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 'disability rights'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:00:40 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921783&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F06%2Fnews-is-so-sad-today-i-dont-even-know.html There are a couple important stories in the news today that everyone needs to watch.In this first story we see an absolute lack of understanding in how a governmental agency responded to an adult who was trying to board a plane with his family:Dr. David Mandy: Special Needs Son Harassed by TSA at Detroit Metropolitan Airport: MyFoxDETROIT.comIn the second story we see people completely disrespecting and interfering with a Special Olympics activity. It is certainly within their rights to express their displeasure about whatever they want, but sane people would choose a time and place that is appropriate for such a protest:Lastly, and most tragically, is the continued failure of NYS - all these years after Willowbrook we thought it would never happen again:It is very clear to me that as a so... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921783 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:12:00 +0100 4921783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4821180&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F05%2Forwellian-analysis-of-cse-meetings.html Sometimes when children progress from preschool to school it is determined that they still need to be classified and receive special education services. Sometimes it is determined that they should be declassified. There is a defined process that is supposed to be followed.Patrick is a preschooler who has disabilities and if he enrolled in kindergarten last year he would have either continued his classification and received services OR continued his occupational therapy services in the school under a declassification plan for one year. Given his severity of delay he would have also been a likely participant in a summer readiness program designed to help support children's performance when they are struggling with key developmental skills.The goalposts have been moved again this year. Now th... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4821180 Fri, 13 May 2011 18:52:00 +0100 4821180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361318&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F01%2Froulette-wheel-of-qualifying-for.html I received a referral today for Trevon, who I initially evaluated eight months ago. His mother was concerned about his development and asked the school system for help when he turned three years old. The initial OT evaluation indicated that he had significant fine motor delays and a speech evaluation indicated that he had significant speech and language delays. The school approved speech therapy and a special education teacher but declined the occupational therapy.Eight months later, I received an authorization to provide services because the motor concerns were impacting his participation in preschool. In the interim months when there was no OT intervention a second OT evaluation was completed which had essentially identical findings to the first evaluation. Apparently, the lobbying effor... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361318 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 19:56:00 +0100 4361318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3849077&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F08%2Ferosion-of-special-education-services.html Money is tight and the new method for getting budgets passed in the NY State capital is to cram everything into emergency budget extensions that the public never gets to see or comment on.The other method for cost savings is to make rule and regulatory changes that have a public comment period - but it does not matter what the public says because the rules are going to be passed no matter what.Early intervention providers saw this earlier in the year when they experienced a 10% rate reduction for most home and community based visits. This effectively limits the reimbursement to therapy providers and is driving a large number of professionals out of the delivery system. A mandatory 10% pay cut is significant, and although there were public hearings about changes to the rates and other deliv... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3849077 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:15:00 +0100 3849077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603890&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F05%2Fevil-exists-in-world-knowledge-can-help.html June 1st is coming - and it reminded me of a particularly sad CSE meeting that I attended a few years ago. There are rules and regulations governing special education in NYS and to some degree there is room for interpretation of those rules and regulations. Parents and districts sometimes disagree on what those rules and regulations mean, and sometimes districts can 'bend' the regulations to accommodate student needs.In the sad meeting I referenced I sat in amazement as the CSE chairperson approved every single service for a child - and I was surprised because this particular chairperson had a reputation among the parents for being somewhat recalcitrant to parent requests and unfriendly in general. I really didn't expect the meeting to go so smoothly because it was the parent's intent to e... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603890 Thu, 27 May 2010 14:30:00 +0100 3603890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3331631&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F03%2Fpediatric-occupational-therapists.html I received a lot of email regarding this recent article in the NY Times about occupational therapy. The email I received and online conversations I have scanned included comments like "I can't believe they would say that OT is only for rich people!" or "We need to let people know that this article does not represent what we do!" Although the article got a lot of occupational therapists upset I would like to suggest that we need to perform a reality check on this outrage.The article comments about how occupational therapy is being used by some more affluent people to promote children's development and how this can be contrasted to a more traditional application of the profession to children who have more severe disabilities. The article offers some incisive opinion that perhaps this kind of... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3331631 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:52:00 +0100 3331631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3267225&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fare-we-focusing-on-best-things-so-we.html The value of anecdote is not in capturing a comprehensive analysis of a system's problems - but rather in making an example of a small issue that reflects a broader pattern. I understand that use of anecdote as a tool can also be fundamentally incorrect or even dangerous but I hope that I have documented enough other information about the early intervention program (in places like here and here) so that this presentation will be honest and fair.I also understand that any 'for the children' rhetoric causes large swaths of people to immediately tune out of a conversation but it is difficult to frame this discussion about early intervention services outside the context of how it actually impacts children and families. The truth is that the future is a little uncertain about early intervention... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3267225 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:49:00 +0100 3267225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3179013&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Foccupational-justice-as-taught-by-mrs-j.html I got an interesting email asking me what my current views of occupational justice were - this blog gets a lot of hits on that term thanks to Google page rankings and the fact that I wrote an article on the topic several years ago. I have been long disappointed that no one ever wanted to dialogue (in public) on what I wrote several years ago but that blog post sure does get a lot of hits and tends to generate 1-2 private email responses a month.For the most part I have tried to lose the concept of occupational justice from my thinking and practice. The primary reason for my purposeful disconnect is that the term has been somewhat politically co-opted in the last two years and now holds a lot of political connotation along with 'social justice.' I also have been re-thinking the difference b... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3179013 Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:46:00 +0100 3179013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3063492&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fsustainable-communities-and-disaster.html In general, people are not inspired to continue monitoring post-disaster relief operations after most of the television cameras leave. So any commentary on this topic may seem to be johnny-come-lately except for those who sustain their interest and understand how big the problem really is.This is an attempt to refocus a little bit of attention on an issue - and I am not as interested in getting preachy as I am in shining a flashlight on issues that are good fuel for action.There is a great competition for students to examine the challenges that people who are elderly or disabled face during and after disasters in their own cultural and local contexts. I hope some students see this and become interested in the topic.If you need some motivation for outrage, read this first. (Source: ABC Ther... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3063492 Mon, 07 Dec 2009 16:28:00 +0100 3063492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912391&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrSR7gT-UXvU%2F New research finds children with autism have mercury levels similar to those of other children. University of California, Davis scientists said that the study was the “most rigorous examination to date of blood-mercury levels in children with autism,” and cautioned that the study did not disprove or prove whether mercury plays a role in causing the disorder. The study looked at the mercury levels in 452 participants – 249 with autism, 143 without it and 60 who had other developmental delays – and found levels “essentially the same” in all the children. More is here. *     *     * Photo courtesy of shoothead (flickr.com) Massachusetts state Rep. Barbara L’Italien, whose child is autistic, has introduced a bill that would require schools to... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912391 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:31:03 +0100 2912391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899142&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fautism-speaks-protest-boston-ma%2F Autistic people are planning to protest a fund raising walk held by Autism Speaks in Boston, MA this Sunday, October 18th.  Autistic people are getting quite upset with Autism Speaks, and there very bad behavior.  Recently Autism Speaks recently degraded autistic people in a video to solicit funds for their organization.  In the past they [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899142 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:04:03 +0100 2899142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890858&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FI8njbT1Um9s%2F Britain’s National Autistic Society is calling for a national strategy to help people with autism get work. the NAS “Don’t Write Me Off” campaign began in light of most of the more than 300,000 working age adults with autism in the U.K. going without work. Only 15% are employed full-time, and the NAS says a key problem is a lack of understanding of autism among agency staff who determine eligibility for benefits and provide employment support. NAS wants the British government to introduce autism coordinators who would work with frontline staff, local employers and employment support services, including services to obtain Britain’s new Employment and Support Allowance. Though the government has pledged support and says it will an autism strategy “in due c... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890858 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:10:26 +0100 2890858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855775&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9rhxCxynxj0%2F More on Sylvia Tagle, the special ed teacher convicted of putting hot sauce in soda and allowing a child to drink it: Did she do it? Tagle has defenders who describe her as a caring and committed teacher. Was she? I am having a hard time getting a complete picture because the coverage of this story was so skimpy. I can understand why there wasn’t much space devoted to it. It just doesn’t seem like that big a story. Photo courtesy of yaybiscuits123 (flickr.com) Unless it’s your kid, of course, or like us you are interested in stories of abuse in the world of special needs. I can’t help thinking that reduced newsroom staff is having an effect on reporting stories like this one as well as other stories. The Miami Herald had a 17 % staff cut in June 2008. In March, the... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855775 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:45:53 +0100 2855775 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832348&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-Rh0-42z8z0%2F As sometimes happens, the comments posted about a news item are as eye-opening as the event itself. A Miami special education teacher, Sylvia Tagle, will be sentenced Oct. 7 for spiking an autistic student’s soda with hot sauce. I read several reports in an attempt to untangle what happened; best as I can figure out, the soda was on Tagle’s desk and the student took it. Whose soda was it? Tagle’s defense attorney says it was her own. (Because so many people love hot sauce in soda.) Prosecutors say she did it knowing the student would take the soda, and she put the hot sauce in to teach him a lesson. Photo courtesy of jhritz (flickr.com) But any hot-sauce-in-soda-loving teacher would never leave such a drink accessible. Alex roots around in other people’s bags whenev... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832348 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:06:29 +0100 2832348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793364&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FJbP5nayGyYs%2F This week we’re highlighting images that illustrate the concept of spectrum with puzzle pieces. I like the idea of the puzzle piece, but not that computer-generated clip art that is often used as a shorthand to say “autism.” Today’s image, from a photographer named Jared on flickr.com, seems even more appropriate to the spectrum because the pieces are from a sky-patterned puzzle, and I often view the sky, with its sense of the unfathomable and limitlessness, as an image that feels so right to describe autism. Photo courtesy of jared (flickr.com) •     •     • It seems like a pretty clear-cut case. Sixteen-year-old high school student, female, diagnosed with autism (though able to communicate verbally), pressed into sexual relationship with her basketball ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793364 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:15:45 +0100 2793364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793365&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FdIEGaC-npC4%2F A new study on the siblings of children with autism is showing that signs associated with the behavioral disorder appear in babies in their first weeks of life. Preliminary research, at Australia-based Flinders University, studied the Photo courtesy Eccentric Scholar (flickr.com) behavior of infants who have an increased risk of developing autism from as young as 10 days, and preliminary results show children in an at-risk group (with an older sibling with an ASD, including Asperger’s) were developing different behavioral patterns from children from families with no history of autism. Autism affects up to 16 children per 10,000 in Australia. More is here. •   •   • The University of Central Florida’s College Internship Program in Melbourne, Fla., is yet another campu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793365 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:05:19 +0100 2793365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2790379&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FOibbLGZSZaA%2F An autistic 18-year-old has been judged not competent to stand trial in the fatal beating of his mother in Ravena, Ohio. The judge said he probably would rule next week on whether the young man will stand trial and, if not, whether to send him to a treatment facility; less than two weeks after the mental evaluations were completed in March, the man was moved from jail to a state-run center in Toledo. The defense had argued that Walker cannot carry on a conversation and would be unable to assist in his defense. He was disruptive at his first court appearance and was kept in a restraint chair and had a mask to keep him from spitting at deputies. Prior to the attack at the center of the case, the man’s 60-year-old mother had mentioned increased aggression from her son. Photo courtesy o... