Yes.""Fragrant is another word for smell."“What you be fragranting?”“The smell or fragrance? That’s probably the Oregano, it’s a herb. Isn’t it lovely?”“Wot?”“Hmm?”“Wot is it being?”“The other smells? Take a peek in the pan and a sniff. It’s either bacon, garlic or possibly the beans you ... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2745599 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:57:00 +0100 2745599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741542&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fbreeding-perfection.html Part of the reason for choosing the Labradoodle breed of dog was because the boys have eczema and asthma. We were advised that this breed amongst a few others may lessen the adverse impact of a new pet upon our already very complicated family life. To date, this evidence has proved to be true. Our pet, Thatcher, has won us all over. No-one could ask for a more laid back puppy, huge yet gentle. He sheds like many other dogs but my toils with the vacuum are well worth it. Unlike the rest of the youthful household, he is not in the least bit phased by the whirring of the vacuum. He has already added so much to our family that I cannot imagine life without him any more. We have adjusted to his little doggy ways and the occasional deep baritone bark of warning;- woof, it’s a squirrel, woof, i... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741542 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:30:00 +0100 2741542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639685&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fcontext-and-consequences.html In response to a recent guest post in the New York Times "Motherlode" blog, which used language such as "nightmare" to describe raising an autistic child, blogger Sarah of Cat in a Dog's World wrote an e-mail pointing out that such descriptions were hurtful to autistic people reading them. Her reply was published as a separate article on Motherlode and received numerous comments, some of which suggested that the mother who wrote the original guest post should not be criticized for honestly expressing her feelings and that it was natural for a parent to feel stressed by a child's disability. Sarah then wrote an entry on her blog in which she explained that she was not accusing the mother of intentionally trying to harm the child; rather, she was addressing the broader issue of the impact of... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639685 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:21:00 +0100 2639685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2630320&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FQqDf-k1f8WY%2F Someone once said, about her developmentally disabled son, “His wheelchair is on the inside.” Looking at this picture, I think it’s hard to tell which boy has issues. The one on the left somehow doesn’t look quite with it, at least to me. The one on the right is smiling broadly, his arm placed (protectively? affectionately?) on his brother’s arm. I think people don’t always know something is different about Alex. In a good photo, like this one, he looks entirely typical. It’s a frozen moment, and I think he was happy to be with his brother and his parents on vacation in Cape Cod. But in real life, with the swirl of autistic traits and symptoms, it’s pretty obvious. When we get on a bus, I’m usually kind of relieved that Alex is doing so... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2630320 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:19:31 +0100 2630320 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2598430&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FjSlpR24Z8uE%2F When I first came across the notion of perseveration, I thought it was questionable. I mean, so  someone stays locked on a subject or activity. What’s wrong with that? Shows they’re able to focus. Yesterday Alex spent the entire day asking, Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Penguin? Photo courtesy of BotheredByBees (flickr.com) You get the idea. Thank god for ctrl + copy so I didn’t have to type the word “penguin” as often as he said it. Alex has a collection of toy jungle animals and some sea birds. Perhaps because we went to ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2598430 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:42:05 +0100 2598430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591646&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlK3iGS3FWoI%2F Image: jarcaj, Panoramio Today’s responses from the forums are to the question: “What trait of your autistic child would you most like to see more in yourself or in others?” “His genuine smile,” said one respondent. “His innocence,” said another. “Laugh, just because it feels good,” replied a third. “Spend the whole day playing, with no other cares in the world.  View people as strangers only as long as it takes to greet them with a hug, then they are instantly my friends.  Take everyone at face value, no assumption/concept of hidden agendas or ulterior motives. Courage to take people by the hand and show them what I want or need to be happy.” Another parent admired “his amazing ability to tell it like it is. I find ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591646 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:44:26 +0100 2591646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571058&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fdowries-trust-funds-and-independence.html I read an article by Kristina Chew yesterday discussing new legislation in West Virginia that will give tax credits to parents who contribute to trust funds for their autistic children's support as adults. Autism professional Barbara Becker-Cottrill gave an interview discussing parents' worries about what will happen to their children as adults, stating that trust funds can provide families with a sense of security.In seeking to help families who worry about their children's future, this legislation addresses what has become a widespread concern. Because today's society is so poorly adapted to the needs of its autistic citizens, a trust fund often can be a reasonable option. I once wrote a post on this blog suggesting that parents who were spending large amounts of money in pursuit of mira... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571058 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:58:00 +0100 2571058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571079&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FClkc3dlgLDw%2F Additional responses to “What’s the one thing you’d like to say to your relatives about your autistic child?”: “Just love him and enjoy him.  Let me worry about the rest.” “Thank you for loving him and treating him like the beautiful blessing that he is. We’re blessed and lucky to have family that ‘gets it’!” Photo by Me-Liss-A (flickr.com) “Sometimes (my wife and I) need your help watching him so we can spend some time on ‘us’.” “How we live for the ‘us’ moments, and have learned not to feel guilty about it. If only our loved ones could understand.” “Please don’t look at him for what he is not, but rather for what he is.  There is not one day that goes by that... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571079 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:49:14 +0100 2571079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2528059&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fhm_4AAJ80S4%2F I’m not the world’s biggest Thomas the Tank Engine fan. Too many things to buy. Too many accessories and pieces. Differently sized trains wouldn’t run on all the pieces of track. When Alex and Ned were younger we had some cute Thomas toys (the take-along roundhouse was a big hit with everyone, including me because it stored all its own pieces) but he didn’t seem to have real legs in our house. We put the track and engines away a couple of years ago, and there wasn’t a peep of protest. Apparently, though, a lot of children with autism really like Thomas in part because the facial expressions are so easy to read.  (Here’s a gallery of the many faces of Thomas.) Now an Australian profit has partnered with the smiley-faced engine to create a game whose mi... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2528059 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:43:01 +0100 2528059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512506&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FJZ0ShW0GG44%2F An informal survey conducted this morning in our dining room revealed that nine out of 10 arguments between me and Jill begin over autism. Alex had been squatting on the floor last evening, flipping through a big hardcover about knitting. Fine, except he hadn’t picked up when asked (with him it generally takes about three requests, which to be fair is probably about what you’d have to fire at most kids), and I had tripped over this hardcover one too many times. So I tried to cram it back onto the bookshelf just as Jill grabbed her keys and we got ready to head out. Except there was another book jammed on top of the other books on the shelf, and I had to take it out to get the big knitting hardcover to fit. Image: paloaltosoftware, flickr.com “Jeff, what are you doing?&#82... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512506 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:31:26 +0100 2512506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512509&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FgE_pXcUd9uM%2F Alex brought home the T shirt the other day, the shirt that his school issues every June. He goes to a special-needs fifth grade — “will have gone to a special-needs fifth grade” by a week from now — that sits in a school of typically developing kids.  All the graduates get their names on the back of the T shirt. Two of the names from Alex’s class this June, and one of the names is his. Image: msg.mercyhurst.edu I don’t know how to feel about these graduations, which this year even came with a school photo of him in a cap and gown. Nothing amiss with that, of course, except that the background of the photo was shelves and shelves of what appear to be law texts. By sixth grade, I’m afraid we have to admit the truth about law texts in Alex’s ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512509 Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:32:59 +0100 2512509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473906&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fautistic-parents-not-such-rare-birds.html Melody, the administrator of the AS Parenting website and forum, has announced that she is seeking new members and contributors. The site had been inactive for the past few months because of her family's move to Dallas. She says that she envisions the site as "all encompassing. Not only for parenting tips, but general life tips and for policy/politics."I hope that those of my autistic readers who are parents will consider participating in this very worthwhile effort to provide an online community and positive resources for parents on the spectrum. At present there is a great dearth of such resources, not because autistic parents are uninterested in them or exist in numbers too small to benefit from them, but because the widespread stereotypes to that effect have discouraged their developme... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473906 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:39:00 +0100 2473906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473917&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F1z9P8ou4Auo%2F It’s still unclear to me exactly when I realized Alex wasn’t going to stop running before he entered the street. For months and months he’s been excellent about this trick of survival in the streets of Manhattan, running running running right up the edge of the curb, then halting and holding out his hand for me to take when we cross the street. Image: Sonja's 07 photostream, Flickr.com This time, no. He sideslipped the police barricade and weaved right out into the middle of the intersection of 5th Avenue and East 96th Street. Cars were turning onto Fifth out of Central Park. Alex was laughing and laughing while while we screamed his name behind him. The wind on his cheek must’ve felt like the freedom of being a big grown-up boy until the arms of the traffic cop... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473917 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:36:13 +0100 2473917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2879564&cid=t_130406_123_f&fid=39035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liddlekidzblog.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fmassage-for-children-with-autism.html For children with Autism, massage may provide relaxation, stress reduction and calm muscle spasms. Over time, touch therapy also helps the child to become more accustomed to tactile stimulation and aides in body awareness. Often by incorporating massage therapy into daily routines, children with Autism experience decreased issues with sleeping. Research has demonstrated that this type of intervention may promote more on-task and social relatedness behavior during play, they show less erratic behavior, and are more attentive after receiving massage therapy. This safe, nurturing touch, along with regular sensory integration, is beneficial in reducing inattentiveness, touch aversion and withdrawal.Read more about The Benefits of Massage for Children with Autism (Source: Liddle Kidz Infant ... Liddle Kidz Infant and Pediatric Massage Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2879564 Mon, 25 May 2009 16:41:00 +0100 2879564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424373&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fabout-oppinions-neurodiversity%2F About.com is seeking your opinion on the Neurodiversity Movement.  