Are Parents "Autism's Hidden Victims?" - SeattlePi.Com, a news and information website, have published a headline story today entitled Parents are autism's hidden victims - Baffling disorder hurts more than just those who have it. According to the article:  Children have autism, but parents are often invisible casualties. Their child's disorder ricochets through their lives, breaking up marriages, draining bank accounts and robbing them of sleep. University of Washington researchers found these parents, among all with disabled children, suffer the highest levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, and parenting stress. Since [her son] was diagnosed, his mother has dealt with depression, chest-seizing anxiety attacks, insomnia and incessant guilt that she wasn't doing enough.

Aspergers offers unique challenges for parents - After clearing her own hurdles raising a daughter recently diagnosed with a form of autism, a local woman is hoping to help other families and educators access information on the syndrome with an awareness night at an area high school.
"There's a lot of agencies out there that can help but it's a lot of work for the average parent, who may still be in shock from getting the diagnosis," said Dianne, who's requested that her last name be withheld.  Her daughter Lyndsey was diagnosed a year ago with a form of autism known as Aspergers syndrome at the age of 16.

Bank of Guam presents 'Colors and Faces II' - THE Bank of Guam and the Chamorro Artists Association in collaboration with The Guam Gallery of Art in the Chamorro Village are presenting the one artist show of Mar-Vic Cagurangan entitled "Colors and Faces II" at the Bank of Guam's Hagatna Branch Headquarters.  The art works will be featured in the bank's 2nd floor, with an opening reception set for Friday, May 9, 2008 from 4 to 6 p.m. The exhibit will continue through Thursday, June 5, 2008 during normal banking hours.  For this exhibit, Ms. Cagurangan, a member of the Chamorro Artists Association, will be presenting abstract paintings.  A journalist by profession, Mar-Vic Cagurangan typically uses words as her medium. And being in a profession restricted by the code of objectivity and accuracy, she finds relief in her second career-the arts-which permit her the freedom to entertain her imagination and rebel against stifling rules. The canvas is her playground and colors are her toys.

Cause and Effect - "Causality is not implied by correlation."  Two things happening at the same time does not imply that one causes the other. The rooster crowing whenever the sunrise occurs does not mean that the rooster causes the sun to rise. I think many who look at medical data forget this. The popular press and the "autism is caused by mercury/MMR" group forget this. We all forget it at times.

Charges dropped against US doctor accused of killing autistic ... - Criminal charges have been dropped against a U.S. doctor accused of causing the death of a British five-year-old autistic boy by giving him the wrong drug.  Dr Roy Kerry was trying to use chelation therapy on Abubakar Tariq Nadama in 2005 after his parents moved to the U.S. to seek treatment for his autism.  Chelation therapy, approved in the U.S. for treatment for acute heavy metal poisoning, is regarded by some as a promising treatment for autism.  The U.S. drugs authority disagrees and Kerry was charged last year with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment  However, yesterday a judge in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, allowed the district attorney of Butler County to drop charges.

Dozens of companies seek new employees - Despite Tuesday's beautiful spring weather, local job seekers headed indoors - at least for part of the day. Suited to impress, men and women looking for work made their way into the Best Western Inn & Conference Center in Poughkeepsie to talk with prospective employers at the Poughkeepsie Journal's daylong Career Fair. Among the 25 companies looking for hires during the event were AFLAC, AXA Advisors, Gap, Devereaux in New York, Laerdal Medical Corp., Time Warner Cable and Verizon Wireless Ramesh Shankar, 45, of the Town of Poughkeepsie, was one of many people who waited in lines and stopped to fill out applications. One place Shankar hopes to secure a position is at the Gap.

Free alert cards will help people with autism - Autistic people could be handed free alert cards to show police they have communication problems. Behavioural difficulties mean autistic people might be stopped by police – and when questioned their lack of understanding could be mistaken for a refusal to co-operate. That's why Hampshire Autistic Society and police are developing an autism card to notify police and other emergency services if the encounter people with the condition. If officers encounter anyone with the condition they can be shown the card and recognise they may find it harder to communicate with that person. Hampshire Autistic Society's project manager for outreach Karen Templeton-Mepstead said: 'Autism causes all sorts of communication problems and sometimes someone on the autistic spectrum behaves a bit strangely. - UK

Group Asks Court To Ban Rules On Autism Services - A state advocacy group for people with disabilities has filed a complaint asking a federal court to prevent the enforcement of new rules that would reduce or eliminate services for autistic children. The Ohio Legal Rights Service filed the complaint in U.S. District Court Friday on behalf of the Parents' League for Effective Autism Services, a group of families receiving Medicaid services. The complaint requests a temporary restraining order and injunctive relief prohibiting the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Mental Health from enforcing rules proposed by Gov. Ted Strickland.