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2790379 Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:13:05 +0100 2790379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782252&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F0C-a34DYUiE%2F Photo courtesy of kyz (flickr.com) We continue our week of spectrum artwork today! * * * A Book for Our Times: Understanding Jason (AuthorHouse) is a new book written by Marsha Rae Osborn and illustrated by DeOnna Mills, and it tells the story of a group of typical students who learn from their teacher how to accept and help an autistic student, Jason, fit in with their class. (Osborn is an RN and the mother of twin boys, one of whom has autism.) Told in rhymes, Jason seems typical of the kinds of titles we need to see more of. (”We don’t understand,” kids say, “Why does Jason act that way? He is different from us all, He can’t even catch a ball …”). I’ve always held that typically developing children often only benefit from learning about t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782252 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:53:10 +0100 2782252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2770215&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F1IsEGScRvTA%2F Bow Wow oh Wow: Thieves broke into a home late last week in Prospect, N.Y. The homeowners said the crooks didn’t take jewelry or electronics, but only the five-month-old golden retriever puppy trained as a service dog for children with autism. Image: Bob1217 at flickr.com Both young boys in the home have autism, and the mom says finding the right dog for her boys took two years, and paid quick dividends: the dog recently broke his chain to get to one boy who headed for the road. The dog cost $800, so you can’t really blame the crooks: Look how many canes, wheelchairs, and walkers they’d have to swipe to make $800. Seriously, Hell has no fire hot enough for these guys, but it does sound like they knew just what they were after. Are autism service dogs a hot new target? * * * ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2770215 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:41:09 +0100 2770215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2744261&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_adjDWRuOaQ%2F We’re starting to explore more avenues of autism research for Alex. (Jill favors worms, which I like for bass but would have to learn more about before I o.k. them for Alex.) But if you have a child diagnosed with ASD who in turn has a younger infant sibling, the Infant Brain Imaging Study at the Center for Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is looking for participants. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is painless, is being used to examine the brains of children younger than 12 months. Photo courtesy of laszlo-photo (flickr.com) Autism Speaks has kicked in $5 million to expand and link two large-scale, multi-site studies of more than 2000 infant siblings of children with autism, who are at higher genetic risk for developing the disorder. T... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2744261 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:17:50 +0100 2744261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2702312&cid=t_105135_87_f&fid=34470&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehealthcareblog.com%2Fthe_health_care_blog%2F2009%2F08%2Ftale-of-two-health-crises.html By MARIA FOSCARINIS Twenty two years ago I received shocking news: I had Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system that affects primarily young people. At the age of 30 I began a long and to date successful effort... (Source: The Health Care Blog) The Health Care Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2702312 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2702312 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2691717&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FPxTgm-hH-CI%2F The New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan has a program that seems ripe for the future impact of autism. Its Vocational Independence Program looks to “maximize the potential of individuals with learning differences by teaching skills and strategies and providing support necessary for successful and independent lives.” Image: NYIT VIP During freshman year, students “adjust to the collegiate experience” with such courses as college study skills and managing a personal budget, and take field trips to Long Island and New York City. They also team up to tackle large projects. The junior year curriculum focuses on living independently: food and nutrition, budgeting, apartment living. Junior dormitory living spaces more closely model living independently in an apar... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2691717 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:26:22 +0100 2691717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2674445&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F5gIM6toM9qQ%2F I’m entirely caught up in the media coverage of health care reform these days — so much so that I’m watching ads on youtube and advocacy sites, since I don’t always catch them on TV. Photo courtesy of elliott.goodwin (flickr.com) Autism Speaks has an ad that calls for all states to end insurance-based discrimination for families coping with autism treatments who now pay exorbitant out-of-pocket costs. (Fourteen states have already enacted legislation that forces insurance companies to pay for medically necessary, evidence-based autism therapies.) I know firsthand what a difference state requirements can make: Jeff and I were living in Baltimore and pursuing fertility treatment. Maryland is one of a handful of states that mandates insurers pay for the cost of fertili... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2674445 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:16:35 +0100 2674445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2653945&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fmarriage-laws-disability-guardian%2F I heard that Kate’s family is looking into being Kate’s legal guardian - a situation which I feel should never be used unless absolutely necessary.  I was doing some research on the laws in Michigan when it comes to marriage and disability.  I’m very scared now.I have always wanted to patch it together and one [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2653945 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:48:49 +0100 2653945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2474487&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fny-times-article-is-demeaning-to.html Here is the offending/offensive article: All-Night Care for Dementia’s Restless Minds I will be the first one to admit that it gets a little boring to listen to people have complaints about political correctness and terminology - everyone is offended by everything these days... but this article went so far beyond any semblance of acceptability that it has to be pointed out.I am not criticizing the program - because I have no direct knowledge of what actually happens there. In concept I think that offering night time respite care for caregivers is a great idea. Unfortunately, the authors of this article portrayed the program in a very negative way - and I don't think that they really intended to do so. Throughout the article the authors repetitively compare elderly program participants to... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2474487 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:52:00 +0100 2474487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442382&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fy7tynN_qVc8%2F It’s not easy to watch certain movies or read certain books, ever since Alex came along. I do like to keep up with how people with developmental disabilities are being portrayed, so I make it my business to watch movies like “Pumpkin” “Rain Man” and keep up with books like Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” But then I come across something like the following in one of Jodi Picoult’s novels ripped from a newspaper’s front page. In this case, a high school boy who’s been bullied since kindergarten is in prison awaiting trial after shooting ten of his classmates. Drawing/photo by Fated to Pretend (flickr.com) “Hey, Houghton,” a correctional officer said, “we got a present for yo... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442382 Fri, 22 May 2009 03:29:00 +0100 2442382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424382&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9EMba2qWJVU%2F New Jersey legislators are proposing a bill that would make it mandatory for insurance companies to cover treatments for individuals with autism. New York has already proposed reforms that would require private health insurance companies to pay for screening, diagnosis, testing and treatment, up to $36,000 a year. Connecticut has already passed legislation. *   *   * Photo courtesy of jimbowen030 (flickr.com) NPR just ran an interview with Karl Taro Greenfeld that discusses his new book, “Boy Alone: A Brother’s Memoir.” Of particular interest to me are the comments that are posted. Most are supportive; several are sharply critical of Greenfeld for what they see as his selfishness and lack of empathy. I can’t help thinking what Ned might say if he writes a memoir o... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424382 Tue, 19 May 2009 23:09:09 +0100 2424382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365340&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FNtpQlAFUJNY%2F Next week Jeff and I are planning to catch a few movies at the Sprout Film Festival, an annual showing of movies portraying people with developmental disabilities. “People with developmental disabilities as subjects and performers remain marginalized in film and television,” the organizers believe. “This festival aims to raise their profile by showcasing works related to this population.” Last year I gave a talk about portrayals of people with developmental disabilities in mainstream Hollywood movies (”Rain Man,” “Pumpkin,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?,” “I am Sam” — I have a very long list) and how they mostly don’t get it. One movie I haven’t seen but which I think is smart and sensitive  is... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365340 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:34:31 +0100 2365340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2324270&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FreXwtrnY5bg%2F “Retarded” as been used three times in the past six months aloud in my office: “That’s retarded!” “He’s so retarded!” “I’m not a retard!” Each time, the word flew right out of a cubicle, clear and loud, for all to hear. Anyone older than 5 could imagine many words that would cause quite a stir – not to mention a lawsuit – if they flew with such abandon right out of cubicles. “Retarded” and “retard” don’t seem to be among those words. I Googled the word and turned up some 18 million hits (down from more than 19.1 million when I Googled it two years ago, so that’s progress). Hits have included a band with the name, “retarded animal babies,” and “movie criticism for the reta... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2324270 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:26:16 +0100 2324270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2302559&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fny-governor-paterson-plans-to-re.html Is this about saving money on facilities with empty beds? Or is it the confused problem solving coming from politicians who have empty heads?In a Rochester, NY Town Hall Meeting on March 11th, Governor Paterson was asked about his plans for adults who have developmental disabilities who are on long waiting lists for residential programs. Currently, many are living with their families because NY State lacks housing options for this population.Politicians should know that this is not a new problem - New York has a long and storied history of problems in providing residential services to people who have developmental disabilities. I blogged about the history of the Willowbrook State School several years ago; I encourage you to click this link for a background study of the situation http://abc... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2302559 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:06:00 +0100 2302559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2308753&cid=t_105135_93_f&fid=35707&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FHemodynamics%2F%7E3%2FoxMHnLAKvoo%2Fdont-walk-sit.html Above: employees of an Indiana health plan promote "breast cancer awareness" by wearing pink and making themselves into a ribbon. Below: from Rex Wockner at wockner.blogspot.com; the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power in Chicago. AIDS activists demanded national healthcare, but mostly didn't figure out how to make common cause with other people with other illnesses. Over at DuncanCross.net, a blog I've just started reading, the pseudonymous Mr. Cross urges us to consider not walking. Not going on breast cancer walks, Crohn's disease walks, polycystic kidney disease walks, etc, etc. Don't walk, he says:To me, as a sick person, one of the worst aspects of these organizations is their aggressive insistence that the best way to help sick people is by funding for-cure research. That is a lie. Sick... hemodynamics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2308753 Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:02:00 +0100 2308753 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2281939&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fstepping-into-politics-obama-comments.html I very rarely step into politics in blog format because of the inherent landmines that one encounters. People hold tremendously polarized worldviews that make coherent debate difficult - but sometimes an issue stands out in a way that makes NOT commenting wrong.President Obama went on Jay Leno's show last night. I am not a huge fan of television so I rarely watch these shows. Still, I knew that I wanted to see 'what he said' when I checked the news this morning.Apparently, in reference to his own poor bowling skills he made what is now being spun as a 'self deprecating comment.' Obama's comment about his bowling skills was "It's like -- it was like Special Olympics, or something."In presumably light hearted banter he also allowed himself to be drawn into comments about "water-heads." This ... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2281939 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:51:00 +0100 2281939 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2267622&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FzfA9g90Fmws%2F You know what I wish? I wish things were a little easier. I wish there were more tax exemptions and credits for special therapies and childcare. Our childcare costs are lower than they used to be, thanks to respite through our Medicaid Waiver, but they’re still higher than those for families with typically developing kids. Alex is almost 11 and can’t be left alone. Ever. I wish those caring for a family member with an atypical situation were entitled to more paid leave. In a country where people without kids bitch about parental leave and co-workers who take time off to care for sick kids, it’s not going to happen. But I can still dream, can’t I? When it comes to jury duty, I wish exemptions were easier to get. Reader Bonnie Sayers (see first comment) wrote about he... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2267622 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:02:04 +0100 2267622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177989&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fissues-with-occupational-science-and.html The concept of occupational justice is in its infancy, still struggling with definition and identity. Although many of the concepts associated with occupational justice are not new, they are being evolved and reaffirmed, representing another step in the scientific (r)evolution of occupational therapy. Clarification of salient issues has to include definitions of assumptions, concepts, taxonomies, and subsequent research orientation; these are all critical for the evolution of concepts. The primary challenge in developing a lexicon for occupational science is one of linguistics. Some linguists argue that a concept must be encodable in order for it to be stable. This is important so that the 'hearer' can understand and form a mental concept of the message. However, other linguists argue th... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177989 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:36:00 +0100 2177989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075794&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Ffunding-difficulties-persist-for-ny.html Background reading: New York State's Medicaid Problem in the SchoolsGovernor Patterson's proposed budget cuts to the Early Intervention program have professionals across the state wringing their hands - read about the speech therapy association's concerns here. Although there are no public documents available currently from occupational therapists I have been sent a lot of internal communication from NYSOTA about that group's concerns.Some of the concern is about the possibility of implementing family cost sharing for EI services. New Jersey advocacy groups are already on the record against these models. Reasonable cost sharing is a functional model - but of course there are always individual exceptions and sad stories to any cost sharing model that will make the front pages of the 'Living... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075794 Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:21:00 +0100 2075794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074307&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FAEl2FxBWZe4%2F Happy 2009! We’re leaving tonight on the red-eye to go back from the Bay Area to New Jersey so, in the interest of being able to spend more time in the California sunshine with my guys and my parents, and since it is, indeed, 2009, a few more highlights from 2008. August means one thing in my household—-two weeks at the beach, at the Jersey Shore. Not surprisingly, it was still impossible to avoid talk about vaccines. A new clinical trial of the GFCF diet was announced. While people have strong disagreements about the “right” of parents to vaccinate or not, everyone agreed that the use of “retard” in the movie Tropic Thunder was unncessary. Charlie started middle school in September and, by October, he was deep into middle school blues, and Jim and I fou... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074307 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:54:15 +0100 2074307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074309&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F3V2zlo2fMfI%2F If Charlie’d had a younger sibling, would we have decided to participate in studies like this one at the University of Washington, as noted in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Autism researchers at the University of Washington are seeking parents who will allow them to do brain scans of their infants. …………. The UW scientists are looking for 84 six-month-old infants from California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Nevada and Alaska who have an older sibling who has been diagnosed with autism. They also need 34 infants with typically developing older brothers or sisters. Each child will be scanned three times over two years. Certainly I would have considered having a sibling of Charlie’s participate in such a study—-and then, after reading (wading... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074309 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:18:15 +0100 2074309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074311&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlCxl1pmVf30%2F Discussion was dominated by two stories, that of 13-year-old Adam Race, against whose parents a priest filed a restraining order, and of 5-year-old Alex Barton, who was voted out of his kindergarden class by his classmates, at the suggestion of his teacher, Wendy Portillo. These two incidents sparked some very heated and often acrimonious exchanges and remind me of why there’s a need to think about autistic persons and the community, in faith communities and all others. Also: It was reported that there had been 72 cases of measles so far in the US, the highest number since 2001—-and the number would only go up, while misinformation about vaccines continued. Sometimes it seems that everything, if not anything, could be said to cause autism (and that everything, and anything, has... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074311 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:47:21 +0100 2074311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2067678&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F4YXywSgetHo%2F And here’s autism on a list of CNN’s top 10 health issues of 2008, with more than a nod to the vaccine issue …… and from Mark Miller’s special needs blog, his list of the “top 10 moments” in disability policy and politics. Your top 10 of 2008? Tags: asd, asperger syndrme, autism, cnn, disabilities blog, disability, Health, john mccain, pdd-nos, sarah palin, special needs, top 10, vaccineShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2067678 Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:12:30 +0100 2067678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2065849&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2F1B1vYjzhg5A%2F I just wrote a letter which is being sent to President-Elect Obama regarding autism advocacy and Autism Speaks, Inc.  I am publishing this letter in the open as I feel its important for others with Autism and those that really care to become involved as well. Mr President Elect, I am writing to you regarding a condition [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2065849 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:52:08 +0100 2065849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2056134&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FVlMp_Gb2gTo%2F Soon as December started, my students started asking me what we were getting Charlie for Christmas. I fumbled with an answer—what do you get for the child who doesn’t ask for anything?—and they seemed quite incredulous that he’d no desire for any electronic devices or a football jersey with X player’s last name emblazoned on it. I’ve been used to telling people that things are different with Charlie but, on further reflection, the thought occurred to me: Charlie, at 11 1/2, is getting closer and closer in age to my college-students. Certainly there’s more than a few similarities between him and the tall guys with really big sneakers or Timberlands with legs too long to fit in the desks and always fishing around in a beyond dog-eared notebook for th... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2056134 Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:47:58 +0100 2056134 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2052840&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F3ewwARh2ST4%2F The Florida legislature has declared the first half of October as Disability History and Awareness Weeks, today’s West Volusia Beacon notes. Indeed, the legislature is said to be “trying to change the negative image, perception and treatment of people with disabilities.” The article highlights programs for disabled students throughout the county, such as Deltona High School’s Multi-VE program. VE stands for varying exceptionalities. Multi-VE students’ disabilities and challenges include hearing or language impairments, mental handicaps, emotional and behavioral disorders, multiple physical handicaps and disorders all across the autism spectrum. Located in Building Z on the 92-acre campus, Deltona High School’s Multi-VE program serves more than 50 students, ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2052840 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:51:37 +0100 2052840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2046919&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FwtRsfmIuHCw%2F A St. Paul family is suing after the school district decided to bar Newman, their son’s service dog, from his public school, Como Park Elementary. Newman, a Golden Retriever, is connected to 8-year-old Wally LaBerge throughout the day via a harness, yesterday’s WCCO notes. While service dogs have been more and more widely used to assist autistic children, there’s been more than a little disagreement about their presence in public places, from schools to airplanes to apartments. It’s noted that the dogs are calming and help to allay anxieties: Until it’s widely understood how much a service dog can help an autistic child, they’ll be more of these sorts of disputes, and more anxiety, and antagonism. And not enough learning on either side. Tags: Animals, as... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2046919 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:07:51 +0100 2046919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039997&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.gbrettmiller.com%2Fa-war-on-the-unexpected%2F This article came back to my mind as I read Kristina’s post Arrested: The Charge? Bad Behavior, in which she describes the arrest of a 13 year old autistic boy and a 19 year old man with fetal alcohol syndrome.  This is, of course, not the first such incident to have happened, only the most recent that I’ve become aware of. There is a legitimate issue concerning what consideration, if any, should be given to a person’s autism diagnosis with respect to criminal activity.  (See, for example, the case of Gary McKinnon.)  But all too often people with autism are approached, and often apprehended, by law enforcement personnel simply because they are “acting weird” and making bystanders “uncomfortable”. In his article, Schneier has two recommendations... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039997 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:16:59 +0100 2039997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2035858&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fv3UB4FiJwVA%2F In the midst of talk of diagnosis and disability rights, of treatments and of what’s an appropriate education for an autistic student, we took a hands-free cold walk last weekend to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza, and passed a wall of snowflakes too. Age of Diagnosis and the Apparent Increase in Autism A study in the December Archives of Pediatrics and General Medicine examines autism prevalence trends over time in Denmark and states that “the apparent increase in autism in recent years is in part attributable to a decrease over time in the age at diagnosis. Recovery Distracts How the notion of “recovery from autism” colors—not for the better— parents’ decisions about “treatments” and “therapies” for autism, and also on the popular percept... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2035858 Sun, 14 Dec 2008 02:36:32 +0100 2035858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2035860&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FftHoVlF9GxE%2F Children with autism and other disabilities, and more of them, are “actually getting arrested for having tantrums at school,” Minnesota’s WCCO reports. 13-year-old Dakota Jacobson was charged with a felony after he was found carrying a pocket knife in his coat: [Dakota] didn’t threaten anyone, but bringing any kind of weapon to school is a felony in Minnesota. While most kids understand why you wouldn’t want to do that, Dakota did not. “He’s 13 and he’s autistic,” explained his mother [Kathryn Jacobson]. Children with autism can have trouble understanding rules. His mom says he was just trying to be like his dad, Brian. “Brian is on the volunteer fire department, carries a knife hooked up to his belt, so he kind of likes to emulat... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2035860 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:36:19 +0100 2035860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2033258&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F43dWxgLWU5o%2F Earlier this week, mega-autism-organization Autism Speaks announced the appointment of three new board members, Artie Kempner, lead director for the NFL and NASCAR on FOX; Billy Mann, President of International A & R - Labels and President of Global Artist Management, EMI Music; and Jack Schneider, managing director of Allen & Co.. Kempner and Mann are both fathers of autistic children. It’s been noted (by Lisa Jo Rudy at About.com) that the new board members include no one who’s autistic. With the rise of self-advocacy organizations like ASAN, and also GRASP and many others, the absence of an autistic member on Autism Speaks’ board seems more and more puzzling. The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee lists Stephen Shore, a self-advocate, on its roster, and ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2033258 Sat, 13 Dec 2008 07:51:20 +0100 2033258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2027198&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FmNvwhs2L-t8%2F On October 12, while presiding as the honorary chair for an Autism Speaks walk on the campus of Ohio State University, President Gordon Gee made remarks including the statement that “‘It [autism] should not exist.’” Melanie Yergeau, a 2nd-year Ph.D. student in English, wrote this letter, which is posted on the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network blog. As Yergeau, who notes that she has Asperger’s Syndrome, writes: Until very recently, I have felt incredibly welcome at Ohio State—due to the interdisciplinary work of the Disability Studies Program and the Department of English, the Office of Disability Services, and the programs for high-functioning/Asperger’s adults at the Nisonger Center. I would urge you, as you continue in your autism advocacy, to consider wh... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2027198 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:30:50 +0100 2027198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2021579&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FDWbLLJ5vfJc%2F Four years ago, Larry and Judy Vardon’s house was extensively remodeled thanks to ABC-TV’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, in part to accommodate their blind, autistic now-16-year-old son, Lance. Now the family faces the loss of the house: The family’s mortgage payment has almost doubled since the makeover and their medical insurance does not cover medical, dental, and other therapies for Lance. Both Larry and Judy Vardon are deaf and the renovations included the installation of cameras and flat-screen monitors for them to monitor their son. As reported in today’s Associated Press via MLive: Adding to their insecurity, Larry Vardon, 50, works at Chrysler LLC’s Sterling Heights stamping plant. The company is on the brink of bankruptcy as it and the other Detroi... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2021579 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:35:46 +0100 2021579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017837&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FHriUT9wx-v4%2F 8-year-old Mari Klages—-whose was asked not to return to a Girl Scout Brownie troop for girls with special needs in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, after attending one meeting—-is now again a Brownie again, thanks to her former troop leader, Dina Johnston, and the Girl Scouts organization. Writes Laurel Walker in today’s Journal Sentinel: Anita Rodriguez, vice president for organizational strategy at the southeast Girl Scouts chapter, said, “The bottom line for us is we do not discriminate and the Girl Scouts did not kick her out” but worked to find a solution. Unfortunately, she said, the special needs troop that was tailored to the sedentary needs of the other three girls, including one with brittle bone disease, has disbanded after three meetings because parents and... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017837 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:25:58 +0100 2017837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2014091&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fhipaa-and-ferpa-opinion-of-street-level.html I am not a lawyer, so stop reading my opinion and go talk to one if you are having a real problem. Please.But here is my OPINION that I want to rant about:Everyone needs to go and read the recently published Joint Guidance on the Application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Helath Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) to Student Health Records.This is the most recent guidance document in a string of legal opinions and guidance documents that have been kicked around since HIPAA came into effect and schools were left trying to figure out what it meant. The bottom line problem is that we have created a system in the United States where a public health program (Medicaid) morphed into a broad funding stream for a variety of educational prog... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2014091 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:56:00 +0100 2014091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2011190&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrBrxfgCpiVA%2F This study did not find significantly elevated rates of abuse among children diagnosed with autism, but it did find the highest abuse rates among children with behaviour disorders. In fact, most large scale, well controlled studies have failed to demonstrate that there is a clear link between autism and abuse. [my emphasis]It is important to recognize that the failure to find something does not mean that it doesn’t exist and there are a number of technical reasons that could obscure the link between autism and child abuse. However, for now, it is correct to say that the link between disability and abuse has been more clearly demonstrated for other disabilities. All things considered, as a researcher, I think that there is probably about the same link that exists between a number of other... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2011190 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 07:14:12 +0100 2011190 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996399&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FmdGhSk5C9rs%2F Did Thanksgiving and now full speed ahead into December with all of its festivities, plus a few extras. Today is “Black Friday” here in the US, formerly known as “the day after Thanksgiving when people line up at 5am to charge the stores to get super-special-deal-discounts on holiday purchases”—as you probably guessed, we didn’t hit any malls with Charlie in tow. He has a general aversion to shopping for clothes, electronics, and anything in the closed confines of the modern mall. Once upon a time, we went to malls with pretty much the sole intent of walking around for exercise on a cold winter day, with the promise of escalator and elevator rides. Charlie’s interest—desire—to ride the likes of those has waned (and, too, some rather pai... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996399 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:38:12 +0100 1996399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1990890&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fq24DYqSafHc%2F Back in May, 5-year-old Alex Barton was voted out of his kindergarten class by his classmates. His teacher, Wendy Portillo, had asked the students to vote on whether they wanted Alex to remain. Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, removed Alex from the school following this incident, which received a great deal of attention in the national media. Portillo has been suspended for a year without pay and is asking that her her case be reviewed by the state Division of Administrative Hearings. Alex is now being taught at home and Melissa Barton is requesting that the St. Lucie County School District pay for private school, psychological testing and counseling for him, as reported in today’s Palm Beach Post: Barton filed a complaint with the district in late August seeking an administrativ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1990890 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:01:17 +0100 1990890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984960&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrIzsMU6Hswg%2F More children with Down’s Syndrome are being born in the UK, according to today’s Times Online. Widespread screening was introduced in 1989, and led to a steady fall in new instances of Down’s syndrome. From 717 babies born with Down’s that year, the total decreased each year, to 594 in 2000. During the next six years the birth rate for children with Down’s rose by 15 per cent, reaching 749 in 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available from the National Down Syndrome Cytogenetic Register. It’s noted that, while most women who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down’s Syndrome choose not to have the child, “many are now deciding to give birth.” Carol Boys, chief executive of the [Down’s Syndrome Association, had not expected the r... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984960 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:36:48 +0100 1984960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1980896&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fo9p9d2TL4i0%2F After 14-year-old Casey Reilly, who has Asperger’s, was excluded from week-long scouting trip, which prevented him from advancing in rank, his parents filed a lawsuit against the Pacific Palisades Boy Scout Troop 223—-more recently, in Wisconsin, after one visit to Girl Scout Brownie troop for girls with special needs in Oconomowoc, the troop’s leaders told 8-year-old Magi Klages’ parents not to bring her back. Magi is autistic and, after graduating from a Daisy troop, she wanted to continue with Brownies. A local Brownie troop with 22 girls was too overwhelming so her parents, Michele and Kevin Klages, decided to try the troop for special needs children. Magi’s first meeting at the group was difficult, understandably, as she was faced with a completely new routin... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1980896 Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:00:27 +0100 1980896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975226&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F17r3Rs2jV_k%2F Florida teacher Wendy Portillo—who allowed her kindergarten class to vote on whether or not their classmate Alex Barton could remain in class—-has been suspended without pay for a year, according to the Naples News. More commentary at Aspie Web. Tags: alex barton, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Education, florida, Health, survivor, wendy portilloShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975226 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:41:56 +0100 1975226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947126&cid=t_105135_111_f&fid=34712&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitaldoorway.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fdisability-discrimination-in-australia.html This past week, a German physician living and working in Australia was denied permanent residency due to the fact that his 13-year-old son with Down's Syndrome does not meet alleged health requirements for citizenship. Citing the potential cost of the child's future medical care, the Australian immigration authority denied that this is a case of discrimination based on disability.The case has sparked a veritably international outcry, and the boy's parents---Bernhard and Isabella Moeller---vow to appeal the case to the highest court in the country.Apparently, Dr. Moeller was aggressively recruited to live and work in Victoria, a rural section of Australia which is currently experiencing a severe shortage of primary care physicians. Taking into consideration the relatively disastrous impact ... Digital Doorway blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947126 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:50:00 +0100 1947126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930297&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FjPUDNbiqRPc%2F It’s so often said that If you’ve met one person/child with autism, you’ve met one person/child with autism. And of course this is true. It’s why, for one thing, I (like many others parents) emphasize the “I” in “IEP”—”Individual Education Plan.” Many’s the time that Jim and I have sat at the table with the Child Study Team and insisted that Charlie needs to be taught as he needs to be taught, not as “autistic children in general.” It takes awhile—weeks, months—for teachers and therapists, for anyone—to get to know Charlie’s patterns of speech and his way of doing things; to know who he is, as an individual. And it’s after this that they can teach him well, and better, even. It... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930297 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:05:55 +0100 1930297 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1927856&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FE_D9bnLh1_o%2F The claim that vaccines can be linked to autism suggests that a child became autistic and was somehow “damaged” by a vaccine. According to such a view, not only is autism something that happened to a child; it is something bad that happened—-a recent CBC News special feature, Positively Autistic, says that “since the early 90’s, an autistic rights movement has sprung up, challenging the official view of autism and working to change how the world sees autism.” Interviewed are: Amanda Baggs, Estée Klar-Wolfond of The Autism Acceptance Project, Michael Moon, Michelle Dawson, Dr. Laurent Motron, and Ari Ne’eman and Scott Robertson of the Autisitc Self-Advocacy Network. One comment from a mother : This news story gave me a real jolt -it is by far, the ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1927856 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:05:08 +0100 1927856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1924541&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F1efolAjM-MY%2F “Special”—as in “special needs”: It’s a term used primarily (exclusively?) in regard to children. Sometimes, just saying “special children” means the same thing. But one wouldn’t use the word to refer to adults with disabilities. Consider this example: At at an October 30th rally in Rush Limbaugh’s hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, McCain-Palin campaign representative Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo) mocked Presidential candidate Senator Barak Obama for saying that he’s looking to nominate judges who empathize with “the disabled.” Sen. Bond was joining Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin at the rally. As noted in a press release from ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights: “It’s Halloween and it se... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1924541 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:30:29 +0100 1924541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914716&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_sW7TCcktw0%2F So maybe it had to do with finding myself driving through a most unexpected (in New Jersey) October snowfall to take Charlie to a medical appointment (the dentist, to be more precise) on a cold mid-afternoon on Tuesday—-but as I glanced at him in the rear view mirror, a strong sense of déja-vu came into my mind. I was driving down a wide avenue on a snowy afternoon, gray sky, and strapped in the middle of the backseat, in his carseat, was my little boy and there was something wrong with or inside of him and no one seemed to know what, or to be able to say what, and not the kindly pediatrician we’d just seen for the nth time…… I was remembering the late late fall days of 1998. We were living in St. Paul, Minnesota, then (I was a newly hired classics professor here) ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914716 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:23:34 +0100 1914716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908840&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FfEMbc1CDGko%2F Autism gets mentioned for the first time in a presidential debate on October 15th; here’s more news: After Many Years, A Diagnosis Deborah Lipsky was in her 40s when she found out that has autism. There Goes Another Autism Myth While out riding his bike, Charlie hears another child crying and……. Denis Leary Does a Michael Savage I know Leary’s a comedian but some things just aren’t funny—-alumni from Emerson College don’t think so either. McCain and Obama Debate: Down Syndrome, Autism, Special Needs Disability historian Paul Longmore writes about Sarah Palin as “talking about special needs children” and Obama as having substantive plans for all people with disabilities” in the October 3rd Huffington Post Barney Can Wait What happened to all tho... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908840 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:35:07 +0100 1908840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895058&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Ft_vVYY-SreI%2F Yesterday’s Wisconsin State Journal reports on changes in how the budget for severely developmentally disabled adults in Dane County is allocated, and how these affect individuals and the services they receive: …….as more clients enter the system, the dollars are being spread thinner, with $76.5 million spent in 2007, the last year for which complete spending is available. On average, each adult client was allotted $49,196 in 2007 for housing, care, job assistance and other needs. Adjusted for inflation, the amount is down nearly $7,000 from seven years earlier. Less purchasing power means less staff care for each person and even, as parents such as Kathy Karklus, of Madison, fear, a greater risk of injury for the vulnerable population. Karklus’ son Ryan, 28, suffer... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895058 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:06:38 +0100 1895058 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1892049&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FXmewqKxjFIs%2F I was interviewed by Claudia Kalb in a web exclusive for Newsweek: Spotlight on Autism: The mother of an autistic son reacts to John McCain’s recent pledge to help families like hers. Was it just rhetoric? More about McCain’s comments about autism in the debate last week here. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, barack obama, disabilities blog, disability, down's syndrome, employment, Family, family blog, Health, jobs, john mccain, Parenting sarah palin, pdd-nos, WorkShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1892049 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:31:56 +0100 1892049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883392&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FF2EHRdCSaHk%2F Palin has experience with special needs kids, says an October 16th Associated Press article which I discussed some in the previous post. Says the Associated Press: Sarah Palin is frequently seen at campaign stops cradling her infant son Trig, who has Down syndrome. Her decision to give birth to Trig even after learning her fifth child would have the condition has burnished her anti-abortion views with conservatives. So viewers of Wednesday night’s presidential debate might have been somewhat taken aback when John McCain said his running mate understands “what it’s like to have an autistic child.” Palin, it’s noted “does have a 13-year-old nephew with autism”: Karcher is the son of her sister and brother-in-law, Heather and Kurt Bruce and the family... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883392 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:14:32 +0100 1883392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883394&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F6Yb_Xrp9DtU%2F Forgotten is the name of a report about autistic adults by Autism Ontario: The report says that the province has a “piecemeal” approach to addressing the issues facing an estimated 50,000 autistic adults and calls on the government to create a framework to assist them. With this guy making the news about autism somehow I’m not surprised that what we need to talk and do something about gets “forgetten.” You can read the Autism Ontario report here. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Comedy, denis leary, disabilities blog, Disability Rights, Education, Health, michael savage, ontatioShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883394 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:37:48 +0100 1883394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1879951&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F6WKkt-i-zeg%2F From the New York Post: In his new book, “Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid,” the joke-slinging “Rescue Me” star writes about the brain disorder: “There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can’t compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don’t give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer kid is NOT autistic. He’s just stupid. Or lazy. Or both.” I know Leary’s a comedian but some things just aren’t funny. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Comedy, de... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1879951 Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:52:20 +0100 1879951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1876128&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FfxdT0RmXCVA%2F CBS3 looks briefly at the presidential candidates’ stance on disabilities and highlights some of what Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama have to say about autism: McCain: “John McCain is a co-sponsor of the Combating Autism Act of 2006. John McCain believes this legislation will increase awareness and public screening of autism spectrum disorder, and will promote the use of evidence based interventions and also create centers for research.” Obama: “Barack Obama supports the Combating Autism Act which was signed into law in December 2006. As a U.S. Senator, Obama has worked to fully fund the Combating Autism Act. And, as president, Barack Obama will work toward full funding of the Combating Autism Act and work with Congress, parents and ASD experts to deter... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1876128 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:52:00 +0100 1876128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1873107&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FR4jlPirM3Kc%2F Currently, there’s no prenatal genetic test for autism. Long ago (as in “around the time I first started writing this blog”) I referred to such testing as “fighting word“: While some would welcome the notion of knowing that a child-to-be would have a disability, others have been quick to point out the possibility of people choosing to abort a fetus if a disability were detected. In the October 13th Babble, an online web community for a “new generation of parents,” Karen Dempsey writes about Choosing (a) Life: They said our baby would have Down’s; we said we understood. We had no idea. Having conceived her second child after a year of infertility treatments, Dempsey was concerned that the “risks of amniocentesis outweighed the chances it... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1873107 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:46:53 +0100 1873107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1873472&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fpublic-law-110-374-prenatally-and.html Abortion rates of children who have disabilities are high, in excess of 90% of all pregnancies of children who have Down Syndrome (Mansfield, Harper, Marteua, 1999). In consideration of recent conversations here I think that it is critical to highlight the passage of a new law. Public Law No: 110-374 is called the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act. It is the purpose of this Act to--(1) increase patient referrals to providers of key support services for women who have received a positive diagnosis for Down syndrome, or other prenatally or postnatally diagnosed conditions, as well as to provide up-to-date information on the range of outcomes for individuals living with the diagnosed condition, including physical, developmental, educational, and psychosocial outcom... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1873472 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:05:00 +0100 1873472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1868573&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F3_Xf9dfnxMw%2F Disability historian Paul Longmore writes about Sarah Palin as “talking about special needs children” and Obama as having substantive plans for all people with disabilities” in the October 3rd Huffington Post: Even though 90% of the 54 Americans with disabilities are adults, Palin, John McCain, and the news media have talked almost exclusively about children. And that talk has been mostly about “compassion” not “issues.” The McCain-Palin campaign website has a single page on “Americans with Disabilities for McCain,” but it says nothing about policy positions. Other pages mention autism and disabled veterans but no other issues. In contrast, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have said little on the campaign trail about disability issues but th... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1868573 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:35:40 +0100 1868573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859609&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FW5Cq2Hqi0P4%2F The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has upheld a complaint against Canada post by Michelle Dawson, a former mail carrier in Montreal and—in the words of the October 6th Leader-Post—an “internationally known researcher and writer on autism issues.” The details are on Dawson’s The Autism Crisis blog; her post (and the comments) need to be read in full. I quote from the end: …..this Tribunal decision, for all its faults with respect to the facts of the specific case, is instead a step in the right direction. It’s a step towards human rights for autistics in Canada, and towards all the possibilities human beings have, when we are regarded and treated as equals, and can proceed in society as fully human beings with human rights and dignity. Congratulati... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859609 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:33:39 +0100 1859609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1856121&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FpZejz9cOq08%2F A new study from Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics asks What Can We Learn about Autism from Autistic Persons? Is that a question that needs to be asked? Over at Science Daily, a review of the study is given the title “What Happens When We Ask Autistic Persons What Is Wrong With Them?“ I kind of think that’s the wrong question to be asking. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, civil rights, disabilities blog, disability, Disability Rights, Education, Health, human rightsShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1856121 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:56:41 +0100 1856121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829148&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fprenatal-testing-and-disability-rights%2F An underlying theme of The Speed of Dark is disability rights in general, but more specifically autism rights in a world where the genetic cause of autism has been determined and a prenatal “cure” is given to any fetus that is found to be autistic.   Of course, here in the real world we aren’t at that point - yet.   But we’re getting there. Since reading The Speed of Dark, I’ve picked up Prenatal Testing and Disability Rights to try to get a more detailed understanding of the various opinions and considerations around the question.  I’ve given this some thought before - I posted the following as To hear or not to hear, is that the question? in September 2006 - but it’s a big question deserving a bit more thought. = = == === ===== In the world o... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829148 Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:12:01 +0100 1829148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811352&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FmiAWWSm7cgU%2F The National Institute of Mental Health calls off a study on chelation as a treatment for autistic children. Safety concerns are cited and it also needs to be noted that the reasons for using chelation to “treat” autistic children rest on an unproven hypothesis about autism causation, that autistic children have mercury and/or “heavy metals” in their body, from vaccines or something in vaccines or the environment. Other news: Move Over, Cupcake The votes are in for brownies around here. What It’s Like: Life with Charlie and a Poem (and the VICP) “Simile” is the title of one of my favorite poems from Line Dance (Word Press 2008) by Barbara Crooker. Public Schools, Private Insurance Do you think it’s better in the long run to rely on public schools ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811352 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:36:02 +0100 1811352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809835&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FGQkDOYKaDiw%2F The September 18th New York Times reports that Congress has passed the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act, a “major civil rights bill” that expands protections for disabled individuals and makes it easier for workers to prove discrimination. The bill also expands the definition of disability and restores the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act: The bill declares that the court went wrong by “eliminating protection for many individuals whom Congress intended to protect” under the 1990 law. “The Supreme Court misconstrued our intent,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the House Democratic leader. “Our intent was to be inclusive.” In an effort to clarify the intent of Congress, the bill says, “The definition of disability in this act ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809835 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:17:22 +0100 1809835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1806351&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F51Lp1emZfis%2F In a speech on Monday in Golden, Colorado, Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin noted that, along with energy policy and government reform, “special needs” would be one of the issues she would focus on, should she and Senator John McCain be elected. The September 17th, Education Week notes that Gov. Palin’s reference to “special needs” is followed by mention of curing “our most dreaded diseases.” Here’s what she said: I’ve told Senator McCain a few things I’ve learned as a senator and as a mom. Ever since I took the chief executive’s job up north, I’ve pushed for more funding for students with special needs. It’s touched my heart for years, especially about 13 years ago with the beautiful addition to our exten... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1806351 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:30:20 +0100 1806351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1798229&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FTVSYBOlAPYw%2F Handcuffs? The “WWF room”—a vacant classroom, “used to encourage students to wrestle with one another and teaching assistants to release aggression”? As reported in WRAL today, these were methods used to improperly restrain autistic children in the Wake County School District in North Carolina. This morning, Disability Rights North Carolina, a disability rights groups, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Wake County Board of Education. Here’s more about restraints and about timeout rooms. And handcuffs. Small wonder that parents and school districts become adversaries. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1798229 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:52:22 +0100 1798229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1794452&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fg4QEL322p8M%2F Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the issues she intends to focus on should John McCain and her be elected in November, from Jonathan Martin’s blog on today’s Washington Examiner: “John and I have worked out a plan, what I want to concentrate on and what he would like to kind of tap into me to help with,” Palin said at a rally just outside Denver this morning. “My mission is going to energy security and government reform. And another thing near and dear to my heart, it’s going to be helping families who have special needs and children with special needs. And we’re going to be pushing for innovative cures for diseases.” Martin notes that Palin has a child with Down Syndrome and an autistic nephew. From her statement, it seems that she views w... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794452 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:50:35 +0100 1794452 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1791670&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-68Poq4J5Co%2F The September 13th St. Paul Pioneer Press notes this about Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s “track record” on spending for special needs: In the budget she signed into law earlier this year, Palin approved a dramatic raise in spending on children who have what Alaska officials call “intensive needs,” including children who need nurses full time or cannot breathe without ventilators. When Palin took office, the state was spending $27,000 a year on each such child. The budget she signed this year raises funding to $49,000 per child. In three years, the amount will rise to $74,000, roughly equal to the $75,000 a year cost of educating such children. The public school teachers union in Alaska, the National Education Association-Alaska, has lauded Palin&#8... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1791670 Mon, 15 Sep 2008 06:05:23 +0100 1791670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770622&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrpY_mzYTAKw%2F Stopped at a Dairy Queen from seeing Charie’s neurologist. Charlie stood very close to a woman who was ordering at the window and moved towards us when I called him, and certainly experienced nothing like a Canadian woman, Erica Gosselin, did while recently taking two autistic boys to a DQ. Another reader referred to the (unhappy) reaction of another customer in a letter to the Alliston Herald: Erica explained that she has a summer job working with these two autistic boys. They are brothers, and the younger one has a more serious form of autism than his sibling; for one thing, he has less physical control. At least once a week, Erica takes them to the Dairy Queen as a special treat. On this particular occasion, the one she writes about, a man sitting behind them started yelling at he... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770622 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:00:11 +0100 1770622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764633&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fpower-of-words.html There is more opportunity to follow the conversation in the Advance for Occupational Therapy magazine about early intervention service delivery. I read the magazine today and still felt uncomfortable as I kept stumbling over what Dr. Jane Sorenson wrote:“At the end of the year, all of them were performing at maximum potential… I explained, as I do with all parents whose permanently disabled child is performing at his maximum potential within the reality of the disability, that more treatment won't mean more function right now… I believe it is our responsibility to the children to discharge them from direct service when they have reached realistic goals within the reality of their diagnoses.”I wanted to do some self-checking to be sure that I wasn’t applying any bias to reading he... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764633 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:12:00 +0100 1764633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1759947&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FfLoud1Evflk%2F Back to the issues after discussing Governor Sarah Palin et al: In a post on Obama and McCain on Autism, Regan noted that Mike Strautmanis, Barack Obama’s Chief Counsel and a personal friend of the Obama family, is the father of an autistic child. In a January 29 conference call on Obama’s disability policy, here’s some of what Strautmanis said: Barack Obama and I met, and Michele, when I talked my way into a job to be Michele’s paralegal, just about before I was going to graduate from college. Since then we have all been friends. I am married, have three children, one of whom has autism, on the autism spectrum, has autism spectrum disorder. The struggles I have had with my son as we worked through the healthcare system, education system, through all the services in our... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1759947 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:16:11 +0100 1759947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739255&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F8vsnPES5KVk%2F Hillary Clinton mentioned autism in her speech at the Democratic National Convention and, last night, Bill Clinton did too (”I will never forget the parents of children with autism and other severe conditions who told me on the campaign trail that they couldn’t afford health care and couldn’t qualify their kids for Medicaid unless they quit work or got a divorce”). Will Obama; will McCain…….. More than sadly, the mother with cancer and two adopted autistic children mentioned by Hillary Clinton has died. Tags: Adoption, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, bald, barack obama, cancern, democracts, democratic convention, developmental disability, Disability Rights, Family, hillary clinton, mothering blog, parent, parenting blog, pdd-nosShare This (Source: Au... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739255 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:42:26 +0100 1739255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734062&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FwNzVWBozA-8%2F Just after the introductory section of her speech at the Democratic Convention (transcript), as her first example of her “35 years in the trenches, advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care, helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women’s rights here at home and around the world,” Hillary Clinton said: I will always remember the single mom who had adopted two kids with autism. She didn’t have any health insurance, and she discovered she had cancer. But she greeted me with her bald head, painted with my name on it, and asked me to fight for health care for her and her children. Comments Wonkette who liveblogged the Senator’s speech: A single mom, two kids, autism, cancer, painted bald head…This is the most tragic woman in Americ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734062 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:10:50 +0100 1734062 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734067&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FE8BOLKoaW7I%2F Abuse, neglect and humiliation: Not exactly words that are generally associated with education, school, students, you’d think. But that’s not been the experience of some 100 parents of autistic children in Florida, according to today’s Scripps News. They’ve been calling the state attorney general and two Port St. Lucie families—including Melissa Barton, whose son Alex Barton was voted out of his kindergarten class—have filed notice that they intend to sue the school district. Parents are raising concerns about autistic children being restrained or secluded and about a lack of sufficient training and of teachers of autistic children in general. “They’re just not prepared for some of these kids,” said Musumeci, who says her then-12-year-o... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734067 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:01:17 +0100 1734067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734069&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FVc2kGhclFOg%2F The National Autistic Society has launched a Creativity Competition, “My life with autism or Asperger’s syndrome.” Autistic adults are invited to express their experiences living with autism; nine winning entries will be chosen, today’s Coventry News notes. Adults with autism or Asperger’s over the age of 18 can enter; the deadline is September 30th. More information can be found at Think Differently. September 30th is also the deadline to submit a comment regarding the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) Draft Strategic Plan for ASD Research. Feedback is sought from ASD stakeholders—individuals with ASD and their families, autism advocates, scientists, health professionals, therapists, educators, officials of state and local programs for AS... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734069 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:00:22 +0100 1734069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1729481&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FHvTTDsgxWjU%2F After a priest filed a restraining order against the parents of 13-year-old Adam Race back in May, there was a lot of (often very heated) discussion about the exclusion and inclusion of autistic individuals in public spaces. The August 22nd Morning News reports on The Point at Bella Vista, a church meant for families with a relative who has special needs. Ginny Thornburgh, director of the American Association of People with Disabilities Interfaith Initiative in Washington, notes that “the trend is to acknowledge the gifts and challenges children and adults with disabilities bring to the congregation…….. All people of all faiths have a right to be honored and welcomed - a right to worship, study, serve and learn.” Hope that this is a trend that will certainly continu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1729481 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:30:48 +0100 1729481 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1711781&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FxlV3giMYRcE%2F We’re on the beach and I look up and see a small airplane pulling a banner that advertises a certain movie whose words have been under discussion here. Kind of sums up much of the past two weeks. A “Feral Child” Found in Florida? In 2005, a girl named Danielle was found amid the most literal squalor and neglect; she was diagnosed with “environmental autism.” The Parent ActivistOnce the parent of an autistic child, always the activist (and I don’t mean about mercury). Amanda Peet Says Something Sensible“My main message to parents is that they should not be taking medical advice from me or any other celebrity. They should look to their pediatrician, the AAP and other experts.” Autism, Representation, and the Case of Hannah Poling The words one uses to descri... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1711781 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:29:33 +0100 1711781 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709272&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fu-yuPYW3BrU%2F I read about Jenny, a “special-needs elephant” (per the New York Times; she has, among much else, “crippling depression”). In the midst of discussions about the “r-word” in the Tropic Thunder movie, the words we use to refer to “kids who are different” or “academically challenged” or “special ed/special needs” resonate. When did “special” come to mean “needs SPECIAL education,” with undercurrents of, “not the most academically gifted student; not even average”? It’s not an academic question to me. My son Charlie’s academic abilities are “way way below” those considered “average” for his grade and age. And yet Jim and I, and his teachers too, aren&#... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709272 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:28:07 +0100 1709272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1704768&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlAELNeJqbi0%2F In the ocean this morning with Charlie, I noted a boy about his age looking more than a few times in our direction. Charlie’s a super swimmer, and clearly comfortable in the water, and still has to have someone out there with him. This morning it was me. The waves were perfect—big but soft and just a bit cold—and Charlie was vocalizing his excitement, though not in words. After the other boy had looked in out direction a few times, I smiled and said, “Charlie’s autistic.” “Yes, my friend has a brother who has that,” said the boy. I asked how old he was; the boy said he was ten, same as himself, and that “all he does is play video games and beat people up.” “My son doesn’t do either of those,” I said, quickly, and... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1704768 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:30:31 +0100 1704768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696280&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FgShimX5nu7o%2F More than a dozen disabilities groups—including the Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People With Disabilities—-are calling on Monday for a boycott of the movie Tropic Thunder, which is to be released this Wednesday. The film is directed by actor Ben Stiller and is, according to the August 10th New York Times, a “movie-industry spoof”: A particular sore point has been the film’s repeated use of the term “retard” in referring to a character, Simple Jack, who is played by Mr. Stiller in a subplot about an actor who chases an Oscar by portraying a mindless dolt. ….. DreamWorks and Paramount have shown “Tropic Thunder” in more than 250 promotional screenings around the country since April, but sign... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696280 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:33:25 +0100 1696280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1696281&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FCNg-jH_gnRc%2F In light of stories earlier this summer about autistic children being removed from airplanes and the skies being less than friendly for autism assistance dogs too, this story is, well, a bit more uplifting. Today’s San Jose Mercury News reports on Take Flight for Kids, which was held yesterday at the San Jose Reid-Hillview Airport and whose sponsors included Guide Dogs for the Blind: The stated goal of the festival, which provided free, 20-minute, small-plane rides to about 150 disabled or critically ill youngsters and their parents, is to show them that “the sky is literally the limit to reaching out and overriding their perceived limitations.” ….. The opportunity to get his hands on one of the single-engine plane’s controls was an unexpected and invigorating... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1696281 Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:21:12 +0100 1696281 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1693719&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FJ-k2zJE2LvE%2F Compassion Deficit Disorder is the title of an August 7th article by writer Judith Warner in the New York Times. Starting with Michael Savage’s over-the-top claims that autism is incorrectly diagnosed in 99% of cases and that it’s just a way to seek “undue sympathy, victim status, and services” for autistic children, Warner writes in the next paragraph about comments by Rick Davis, Senator John McCain’s campaign manager, last week about Barack Obama as ….[playing] “the race card” by noting that Republicans appeared to be trying to suggest to voters that the Democratic candidate “doesn’t look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills.” There’s a perception—amorphous and not fully acknowledged—out there, Warner writes, t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1693719 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:07:07 +0100 1693719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1692212&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F6-Zvc5bEfdU%2F There’s been lots of reports of autistic children benefiting from therapy dogs and of the dogs even attending school as “four-footed aides.” But there’s also been at least one account of a specially trained therapy dog being excluded from a school setting. And, this past July, Karen Shirk, the director of 4 Paws for Ability, and three trained autism assistance dogs were blocked from boarding a Qantas flight at the Los Angeles Airport, en route to traveling to Waikato in New Zealand. Three families there had spent two years fund-raising for the dogs and now have an additional $33,000 to pay for the transport of the dogs and the 4 Paws staff. Shirk had booked American Airlines tickets online and confirmed that service dogs were allowed in the cabin with passengers, bu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1692212 Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:50:08 +0100 1692212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683093&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-8H3n90TS-E%2F Our visit to the optometrist was inconclusive. She was able to test Charlie for acuity—-he’s 20/20 in his right eye and 20/25 in his left—-but, as she no longer dilates patients’ eyes (I gathered that the repetitive stress on her hands from gently coaxing kids to open their eyes for years had take something of a toll) and so could not do a full exam. Charlie, for the past few months (since around May) has been squinting a lot, sometimes both eyes, sometimes the left or right only. During the exam, he was squinting almost non-stop, so it wasn’t possible to examine his eyes too much. The optometrist noted that his right eye looks like it is looking out and away from the direction his other eye is; she’s noted in the past that Charlie’s eyes don&#8217... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683093 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:28:32 +0100 1683093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1679439&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrHZpUB2nIYk%2F Charlie’s lunchbox is all packed and ready to go, except that he’s got just over a month to wait before the yellow school bus pulls into our parking lot. Summer school was over last Thursday and now begins the period that suggests why, to rewrite that famous line of T.S. Eliot’s, August is the cruelest month. Therapists and teachers do have to go on vacation sometime, schools shut their doors (ours are undergoing school sonstruction), and the dog days of summer cometh—-and hot and long unstructured days, which have tended to mean not the easiest of times for Charlie, who prefers the orderliness of bus waiting time, school, getting off the bus, snacks, loafing around (yes, that’s a schedule item), homework (he doesn’t have too much, yet), cello or piano p... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1679439 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 05:50:32 +0100 1679439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677222&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FLHSBd7-f1B0%2F Yes, I do think that the hypothetical “vaccine-autism” link distracts us from the key issues of education, services, and understanding about autism. Nonetheless, vaccines were the topic of some of last week’s top posts: Musings on Camp and Independence Should I be sending Charlie to camp? The Dangers of DIY Doctoring Doctors and patients at odds, and the latter more armed with (mis)information than ever. Nintendo At School Charlie is learning how to play video games, at school. Michael Savage’s Parting Shot Ah, Michael, just give it up! Public Spaces Mean Extra Precautions What if I lose my child in a busy public place? Not Able to Play In Your Own Back Yard Is this about adhering to building codes or disability rights? Once Again, TV Does Not Cause Autism The ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677222 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:44:42 +0100 1677222 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1675603&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fmore-on-who-should-be-be-treating-in-ei.html This article quotes several health care professionals who question the life-saving measures and efforts that are afforded to critically ill infants.For the second time this week I am deeply disappointed in Dr. Sorensen's opinion.This article is a gross misrepresentation of what happens on a daily basis in neonatal intensive care nurseries. The article suggests that parents who have premature babies secretly wish that they would just die, and that the professionals are forced by the government to provide care that they know is futile, painful, and ultimately cruel. I worked in a neonatal intensive care nursery and this is not what I saw at all.Rather, I saw parents who were devestated that their child was born early and who desperately did anything they could to stay on bedrest, take prescr... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1675603 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:57:00 +0100 1675603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1665107&cid=t_105135_165_f&fid=36767&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabctherapeutics.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fresponse-to-who-should-we-be-treating.html Dr. Jane Sorensen wrote an opinion piece in the most recent Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners where she muses about which populations of children are best served by occupational therapy services. This opinion piece is one of the most disturbing that I have read in a while. Dr. Sorensen suggests that functional outcomes for severely disabled children are no different when they receive services from skilled professionals as opposed to when they receive maintenance care from people who are less-skilled. She states that occupational therapists should "focus away from the very disabled child and give treatment to those who have a chance in leading full or nearly full functional lives as adults... Let the less-skilled personnel focus on the least functional patients with the poorest... ABC Therapeutics Occupational Therapy Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1665107 Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:33:00 +0100 1665107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1658175&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F347532214%2F Much happened over the past two weeks but I want most of all to think about Evan Kamida, who passed away on July 24, just a few days shy of his eighth birthday. Please keep his mother Vicki Forman and Evan’s family in your thoughts and prayers—-and to honor his memory, here’s a small and lovely thing to do: Please take a photo of flowers at a swingset and post it to this Flickr pool. Shannon Des Roches Rosa and Jennifer Graf Gronenberg have posted more information. Thinking of Evan. Not a Team Player in the Office?—-Not Necessarily The difficulties that autistic individuals face in the workplace. Use of Restraints Increasing in Public Schools? Kids coming home with bruises on their wrists, arms, legs: That’s not supposed to happen in public school, and not at the ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1658175 Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:02:36 +0100 1658175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1657223&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F346696424%2F Back in the spring, remarks by presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama about vaccines and autism caused a bit of a furor. But what else do the candidates think about disability issues? Senator McCain supports the Combating Autism Act; a search for “disability” on his website reveals this. Senator Obama’s website has a section devoted to disability issues and here’s some further commentary. And to find out more, the National Forum on Disability Issues, featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates, will be held tomorrow, Sunday, July 26, 12:30 – 4:00 PM, ET. You can register for a live webcast via Disaboom: The forum, hosted by AAPD, will feature time slots for the parties to individually present their visions for the future of disability policy in Americ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1657223 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:03:08 +0100 1657223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1642718&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F341892300%2F Now we’ve got the New York Times weighing in on radio host Michael Savage’s savage language about “bratty” autistic kids. As About.com notes, Savage is “successfully sucking time, money and energy” from the autism community (and sucking in ratings, I would think). All I can say again is, ’nuff said! And, we have found the actual parasite. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, buckhead, catholic, church, developmental disability, Disability Rights, exclusion, Family, father, matt savage, mothering blog, parent, parenting blog, pdd-nos, StereotypesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1642718 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:00:03 +0100 1642718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1634974&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F338807823%2F It seems no wonder that right wing talker Michael Savage’s last name is, well, “Savage” after reading what he said about autism on his radio show. I’ll list the words he uses to refer to autism: moron, putz, idiot, fool, dummy, a girl, losers, beaten men More of Savage’s savagery is quoted on Left Brain/Right Brain. If Savage’s intent was to shock, using such words about autistic children is a no-brainer way to do it and perhaps ratings will spike as rightfully indignant autistic self-advocates and parents of autistic children respond. What troubles me in particular is Savage’s contention that autistic children are just brats behaving badly, and brats parented by laissez-faire “let it be” types of parents, especially in the wake of more... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1634974 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:22:44 +0100 1634974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1634977&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F338213731%2F A Georgia mother and her daughters were kicked out of a Jackson restaurant because one daughter, 4-year-old Alyssa, who is autistic, was crying. Another customer—-Jackson Police Chief Dennis Rushton, it turned out—-said that her crying was “‘beginning to make [his] head hurt.’” Excluded, again. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, buckhead, developmental disability, Family, father, georgia, mothering blog, parent, parenting blog, pdd-nos, restaurantShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1634977 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:08:58 +0100 1634977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625676&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F336248968%2F A 12-year-old autistic boy, Ben Haslam will be without a school by the end of the week and could be taken into care—into custody—by the Local Education Authority (LEA) in Bedfordshire, UK. The Haslams tried to get Ben into one school; the LEA protested; the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) ruled in favor of Ben’s parents; the LEA then said they would take Ben into care and place him in a local school which is cheaper. While Ben has been doing very well at his current placement—-a newscast shows a big change in Ben since he’s been attending school there—-it’s not clear if the school the LEA wants him to attend is right for him. We’ve been down this road with our son, Charlie, finding ourselves in extreme dispute with... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625676 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:56:08 +0100 1625676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1622225&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F335712275%2F “What Tim eventually said….was that he didn’t want to go to school because he thought the school was trying to kill him.” John Miller, a podiatrist in Allegany, N.Y, says this about his 12-year-old son, who has Asperger Syndrome, and who was, according to a July 15th New York Times article, held down prone on the floor by teachers (one time for 20 minutes) when he was “confrontational.” The NYT article discusses something that is too familiar to me—and to parents of special needs children—-and that is, one suspects, a bit more than shocking to many. Kids coming home with bruises on their wrists, arms, legs: That’s not supposed to happen in public school, and not at the hands of teachers. Well, it does. In our previous school district, the b... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1622225 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:50:42 +0100 1622225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1582981&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F328656937%2F While traveling from Detroit to Seattle on Southwest Airlines, a mother with four children, one who has autism and another who has cerebral palsy, and her five-month pregnant sister were stranded in Phoenix after being told they were “too disruptive” to continue on a connecting flight to Seattle. Wendy Slaughter acknowledged that her children were “loud and kept getting up and walking around the plane.” KIRO reports about what happened on Friday: When the family landed in Phoenix they were met at the gate by police officers, detained and told they were too disruptive to get on their connecting flight to Seattle, Slaughter said. Slaughter said they were left stranded at the Phoenix airport with no money and no lodging. This was the first flight for the children. Slau... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1582981 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:00:20 +0100 1582981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1553076&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F322221570%2F She Knows has a list of 11 Pro-Autism products; as some of these bear the light blue puzzle piece logo of a certain large autism organization that recently threatened an autistic t-shirt maker with legal action, I guess the “pro-autism-ness” of the She Knows products is open to a bit of debate. Especially around the time when my son had just been diagnosed and for some years thereafter, I appreciated the “statement” that comes with puzzle-piece decorated items (well not just any, but that’s me). There were a few occasions when Jim and Charlie would be in a store and Charlie would be hum-talking and jumping with great exuberance and persistence and some one would look at him and say “he’s nuts!”, whereupon nothing would seem easier than for Ji... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1553076 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:00:40 +0100 1553076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1553077&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F322097496%2F Something that has been particularly bothering me about 2-year-old Jarret Farrell and his mother being removed from an American Eagle airplane earlier this week is (according to news reports) a flight attendant repeatedly tugging on the toddler’s seatbelt to tighten it, while “reprimanding and yelling.” It’s this kind of physical—excessively physical—force that is too often used on autistic children in the form of restraints like the basket hold as well as isolating measures like timeout rooms and a concrete quiet room. It might seem like “just what should be done” to control a child who’s tantrumming. It’s not. A June 23rd Ed News article by Families Against Restraint and Seclusion (in Florida) addresses these practices head-on: ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1553077 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:21:21 +0100 1553077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1546747&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F320069454%2F The response to 2 year old Jarret Farrell and his mother, Janice Farrell, being removed from an American Eagle flight at the Raleigh-Durham (NC) because of his behavior—- “The child had been crying and screaming uncontrollably, to the point where the child’s well being was in question,” American Airlines, the parent company of American Eagle, said in a statement. “Though, ultimately, the parent’s violation of FAA regulations was the cause for removal, both situations contributed to an uncomfortable and potentially unsafe atmosphere for our passengers and crew.” —is reminding me a lot of the response to 13-year-old Adam Race, whose parents were served a restraining order by the Parish of St. Joseph in Minnesota due to his “disruptive beh... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1546747 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:17:52 +0100 1546747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543367&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F319688072%2F Yesterday, Carol Race took the stand at a hearing in Long Prairie, Minnesota, over the restraining order filed against her 13-year-old son, Adam Race, by the Church of St. Joseph in Bertha. From WDAY.com: [Carol Race] represented herself at Tuesday’s hearing, and questioned the Reverend Daniel Walz for about 30 minutes. Walz acknowledged that he did not witness all of the alleged disruptions, but said he believes they happened. Judge Sally Ireland Robertson took the matter under advisement and said she would rule later. Afterward, Race said she was disappointed that she wasn’t allowed to question the priest about his credibility. She said she and her family will return to the church if the restraining order is lifted. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, catholic, catholi... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543367 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:59:38 +0100 1543367 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543371&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F318994222%2F Autreat 2008 began yesterday and runs until this Friday: It’s run by the Autism Network International and is a “retreat-style conference run by autistic people, for autistic people and our friends” that “focuses on positive living with autism, NOT on causes, cures, or ways to make us more normal.” Some of the sessions will be transcribed and will be available for people anywhere to attend via IRC (Internet Relay Chat). Go here to the Autreat 2008 website to find out how to log on and attend talks by two officers of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN), Scott Robertson and Ari Ne’eman. Also, at 7:30 pm EDT, on Thursday June 26 (23:30 GMT), there will be a discussion session about developing organizational structure and governance, with members of Spe... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543371 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:17:21 +0100 1543371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538038&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F317662784%2F Charlie and I started the week on the West Coast, visiting my family (and Charlie missing his dad so much he tried to walk back to New Jersey)—came back on a red eye Tuesday morning and he was back in school on Wednesday.  Meanwhile: The Regression Question Do some children seem to be autistic from the time they are babies, while others develop normally and then lose skills? Is autism “innate” in some children and “regressive” in others? What Music Gives 13-year-old Thomas Gonzales plays trumpet, trombone, baritone and flugelhorn and has accepted an offer to be a professional member of Mariachi Nuevo Ensueño in Azusa, California. Believe Charlie and I take a red eye flight home from San Francisco; I watch the Spiderwick Chronicles and a cat gets out of its bag. Zap, You ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538038 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:00:51 +0100 1538038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531377&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F315260401%2F On reading about how photos of a class of special ed students was left out of the yearbook of a school in Placer County, California, I felt that pang of exclusion. From KCRA.com: “It was not intentional,” said Mark Geyer, the superintendent of the Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District. Darla Granger said her sons Holden and Hunter, who are autistic, were left out of the Quail Glen Elementary yearbook along with the rest of the school’s special needs children on purpose. “It is my understanding that a school parent volunteer coordinated the yearbook, and omitted the class photo page,” Placer County Superintendent Gayle Garbolino-Mojica said. The Placer County Office of Education is addressing the issue by developing a plan to include photos in yearbooks of... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531377 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:18:32 +0100 1531377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531378&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F315051596%2F Kendall Bailey is 19 years old, 6 foot 6, and a champion swimmer headed for the Paralympics in Beijing this September—–but he was almost rendered ineligible by the United States itself. Bailey has cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, and Klinefelter’s syndrome, which prevents his body from producing testosterone. Today’s New York Times profiles his dream to swim in the Paralympics and the efforts of his mother, Connie Shaw, to make sure that this happens: Kendall Bailey is a rare case of a mentally disabled athlete who also has the physical disabilities to qualify him for the Paralympics. But in April, amid confusion about how disabled athletes are classified both before and during the Games, officials who oversee the American team on behalf of the United States ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1531378 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 01:25:03 +0100 1531378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1531379&cid=t_105135_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=1526332&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F314173481%2F 5-year-old Alex Barton testified today in an internal school investigation, the CBS 12 news reports. It’s noted that Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, “is not primarily seeking monetary damages. She wants autism awareness and training for district employees.” Tags: abuse, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, Family, family blog, law, Parenting, pdd-nos, survivorShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526332 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:38:45 +0100 1526332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526333&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F314153441%2F In the past year, there have been more and more reports about the benefits of therapy dogs for autistic children at home and at school. There’s also been at least one instance in which a therapy dog was excluded from the schoolbus and a preschool, as happened to 4-year-old Jayden Qualis in Manteca, California. Currently, Congress is considering the ADA Restoration Act (HR 3195 and S 1881), which defines disabilities more broadly than some other recent court decisions, and therefore has higher education officials concerned. HR 3195 amends ……the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to: (1) redefine “disability” as a physical or mental impairment, a record of a such impairment, or being regarded as having a such impairment; and (2) define additional terms, inc... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526333 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:02:14 +0100 1526333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1522223&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F313150590%2F New Jersey students are calling for disability awareness to be taught in schools, the June 15th Star-Ledger reports: “There’s so much lack of acceptance,” said Allegra Stout, 18, another teen who mentors children with disabilities. “A lot of that stems from lack of information. Children don’t understand about kids with disabilities.” So time to start teaching them….. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, Disability Rights, Education, Family, family blog, New Jersey, Parenting, pdd-nosShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1522223 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:56:57 +0100 1522223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1516585&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F310965959%2F Shortly after the Good Morning America segment on neurodiversity aired on Tuesday, I was asked to do an interview with CFRB in Canada, on the Leslie Roberts show. It was live and lasted for only about five minutes. Mr. Roberts focused on the notion of “curing” autism: Who wouldn’t want this? Why not support research into the causes of autism? I talked more about acceptance and hope and education—about how it’s not about finding some magic pill, but that, through careful, individualized, and compassionate teaching and understanding, autistic children can learn, grow, and thrive. I was asked if it’s just a matter, then, of waving a white flag. I asked for the question to be repeated: Mr. Roberts said something like, so is it just, surrender, just deal with... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1516585 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:00:05 +0100 1516585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508539&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F309106346%2F Melissa Barton, the mother of Alex Barton, who was “voted out” of his kindergarten classroom, is planning to file a lawsuit against the Port St. Lucie school district on the grounds that “‘physical and mental abuse’” were inflicted on her son. Tags: abuse, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, Family, family blog, law, Parenting, pdd-nos, survivorShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508539 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:11:22 +0100 1508539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1508541&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F308840216%2F Controversial New Movement: Autistic and Proud—-Activists Say Stop Looking For a Cure and Accept People As They Are. Tags: abc, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, Family, family blog, good morning america, Parenting, pdd-nosShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1508541 Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:39:26 +0100 1508541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492139&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F303834288%2F Professor Stanley Fish of Florida International University, in Miami and dean emeritus of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago, opens a post about “norms and deviations” on his New York Times blog by citing a letter published in Time magazine: A letter published in the May 26 issue of Time magazine protests the inclusion, in Time’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people, of two researchers allied with the organization Cure Autism Now (a name that speaks for itself). The letter writer declares himself to be “outraged” because, in his view, “Autistic spectrum disorders are not diseases, but rather markers of ‘genetic difference’ in the same vein as skin color [and] gender.” He equates the search for a cure with... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492139 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:12:51 +0100 1492139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492140&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F303471748%2F An editorial in today’s Palm Beach Post about 5-year-old Alex Barton being voted out of his kindergarten class quotes Michael Lannon, Superintendent of Port St. Lucie, along with more details from the police report: After he was voted out of the class, according to the police report, Alex went to the school nurse’s office. The nurse and school secretary said that Alex “mentioned to them about being voted out of class 14 to 2.” However, Ms. Barton says, she found out only when her son told her. She then filed a complaint that triggered several investigations. Alex told the school police officer: “Mrs. Portillo said, ‘I hate you right now. I don’t like you today.”” Ms. Portillo told the officer that while Alex was out of the room earlier ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492140 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:50:12 +0100 1492140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1484947&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F302491988%2F Now that it is the first of June, my son is down to his last two weeks of being at the school he’s been at for the past two years. He starts Extended School Year in the middle of June; it’ll be at the middle school and with the teacher who’ll be Charlie’s teacher in the fall. Moving up and on. Here’s what got talked about here last week: Neurodiversity in New York Magazine New York Magazine has a long article by writer Andrew Solomon about, indeed, neurodiversity, the view that autism is not an illness, but a difference and a different way of being. An Invasion of MMR/Vaccine Misinformation To read an article about the MMR vaccine and autism in the May 26th Telegraph, you’d think there was plenty of reason for the “debate” to be “rei... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1484947 Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:49:51 +0100 1484947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480744&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F301585757%2F While the rest of his classmates went on a field trip, an autistic student at Stephen Decatur School in Philadelphia sat in class with a bus aide, CBS3 news reports: While his classmates went on the trip, Jimmy was supposed to enjoy a day of learning, but that was not the case. Dawn said her son was left in a classroom with only his bus assistant who is not trained to teach autistic children. “I cried, I cried first and I just had it,” Dawn said. “I thought you had a choice, you could just sit there and take it or you do something about it.” In addition to a bus assistant, Jimmy is supposed to have a special education teacher and a therapeutic support worker. In the wake of what happened to Alex Barton, I’m wondering if more stories about autistic and special ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480744 Sat, 31 May 2008 02:11:30 +0100 1480744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480748&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F301017971%2F For the past two weeks, one post after another has been about the exclusion of autistic individuals: 13-year-old Adam Race from church—and by a restraining order. 5-year-old Alex Barton from his kindergarten class—and by a “voting out” process that has had more than a few echoes of the “Survivor” reality TV show. But these cases weren’t the stuff of network drama (like this TV show—remember the “mercuritol”?). They were real things that happened to real autistic people and—based on what’s been said ‘round the web and here on this blog—this kind of exclusion is not at all uncommon. And it’s not unusual especially when attempts are made to include autistic individuals—in “mainstream” e... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480748 Fri, 30 May 2008 05:17:53 +0100 1480748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1475247&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F299969458%2F It’s confirmed: Nate Tseglin, who was removed from his parents and institutionalized, is going home. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Nate Tseglin, pdd-nos, psychotropic medicationShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1475247 Wed, 28 May 2008 17:04:37 +0100 1475247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1472544&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F299377156%2F See this comment for news about Nate Tseglin going home. Autism rights have been much under discussion of late: A restraining order was filed against the parents of Adam Race by a priest in Bertha, Minnesota, regarding Adam attending church. The “voting out” of Alex Barton, from his kindergarten class; the teacher, Wendy Portillo, has been removed from the classroom. An article about the “autism rights movement” and neurodiversity in the latest New York magazine. And there is also the case of 17-year-old Nate Tseglin, who was removed from his parents’ home and institutionalized; some more details here and at the website, Get Nate Home. Recently, at the request of the Tseglin Family, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network sent the following letter yesterday for u... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1472544 Wed, 28 May 2008 04:42:55 +0100 1472544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1538749&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fabuse-of-5-year-old-autistic-in-a-school%2F Five Year old Alex Barton (photograph left) was bullied in a Saint Lucie County Florida Elementry School by his teacher - who also encouraged his peers to do it as well.  Alex is currently undergoing evaluation for Aspergers Syndrome, a form of Autism. After some behaviors which can be easily attributed to Aspergers Syndrome the teacher allowed [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1538749 Tue, 27 May 2008 17:22:29 +0100 1538749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1467898&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F298152071%2F At the 290th comment in the discussion about Adam Race and the priest restraining order, a question was asked about neurodiversity. The most recent New York Magazine has a long article by writer Andrew Solomon about, indeed, neurodiversity, the view that autism is not an illness, but a difference and a different way of being. Citing the coining of the term by Austrialian Judy Singer and the seminal essay Don’t Mourn For Us by Jim Sinclair, Solomon interviews autistic self-advocates and bloggers: Ari Ne’eman, President of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network Kathleen Seidel, writer of the Neurodiversity website and weblog Alex Plank, founder of Wrong Planet Camille Clark aka Autism Diva Solomon also quotes Lenny Schafter, editor of the “prominent Schafer Autism Report, ado... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1467898 Mon, 26 May 2008 05:10:21 +0100 1467898 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1467901&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F297843367%2F Up until last week, posts about “mercury” and “Jenny McCarthy” had the most comments—-after last week, the topic of religion and the restraining order filed against the parents of Adam Race generated a torrent of discussion that’s still going on). Priest Files Restraining Order Against Parents of Autistic 13-year-old Some 250-plus comments about Adam Race and the parish of St. Joseph’s in Bertha, Minnesota. A Mother and a Housewife Mothers and housewives can be pretty accomplished—-one whom I know (via the internet) is Kathleen Seidel, who writes the Neurodiversity weblog. Read with Care: New Study on Thimerosal and Neurodevelopmental Disorders A new study published in the Journal of Neurological Sciences that reports an association between ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1467901 Sun, 25 May 2008 17:00:39 +0100 1467901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1466115&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F297246996%2F Wendy Portillo, a teacher at Morningside Elementary in Port St. Lucie, Florida, let her kindergarten students say what they did not like about 5-year-old Alex Barton, after which the student voted him out of the class. Alex is in the process of being diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and has had “disciplinary issues” at school, TC Palm.com reports. His mother, Melissa Barton, is considering legal action. Ballastexistenz comments on the “Survivor” mentality and exclusion. Tags: abuse, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, Family, family blog, law, Parenting, pdd-nos, survivorShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466115 Sat, 24 May 2008 15:03:48 +0100 1466115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1466120&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F296694844%2F Discussion/debate/dissent about Adam Race and the parish of St. Joseph’s continues—–and here’s another case involving an autistic child and a discrimination suit. Over a year ago, the parents of 14-year-old Casey Reilly, who has Asperger’s, filed a lawsuit against Pacific Palisades Boy Scout Troop 223. As reported in the May 22nd Palisadian Post: The parents, Palisades residents Jane Dubovy and Mike Reilly, argue that Boy Scout Troop 223 violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when the Scout leaders excluded their son, Casey Reilly, from a week-long scouting trip, which prevented him from advancing in rank. In October 2006, Federal District Court Judge S. James Otero dismissed the case, ruling that the Boy Scouts is a private club that does not hav... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466120 Fri, 23 May 2008 17:00:33 +0100 1466120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1461029&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F295576659%2F We all root for amputees—-until they win medals is the blurb on an article by William Saletan in the May 21st Slate. Saletan writes about Oscar Pistorius, the runner from South Africa who—he is a double amputee—runs on specially built prostheses called “cheetahs” ( j-shapes blades made of carbon fiber). Pistorius recently won a decision to be allowed to compete in the Olympic trials; the International Association of Athletics (IAAF—track’s governing body) had argued that he had an unfair advantage because of his high-tech prosthetic legs. But the Court of Sports Arbitration “deemed that there was not enough evidence to prove that Pistorius’s flexible j-shaped blades, attached below his knees, gave him an advantage.” It could as readil... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1461029 Thu, 22 May 2008 05:11:48 +0100 1461029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1461031&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F295216806%2F Enough about exclusion—–tonight at 5.30 pm and at 8.00pm at the JCC in Manhattan, a film called Including Samuel will be shown. The film “examines the social and educational inclusion of youth with disabilities”; filmmaker (and Samuel’s father) Dan Habib, a nationally renowned photojournalist, will be present for a Q & A session. (Go here to read Habib’s thoughts on the film.) Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, autismadam race, California, catholic, developmental disability, dog, Family, father, mothering blog, movie, New Jersey, new york, parent, parenting blog, pdd-nos, ReligionShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1461031 Wed, 21 May 2008 18:00:49 +0100 1461031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1458602&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F294840733%2F Exclusion of autistic individuals from public places has been under heavy discussion in the wake of a Minnesota priest filing a restraining order against the parents of an autistic 13-year-old, Adam Race. In a short essay at the start of the guide Autism and Faith: A Journey Into Community entitled “Open the Door,” Linda Walder Fiddle writes: In 1993, when my son, Danny, was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) (that I later learned meant he was autistic), my first thought was not to run to my local synagogue for support……….. When I reflect back now I realize that the reason I did not look to my faith community for support was that I just couldn’t deal with the possibility of rejection. Quite frankly it was challenging enough to navigate... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1458602 Wed, 21 May 2008 07:03:06 +0100 1458602 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1451875&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F293324458%2F A cold wind and steady rain would seem to belie it, but “summer” starts for me today—–following Commencement at my college, the spring semester is over and the fall one does not start until late August (in fact, the first session of summer school courses starts today). Now it’s time to resume being “more of a mom” and clean up the various stacks of books and papers on my desk, dust and vacuum rather more frequently, sort through the clothes Charlie has grown out of instead of waiting for my mom to do this when she next visits… Time to be a mother and housewife, because those kinds of motherly, housewife-sort of activities are all that mothers and housewives do, no? Well, not exactly. Mothers and housewives can be pretty accomplished—-on... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451875 Mon, 19 May 2008 08:07:39 +0100 1451875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1450324&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F292734361%2F I never got around to making a list of last week’s top posts last week so here’s two weeks of “top posts” about autism. Rather than arrange them in chronological order, I’ve arranged them by topic: My son Charlie turned 11 last Thursday, on May 15th. Life on the road with Charlie is my constant theme here and these posts are about his sensory sensitivities, his beloved bike rides with his beloved dad, and other things I’ve been learning on our journey. (In the photo, he’s enjoying a birthday dinner of sushi and cake on Jim’s desk.) Too High-Pitched to Hear It was a couple of months ago that my son Charlie started—for the first time in his life—to show sensitivity to sound by putting both hands over his ears. The Final (Bike Riding) Fro... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1450324 Sun, 18 May 2008 08:41:45 +0100 1450324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1450325&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F292599517%2F This story about a Catholic priest filing a restraining order against the parents of an autistic 13-year-old to keep them from attending church on Sundays in Bertha, Minnesota, is why resources like this are more than needed—-and a spirit of inclusion and mutuality. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, catholic, catholicism, inclusion, mother, pdd-nos, priest, Religion, restraining order, teacherShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1450325 Sun, 18 May 2008 02:09:28 +0100 1450325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1449390&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F291742904%2F is a new resource for clergy, religious educators, and families of autistic children to develop “inclusive spiritual supports” for autistic individuals in religious settings. The 52-page guide was developed by the Autism and Faith Task Force of COSAC, New Jersey’s main autism organization, and the Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, which is in the Department of Pediatrics at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. More about the guide: The Task Force worked for more than two years collecting stories and experiences from families, best practices and strategies from clergy and human service professionals, and resources from around the country. The guide features more than fifteen short articles written by clergy, parents, professional experts on aut... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1449390 Fri, 16 May 2008 16:30:35 +0100 1449390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1446158&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F291239222%2F An Oregon family has won a $40,000 settlement from a Portland, Oregon apartment owner and management company. Daniel and Jenny Sanchez claimed that Princeton Property Management, Inc. refused to accommodate the needs their of three-year-old autistic son. From press release from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development: The Sanchezes alleged that Princeton Property Management, Inc., refused to grant the family’s request to move to a vacant first-floor apartment to mitigate noise complaints about their autistic son that the company received from a tenant who lived directly below the family. The family also alleged the property managers refused to renew the family’s lease, which they had in several previous years, and issued a 30-Day Termination of Tenancy Notice. The pr... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1446158 Thu, 15 May 2008 22:37:18 +0100 1446158 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1434542&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F287862435%2F First, Happy Mother’s Day to every mother reading this and many more (my own included, of course)! An essay by Robert Hughes in today’s Chicago Tribune is entitled What Autism Means to a Father and much of what he says strikes home with me as a parent. Hughes captures how a parent feels as he or she strives so patiently to help an autistic child, and how bad a parent can feel when you’re not “doing the right thing,” even though you’re trying your best. Hughes’ son is 21 years old and, on being asked about the “meaning of the latest statistic on autistic births”—that 1 in 150 children in the US have autism—-Hughes offers this “emotional, seldom-discussed meaning to the 1 in 150 statistic”: It means that the chance... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1434542 Sun, 11 May 2008 04:33:33 +0100 1434542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1426523&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F285131296%2F An article in the May Scientific American explains why the next president needs a powerful science advisor. If you consider the political pandering among the presidential candidates about the vaccine-autism myth—-it’s too obvious why. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, barack obama, Disability Rights, Education, Epidemic, hillary clinton, History, john mccain, Junk Science, Parenting, pdd-nos, Politics, president, Science, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1426523 Wed, 07 May 2008 05:26:06 +0100 1426523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1397685&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F277414857%2F Considering how many pressing issues there are to talk regarding children and adults—education, employment, housing, to name a very few—-why do we keep getting stuck talking about the hypothetical claim of a link between vaccines and autism? Here’s some thoughts towards why the whole issue seems to have devolved into something approaching paranoia, not to mention pander for politicians (and all the more after what two of the presidential candidates have said about autism, vaccines, and the “autism epidemic”). In a recent essay entitled The Paranoid Style in American Science, Daniel Engbar, associate editor at Slate, writes about critics of mainstream science “whose skepticism has taken on the trappings of conspiracy theory.” Engbar is specifically ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1397685 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:53:12 +0100 1397685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1393773&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F276406662%2F Right now (afternoon of April 23, Wednesday) over at Science Blogs there’s a number of posts about Barack Obama’s statement at a Monday rally in Pennsylvnia that evidence linking vaccines and autism was “inconclusive” and that further research is needed. (It’s also pointed out that Hillary Clinton has also embraced “anti-vaccination woo”.) While the candidates’ views (here’s Senator John McCain’s) on vaccine and autism have become a sort of barometer for their views on science, it’s necessary also to consider their views on disability—on education, special education, employment, health care—more generally. Professor Michael Bérubé, who teaches American literature and cultural studies at Penn State University ta... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1393773 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:27:50 +0100 1393773 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1385437&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F273646154%2F Is there an autism epidemic and why does it matter if there is, or isn’t? Do you show you’re “aware” with a car magnet, a wristband, a ribbon? More from last week: New Findings on Genetic Link Between Autism and Mitochondrial Disease Researchers at Medical Neurogenetics have found that there may be a genetic link between autism and mitochondrial disease, “a muscle-weakening disorder.” Just a Couple of Characters in the City On foot, in the subway, by car, beside the water: We spend a sunny Saturday in New York City. The Claim of the Autism Epidemic Is there truly some epidemic of autism caused by some external, environmental agent? Or, can the change be accounted for by diagnostic substitution, by our being better able and equipped to identify, diagnose, an... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1385437 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:45:51 +0100 1385437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1380564&cid=t_105135_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F272476904%2F The state of New Jersey’s Department of Human Services is being sued by a legal advocacy group, New Jersey Protection and Advocacy Inc., for violating the rights of over 8000 developmental disabled people who have been waiting (over a decade, in some cases) to move into government-supported community housing. The department has a waiting list for housing, but few people ever leave the list except under emergency circumstances, as when a parent becomes ill or dies. From today’s Star-Ledger: “These individuals have been for years diverted to a so-called ‘wait-list’ for such services, with no guarantee, and little hope, of accessing the services they need,” said R. Scott Thompson of Lowenstein Sandler, which is representing the federally funded legal rights... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1380564 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:36:11 +0100 1380564