With the recent coverage of Ari Ne’eman and the Autism Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)in Newsweek Magazine much opposition has risen.  About.com editor Lisa Jo Rudy explains, “my opinion, is that there is no such thing as “autism.” Instead, there are multiple “autisms,” each quite distinct. And [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424373 Tue, 19 May 2009 15:33:34 +0100 2424373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2415647&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fautism-movie-theater%2F 73 movie theaters around the nation are showing Night At The Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian in a “sensory friendly manner”, which is great for Autistic People. According to the Autism Society of America’s Website for Sensory Friendly Films: the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2415647 Fri, 15 May 2009 17:41:29 +0100 2415647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2405708&cid=t_130406_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fd-4iRGPmGUc%2F Working memory is our ability to store and manipulate information for a brief time. It is typically measured by dual-tasks, where the individual has to remember an item while simultaneously processing a sometimes unrelated piece of information. A widely used working memory task is the reading span task where the individual reads a sentence, verifies it, and then recalls the final word. Individual differences in working memory performance are closely related to a range of academic skills such as reading, spelling, comprehension, and mathematics. Crucially, there is emerging research that working memory predicts learning outcomes independently of IQ. One explanation for the importance of working memory in academic attainment is that because it appears to be relatively unaffected by environme... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2405708 Mon, 11 May 2009 00:49:07 +0100 2405708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2399081&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35124&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspergerwoman%2F%7E3%2FrfXoYpIQzkg%2Fyes-self-advocacy-time-rules.html If you think about it in a positive way, each comment on the Apeldoorn accident which links the killer to autism, can be seen as a chance to tell people about what autism really is. It's only the question if they want to hear it. No, they will not. I found this comment somewhere on a blog, it shocks me:A lady called Marieke comments that she works with adults with autism and normal intelligence and that she, from what she has read in the article about the killer/driver she can recognize the black and white thinking adults have and tells that she is absolutely sure the driver is an autist while autists have the tendency to hold their emotions hidden and all of a sudden an autist can explode!!WTF is this??? She reads an article in the newspaper, she has not spoken to his family members nor h... The Art of Being Asperger Woman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2399081 Thu, 07 May 2009 20:17:00 +0100 2399081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367951&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Four-community-remembers.html The recent death of Alyric, who was an impassioned blogger and a strong voice for justice, was a great loss to the autistic community. I first encountered Alyric's writings on autistic civil rights and feminism in 2005, when I came across her blog A Touch of Alyricism. (Her family members have kindly allowed the blog to remain online as a resource for the community.) I thought it was a lovely and original name for a blog, and so well matched to the creative and insightful nature of its author.Over the years, Alyric posted many thoughtful, in-depth essays addressing matters of importance to the autistic community. She wrote about junk science and the marketing of bogus cures, the ABA controversy, and the false and harmful 'autism epidemic' rhetoric. She is generally credited with having bee... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367951 Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:42:00 +0100 2367951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2358444&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F4SPUAlgh2co%2F By human standards, our cat Toast is autistic. Consider: - She’s unable to understand directions. Fails consistently to respond to such clear commands as “Get off the table!”, or “Don’t go in the bedroom!” condition seems to be beyond willfulness, and a genuine lack of comprehension. - Sometimes unusually difficult to toilet-train (see “live independently”) - Doesn’t clearly articulate needs and desires. Seems to want to be petted, then scurries away. Rubs against the base of the kitchen counters before mealtimes in an obvious stimming activity rather than just come out and ask for dinner. Frustrating: If only the language would emerge, our whole concept of Toast would change. - Loves being brushed.  Again, stimming? Rubs her lips against the comb in obvious oral fixatio... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2358444 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:56:34 +0100 2358444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348534&cid=t_130406_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F20%2Fthe-magic-of-equine-facilitated-therapy%2F The New York Times published a fascinating article last week about one young family’s success using an unorthodox combination of equine (horse)-assisted therapy and Mongolian shamanism to ease their autistic son’s behavioral difficulties: When Rupert Isaacson decided to take his autistic son, Rowan, on a trip to Mongolia to ride horses and seek the help of shamans two years ago, he had a gut instinct that the adventure would have a healing effect on the boy. Mr. Isaacson’s instinct was rewarded after the trip, when some of Rowan’s worst behavioral issues, including wild temper tantrums, all but disappeared. …“The Horse Boy” traces Rowan’s early difficulties with “demonic” tantrums, speech delays and incontinence. The only thing that seemed to help, Mr. Isaacson disc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348534 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:24:32 +0100 2348534 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2329677&cid=t_130406_146_f&fid=38266&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsleepeducation.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fmelatonin-improves-sleep-problems-in.html A new study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that melatonin supplements may be helpful for children with autism.The small study involved 12 children between the ages of 2 and 15 years. Each child had either autistic spectrum disorder, fragile X syndrome, or both problems. The children took 3 mg of melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime for two weeks.Results show that melatonin improved three aspects of their sleep. The children slept for an average of 21 more minutes each night. The length of time it took them to fall asleep was 28 minutes shorter. And the time of night when they fell asleep was 42 minutes earlier.The study reports that sleep problems are common in children with autism. Senior author Beth L. Goodlin-Jones, PhD, told the AASM that these problems can affect the e... Sleep Education blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2329677 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:50:00 +0100 2329677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349286&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2Fb53sIH2gxBA%2F As many people are aware Autism and some textures just don’t work out.  Well I have a friend who creates home made felt hats, pillowcases, bags and plenty of other things.   Yes - I’m guilty of plugging a friends bossiness, but seriously I love the texture of felt and its so comforting to me. Suzanne Higgs [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349286 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:46:12 +0100 2349286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2324233&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35124&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspergerwoman%2F%7E3%2FOmsyyscy7O8%2Fvideo-adults-with-autism.html I found an interesting video on the CBS websit. Click on the blogpost to be forwarded to their siteUnfortunately people could think adults with autism all act like the people showed in the video. Not all adults with autims do need supported living in a community home far away from the outside world. I was touched by the words of a mum telling about the question of ther 10 year old daughter: what will happen with me when you are dead? That question has been on my mind for years. Contacts with other people with autism made clear this is not a silly question as many other adults with autism and/or their parents do worry about the time after the parents have died.How do you feel about this subject. Do you think about the future without the support of your parents/family? Please tell me, it rea... The Art of Being Asperger Woman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2324233 Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:42:00 +0100 2324233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2313538&cid=t_130406_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F07%2Fwine-hope-and-autism%2F What most people who have a mental or developmental disorder want is something that’s hard to dole out — hope. We just want to know that it’s going to be okay, someday, and that we have a chance of finding “normal.” That’s why it touched my heart to read about a bunch of winemakers in Japan (not typically known for its wine). But these winemakers were different — the staff is made up of more than 100 developmentally disabled and autistic individuals. Not only do they work at the winery, they live there too, and there’s a school there as well. This comprehensive, 360 degree approach is hope-giving. It provides people who society otherwise does not give a chance a place to feel special and like they belong. And belong they do: Hiromitsu Watan... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2313538 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:14:19 +0100 2313538 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2324242&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35124&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspergerwoman%2F%7E3%2FC636Q9jUbfU%2Fautism-adults-pictureproject.html I think they are all great to have the courage to have their picture published on this website. It’s the Autism Adults Picture Project I am talking of.After all there is nothing to be ashamed of being a human being with autism. So one day I might join them. It so good to see that autism indeed has many faces. It's a great way to make people aware about autism as well.Click on the title of this blogpost to be forwarded. Enjoy! (Source: The Art of Being Asperger Woman) The Art of Being Asperger Woman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2324242 Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:21:00 +0100 2324242 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2296781&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35124&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspergerwoman%2F%7E3%2Fe9pMrh5KmEk%2Fautism-and-food-food-issues-for.html This blog wants to inform you and share opinions, feelings and probably useful information about Autism and several subjects with you. On the subject of Autism and Food there is much to be written. Many things have already been written by others. I try to post self written articles in this blog. However, sometimes I think it is just better to make people aware of articles written by someone else, simply because they are so well written. Patricia Clark was a well known, American based Lady who has done many things for people including people with autism and autism self advocacy, due to her own experiences. I was sorry to read Mrs. Clark has passed away some years ago.Mrs. Clark has written about Food Issues for Independent Autistic Adults. A Must read for everyone I think.Click on t... The Art of Being Asperger Woman blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2296781 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:25:00 +0100 2296781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2217730&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FG5bMfgqdsmY%2F As many of you know church’s can be overwhelming to people, even more so those with Autism.  