A voice for autism - Before autism became the subject of an Oprah TV special, before it was a "Larry King Live" topic and before actress Jenny McCarthy wrote a book about it, a local mom was sharing her story on morning radio. Jenn Jordan has been a mainstay on the popular Jeff & Jenn show on WKRQ-FM (Q102) for five years. When her only child, 6-year-old Jakob, was diagnosed with autism in February 2005, she didn't hesitate to tell her listeners. "It was completely consuming my life. It's not something you can leave at home," the 38-year-old Mason resident says after a recent show. Today she's one of this area's highest-profile autism advocates. On-air, you might have heard her mentioning that April is National Autism Awareness Month. Off-air, she's reaching out to the 3,000 area families whose children have autism and devoting energy to organizations that serve them.

Answers About Autism Part 1 - One out of every 150 children in America is living with autism today. That's one and a half million people suffering from the effects of this illness, an illness doctors say is treatable through early diagnosis and intervention.  It's an illness that knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries, and it's touched the lives of millions including 4 year old Luke Scott. Tallahassee resident Tracy Stewart first noticed symptoms when her son was just one. He was not pointing to things or responding to her voice, Tracy thought he was deaf. But when she took Luke to his pediatrician she got some devastating news; Luke was autistic. Tracy Stewart said, "It's literally been the most trying experience of my life, because I care about him so much and to watch him struggle not just struggle now but to lose skills for so long, it's difficult."

Book on special needs teaches kids empathy - MetLife Inc. wants to teach children how to accept people with disabilities. Distributed through MetDesk, its division of estate planning for kids with disabilities, the company is releasing a workbook called "The Special Needs Acceptance Book." It was written by Ellen Sabin, founder of New York-based Watering Can Press, who also wrote "The Giving Book" and "The Autism Acceptance Book."

Boys being boys - It’s the universal hope of all expectant parents: a healthy child, a “normal” child, a child with 10 fingers and 10 toes and the chance that comes with all this for a life unhindered by sickness or disability. And for many, it’s a wish that comes true. But Francie Rau and her husband, Robbie, know how it is when it doesn’t. They know how it is to discover the tell-tale creases running straight across a baby’s palms and the roll of fat at the back of his neck - both indicators of the chromosomal disorder Down syndrome for which their son, Ryan, tested positive soon after birth. A few years later, he also was diagnosed with autism.

Dunagan gets 10 years in state prison - Eugene Dunagan, 71, has been sentenced to 10 years in state prison, with an additional 10 years supervision. On Feb. 21, the Colfax resident, former teacher and municipal court judge was found guilty of the second-degree sexual assault of a mentally-deficient victim, a Class C felony. Prior to handing down his sentence on Tuesday afternoon, Dunn County Circuit Court Judge William Stewart stated that he had taken into consideration the state’s advice, the comments of the witnesses, and his extensive perspective on the case. “This is a sad day for everyone in this courtroom today,” the judge said. “No one is going to leave here happy. The harm done to the victim is irreparable — and just staggering.”

Emerging Treatment Could Improve Autistic Children's Behavior - With the number of children diagnosed with autism growing by the thousands each year, parents are desperate for a proven treatment. FOX 26's Greg Groogan reports on an emerging treatment supported by research in this Only on FOX story.

In Depth: Living with Autism; student with Asperger excels in math ... - Fascinated with outer space when Levi Johnson was only 3 years old, he could easily name all the planets in order from the sun.  “I was amazed because I don’t even know all the names and what order they are in, and we had never taught them to him,” said Laurie Johnson, Levi’s mother. See more in Kara Hildreth's Thisweek Live story.

Her Name Is Sabine - Actress Sandrine Bonnaire makes a moving directorial debut in this thoughtful documentary about her younger sister, Sabine, whose autism-related behavioural difficulties went undiagnosed for the better part of three decades. Winner of the Fipresci award at Cannes 2007, this is a powerful statement about the limits of love in the face of chronic debilitating illness.