In autistic boy's hands, paper and scissors express an amazing spectrum - In Wil Kerner's world, happiness and grief — and all the feelings that come between — are puzzle pieces as alien as the curious construction-paper characters in the art he assembles on his grandmother's living-room carpet. What the autistic 12-year-old can't express verbally or in social interaction he can show through his carefully cut out geometric shapes assembled into characters in a paper collage, a talent the staff at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center calls a rare artistic gift. Large red circles become heads, delicate strips of fringed white paper become hair, and finely cut arches are shaped into eyebrows. The art — and the artist — intrigues those who study autism. Dr. Stephen Dager, interim director of the University of Washington's Autism Center, who has been studying brain anatomy and chemistry in autism, is mystified by Wil's artistic talents. Autistic people generally pay little attention to eyes during social interaction, studies show, and usually are unaware of others' emotions. Yet, Wil has the ability to mimic human emotion through his art. - Oregon, USA

MUHC searches for causes of autism - The international research for finding the causes of autism is considered groundbreaking and will be based on the DNA samples of patients with autism. Dr. Eric Fombonne, from the Research Institute of the MUHC at the Montreal Children's Hospital, is involved in a multi-site consortium to gather DNA samples from 2,000 autism patients and their families over the next three years.  The Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) is a coordinated effort to create a database of genetic and behavioral information about cases where there is only one family member with autism. This group, which represents the great majority of autism spectrum disorders, Is expected to lead to the discovery of new genetic factors that increase the risk of autism.

Needed: One guardian angelNeeded: One guardian angel - How much would you spend to keep your child safe? What would you do to raise the money if you didn’t have it? Heather and Neil Whitaker, their family and a few friends, are about to start cooking and selling spaghetti dinners in the hope of raising $13,000 for a “guardian angel” for their daughter Annabelle.  No, not an angel with wings. A four-footed angel with a cold nose and a warm heart.  Their hope is to obtain a trained “service dog” from an Ohio group called “4Paws for Ability”. - Texas, USA

'One mistake cost her her life,' says man whose sister's death ... - Nate Poliakoff, whose sister’s death of a drug overdose one year ago sparked the undercover investigation at San Diego State University that resulted in the arrests of 96 people Tuesday, said parents underestimate the availability and intensity of drugs on college campuses today. “I think parents are unaware of the severity of the drug problem,” Poliakoff told TODAY’s Matt Lauer Wednesday from Poway, Calif. “They may be comparing it back to when they were in school, when marijuana may have been the big, prevalent drug. People can experiment with that and it’s not going to cost you your life. It’s not as intense as cocaine, Ecstasy, OxyContin — things of that sort — so I think there’s a substantial difference in the drugs being used.”

Sheriff Tests New Lifesaver Equipment - A helicopter circled Les Rea’s Farm seeking the location of K-9 Officer James Peterson of the County Sheriff’s Office among the trees and brush April 29.  K-9 Officer Russ Norcross waved a mobile antenna to trace a signal emitting from Peterson’s wrist. The receiver chirps more rapidly as Pilot Lynn Hayward of the county Mosquito Department curves the helicopter in the direction of the signal to find Peterson’s location.  The recovery took only about 15 minutes, but 15 minutes can seem like an eternity when a loved-one is missing.  The purpose of this hide-and-seek rescue training is to prepare for an actual rescue mission, see how long it takes to locate someone and test communications among the pilot, patrol officers, and ground crew using cutting-edge equipment through Project Lifesaver International.

SPECIAL REPORT: Life After An Autism Diagnosis; Special Diets - Learning that your child has autism can be heartbreaking news. Since cases of autism are on the rise - it's a diagnosis many families in our area are dealing with  But the good news is that many autistic kids are having great success with alternative therapies. A Weston family trying a bio-medical approach to their autistic son's diet. Two year old Troy is the Esker's only child and his father Cory Esker, describes him as a daddy's boy Troy's parents say they noticed his speech delay and learned about his autism diagnosis in December of 2007. "First it was a little bit of a shock but after a while you just get used to it and it's just another challenge in life," says Esker.

SPECIAL REPORT: Life After An Autism Diagnosis; Special Diets Pt. 2 - Parents certainly know just how much what your child eats can affect his behavior and that goes deeper than something like too much sugar before bedtime. Families with autistic children are cutting certain proteins from their children's diet to see if there is a reduction in the symptoms. Doctors using this treatment say just a small change can equal big results for children with autism. The Esker's of Weston are trying the Bio-Medical Approach with their two year old son Troy. "Since January, no dairy no meat, no gluten," says Troy's mom Jamie. "We didn't notice a tremendous change we are going to try taking him off it for a while to see if we notice any regression, says Troy's father Cory.