A few years ago I was really active at volunteering in the sound booth at church, until I had a melt down due to get overwhelmed…. earlier this week I returned. Working in the sound booth at church offered [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2217730 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:26:52 +0100 2217730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2211938&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2Fm-29U6LAgvQ%2F In a marketing campaign Lindt Chocolates has decided it would be a great idea to profit off of harm done to Autistic Children. Lindt Chocolates has announced for every sale of their Gold Bunny they will donate 10 cents to the number 1 organization who promotes hatred of Autistic people… Autism Speaks, saying: “Lindt USA is very [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2211938 Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:16:50 +0100 2211938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2259906&cid=t_130406_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fpet-therapy-may-be-the-greatest-therapy-of-all%2F Today, I thought we might take a break from ourselves and take a moment to enjoy the remarkable world of pet therapy. They answer to many names such as service dogs, therapy dogs and guide dogs. In my digging around through books, periodicals and the Internet, I find that pets are indeed, more than poor dumb beasts. They’re not dumb at all. I’ve always known it, especially when I’m hauling in a load of groceries into my front door. There are my two critters greeting me, jumping, barking and generally beside themselves over the simple fact that I’m home.  I usually look at them and say in a short-of breath way, “So, why don’t you two pick up a bag and help me?” Poor dumb beasts that sleep in a warm bed, eat home-cooked pet food they didn’t have to prepare and certainly didn... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2259906 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:44:43 +0100 2259906 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2207029&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FC2oV6-difaA%2F The current Recession is taking a large bite out of the services many special needs individuals receive, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  I’m starting to see those large cutbacks and consolidation in services I receive. Last week I was informed that the program I am part of is no longer renewing any leases with the [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2207029 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:26:19 +0100 2207029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160970&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FGt_X8X29OFA%2F Many of you may remember Heather Kuzmich a finalist on the TV Show “America’s Next Top Model” who also has Aspergers Syndrome.  She has just went on to further her education - by enrolling in a video game design school. According to Rahul Sood’s blog Kuzmich is getting into gaming because “I frigging love games and [...] This is an excerpt from an article on AspieWeb.net, A blog writen by an Autistic Blogger. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160970 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:13:09 +0100 2160970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2135122&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2F_ewjPsdGzsQ%2F So seeing as Kent Adams - also known as ChristSchool is going around the Internet spreading lies about me - I feel its time to address this situation. Mr Adams has been quite upset with me for allowing Advertising on this website for some time - he feels for some reason that attempting to make [...] This is an excerpt from an article on AspieWeb.net, A blog writen by an Autistic Blogger. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2135122 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:02:57 +0100 2135122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2116549&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FNxgZ040kErA%2F As is traditional on noon on the inaugiration day for a new President of the United States the website whitehouse.gov is changed to reflect the change of the occupant of the office of The President of The United States - and the change is a good one for those on the autism spectrum. Just one click [...] This is an excerpt from an article on AspieWeb.net, A blog writen by an Autistic Blogger. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2116549 Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:45:43 +0100 2116549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2111115&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2F2slZT01_eD0%2F It appears Allison Singer has resigned from Autism Speaks as she voted against the organizations wishes at the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.  Autism Speaks released a statement about this, to which I edited to show the true story. Autism Speaks today decried like a baby wanting attention in regards to a vote by the Interagency [...] This is an excerpt from an article on AspieWeb.net, A blog writen by an Autistic Blogger. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2111115 Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:30:05 +0100 2111115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2096044&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fdaily-constitutionals.html We walk as a family, together with our dog, Thatcher. We meet and greet neighbours, old ones and new unfamiliar ones. People are friendly and make complimentary remarks about our puppy. My children offer pertinent pieces of information in return:- that he has fur, even between his toes, that the end of his tail looks like a teasel, that his poop is bigger than cat poop because he is much bigger than most cats, that the tough pads on his feet mean that he doesn’t need to wear shoes, that he smells really bad, but not as bad as the first day he arrived. Each little nugget of information is of equal worth. People seem both amused and bemused in return.By the time we dawdle back home, these cumulative exchanges appear to have percolated their psyche.“Mom?”“Yes dear?”“I like Fatcher... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2096044 Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:55:00 +0100 2096044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2090429&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FR8IzInw5tn4%2F So I’m currently in a relationship with this most awesome girl, and of course this most awesome girl has a mother who happens to read this website.  Her mother brought up the suggestion of me trying a Gluten Free Diet.  I have mixed feelings on this and have yet to hear of any real benefit [...] This is an excerpt from an article on AspieWeb.net, A blog writen by an Autistic Blogger. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2090429 Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:57:37 +0100 2090429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078721&cid=t_130406_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F01%2F04%2Folder-parents-birth-order-linked-to-autism%2F This study clearly shows a relationship between higher autism spectrum disorders’ risk and waiting to have children. Read the full article: UW researcher finds link between age, birth order and autism (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078721 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:04:52 +0100 2078721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078706&cid=t_130406_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fbarack-obama-mmr-autism-wibble-and-woo.html Galileo faces the InquisitionThere is a bit if a hoo-ha going on at the moment about the suggestion that Barack Obama believes that the MMR vaccine causes autism. The ever-appalling David Kirby has poured fuel on the flames by further suggesting that the Obama team has no interest in helping the large number of American citizens who do suffer from Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).Kevin Leitch is responsible for the LeftBrain/RightBrain web-site which has, over the last two or three years, grown from a small blog into an internationally respected, dispassionate resource about autism. I will leave him to deal with Kirby’s allegationsReturning to Barack Obama, the following quote is being bandied around with relish by the anti-MMR brigade:"We've seen just a skyrocketing autism rate," said ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078706 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 11:32:00 +0100 2078706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078248&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fwhats-in-name.html A very long time ago I gave my little brother a cheap and nasty teddy bear. It was very small and constructed in what I can only describe as squares and rectangles. It might have just passed muster if it had been biscuit coloured but unfortunately it was a pure shade of dun. Fortunately I gave it with love and from the very few pennies in my possession. For some unaccountable reason, he and the bear bonded. He being a youthful kind of a little brother, he concocted a lengthy, convoluted name for a bear no larger than his pudgy little hand. Jumbo Jet Teabags, as he was affectionately known for short, and my brother, were quite inseparable for many a long year. Jumbo Jet Teabags full name, is lost on my weakened memory card, but I believe he had a great number of them, one for each letter ... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078248 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:35:00 +0100 2078248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075713&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FrkGJMpl9dfU%2F Aspies For Freedom (AFF) claims to be an advocacy organization according to its owner (yes it has an owner - its operated much like Autism Speaks).  But its really not an advocacy organization.  All decisions made for AFF are made by the owner, Gareth Nelson - and if you question his decision your called a [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075713 Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:07:54 +0100 2075713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075714&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2Ff_FFKDRHevE%2F I just received a very disturbing comment from a user stating that Michael E. Robinson director of the The Office of Advocacy for Autistic Children just told an autistic person that his opinion is unwelcome in the proposal of an Autism Health Care bill he is proposing on the website change.orgAccording to the comment left [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075714 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:27:18 +0100 2075714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056604&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FFz1t38xNMeo%2F Michael Robinson the founder of The Office for Advocacy has proposed the Autism Reform Act of 2009 through the website change.org, so far the idea only has a little over 900 votes.  While I don’t agree with a lot of the bill - I think its a great start, however I am going to submit [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056604 Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:42:17 +0100 2056604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2053821&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2F4Y1QBKxECMI%2F There has been quite a lengthy discussion on Aspies For Freedom lately on people in the organization believing that Minority Status would be legally beneficial to those on the Autism Spectrum, and to be very blunt - I wholeheartedly disagree.Gareth, the founder and owner of Aspies For Freedom seems to think that disability rights != [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2053821 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:41:54 +0100 2053821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2036120&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FplKWNS71V9o%2F Ok, so I kinda did this on a whim - but I thought it would be kinda cool to try out.  Seeing as I don have a decent camera I had to record this on my phone.   In this first episode I question whether I should question whether a career I’m thinking about getting into [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2036120 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:47:44 +0100 2036120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2036121&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FGe2_8DbUavs%2F As Christmas quickly approaches so does the daunting task of finding the perfect gift for someone, and as you know people with Aspergers or other Autism Spectrum disorders can be somewhat distant, and even difficult to shop for.  So I wrote several suggestions here to help with the task of shopping. Weighted Blanket - I don’t [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2036121 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:18:21 +0100 2036121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2034255&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2F6vQ3jeJk5JQ%2F Today Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed into law today, which provides up to $36,000 a year in coverage.The bill argubly an attempt to take the attention off Gov. Blagojevich’s arrest by the FBI was signed into law today.  The bill mandates that insurance companies be required to cover diagnosis and treatment of Autistic individuals up [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2034255 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:00:08 +0100 2034255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011950&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Faspie-romance-movie%2F Olympus Pictures just announced a new independent film that’s set to compete in this years Sundance Film festival.  