'Israel must do more to raise awareness about autism' - Suzanne Wright talks in numbers. For her, the world is clearly measured in the percentages of children and adults who suffer from the neurobiological development disorder known as autism, and for her those figures speak louder than a thousand words.  "In your [former] country, the UK, the percentage is very high: One in 80 children is diagnosed with autism," begins Suzanne, as we sit together in her suite at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem on Monday.  Later on in our interview, she adds that in her native US, it's one out of every 150 children, with one in 94 boys being diagnosed - and in Israel, the official estimate is one in 214.  "Its roughly one percent of the male population globally," continues Suzanne, who together with her husband Bob founded one of the US's fastest-growing nonprofit organizations, Autism Speaks, three years ago.

Politics of autism - State House leaders acknowledged Monday that the state doesn’t have the money to have Medicaid and Healthy Kids cover all Florida children with autism. But they still oppose the Senate plan that would immediately require private health insurers to cover autism treatment. Instead, the House wants to “put a mechanism in place” to have autistic kids get coverage through Healthy Kids whenever the money becomes available. “This bill will help all the children with autism,” said Rep. Aaron Bean, the Republican from Fernandina Beach who headed a House task force on the issue.  His bill would only require insurers to provide autism coverage if the state could not come to an agreement with insurers in two years on how best to cover the children.

Scientific jobs suit autistic people: Expert - People born with disorders such as autism and Down syndrome still have good career opportunities, a psychologist said Saturday.  Child expert Diennayarti Tjokrosuprihatono from the University of Indonesia said it was time people took a positive view of autism and Down syndrome.  "People should shine a positive light on what has traditionally been looked at as a disability and convert it into an ability," she said during a discussion about child development.

Study: Link Between Mercury Exposure And Autism - A new study shows a statistically significant link between industrial release of mercury and increased rates of autism in children at a time when more Americans are using compact fluorescent light bulbs that can release mercury if thrown in the trash instead of being carefully recycled. The study published in the journal Health & Place by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, showed that there is a statistically significant association between autism risk and the distance from a mercury source. It is the first time such a link has been published in scientific literature. Mercury is a neurotoxin, which is a health hazard especially for children and fetuses. Most people are exposed to mercury by eating fish contaminated with high levels of mercury that has gotten into the water.

The day I could no longer cope with my autistic son - When her son Dale was three, Nuala Gardner contemplated suicide. She reveals the hidden despair facing full-time carers - and how she kept going.   When Dale was born in 1988, it seemed we had the perfect baby. He was passive, placid and exceptionally easy to care for. He slept through the night without a sound, and rarely cried. I would sometimes wonder if he was unnaturally good. Sometimes the only indication that he was awake would be him scratching the sides of the vinyl cover of his pram with his tiny nails. But by the time he was two, he had become increasingly difficult and erratic. He would get angry and refuse to move, or snatch a toy from another child and refuse to give it back. It was clear he wasn't developing like other children his age. My husband Jamie, I knew, had been clinging to the belief that Dale's behaviour was as a result of his premature birth and that things would improve with time. Somewhere deep within me, however, the feeling of doom about the future was steadily becoming stronger. I decided to reduce my shifts, so I would be able to spend more time with Dale, and got a post as a senior staff nurse, working two nights a week at Ravenscraig Hospital.

The demands of autism - Ryan Quinlan is a typical teenager in many ways. He likes learning in school and his favorite subject is biology. He's a big fan of Weird Al Yankovic and likes to look for clips of him on YouTube. He loves to use a computer. "He's been a computer whiz from day one. He knew how to work the computer before we ever had one," said his mother Katie Hultz.  Where Ryan, 16, differs from the typical teenager is that he has autism.

Wales must take care as it leads the way on ASD - Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, outlines how the Assembly Government is tackling this challenge of improving the provision for people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that can occur in varying degrees of severity resulting in difficulties with social interaction, communication and imagination. Thankfully, awareness of ASD in Wales has come on in leaps and bounds over the past five or six years, but there is still so much more that we can all do.