SPECIAL REPORT: Life After An Autism Diagnosis; Special Diets Pt. 3 - The cause of most cases of autism remains a constant source of friction between doctors and parents of autistic children. A small percent of cases - between 2 and 6 percent-- are believed to be caused by a genetic condition called fragile x-syndrome. Researchers are also looking into the possibility that vaccines can trigger the disorder in some children. The case of 9 year old Hannah Poling has re-ignited the debate surrounding a possible link between Autism and common childhood vaccines. In march, a Federal Court ruled that vaccines did

TEEING IT UP FOR AUTISM - No longer is Ernie Els who you think he is. The sweet golf swing, the easy demeanor, the popularity? All just a mask. Turns out the internationally famous golfer with a Gulfstream G5 and enough skill and success at a game to keep that private jet aircraft fueled and ready, is no different from anyone else. He is helpless. Early this spring Els made an announcement. The perfect family photo - Ernie, wife Liezl, 8-year-old daughter Samantha, and 5-year-old son Ben - isn't perfect. Ben suffers from autism. And Daddy can't make it go away. "You want your kid to be a normal kid, like everybody," Els said. "You want your kid to play sports and you want your kid to do normal things, and when it doesn't happen you kind of ask questions. You want to know the answer. And there's no simple, straight answer." So early this spring, Els did what he knew he could. He became a spokesman, hoisting an "Autism Speaks" logo that continues to adorn his golf bag during this week's Players Championship.

'Alarming statistic' in local high schools prompts plan - Citing "alarming" figures showing 60 per cent of students identified with such problems as learning disabilities and behaviour problems don't finish high school, a teachers union will lobby the public board Wednesday night to endorse a union plan calling for, among other things, more school staffing. Bruce Awad, local president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) said Tuesday he will make a presentation on a study, authored by the provincial union leadership, to the Greater Essex County District School Board's budget consultation meeting and ask trustees to endorse the report to "address this alarming statistic."

Anti-psychotic Drug Use Reaches Worrisome Rates in US and UK - Six times more children in the U.S. than in the U.K. are prescribed anti-psychotic medicines, according to a study made in the U.K., which is to be released Monday in the May edition of the journal Pediatrics.  It is not that important that in the U.S. the rate is higher, but that it’s going up on both sides of the Atlantic.  In 1992, four per 10.000 children used anti-psychotics and by 2005 the figure increased to a rate of seven per 10.000 in the U.K. In comparison to that and maintaining the proportions, in the U.S. the rate advanced from 23 in 1996 to 45 in 2001, as the Associated Press informs.

Asperger's centre is really helping us - Just months after it was first opened the work of the new Asperger's Centre at Norwich City College is being commended for its work helping students. TRACEY GRAY talks to Asperger's sufferers about the help on offer throughout the county to people suffering from this much misunderstood disorder. Although she is the first to admit she still has difficulties, Katie D'Avila says she has changed out of all recognition since she enrolled on a course especially for those with Asperger's at City College Norwich.  Asperger's syndrome is a is a form of autism which is a lifelong disability that affects how a person makes sense of the world, processes information and relates to other people. It is one of several autism spectrum disorders (ASD) characterized by difficulties in social interaction and by restricted, stereotyped interests and activities.

Autism Incidence Increased by Mercury Emissions - A paper published in the medical journal Health & Place found that children living next to a mercury polluter have a higher risk of developing autism. The research, from University of Texas Health Science Center (San Antonio), by researchers Raymond Palmer, PhD and colleagues, determined that a community's distance to a coal-fired powered plant, or other industrial mercury source, significantly predicts future autism rates in the community's schoolchildren.  The study, "Proximity to point sources of environmental mercury release as a predictor of autism prevalence," adds to growing evidence of mercury's role in autism causation. Dr. Palmer, joined by representatives from autism organizations SafeMinds and Autism United and Texas families affected by autism, commented on the findings' implications at a press conference in Dallas yesterday.

Autism recovery stories: No vaccines until 9 months - The waiting list for basic autism therapies can be a year or longer.  So after Michlyn Metropolit's daughter, Alivia (left), was diagnosed with regressive autism, PDD-NOS, the worried mom "got busy and read and read and read and researched and researched and researched." "There were nights when the newborn would wake up for her 4 a.m. feeding and I still had not gone to bed yet- just reading," Metropolit wrote me in an email. Today, her daughter is in one of the best schools in Boston (kindergarten) and "no one has any idea nor would ever suspect or guess the situation we were handed a year and a half ago." "I just wish that pediatricians

Autism strikes twice - Just as a St. John's family is seeing the benefits of a new autism therapy for their son, four-year-old Kelian, they have been hit with bad news. Isabelle Roussel and Philippe Sarazin learned two weeks ago their other child - two-year-old Cassandra - also has autism. "Initially, I was devastated. I couldn't believe we had two kids with autism," said Roussel. "This means two kids with special needs to take care of, with twice the treatments and therapies to manage."

Beating the High Cost of Autism Treatment - One of the most popular early childhood treatments for autism is Applied Behavioral Analysis or ABA. It's also often the treatment that is most expensive for parents who have to pay out of pocket because insurance companies won't cover the cost. But a tech group in Seattle has now developed a computer program that can do much the same as a therapist that parents can use by subscription--for about $40 a month.