The movie is a love story about a man with Aspergers who falls in love with his upstairs neighbor, and the trials they face in their relationship. The movie “Adam” stars Hugh Dancy as Adam a man with [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011950 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:18:05 +0100 2011950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011951&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Ffree-autism-center-vandalized%2F A free drop in centre for those with autism spectrum disorders was recently vandalized.  Vandals broke in through the roof ripping off kitchen extractor fans to gain entry  and caused around £10,000 (or $14,786.99 USD).  According to Autism Initiatives staff the vandals urinated on tables, damaged electrical equipment and rubbed graffiti all over. Autism Initiative NI’s [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011951 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:55:29 +0100 2011951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1985599&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fautism-speaks-and-biased-media%2F So some Autistic people have proposed several changes to the Autism Speaks Wikipedia entry, attempting to show that not all Autistic individuals support the Autism Speaks organization.   Most of these changes were reverted due to the fact that no reliable source was cited stating that there is a disagreement going on between Autism Speaks and [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1985599 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:12:30 +0100 1985599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1976389&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fautism-consultant-scams-school-parents%2F Stacy Lore, creator of ‘Spectrum Kids’ is being accused of scamming Norwalk Public Schools with false credentials, and charging up to rates of up to $125 and fees for academic assessments of $1,500, falsely claiming Florida Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the school didn’t find out about it - parents did. According to The [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1976389 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:16:38 +0100 1976389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1964606&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fprotection-force-from-autism%2F I just ran into a very disturbing face book group, that states its mission is l is to inform girls and women that a percentage, not most, of Autistic people are more likely to be rapists.  So what you are saying is because I have autism I am more likely to rape woman I find [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1964606 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:07:52 +0100 1964606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947978&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fso-vaccines-cause-autism-what-now%2F So apparently vaccines cause autism, or thats what I’m being told.  Apparently Jenny McCarthy was really right, and the government is really responsible for my autistic characteristics by poisoning me the vaccinations that should keep me safe.  So what now? I’m afraid the government may heard up autistic people and try to correct their mistake, as [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947978 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:39:16 +0100 1947978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1943843&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fautism-gene-isolated%2F Reuters is reporting today that a gene known as Contactin 4 may be the cause of many peoples Autism.  Dr. Eli Hatchwell of Stony Brook University Medical Center in New York recently led a study that found people with Autism have a higher rate of duplicate or deletions of DNA that disrupted Contactin [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1943843 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:37:33 +0100 1943843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1912022&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fnew-autism-advisor-in-government%2F Canada has appointed a new Specialist Advisor for Autism at the Department of Health.  Elaine Hill will work four days week to develop a new Adult Autism Strategy, advise on the needs of Autistic Individuals and work on policy reform. Ms. Hill stated, “I am very excited about the prospect of being able to take forward [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1912022 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:29:09 +0100 1912022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1912023&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fold-people-cause-autism%2F Dr Maureen Durkin and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health carried out a study on the age of parents when they had there first born child and the chance of the first born child having Autism.  The peer reviewed study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology shows a [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1912023 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:20:26 +0100 1912023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908049&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Faspies-have-a-mental-age-of-10%2F So I have been looking around the news latley for references of Aspergers and I found another person using Aspergers as an excuse for criminal behavior.  Many people are well aware of the story of Gary McKinnon - The Pentagon Hacker.  Well now there is a mother of a child who bombed a cafe in [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908049 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:52:37 +0100 1908049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1902633&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fdan-releases-video-documentry%2F Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh and Defeat Autism Now have created a new video documentry which is planned to be revealed as part of the national Defeat Autism Now (DAN!) national conference in San Diego, CA.  The film tells the story of four children diagnosed with autism, who achieved success using treatments rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis. [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1902633 Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:34:52 +0100 1902633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1896149&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fnew-autism-support-community%2F It looks like someone (or a company) has developed an online supoort community.  I’m going to reserve my judgement about this community until I see how the community is administrated and moderated.  One of the things I like though about it is One of the the things I like about the community is when registering you [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1896149 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:48:45 +0100 1896149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883943&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fautistics-lazy-stupid-or-both%2F Comedian Denis Leary decided to flex his humor muscle on autism - at the expense of Autistic people.  In Leary’s Book “Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Lazy, and Stupid” he says autistic people are …”not autistic. He’s just stupid. Or lazy. Or both.”  Read more to read the entire quote Leary writes [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883943 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:52:09 +0100 1883943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856759&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fcomputerworld-hints-cure-autism%2F After reading through my Aspergers/Autism news feed just a few minutes ago, I found a very disturbing article.   In may ComputerWorld magazine published an article on Aspergers and the Information Technology Environment.   The articile prompted a battle in the comments section on if Aspergers should be cured or not. Today ComputerWorld editor Don Tennant published [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856759 Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:12:06 +0100 1856759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841098&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fwhen-should-i-be-concerned.html Those who have sent comments to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) on its draft strategic plan will recognize the title of this post as the heading of the first section of the draft plan. (If you have not yet written a comment, they're due today. Follow this link to find a quick submission form with suggested talking points for last-minute responses.)In the draft plan, the question "When should I be concerned?" refers to the identification of autism spectrum conditions. Although the main issue seems to be early childhood screening and when a child should be evaluated, there is also some discussion of identifying autism in older children and diverse populations.Given the lack of clear definitions and the subjectivity of the current diagnostic criteria, this is indeed an ar... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841098 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:03:00 +0100 1841098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1825841&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D320 A while ago, I took an online course on defensive driving that my workplace requires. Supposedly this type of course lowers accident rates (I’d love to see proof of that), which is a good goal I suppose. However, I suspect the real reason for the course is so that a lawyer from my organization can simply say, “We have a comprehensive defensive driving program” should we ever get sued after an accident…but I digress… A key part of the course is an online “assessment” to determine whether or not I possess the critical defensive driving skills that were being taught to me. There was just one problem: the assessment was incredibly badly designed. For instance, it asks, “what is defensive driving?” Does it matter? Does knowing the definition... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1825841 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:36:12 +0100 1825841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812840&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fthat-wheelchair-analogy.html You know, the one that claims autistic self-advocates exist only because the Internet enabled us to interact with others and that, without our computers, we would have very little ability to express our views. Mike Stanton used this analogy in a recent presentation about the Autism Hub, which he posted on his blog, stating as follows:Computers have been described as “wheelchairs for autistics.” The analogy holds good. Computer technology and the internet have empowered many who would find normal face to face interactions extremely difficult. They can build web sites, write blogs and create videos.It's a fair observation that many (although not all) autistic self-advocates are more comfortable using the Internet than communicating face to face. And the Internet certainly has made it muc... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812840 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:07:00 +0100 1812840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806800&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Ffather-had-to-kill-autistic-son%2F Although details are kinda sketchy at this time, A Grand Junction, Colorodo shot his teenage son - who has Aspergers Syndrome in the face when he was sleeping September 11th.  The man told his wife, “I had to kill him because you were ruining him.” and then fired more rounds into his Son’s face. Although it [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806800 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:54:03 +0100 1806800 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770847&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Faspies-at-war%2F The popular Autism Rights forum Aspies For Freedom has been locked down - no new users are allowed, and no new posts are being permitted.  Multiple long time users have been banned permanently as well. Apparently some turmoil happened at that website, after allegations of peoples threads or posts disappearing for no reason.   The moderator EvilZakkie [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770847 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:51:37 +0100 1770847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1760496&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fcompany-seeks-out-autistic-employees%2F Symmetry Electronics in Hawthorne, CA is actively seeking out individuals on the Autism Spectrum for employment according to an article in the Wall Street Journal. Symmetry has partnered with Focus on All Child Therapies (FACT)  to bring awareness and education to there existing employees on the Autism Spectrum. FACT then helps match potential autistic candidates with [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1760496 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:22:52 +0100 1760496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1747387&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fmovie-on-autistic-surfer-dude%2F A new movie entitled ‘Just Add Water’ was featured recently at a showing in Hawaii.  