What We Don't Know Is Harming Our Children - We all accept that lead harms the brain and that we shouldn't let our children be exposed to even a speck more than can be avoided. But what's causing the epidemic of autism? Or ADHD? Or asthma? "The disease runs in families to some extent, so you know there’s a genetic component," Dr. Philip Landrigan says of autism in a must-read interview in Discover. "But then you’ll have kids with no family background, so clearly environmental things trigger the disease. We just haven’t been smart enough yet to recognize them."

Which clan are you? - No, this isn't another dumb questionnaire. Bear with me.  Recently I saw an article in which the author attributed the development of computers to people with Asperger's Syndrome. I can't seem to find it again, but no matter: I can find lots of other articles linking Asperger's to hacking and "The Geek Syndrome".  In his 1964 science fiction novel Clans of the Alphane Moon, based on a 1954 short story, Philip K. Dick writes about a society that has evolved from a psychiatric institution. The various diagnostic groups have formed seven clans and taken appropriate roles in the society: the paranoids are the statesmen; the manics are the warriors. The obsessive-compulsives are the conservative, unoriginal clerks; the polymorphic schizophrenics are the radical, creative members of society. And so on....  Asperger's wasn't really well-known in 1964; neither was hacking. Phil Dick himself spent time in psychiatric institutions, and wrote often about altered states: see, for example, VALIS. If Phil were rewriting Clans today, he might well add clans for autism and Asperger's: who knows?

A forceful voice in autism debate - Kathleen Seidel is not a doctor. She's not a medical researcher. She's not an educator. She's not a lawyer. But the 52-year old Peterborough woman, armed with a degree in library science and a healthy sense of outrage, has become one of the leading voices in the public debate about a possible link between autism and vaccines.  Seidel's website, www.neurodiversity.com is a clearinghouse for autism-related literature, and her attached weblog has become the site of an impassioned and thoroughly researched campaign against a group of scientists and lawyers who promote the theory that childhood vaccines cause the developmental disorder.

ABC7 Special: Autism Heroes - April is national Autism Awareness Month, designed to bring more attention to the neurobiological disorder that now affects as many as 1 in 150 children in the U.S. and is four times more likely to strike boys that girls. The signs of autism are typically noticeable in a child's first years of life.

April is Autism Awareness Month Local parents discuss challenges, joys - "I've heard it said, if you know one child with autism, then you know one child with autism," said Garfield resident Wayne Bardowell, who works at Integrity House in Secaucus. "Autism is different for every child with autism, so what applies to one child doesn't necessarily apply to another child with autism."

Autism by the numbers for family urging lawmakers to act - Florida legislators have tried to require insurance companies to cover autism for almost a decade. But concerns about raising health insurance premiums for businesses and families have stalled them. Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller of Cooper City has made one such proposal his priority this session -- his last because of term limits. But it faces opposition from the powerful insurance industry that contends any health coverage mandate raises costs by as much as 30%.

Autistic Mannerisms Reduced By Sensory Treatment / Parents of children with autism are increasingly turning to sensory integration treatment to help their children deal with the disorder, and they're seeing good results. In 2007, 71 percent of parents who pursued alternatives to traditional treatment used sensory integration methods, and 91 percent found these methods helpful. - A new study from Temple University researchers, presented this month at the American Occupational Therapy Association's 2008 conference, found that children with autistic spectrum disorders who underwent sensory integration therapy exhibited fewer autistic mannerisms compared to children who received standard treatments. Such mannerisms, including repetitive hand movements or actions, making noises, jumping or having highly restricted interests, often interfere with paying attention and learning.

Autistic kids improving with ISB buddies - Fifteen International School Brunei (ISB) students currently in their IB Diploma Education recently volunteered to lend a hand to children with autism  The community work - which is part of their pre-university course - will see them working with several associations here as well as environment conservation projects such as tree planting. Once weekly, the students lend a hand to autistic children from the Learning Ladders Society of Brunei. "The programme - which is held at the ISB library and playground every Friday from 12.30 to 1.30 pm - allows the autistic children to enhance their social skills through a 'buddy system' programme in which each student is assigned to one autistic child in a learning environment of fun and interactive games and activities," said ISB Director David G Taylor in an interview. Such activity will also help the students with the necessary 'life skill' experiences, to prepare them for university life, apart from spreading awareness on the subject of autism in the community, he added.