Bill Clinton Talks About Operation Chaos and the Night He Met Rush - ... and I hope someday to autism, which is the biggest unspoken health problem among young people today -- that we're all 99.9% the same genetically. ...

Charges dropped against doctor over autistic boy's death -  Criminal charges were dropped Tuesday against a doctor accused of causing the death of a 5-year-old autistic boy by incorrectly administering the wrong drug for him. Dr. Roy Kerry was trying to use chelation therapy on Abubakar Tariq Nadama in 2005. Chelation is an approved treatment for acute heavy metal poisoning and while some people believe it is a promising treatment for autism, the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not agree. The Butler County district attorney charged Kerry last year with involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment, but recently moved to drop charges. A judge granted the dismissal on Tuesday. Kerry, 70, still faces a civil lawsuit by the boy's parents.

Detention for Angus tractor rampage youth - A 19-YEAR-OLD Angus man who admitted endangering the lives of six police officers trying to stop him from driving a “borrowed” tractor/digger, was ordered to be detained for 10 months at Arbroath Sheriff Court yesterday. Jason Dean Stephen, Midgrip Cottages, Hillside, by Montrose, was also disqualified from driving for three years by Sheriff William Gallacher, who described his behaviour as “utterly disgraceful.”

Fears over children on anti-pyschotic drugs -THE number of children being treated with anti-psychotic drugs has risen sharply, according to a new study. Research by academics at the University of London's Pharmacy School found that, in 1992, 595 children in Britain were prescribed anti-psychotics, a rate of less than four per 10,000 children. By 2005, that figure had increased to 2,917 children, a  rate of seven per 10,000, the study's lead author, Fariz Rani, found.

Fred Schwartz: Why vaccinations are so important - DR. TOM GROSS, in his April 21 IJ column, supports vaccination and discusses the need to address parental concerns about vaccine risk.
Marin County Health and Human Services recognizes the parental right to decide, while strongly encouraging vaccination. Consideration of risks and benefits for the individual and community should inform the decision. Timely, accurate information is essential. Vaccines are considered highly effective disease prevention tools - one of the greatest achievements of biomedical science and public health. Vaccine-preventable disease rates in the United States are at an all-time low; related hospitalizations and deaths have shown striking decreases.

Goal is helping others to understand - Does a crying child in church get on your nerves? Kim Kuzma of West Hazleton cuts the hair of her daughter, Sabria McLaughlin, 17, on Sunday. How about the 5-year-old boy who’s screaming bloody murder in the aisle at the store? Kim and Matthew Kuzma have dealt with those types of nerve-wracking situations, but from the opposite perspective. “People think, ‘God, she can’t control her child,’” Kim said between working on customers at her hair salon on Sunday. “They don’t realize we’re trying to teach him how to act in that situation,” Kim said of some people’s views on how she and her husband Matthew deal with their youngest son. Shane looks pretty

Is music the best medicine? - International "popera" star Geoff Sewell is used to performing in front of crowds of thousands at stadiums - but a group of sick Wellington kids may be his most appreciative audience ever. The British-based Kiwi, who was back home last week promoting his first solo album Believe, took time out to entertain patients and staff at Wellington Children's Hospital.  He led the crowd in a harmonious Tom Jones medley while pyjama-clad children mimicked his dance moves. Sewell said it was "fantastic fun", and has agreed to perform in a charity variety show to raise money for the new children's hospital later this year.

Jordan Relocating To America? - ordan, nowadays known as Katie Price, is planning a move to Los Angeles so that her son Harvey can get the help he desperately requires. The five-year old suffers from impaired sight, autism and has a hormone deficiency which means he already weighs eight stone, and now the former glamour model wants the best care available for her son. Katie, along with her husband Peter Andre, plan to take their whole family across the pond including 2-year old Junior and 10-month old Princess Tiáamii. She tells Perez Hilton: "We're coming back to Los Angeles in June with the whole family and we're going to be looking for schools for Harvey.  "We're also going to be looking for specialists doctors who will be able to look after him."  "I love it in LA. I live the sunshine and the lifestyle."

Minister seeks more help for dyslexic pupils - The government has ordered a review of how schools should educate the country's estimated 300,000 dyslexic children, after admitting that many are being left to flounder without tailored teaching.  The schools secretary, Ed Balls, said he wanted to disprove sceptics who questioned the existence of dyslexia, but too many parents were not getting the help their children needed to learn to read and write. The review will be led by Sir Jim Rose, who is also undertaking a separate review of the primary curriculum. It will address calls for a national screening programme to ensure that children with reading and writing problems do not slip through the net, Balls said. Parents and dyslexia groups have been campaigning for such a screening programme. - UK

My son, 10, was scary Mr Angry - WITH her heart pounding in her ears, Claire Young begged her son to put down the knife.  She’d dealt with autistic Daniel’s temper tantrums before, but a more violent side to his nature was now coming to the fore.  Mercifully the episode passed off with the knife safely back in the cupboard.  But Claire, 33, worried Daniel, now 10, might not always be so compliant.  Convinced there was some way she could reach her son, frazzled Claire contacted doctors, therapists and behavioural experts.  As Daniel began to play with fire, run into oncoming traffic and even hit his little sister Katherine, 6, the situation became more grave.  Single mum Claire, from Northamptonshire, says: “Anything would spark him off.  “He’d think nothing of taking a knife to me or locking himself in the bathroom to play ‘What burns, what doesn’t’.