It featured the story of Clay Marzo a professional surfer who is also Autistic.  The movie follows around Clay during his surfing tours and shows how his struggles how he struggles with Aspergers.   EDIT: I added a trailer and info [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1747387 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:50:28 +0100 1747387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734077&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fjudge-rotenberg-center-abroad.html Although there are many who would describe Dr. Matthew Israel of the Judge Rotenberg Center as a profoundly evil man, it's clear that he does not lack business and political savvy. Despite ever-increasing public condemnation of his use of electric shock on children with disabilities, he has repeatedly evaded both legislative and administrative efforts to shut down JRC over the past several years.The handwriting is on the wall, though. The coalition of civil rights groups lobbying against JRC's abuses is growing stronger, and every time the Massachusetts Legislature votes on a bill to ban behavioral aversives (that is, the deliberate infliction of pain for behavior-management purposes), the vote gets narrower. One day soon, the legislation will surely pass, and that will be the end of the S... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734077 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:32:00 +0100 1734077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1729771&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fmy-hateful-fanclu%2F I’ve noticed I have a pretty hateful fanclub now - which could mean only one thing.  My voice is being heard and its upsetting some people.  Now after looking at the people its upsetting and why I really don’t see this as a bad thing. The first thing I’m noticing is the guy over at Autism [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1729771 Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:41:21 +0100 1729771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1724038&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fwork-is-not-good-aspergers-autis%2F So for the last 3 weeks or so I have tried working at a pharmaceutical manufacturer in my area.  Aspergers has not been kind to me - I’m scared to show up now, to anxious to sleep because I have had already a meltdown on the floor which involved me crying, and I feel so [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1724038 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:03:31 +0100 1724038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683098&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fon-changing-culture.html When I first read the young adult novel Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry, it didn't immediately occur to me that the blue thread in the story was a metaphor representing the social contributions of people with disabilities. I won't describe the book in too much detail because I do not want to spoil it for anyone, but I'll say briefly that the setting is a post-apocalyptic village where anyone with a serious illness or disability is thrown out of the village to die, and the plot has to do with a girl's quest for blue thread to repair a damaged historical tapestry on a ceremonial robe. As I understand it now, I believe the author means to say that the diverse groups of people in a society, and perhaps individuals as well, are like the many colors in a tapestry; as such, neither the ceremonial r... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683098 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:16:00 +0100 1683098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677594&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fdancing-men-in-speedos-supoort-jenny-mccarthy-on-autism%2F The WWE is apparently teaming up with Jenny McCarthy to raise money for her campaign on curing Autism.  While I never really understood what was entertaining about watching guys act like they are beating each other up and dressing like idiots I find this very disturbing.  The WWE has a crap load of money and [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677594 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:22:42 +0100 1677594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677595&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fand-we-have-supermodels%2F I got a message today from Emily, who blogs as pahsophist, she recently purchased one of our great shirts and sent me a picture of her wearing it. As you can see its an awesome looking shirt, and I would like to thank Emily for sending the picture. If you don’t know these shirts were designed so that [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677595 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:01:36 +0100 1677595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652396&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fmichael-savage-in-deep-doo-doo.html A lot of people have been wondering what the heck Michael Savage was thinking last week when he said, among other offensive remarks, that autistic children were really just brats who needed more discipline. I'm inclined to believe that the potential consequences of his rant never even crossed his mind. If he thought about it at all, he probably figured that—given the extent of the ugly, dehumanizing language so often used to describe autistic children in recent years—there would be no consequences whatsoever.After all, "combating autism" is now an official policy of the United States government; some of our politicians and autism charities have given the impression that they're competing to see how many times in the same speech they can revile autistics as a devastating burden to socie... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652396 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:14:00 +0100 1652396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631999&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fmedia-autism-portrayal%2F I was reading an article on a hacker who got off without being convicted for infecting a million computers and causing millions of dollors in damage.  The Article was named Autistic Hacker Escapes Penalty. This really bugs me as the reason the hacker got off had nothing to do with him having Aspergers Syndrome.  It [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631999 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:19:59 +0100 1631999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1623232&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fvideo-8-year-old-with-aspergers-sings-to-thousands%2F Heres a great video of an 8 year old with Aspergers who is already doing some very pro signing gigs, and hes quite good too! View the video of an 8 year old with Aspergers Sing! (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1623232 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:55:21 +0100 1623232 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1623234&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fvideo-diagnosing-a-girls-autism-aspergers%2F ABC News has this great video about something that sadly has not been looked at much - girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  It explores the differences in behaviors in boys and girls - and how it effects autistic behaviors, and possibly diagnosis.  Read more to view it. http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=4181242 (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1623234 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:51:34 +0100 1623234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1616878&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fwhat-google-thinks-of-special-people%2F While this may be outside what I would normally post here, it kind of upset me.  Look at this screenshot I just found today. Why am I posting this, well I think Google has recognized a trend in society - that all people that have some sort of difference in their lives are considered ‘retarded’.  I [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1616878 Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:53:51 +0100 1616878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1597292&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fabortion-of-autistics-is-apparently-compassionate%2F I was chatting with a ‘friend’ - or someone that I thought was one about some of my issues with Autism Speaks a while back and she made some horrific comments on IM.  This has been on my personal blog for quite some time now.  After kinda wrestling with it I want to post it [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1597292 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:55:50 +0100 1597292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1597293&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fattention-autistics-abc-news-wants-us-to-speak%2F ABC News wants to hear from autistic individuals and family members for a one hour newscast, now isn’t that awesome!  So if you want to speak out and possibly be heard on a one hour newscast here’s your opportunity! How to submit: Via cell phone: Record a 15- to 45-second clip and email it to: icaught@abcnews.go.com Via the web Click [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1597293 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:34:55 +0100 1597293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1597294&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fan-emotional-video-to-aba-applied-behavioral-analysis%2F Applied Behavioral Analysis is a way of ‘correcting’ Autistic behaviors such as stimming, pacing, etc by punishing people for behaviors that are a result from Autism.  Kathy, an Autisitc adult volunteered at an ABA school for awhile and posted a very emotional responce about what she saw and how it impacted her. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1597294 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:27:59 +0100 1597294 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1561678&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fgovernor-parents-and-lawmakers-furious-with-autism-speaks%2F Autism Speaks while advocating for what it thinks is best for Autistic People disregards others input and upsets Parents and lawmakers in Pensylvania. It appears Pensylvania attempted to a great thing for Autistic People by helping by requiring companies to provide insurance coverage for Autistic People’s health care in a non-discriminatory fashion.  According to Rick Bryant, president [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1561678 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 04:13:45 +0100 1561678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1552411&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fthe-word-from-zazzle-management%2F I finally got a phone call back from Zazzle Managment and discussed with them whats going on. As to whether Autism Speaks directly contacted Zazzle about this product. Zazzle: Well we have recieved letters in the past from um ah Autism Speaks in regards to prodcuts withtrademark violations so when our um content management staff came across [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1552411 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:26:15 +0100 1552411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1546748&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fneeds-of-many.html …should not be determined by the loud voices of the few.I sometimes get commenters on my site who talk about the importance of considering the needs of autistic people with serious challenges and who declare that the discussion should not be monopolized by successful autistics who have a university degree, a career, a happy marriage, a house in the suburbs, a popular blog, or whatever the commenters' definition of success may be.And then they're surprised when I agree with them completely.Of course no individual or subgroup should ever claim to speak for an entire minority group. That's just basic common sense, and I've said many times that I speak only for myself on my blog. If I write a post that addresses a feminist issue, I don't claim to be speaking for all women, either. Nobody has... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546748 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:35:00 +0100 1546748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1547444&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fon-the-phone-with-zazzle%2F So… I’m on the phone with Zazzle about Autism Speaks’ copyright violation allegation. You can listen in….   Not much of an answer from this guy, but still awaiting that call back! (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1547444 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:03:59 +0100 1547444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1544605&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Ftouching-video-of-an-autistic-father-and-son%2F I found this very touching video of an Autistic Father and Son, its worth the watch.   (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1544605 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:48:50 +0100 1544605 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1544606&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fwhy-is-autism-speaks-so-bad%2F I’ve received a lot of inquiries as of late about why I and other people dislike Autism Speaks, and I think its important that people understand why I think Autism Speaks does not in fact support Autistic People, read more for some examples Please not that the following is my personal opinion, and does not express [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1544606 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:49:14 +0100 1544606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538743&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fwhat-you-can-do-and-thanks%2F Over the last few days I have been overwhelmed with a lot of support, immature idiots and people asking what they can do to help.  Well read more while I address these. First of all I would like to thank the people who have been very supportive of this, particuarly Kelly Becker - the last autistic person [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538743 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 20:02:53 +0100 1538743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538744&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fproof-that-autism-speaks-is-attacking-autism-self-advocacy%2F I just received the official reply from the shirt manufacturer which confirms that Autism Speaks gave them legal notice to take down the shirt… read more to view the letter! Dear Zach,   Thank you for your email.   Thank you for your interest in Zazzle.com, and thank you for publishing products on Zazzle. Unfortunately, we have been contacted by [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538744 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:21:03 +0100 1538744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531370&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35089&url=http%3A%2F%2Faspiefamily.org%2Fdad%2Fautistic-pride-day-2%2F Today is Autistic Pride Day, something that originated a while back with Aspies for Freedom if I recall correctly. [later: Kristina thinks so, too. note: I edited my Autism Pride Day link to match her's as well]. ShareThis (Source: Aspie Dad) Aspie Dad blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531370 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:31:47 +0100 1531370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531379&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F314920087%2F It’s Autistic Pride Day today; the day originated with Aspies for Freedom. It’s also the birthday of Jason Ross Artson who blogs at Drive Mom Crazy (a blog-name I’m quite fond of, by the way). I think we’ll be celebrating here by doing “the usual”: It’s Charlie’s first day of Extended School Year and of us getting back into the usual routine. We will be baking a cake—Charlie sighted a gluten-free crumb cake mix last time we were at the store and wanted to make it last night at 9pm, and was fine with waiting till “after school.” He also has speech therapy and then we need to go shopping for some items for school—-locks for his locker are at the top of the list—-and I’m always proud to be aut with Charlie in ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531379 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:37:11 +0100 1531379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538746&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Faspieweb-being-bullied-by-autism-speaks%2F I just received a legal notice from the big bad bully Autism Speaks because I designed a t-shirt that says “Autism Speaks Can Go Away.”  It appears Autism Speaks is now using legal threats to shut up Autistic people that disagree with there stance on Autism. Many people know Autism Speaks threatned  the parents of an Autistic Child [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538746 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:31:13 +0100 1538746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526340&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D325 An article in Harvard Business School Working Knowledge details the Dutch company Specialisterne. This company focuses on software testing, using autistic workers. They have found autistic workers often have very strong software testing skills. The article assumes that this is due to “routine”, rather than “creative”, work. I’m not quite sure that is the case - I think it is more likely that it picks up on the autistic strength to see the details and the whole at the same time. Many autistic people seem to be able to hold a huge amount of details together at once, without as much need to “group” them into a higher level object. We don’t miss the forest for the trees, we see the forest because we see the trees. It’s not a better way of t... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526340 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:21:46 +0100 1526340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512236&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fthat-must-be-so-hard.html During the Good Morning America segment on neurodiversity, Kristina Chew corrected the interviewer's suggestion that she was suffering because she is a parent of an autistic child. "I don't feel that I suffer," she replied. On Kristina's blog, a commenter named Sharon discussed how widespread this view of inevitable suffering has become, and how often she, as a parent, has to deal with this assumption that she must be suffering. Sharon wrote:I know when I tell people that my sons have autism, the look of pity on their face and they say "That must be so hard."Reading that comment, I was reminded of a conversation that I had almost 25 years ago with an older white woman, who was generally a nice and well-meaning person and who thought of herself as tolerant, but who—like many of her genera... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512236 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:24:00 +0100 1512236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538747&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fa-web-browser-for-autistic-children%2F I found a great story in the boston globe about a grandfather who developed a web browser for his Autistic son.  The browser called the ‘Zac’ browser reduces the number of options and stimuli from the browsing experience to prevent Autisitc children from getting overwhelmed. By Brian Bergstein AP Technology Writer / June 3, 2008 John LeSieur is [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538747 Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:14:53 +0100 1538747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1472546&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F299177029%2F Last Saturday night, May 25th, a 10 year old autistic boy wandered from his home in Graham, NC, and was struck by a train. WCNC news reports that police were looking for him when he was struck. I think of the street I pass occasionally with the sign proclaiming “Autistic Child” and I wonder, is there any thing we can do to keep a child truly safe? Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, autistic child, Family, kids, kids blog, Parenting, pdd-nos, Safety, traffic signShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1472546 Tue, 27 May 2008 16:02:18 +0100 1472546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538750&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fvideo-why-autistic-people-dont-look-into-eyes%2F This is a great video created by someone with Autism on why Autistic people do not look into peoples eyes.  It shows that even though we may be looking at your shirt, or your mouth, or something behind you - we are still processing and comprehending what you are saying. (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538750 Tue, 20 May 2008 22:14:58 +0100 1538750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538751&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fchurch-bans-autistic-boy-from-mass-for-being-autistic%2F The Rev. Daniel Walz has banned an Autistic Child and there family from attending St. Joeseph Catholic Church in Bertha, MN.  The article further states that…. “The family’s request for certain accommodations — such as clearing aisles when the family leaves church — have gone unfulfilled”. Standing more than six feet tall and weighing more than 225 [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538751 Mon, 19 May 2008 15:27:22 +0100 1538751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538752&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fabuse-and-autism-advocacy%2F More and more Autistic people keep complaining about how organizations describe Autism as “a disaster” or an epidemic.  Well one parent decided to write an email to one of these organizations - and she got a horrific response which you can read. (CONTAINS STRONG LANAGUAGE) The Orriginal Email: (March 28th) To: jonathan.howard@runthedream.ca, Subject: You run & reasons Cc:bill.robertson@runthedream.ca,alex.bittner@runthedream.ca,alison.pickard@runthedream.ca, becky.doyle@runthedream.ca,bryan.howard@runthedream.ca,carly.murdock@runthedream.ca, kevin.cassan@runthedream.ca,kevin.fraser@runthedream.ca,lauren.canzius@runthedream.ca, mike.mccarther@runthedream.ca,scott.rogers@runthedream.ca,warren.howard@runthedream.ca Sir, Words like these [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538752 Sun, 18 May 2008 19:14:17 +0100 1538752 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1442972&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fstructural-fatigue.html In response to my discussion of the recently published study of neurological conditions such as schizophrenia and depression in parents of autistic children, Joey's Mom wrote a post pointing out—quite correctly—that there are many parents of special needs children who feel exhausted and overwhelmed and who may be suffering from subclinical depression, even if they do not have a diagnosis. She wrote:Exhaustion lurks around every corner, haunts every house, lingers in the corners and hangs in the air; exhaustion on a level I do not see in homes without special needs children, exhaustion I never see etched on the faces of mothers with no disabled children. In other homes, in other parents, there is a laugh-it-off: jokes about having drinks are lighter-hearted, comments about bad days are ... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1442972 Wed, 14 May 2008 21:20:00 +0100 1442972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1429108&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F05%2Fresearchers-discover-happy-autism.html Earlier this week, the mainstream media reported on a study that showed higher rates of various neurological conditions, including schizophrenia, in parents of autistic children. The study focused on families in Sweden whose children were born between 1977 and 2003, and the sample included 1,227 autistic children and 30,693 non-autistic children. (Daniels et al., "Parental Psychiatric Disorders Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Offspring," Pediatrics, May 2008.)The popular reporting on this study gave the misleading impression that large numbers of parents of autistic children had been diagnosed with some sort of psychiatric disorder. In fact, very few of the parents had any diagnosis at all. Schizophrenia, although it had a statistically significant association, was found i... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1429108 Thu, 08 May 2008 14:42:00 +0100 1429108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1366677&cid=t_130406_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=1344339&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35128&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthiswayoflife.org%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D305 Autistic people don’t have social skills - well, that’s the conventional thinking anyhow. Of course this assumes a few things…such as the existence of a coherent group of things you can call “social skills” and the idea that “neurotypical” social skills are the only kinds of social skills. Of course nearly any autistic person knows that there are plenty of “socially skilled” neurotypicals who lack the basic skills needed to work with autistic people. Yet, if an interaction between one of these people and one of us (autistic people) goes sour, it is assumed that the problem must be the autistic person’s social skills - and almost never a lack of flexibility and social finesse on the part of the neurotypical. As for the idea that we... NTs Are Weird blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1344339 Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:14:41 +0100 1344339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1335269&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Ftaking-care-with-assumptions.html In recent years, parents worldwide have been advocating for better services for their autistic children. Society has no understanding of my child's needs, they say. He will always need services as he goes through life. What will become of him after I am dead? Who will take care of him?There's no doubt that the structure of present-day society is woefully inadequate to meet the needs of the autistic population. Still, when it's assumed that the solution consists entirely of arranging for more government-provided services to take care of autistic people, this assumption—although well intentioned—falls short of addressing the core issue. When we have a major structural problem in our society, as we do, it needs to be dealt with through radical structural change.Parents should not have to ... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1335269 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:55:00 +0100 1335269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1231891&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Ffamily-history.html My paternal grandfather, a native New Yorker, had some problems when he enrolled his young son in primary school in the early 1940s. Apparently, the lad wouldn't behave like the other boys or pay attention to the teacher, but spent all his time talking incessantly about his own particular interests. Send him away to military school, several people advised. That'll shape him up.And so this skinny little boy, who wore eyeglasses and was fascinated with cameras and optical devices, was packed off on a train to a military school where he was the smallest and youngest pupil. Fresh meat, to put it bluntly. Several months later, his parents took pity on his obvious misery and brought him home; but what was to be done with him now?Upon giving some thought to the alternatives, my grandfather decide... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1231891 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:46:00 +0100 1231891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1222372&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35130&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautisticbfh.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fcrabs-in-barrel.html I was reading a discussion on a listserv where the people were bashing various presidential candidates. Of course, that's not at all unusual around this time in a presidential election year; but I noticed one rant that argued Obama should not be taken seriously because he was like "Superman… wearing his armor suit of ethnicity."Probably your first thought was that the author of that rant must have been a bigoted, cranky white guy. But I'm familiar with the guy, and in fact he is not white, and he has a history of being a very outspoken advocate of civil rights. So I was disappointed to see that attitude from him. Disappointed, but not surprised. That sort of thinking has been so common in the African-American community over the years that it has a name: Crabs in a barrel. That name comes... Whose Planet Is It Anyway? blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1222372 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:28:00 +0100 1222372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1167235&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F220845257%2F Charlie is in his last year of elementary school and will be moving onto middle school in a few months. A survey for the Fifth Grade Yearbook came home in his backpack with a list of questions and a request for a kindergarten photo. I’ve been looking through old computer files for a photo of 5 or 6 year old Charlie (who did not go to kindergarten; he was in an “elementary autistic” classroom). Yesterday, I read out the questions to Charlie—–favorite subject? favorite food? favorite singer? favorite band? favorite sport? favorite book? favorite thing to do?—-and he echoed back answers. So, keeping in mind Sunday’s discussion about yes and no, I offered choices and asked the questions a few times: Do you like the Ramones or Jimi Hendrix? Jimi Hendr... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1167235 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 08:37:18 +0100 1167235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1167236&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F220637459%2F I’m preparing to teach a class in Roman History, which meets for the first time tomorrow, Tuesday. We’ll start ab urbe condita—from the time of Rome’s legendary founding in 753 BC—-and end sometime in Late Antiquity, with the unraveling of Romanum Imperium. One of the first things I plan to ask the class is what they know, or think they know, about the Romans and I’m semi-sure someone will mention the hypothesis about lead poisoning causing the decline of Rome—–just as, when anyone in the future teaches about the history of autism, there will be mention of the autism/MMR hypothesis (here’s some history on that by Kevin Leitch). To quote philosopher Santayana’s oft-paraphrased statement: “Those who cannot remember the past ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1167236 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 23:13:16 +0100 1167236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1166427&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F220531380%2F This study has meaning and significance, but it’s still a tiny, little step forward. This is a very small percentage of kids,” said Patricia Manning-Courtney, MD, director of the Kelly O’Leary Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “I’m not sure how we would apply this information clinically or what my next step would be. Everybody wants a biomarker for autism, but we’re already learning that there is not going to be one. “Some experts question how specific these chromosomal abnormalities are to autism. For example, not all of the children with this genetic variation in the New England Journal of Medicine study had a diagnosis of autism. They were identified as having developmental del... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1166427 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:36:54 +0100 1166427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1166428&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F220454081%2F from 10 - 11.30pm. Shriver was the founder of the Peace Corps, VISTA, Community Action, Head Start, Legal Services for the Poor, Youth Corps, Job Corps, and the Special Olympics and headed President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. American Idealist is written and produced by Bruce Orenstein and is part of the Chicago Video Project. My husband, Fordham University professor James T. Fisher, speaks about Shriver, disabilities, and the Special Olympics. An article in the New York Times contains an interview with Shriver’s daughter and First Lady of California, Maria Shriver. An excerpt from a review of the film in the Los Angeles Times: The issues that Shriver tried to address — poverty, education, healthcare, public participation in the democratic process and the domes... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1166428 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:31:17 +0100 1166428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1165339&cid=t_130406_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=1165340&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F220082571%2F Once “refrigerator mothers” were blamed for causing a child to become autistic—-now are “toxic mothers” (who’ve been using too much bismuth-containing lipstick and face make-up) the culprits? Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1165340 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:20:11 +0100 1165340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1163251&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F220016325%2F Clicking on a mouse Downloading music Surfing the Web These are all new “technological milestones” in a child’s development, notes today’s New York Times. Charlie has #1 down and last night we were looking at some You Tube videos of ferris wheels together……. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1163251 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:10:39 +0100 1163251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1163252&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F219899125%2F Jim had to attend a work-related function Saturday night, so I took Charlie swimming at the YMCA, where there’s a special Saturday program that reserves one of the pools for autistic children only. I asked Charlie if he’d like to see a movie and he said “yes”—-and when I brought up the subject back at home, he said “yes” and then “no” and then “yes.” “How about Alvin and the Chipmunks?” I asked. “Yes,” said Charlie. And then, “No.” By this time, it was getting too late to see the computer animated version of Dave Seville and three squeaky-voiced creatures, so I asked Charlie about dinner. “Dinner, yes,” said Charlie. As he has been saying, with a pleased smile, “Chinese... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1163252 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:00:37 +0100 1163252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1162857&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F219607519%2F Says Matthew Belmonte, a neuroscientist and assistant professor in the Department of Human Development at Cornell University, about Tito Rajarshi Mukhopadhyay, a severely and minimally verbal autistic young man originally from India and now living in Austin, Texas, and the author of two books, The Mind Tree: A Miraculous Child Breaks the Silence of Autism and The Gold of the Sunbeams and Other Stories. “In a way, Tito is unusual in that he has done so well at independent and flexible communication. But I think the whole point is in another way, he’s not unusual at all. He’s typical. You see this guy with flapping hands and having all of these impulsive and compulsive behaviors and not able to communicate on our terms and you think maybe there’s not a lot going on ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1162857 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:00:51 +0100 1162857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1162576&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F219494443%2F There was Mr. Richard, who had a disabled brother; at least a dozen special needs (many autistic) kids were on his bus (and no bus matron). There was the older woman from Russia who told me “your driveway is not convenient for me” and “my eyes are not good.” There were the two women, both grandmothers, who drove a beat-up burgundy minivan and whose saris were made of heavy brocades in the winter, and lighter fabrics when spring came (sometimes a little girl rode in the front passenger seat). There was Miss Linda, who greeted Charlie with a “Come on in, Charlie” and—even after she had been told that we had moved back in September—-still drove by where we used to live, just to be sure that Charlie did not need a ride. Now it’s Miss Valeri... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1162576 Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:14:29 +0100 1162576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1162043&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F219301448%2F Everyone has a six-word story, or so Smith notes (and here’s a video—some pictures must only be worth six words). Indeed: Sometimes (a lot of times) in our house, a little goes a long way. My son Charlie can talk, mostly in short phrases or single words and six words at one time from him is quite a lot. Blue ocean, Chinese food, I know. It’s telegraphic speech, in which a single word is connected, by fibers invisible and strong as the threads of a spider’s web, to a full cosmos of meanings. All in just six words. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1162043 Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:10:45 +0100 1162043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1162044&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F219145885%2F Researchers from the University of New South Wales report on a new way to detect autism earlier by studying the connectivity of the brain; it is hoped that, by incorporating psychological and biological factors in assessing young children, autism might be detected earlier. Another way to screen for autism in young children—-and even in children prior to birth—would be via genetic testing. Last week, scientists in the New England Journal of Medicine published a study about the deletion or duplication of chromosome 16 and susceptibility to autism. A January 18th Toronto Star article the family of 11-year-old Joshua Bond, who has autism and who is missing chromosome 16 (Joshua was involved in the study at The Hospital for Sick Children). The next step, already underway at Sick K... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1162044 Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:33:41 +0100 1162044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1161052&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F218995013%2F Journalist David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm: Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy, says this in an interview with the News-Times of Connecticut: “People don’t treat autism as the catastrophe it is. I’ve never seen such complacency in a health crisis, especially (one) in children……If one in 150 kids (the current autism rate) were getting cancer or going blind or dropping dead on the street, you can bet we’d be mobilizing every resource we had.” Why treat something—autism—as a catastrophe when it is not? Sure, like many/all families with autistic children, we have some really difficult moments (days, weeks……). My son Charlie does seem to have what is called “catastrophic thinking,&... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1161052 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:17:06 +0100 1161052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1161053&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F218773364%2F Geneticist Michael Wigler has proposed a “unified genetic theory of autism.” Drawing on his work studying cancer genetics, Wigler took a different approach than that of researchers using classical Mendelian genetics; last year he published two articles about spontaneous mutation and autism. A March 2007 paper in Science suggested that large genetic events—”copy number variations, where large segments of DNA are duplicated or deleted–that arose spontaneously in a child (without appearing in a parent)“—could account for more than 30 percent of cases of atuism. A July paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science USA stated that spontaneous mutation accounts for 75 percent of cases and noted why some families might be at “high risk... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1161053 Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:05:06 +0100 1161053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1158494&cid=t_130406_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fchronic-pain%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fis-there-a-gluten-and-arthritis-connection%2F We know celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, as well as the less serious gluten sensitivity, are both due to an autoimmune reaction. The reactions vary in intensity from producing acute anaphylactic shock for some, to skin rashes and digestive upset in others. It is also beginning to be revealed by various studies throughout the country that undiagnosed reactions can lead to the development of other autoimmune diseases. Certainly, many autoimmune diseases are passed down on our DNA but others may develop from years of eating foods which are not working for you. It can be a form of “eating starvation.” Some of these diseases could include MS, rheumatoid arthritis or achy joints in general, osteoporosis, lupus and even cancer. Many individuals, including me, have had years of digestive... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1158494 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:04:59 +0100 1158494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1158249&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F218448391%2F The jury in the trial of Karen McCarron has issued a verdict of guilty on all counts, report’s today’s Peoria Journal-Star. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1158249 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 20:48:43 +0100 1158249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1158250&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F218385397%2F Texas-based Tempest Tours is offering a “special tour for guests with autism. Tempest Tours’ president and founder Martin Lisius has a 9-year-old daughter, Maddy, who has autism. Says Lisius: “We created this expedition after receiving contacts from parents of children with autism who were curious about our tours…….Maddy is beautiful and bright. She and all ASD kids deserve the same exposure to new experiences that other children receive. Maddy loves to learn how things work. Storm chasing is a complex and rewarding process that will challenge any child’s mind and ignite imagination.” My own son often shows a lot of anxiety before a storm starts, as if he can sense the changes in the sky and the air pressure; when the actual storm—-rain an... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1158250 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:32:46 +0100 1158250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1156798&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F218043422%2F The Age of Autism is, its editor Dan Olmsted proclaims, “the first daily Web newspaper for the environmental-biomedical community—-those who believe autism is an environmentally induced illness, that it is treatable, and that children can recover.” Those who write for The Age of Autism do not follow “journalistic group-think” and “believe whatever ‘the experts’ tell them”—-The Age of Autism, it is promised, is going to make a “difference.” So what kind of news do we get from The Age of Autism folks? Pathbreaking discussions of new theories about the causes of autism, or treatments for autistic kids? New suggestions about how to help autistic children learn not to engage in self-injurious behavior without electroshock... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1156798 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:57:20 +0100 1156798 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1155929&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F217842824%2F A key legislative committee in Massachusetts is weighing a bill to significantly decrease the use of electric shock in “aversive therapy” at the Judge Rotenberg School (JRC) in Canton, according to WWLP. Senator Brian Joyce says that the treatment is “barbaric” and that it should be limited to those who present a clear risk of injury to themselves or others. A state investigation into the JRC was called for after an incident last summer in which two former students telephoned in and ordered shocks on a student still at the center. Some parents have spoken in support of the school as “saving the life” of their children, some of whom have autism, mental retardation, and developmental disabilities. Other serious administrative lapses and questionable practi... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1155929 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:01:17 +0100 1155929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1155930&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F217742560%2F Closing statements were heard at 9am today in the trial of Karen McCarron, the former pathologist who is charged with suffocating her three-year-old autistic daughter, Katherine “Katie” McCarron on May 13, 2006. On Monday, psychiatrist Joseph Glenmullen testified that Karen McCarron was suffering from a psychotic disorder when she killed her daughter. Yesterday, another psychiatrist, Dr. Terry Killian, testified the opposite as reported in the Peoria Journal-Star: “People who are rational and in control of their senses do stupid things at times,” including murder, Killian said. “At that moment, they were angry enough to do something stupid.” Killian said he reviewed the hundreds of pages of documents in McCarron’s file and has interviewed her b... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1155930 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:22:22 +0100 1155930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1154036&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F217537031%2F On January 14th, drug company Wyeth said that a court in Maryland has rejected “some expert witnesses from testifying that exposure to thimerosal-containing vaccines can cause autism and rejected the compound’s link to autism”; the case in question involved an alleged vaccine injury. More than a few mothers I know have had their amalgam fillings replaced because of concerns about the mercury content: On January 15th, an EU scientific committee stated such fillings “pose no health risk to the human nervous system.” This is only one measure that parents have taken out of fears of a mercury-autism link. “Mercury in Retrograde” was the subtitle of the paper published last week in the Archives of General Psychiatry in which authors Robert Schechter, M... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1154036 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 09:30:18 +0100 1154036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1154037&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F217404268%2F Post updated January 16, 1.05am. On Monday, psychiatrist Joseph Glenmullen testified that former pathologist Karen McCarron was suffering from psychotic depression when she killed her 3-year-old autistic daughter, Katherine “Katie” McCarron, on May 13, 2006. On Tuesday, January 15th, another psychiatrist, Dr. Terry Killian, took the stand and said McCarron knew what she was doing when she allegedly murdered her three year old daughter who had autism, HOI News reports:  The psychiatrist who took the stand Tuesday said there was nothing to suggest McCarron didn’t know killing her daughter was wrong. He said over 50 people saw McCarron around the time Katie was killed and no one thought she was psychotic. The doctor said McCarron has recurrent major depression. He said she... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1154037 Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:28:29 +0100 1154037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1152562&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F217229324%2F Yes it’s for the exercise and with the hope of Charlie picking up some new skills of catching and throwing and shooting: These are all reasons why we signed Charlie up for Special Olympics basketball. But it’s also for the reason that Gemma Gallagher states on watching her 14-year-old son, David, playing basketball with the University of Albany women’s basketball team: “Often while watching David, I can see that he wants to be a part of something, but doesn’t have the ability to relate mutually with others…….In reality autism interferes with having real friendships. We’ve just been watching and enjoying today so much. Just seeing him smile makes this a good day.” Charlie did not walk up to any kids last Wednesday and say “hi&#... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1152562 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:30:59 +0100 1152562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1152563&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F217124284%2F Autism mother Jenny McCarthy has often spoken about how she earned the equivalent of a Ph.D. from the  ”University of Google” while researching treatments to “recover” her son Evan from autism. She’s not the only student to have matriculated at this fine (if virtual) university: Rather than “trolling though musty books for their term papers,” kids these days are also “regurgitating whatever material pops up in their Web browser.” Who needs a “brain dead neurologist” (as McCarthy refers to one of her son’s doctors) when you’ve got the U of Goo? Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1152563 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:00:50 +0100 1152563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1150707&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F216895740%2F It was just a car. The car was bought at a Subaru dealership in White Bear Lake outside of the Twin Cities in Minnesota in June of 1999. We chose green, same as the Saturn we had driven up from St. Louis, Missouri, the summer before, and said no to heated seats. Charlie was diagnosed with autism in July of 1999. He had just turned two years old on May 15th. It was 90 degrees plus the day we got the report from the Child Development Center of the Children’s Hospital of Minnesota. We lived in a second-floor duplex off Grand Avenue in St. Paul with one air-conditioning unit in Jim’s and my bedroom. The carpet was hot when I woke; my books were hot; the plastic cups that Charlie stacked and knocked down, and stacked and knocked down, and stacked and knocked down over and over... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1150707 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 07:55:02 +0100 1150707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1150708&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F216698761%2F Psychiatrist Joseph Glenmullen testified today that former pathologist Karen McCarron was suffering from psychotic depression when she killed her 3-year-old autistic daughter, Katherine “Katie” McCarron, on May 13, 2006, today’s Peoria Journal-Star reports. According to Dr. Glenmullen, “McCarron’s statements to police during a videotaped confession showed she was out of touch with reality.” Dr. Glenmullen is a Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and is the author of books about antidepressant use. Today was the sixth day of McCarron’s trial. From WMBD/WYZZ TV: Harvard doctor Joseph Glenmullen testified he believed McCarron suffered from a major depressive disorder that became psychotic at the time of her daughter Katie’s dea... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1150708 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:54:34 +0100 1150708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1149734&cid=t_130406_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F216577288%2F The January 13th Shreveport Times describes the 13 supplements that Jennifer Blaton gives to her 7-year-old autistic daughter, Darbee, as a “cocktail.” Once a week a chelating agent is added, and Darbee gets B12 shots twice a week, and goes to a Defeat Autism Now! practitioner in Baton Rouge once a month for intravenous chelation. Darbee, her mother notes, still does not talk and is “‘on the honor roll, she reads, writes, does math, but her speech is just not there…….She knows what she wants to say, her wires just get crossed.’” Barton follows the DAN! protocol, which is a sort of manual for using biomedical interventions for autistic children. Many of the treatments included in the DAN! protocol are experimental and draw on alternative medic... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1149734 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:35:44 +0100 1149734