Boys being boys -  I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl, as long as it’s healthy. It’s the universal hope of all expectant parents: a healthy child, a “normal” child, a child with 10 fingers and 10 toes and the chance that comes with all this for a life unhindered by sickness or disability. And for many, it’s a wish that comes true. But Francie Rau and her husband, Robbie, know how it is when it doesn’t. They know how it is to discover the tell-tale creases running straight across a baby’s palms and the roll of fat at the back of his neck — both indicators of the chromosomal disorder Down syndrome for which their son, Ryan, tested positive soon after birth. A few years later, he also was diagnosed with autism. Mrs. Rau knows the cloud of numbness that descends immediately after diagnosis and the sense of despair that follows.

Charlie's world - Charlie Royal runs a finger across the face in the photograph his teacher is holding.  "Who is that Charlie?" asks Ricky Lofton, one of the Life Skills instructors at Southern Wayne High School. "Is that your mom?"  The boy grins and nods his head.  He knows it is his mother, Alice. He just doesn't say so. He has never really said anything.  Charlie stares at the picture for a moment and looks away.  He starts toward the classroom door, then turns around and paces back -- stopping only when he reaches his teacher's side.  He looks down at the picture and grins again.  He curls his fingers and jumps up and down.  But then a stack of puzzle boxes catches his eye, and he moves on.  A few minutes later, he is staring at the label on a cabinet door.  Charlie is constantly looking for stimulation.  And when he finds it, he fixates on its source.

Conference sheds light on autism - Parents of children with autism often feel lost in trying to fathom the disorder and the social services system that is legally mandated to provide services for children with disabilities. A valley advocacy group held its first Autism Awareness Conference on Saturday to inform parents about the disorder, proven therapies and treatments, and strategies in getting special education tailored to their children's needs.

CNN ‘Fighting for Autism’ Max Foster Report on You Tube - The CNN news channel recently dedicated several days to mark the first ever World Autism Awareness Day, declared by the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the recommendation of the State of Qatar.  WAAD had the full support of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who hailed the courage of children and families confronted with autism. There are 60 million people with autism around the world, many suffer without public services. CNN have now released the ‘Fighting for Autism’ report by CNN anchor Max Foster on the You Tube Channel. The CNN report highlighted the work of the UK based Autism Awareness Campaign.

Doctor says finger-pointing isn't an answer to the 'whys' of autism - With diagnosed cases of autism on the rise, physicians have to consider all possibilities when it comes to the most effective treatments.  Dr. Dave Tayloe of Goldsboro Pediatrics has found himself thrust into the heated battle since becoming president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics, moving into the top seat in October. In recent months, he has been traveling the country to discuss the issue in such arenas as the "Today Show" and "Larry King Live."  The biggest challenge comes from parents and advocacy groups, armed with their own research and seeking answers.  "It's often difficult because parents desperately want their children to be normal," Tayloe said.

Doctors to parents: Vaccinate babies - It took a lot of thought and prayers as LeAnn Capener of Aurora contemplated whether to vaccinate each of her four children. Capener read articles and books detailing the possible link between autism and immunizations. And she discussed the issue with her pediatrician. "In the end," Capener said, "I felt the risk of disease and infection was greater than the risk of immunization." Area health departments are reminding parents of the importance of vaccinating their babies to protect them against diseases that kill hundreds of thousands of children in other countries every year.

Film Screening: Autism Every Day - This revealing 44-minute documentary from the nonprofit organization Autism Speaks shows the daily struggles of families living with autism. After the film, share your thoughts and ask questions during a panel discussion featuring The Birchtree Center’s families and staff.  The Birchtree Center is a not-for-profit organization based in Portsmouth dedicated to helping children and youth with autism grow and flourish in their homes, families, and communities. Funding this program was provided by the Greater Portsmouth Rehabilitation Center Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Piscataqua Region.