Robots to beat the bullies? - MORE than 200 schoolchildren will visit the University of Hertfordshire this week to interact with its robots and trial anti-bullying software. The event, hosted by the university's computer science team, will see groups of eight to twelve-year-old children sampling role-play software designed to tackle bullying in the playground. The children will interact with a humanoid robot being developed as a social companion and KASPAR, a child-like robot which has been used to help children with autism to communicate and is now being developed further so that it can act autonomously.

Roy Keane, a long time supporter of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind - A dog is man's best friend, as the saying goes, and truer words were never spoken when it comes to guide dogs. The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB) provide crucial free services for blind people, as well as for families with children affected by autism, and over 80pc of the funding is generated by donations and collections nationwide. The organisation is running its IGDB/Specsavers SHADES 2008 fundraising week from today until Saturday, a campaign that was launched by Roy Keane in the Radisson in Dublin a few weeks ago.

Runner continues his dream - One province down, nine more to go.
The 24-year-old Mississaugan, who is running across Canada in hopes of raising $2.5 million in his Run the Dream campaign to support those with autism, launches the second phase of his run today This morning, Jonathan Howard will set off from the ferry terminals in North Sydney on a run along the Trans Canada Highway through Cape Breton. He began his cross-Canada trek March 25 by dipping his toe in the Atlantic Ocean in St. John's Newfoundland Howard has run 910 kilometers across the province known as The Rock since then, facing fierce winds and cold, straining his Achilles tendon “ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) affect approximately one per cent of the population, yet there's not enough support or funding available for families who are struggling to meet the demands,”  Howard told The News at a party to celebrate the event before he began his 8,000 kilometer journey.

Son inspires Morris woman to organize autism support group - Autism is a more common disorder than people might think, yet what it is remains a mystery to most people, even among those who live with it every day. That could change locally. Amy Brandt, a mother of an autistic child and a Public Health Nurse for Stevens Traverse Grant Public Health, is working to organize a support group for people living with autism and its “spectrum disorders,” such as Asperger syndrome.

SPECIAL REPORT: Life After An Autism Diagnosis Alternative Therapy ... - The Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP) uses Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. Erin Junemann, is a Senior Therapist with WEAP. She describes ABA Therapy as "breaking down teaching to it's simplest components." Junemann says they use a lot of repetition, and table work to increase his eye contact and interaction with them. "I wait for him to request it to get him to use his language more. If i just did it over and over again he wouldn't request it. We do this to get him to use his language to get him to talk more."

Tackling Tourette troubles - KALORAMA schoolboy Luke Lazdins is like any other 10-year-old. He loves playing the keyboard, riding his motorbike and looking after his pet fish. He also has Tourette syn- drome, a neurological disorder characterised by involuntary body movements, or tics, and noises. Mum Lauretta Lazdins said Luke was diagnosed with the condition when he was five.  He was also diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, last year. He had previously been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and prescribed the stimulant drug Ritalin. Luke said he was "worried" when he started getting tics and it was frustrating when he had a bad day with them.  But he said he had learned to live with it.

'Talkin' bout My Generation' - Jimmy Biblarz, a student in the humanities magnet at Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, writes: Released by The Who in 1965, the song "My Generation" has become a 1960s anthem listened to around the world. It is widely considered one of the greatest songs of all time, and has managed to maintain relevance 43 years after its release.  The song still rings true to a lot of American kids; we still don't want to get old and end up like our parents. Read some of the lyrics: "People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation) Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation) I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation)  With them, the band expresses a sentiment most young.

Web site offers help to families with autism - A new social networking site for parents and families dealing with autism is available at AutismVictory.com.  The purpose of the site is to give parents and professionals a place to share articles, ideas and hope. There is no charge to participate. 

US Kids 6 Times More Likely To Take Anti-Psychotic Drugs Than In UK - According to a new study, children in the U.S. are six times more likely to be given anti-psychotic medication compared to kids in the UK. One alarming fact though is that the use of these anti-psychotic drugs is increasing in both areas. Anti-psychotic drugs are often used in children to help with the treatment of both autism as well as hyperactivity. A new study has found that in the U.S., 45 out of every 10,000 American children were given doses of these drugs. This compared to only seven out of every 10,000 in the UK.

What's autism? Symptoms vary among people with disorder - The gap between the reality and public image of autism is getting wider. Autism still inspires thoughts of Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man," gifted yet odd individuals who carry out pi to 1,000 places or recite "Moby-Dick" from memory. Autism, though, is far more complex and varied. The neurological disorder, one of the autism spectrum disorders, has a range of symptoms. People on this spectrum can be gifted or can struggle with severe developmental delays. They can engage their parents or appear trapped in their own worlds. They are bound together by struggles with social, emotional and communication skills, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When Schools Label Kids As Autistic, Services - and Utter Confusion - Follow - Sandy, a regular reader and commenter on this site, sent along a fascinating article about autism in Minnesota (her home state). The article, published on a local CBS affiliate website, is a fascinating - if somewhat frightening - window into one reason why autism rates, diagnostic criteria, and "cures" are so difficult to track. The reason, at least in the case of Minnesota, seems to be that school districts are providing "autism spectrum" labels for children who would not typically qualify for such labels in a doctor's office:  With no medical diagnosis needed to receive special education services, children in Minnesota can be labeled autistic by school districts alone. With 1 in 81 students getting special services for autism –- more than anywhere else in the country –- could we be over-identifying them?

Why Bogart's Kiss Is Your Kiss, His Soda Your Soda - Mirror neurons help explain how we connect to each others' emotions.  Within the brains of humans, apes, and monkeys is a small set of neurons that simulate in real time the actions of others. When you see Humphrey Bogart lock lips with Ingrid Bergman, the same brain cells fire as when you kiss your honey. When you hear your coworker crack open a soda, in your brain it’s as if you’d opened the can yourself.

'Zombie drug' kids on the rise - The number of children being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs not officially approved for youngsters has risen sharply since the early 1990s.  The increase – from a rate of four children per 10,000 in 1992 to seven youngsters per 10,000 in 2005 – was despite fears over side effects.  The use of the drugs designed for adults, which are prescribed for conditions such as hyperactivity and autism, tripled in children aged seven to 12-years-old.

Autism recovery stories: Trevor Kent's 'angel' - Janell Kent and her husband were worried about their son Trevor (left). At age two and a half, he was not communicating well; he was screaming and obsessing over patterns and lines. The pediatrician told her that "boys are late talkers and like to line things up" Kent said. But shortly after that, Kent broke down. Sobbing, she pulled out the Yellow Pages and randomly dialed doctors, psychologists and counselors, trying to find someone who would listen to her.  Finally, a kind receptionist suggested she call a special education school. Trevor eventually received a diagnosis of PPD-NOS, a disability he was told he would always have.

Examining Autism - As a young boy, Sean Barron liked to open the lid of the washing machine, while it was operating, and watch it spin. He said he also used to stick his arm in there; it was almost "hypnotic." If Barron got hurt from doing this, he didn't know it because he said he had a high tolerance level for pain, a result of being diagnosed with classic autism in 1965.

For the one out of 150 - Jessica Bickford is a proud mother. She describes her two “little guys” as charming, adorable, happy and extremely intelligent. Logan is the eldest at 7 years old.  He excels in science, especially physics, astronomy and physiology. He built an improvised Van de Graaff generator earlier this year. But Bickford struggles to find time to drive Logan and his younger brother, Laird, between numerous appointments. She shops for special foods and clothes. In the past two years, Logan and Laird have both been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism.

Growing up with autism - Going to church on Sunday is a challenge for Casey McCormick's family. Her 4-year-old son, Patrick, "won't last more than five minutes" sitting through the service.  Patrick has autism - a developmental disorder that impairs social interaction, limits communication abilities and often makes people overly sensitive to their environment. The boy is among a growing group: Autism affects one in every 150 American children and almost one in 94 boys, according to the Autism Society of America. About 1.5 million Americans are living with the effects of Autism Spectrum Disorder, the complete name of the disability that afflicts people in varying degrees, the Autism Society of America estimates.

Parents 'stunned' driver was sex offend / 52-year-old Scottish man drove taxi to bring special-needs students to Pembroke school - A high-risk sex offender working as a taxi driver drove special-needs students to school in Pembroke. The realization that Martin Cusick, who is wanted by police in Scotland, was driving their 15-year-old severely autistic son has deeply shocked Sylvia Aldridge and her husband. Mr. Cusick was arrested by the Ontario Provincial Police on an immigration warrant last week just outside South Porcupine, which is part of the amalgamated City of Timmins. The 52-year-old former police officer was jailed for five years in 1996 for abusing three girls between the ages of six and 12, according to media reports.

Putting family first - The Sobkowicz family has a beautiful home filled with sounds of elementary schoolchildren playing -- any outsider would think they are living the American dream.  Inside, the pain they have experienced in recent months is like a nightmare. Robert Sobkowicz has been diagnosed with Stage IV bladder cancer, and has anywhere from several weeks to several months to live. At 39, he wasn't expecting this.  According to the Mayo Clinic, more than 90 percent of cases occur in people older than 55.

Seeking clues to mystery of autism - Autism remains one of the most heartbreaking mysteries of the 21st century. We know something is different in the brain, changing the way it processes information. We know this makes connecting with the rest of the world difficult.  We know sights and sounds transmitted from the senses are sometimes so overwhelming that bodies respond by twirling endlessly, flapping hands or banging against walls. Some people are devoid of language; others talk a blue streak.  We know more and more cases on the spectrum of autism disorders are reported each year. We just don't know how to solve them.

Subsidized. Affordable. Beautiful? - One afternoon not too long ago, the peppery aroma of salsa verde wafted out of Delfina Nuñes’s kitchen, floating over soon-to-be-boiled artichokes and the meat and tortillas that would become the evening’s enchiladas. It spilled out of the large living room, where her husband’s miniature car collection covered every open surface, down the hall past her flower-covered altar to the Virgin, and into each of her family’s three bedrooms, eventually wafting out toward the plastic tricycle on the back patio. Like families everywhere, Nuñes and her 17-year-old daughter Claudia were getting dinner ready. But as they performed this otherwise mundane daily task, mother and daughter were beaming with joy, smiles spreading constantly from ear-to-ear, nearly giggling as they worked.

Two moms make music that teaches kids to help you - I was hooked when my 3-year-old daughter started singing along to, "After you play, put them away. All of the toys that you used today."  That's from a CD called "Songs for Your Busy Day," produced by two stay-at-home moms in New York. For the kids, it's entertainment, for their parents, it's a handy musical brainwashing tool to teach your kids about doing their chores and taking care of their daily needs.  The songs -- eight tunes in a tidy 19 minutes -- take you through the day with titles such as "Get Up," "Get Dressed," "Clean Up" and "Brush Your Teeth."

Another abandoned family - This story on Sonia Commisso and her daughter Alessia, and Health Minister George Smitherman's refusal to help them, brings to mind so many other instances where the provincial Liberal government has abandoned families of children with disabilities or, worse yet – as in the case of children with autism – has fought them in court. One wonders why compassion is so lacking in this government when it comes to people with disabilities.

Autism: All Faiths Minister Offers his Spiritual Perspective - May 02,2008. Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. “Autism the disorder that before 1990 was reported to affect just 4.7 out of every 10,000 American children now strikes 60 per 10,000, according to many estimates - the equivalent of 1 in 166 kids” says Time.com. There is no cure for Autism; however, with appropriate treatment and education, many children with the disorder can learn and develop.

CDC: US Faces Biggest Measles Outbreak in Seven Years - The U.S. faces the biggest measles outbreak in seven years, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.  According to CDC, there were 64 cases from January through April 25, more than in all of 2006 and the highest number during that four-month period since 2001 (116 cases). Moreover, four outbreaks are ongoing in Arizona, New York, Michigan and Wisconsin. Fourteen people have been hospitalized as a result of the outbreak. However, no death has been reported so far.

Disability doesn't keep Roanoke County man from living independently - Roanoke County man isn't letting his disability keep him from living an independent life. He's accomplished more than the doctors and his family ever expected. At 27 years old, Darren Petty is finally playing to his own tune. He got his own apartment several months ago, is paying his own bills, and holding down a regular job at Kroger. These signs of his independence may not seem like much to most people, but for Darren they're a huge accomplishment "I have a very mild form of autism called Asperger's," says Darren. "I've overcome a lot of it." It's not always easy for Darren to communicate his thoughts, even making eye contact can sometimes be a challenge. But watching how he interacts with customers, you'd never know it.

Early treatment makes all the difference in autism epidemic - Imagine if you had a child with cancer, heart disease, polio, muscular dystrophy or some disease or condition that could be cured or treated to improve the child’s life, but you couldn’t afford the treatment. That’s the situation facing hundreds of Oklahoma families with children battling the autism epidemic.  The good news is the Oklahoma Senate passed an autism bill 93-0 that will train autism therapists. If the governor signs the bill it will be great news for children with autism except for the fact Oklahoma insurance companies don’t cover autism treatment. Every month, parents spend thousands of dollars in addition to their insurance premiums to fight this medical condition. For most families, the treatment is unaffordable so the children won’t achieve their full potential.

Federal autism forum to solicit views from parents, researchers - Parents of autistic children want answers, and in an unprecedented move, federal health officials will be in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday to ask how they can help provide them. At a daylong "town hall" meeting at the University of California-Davis Cancer Center, a wide range of autism stakeholders will brainstorm about the kind of federally funded research needed on the neurodevelopmental disorder. "This is the trial balloon," said Isaac Pessah, a toxicologist and autism researcher who directs the UC Davis Children's Center for Environmental Health and Disease Prevention. "This is the opportunity for the public (affected) by autism to have their view of what should be researched included in a strategic plan."

Florida House gives in to Senate on autism - After being pronounced dead by the prime sponsor, a bill providing more help for families with an autistic child was revived at the literal last minute, and gained final approval in the House's final vote before adjourning Friday.  Gov. Charlie Crist got involved in the closing minutes, asking House Speaker Marco Rubio to ask that the House accept the bill the Senate passed earlier Friday, and the House unanimously rejected just hours earlier. A special session on disabilities was part of the conversation, Rubio said later, explaining that he asked Crist if he'd consider calling the Legislature back so more coverage could be provided for children with other disabilities -- a key point with the House, whose members differed with the Senate's focus on autism only.

Fewer Immunizations, More Health Probelms - A new study finds children aren't getting immunizations often enough, and that could lead to a serious health problem. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control. Experts there say it puts kids and others at risk of contracting and spreading preventable diseases. Some parents fear vaccines could actually cause problems, like autism. Also, a complicated shot schedule can be confusing and inconvenient. As little Brooklyn Dial gets the second round of immunizations, the four month old cries out in pain. While it may hurt Brooklyn now, her parents Wade and Krystal understand the need for the shots.

Greece teens to be honored - Thirteen Greece youths who have tackled challenges, excelled in school and given back will be honored next week. They will be inducted into the Greece Youth Hall of Fame at a 7 p.m., May 5 ceremony at Greece Town Hall, 1 Vince Tofany Blvd.
The 2008 inductees are  Sara Alexander, a junior at Greece Arcadia High School, is a motivated, principled young woman who pushes herself to excel. She is hearing impaired and many who meet her are surprised to learn she has a moderate to severe hearing loss...

I want to know I’m not the only person this happens to. Do other ... - Ben Simpson was born with dyspraxia, a disability which means he is behind his peers in terms of development, has memory problems and finds writing difficult. He also finds it hard to communicate verbally - he didn't speak during his first three years at primary school. In addition to these difficulties, Ben, 13, who lives in Glasgow with his mother and seven-year-old brother, Gavin, has been bullied since his first day at school. Abuse has ranged from being called a "spastic" in the playground to being beaten up by a gang of older pupils on the way home. Ben didn't know where to turn for help and wrote a letter to The Herald telling us what he was going through. All names and other personal details have been changed.

Ill man (20) preyed on young boys - A WELL-known Hucknall 20-year-old who suffers from a condition related to autism has been given a suspended prison sentence for sexual offences against teenage boys.  Daniel Hucknall, of Minster Close, pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on November 27 last year.  But his marathon court case was hit by several adjournments as attempts were made to diagnose a condition which may have explained his behaviour. Nottingham Crown Court heard that Hucknall in fact suffers from Asperger's syndrome – a condition characterised by obsessive behaviour and a lack of non-verbal communication skills.

Identifying autism - Children are different in their own ways. But sometimes, children with developmental disabilities such as autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) get lumped into one category. Renee McConnell, program coordinator at The Rich Center at Youngstown State University, said there's an old saying that goes: "If you've met one child with autism, you've met one child with autism." Every child with an ASD is so different and that's why at The Rich Center, McConnell said the student-teacher ratio is very low: two students to one teacher. "It gives the teachers the opportunity to individualize the child's program. There's such variability on the spectrum. … [It] lets us create individualized plans and implement them," McConnell said.

Lawmakers may raise bar for students' physical education - A year after the state Legislature created a law requiring elementary schools to pump up the time students spend learning about physical education, lawmakers will consider rewriting it today. Elementary schools still will be required to provide students with 150 minutes of physical education per week — which schools started in August — but if the bill passes instead of five minutes of stretching exercises in the morning and a longer recess in the afternoon, lawmakers would mandate the P.E. time of 30 minutes per day be consecutive.

Link between vaccine, autism is disputed - In the nation's last major measles outbreak, which struck in 1989-91, the virus was spread largely by unvaccinated, low-income children who lacked healthcare access. Now, scientists are worried about outbreaks being fueled by clusters of people who are not vaccinated as a matter of choice, rather than access.

Livin' Good - This is the 26th year that the San Bruno Police Department honors police officers killed or disabled while serving their communities. The exhibit's theme is crime prevention and public education about law enforcement. The exciting event features police vehicles and equipment, over 10 different police agencies on hand to answer questions, K-9 demonstrations, and crime prevention information. This is a great opportunity to meet your neighborhood police officer.

Measles, Once Thought Eradicated, Is Making a Resurgence - Measles, a potentially fatal but preventable disease, is being reported in several U.S. states as a result of international outbreaks and a changing attitude toward vaccination. The United States has had more than 70 confirmed cases of measles this year. In 2000, public health officials said measles had been eradicated from the country. Before vaccinations were widely available, complications from the disease killed up to 500 children a year, according to CDC officials. Measles is now “completely preventable through vaccination,” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.