Immunization Hesitation? - Despite the fact that vaccine preventable diseases are still present in our population, there's been a noticeable decline in our immunization rates within Five Hills.  Medical Health Officer Dr. Mark Vooght tells us there are several web sites that link vaccines to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Chron's Disease, Autism, Diabetes and others. "There's quite a fair anti-immunization lobby out there. As a result we're constantly having to discuss the safety and the beneficial effects of vaccines more and more and in greater details with the moms bringing their children in".

 Law Enforcement Gather to Fight Autism - Today, 1 in 150 individuals are diagnosed with Autism making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined Warner Robins Police gathered with other Middle Georgia Law officials Saturday to help on of their own battle this complex disorder. Warner Robins Police Officer, Steven Reslie, received support from various police departments, to help raise money so his son Ethan, who is diagnosed with Autism, can purchase a special needs dog, that can help make life a little easier.

Living with autism / Ian Rooper, 2, plays with a plastic toy in his living room while his mother, Terra Rooper, watches. Ian has autism, a neurological disorder that impedes a person’s social interaction and communication skills and causes restricted and repetitive behavior. - It’s like riding a roller coaster.  That’s how some parents describe the ups and downs of raising their autistic children.  Autism is a neurological disorder that impedes a person’s social interaction and communication skills and causes restricted and repetitive behavior. It is usually detected in children before the age of 3.  According to the Autism Society of America, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability, affecting one in 150 children in the United States.  And boys are three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with this illness, experts say.

 Search Love & Money for the following word(s): - On a recent drive home from a party, my wife, Amy, asked our soon-to-be 5-year-old daughter who she had played with. With tears in her eyes, our little girl responded that no one had played with her, because, as she told Amy, "they don't understand me." That doesn't actually capture the real conversation. The words my daughter used weren't nearly so precise. That's because she has a speech disability that impairs her pronunciation. She understands everything she hears, and she always has the appropriate response. Her words, though, are often a challenge to understand. Our daughter has been enrolled in speech therapy for awhile, but her therapist now wants to triple the number of sessions, which triples our expenses to nearly $1,000 a month, a big dent in our wallet. Our insurance provider won't pay, so all of this is out of our own pocket.

Multiple visits to doctors result in child's diagnosis -  Erika Miller stares out of the front door window of her home. (Ed Cope/Herald-Standard) NORMALVILLE - A talking Dora the Explorer toy wired into a big red button sits before 2-year-old Erika Miller as her mother watches for her to tap it in response to the doll's words repeated by her speech therapist.  The button, an adaptive switch for the physically disabled, is the only means of communication for the brown-haired, blue-eyed toddler who suffers from Rett syndrome (RTT), a rare neurological disorder she was diagnosed with in August.

Overcoming the obstacles of autism: Ever since 10-year-old Zachary was diagnosed with autism, the Pripusich family has fought hard to keep him in their world - His parents, Renee and Paul, can recall looks and questions from strangers at Wal-Mart about his errant behavior, the result of his disorder.  The two now carry cards that explain autism, to help promote awareness.  The 10-year-old is diagnosed as autistic, one of a range of neurological and behavioral disorders that affects one in 150 children nationwide.

Revenge is a dish best served ... online - ... a columnist at the Boston Globe who posts on a wide range of issues including the breakdown of her 15-year marriage and bringing up a child with autism. ...

TCI officer arrested; FdL police investigate / Man accused of having inappropriate relationships with inmates at institution - A 36-year-old male correctional officer at Taycheedah Correctional Institution was arrested Friday for alleged inappropriate relationships with inmates. The investigation into allegations has been ongoing since officials at TCI alerted the Fond du Lac Police Department, according to a press release from police.  To maintain the integrity of the investigation, no further details are being released at this time, police said.

"Tots need lots of shots" - The March 31 article "Tots need lots of shots" represents the current state of affairs with respect to the safety of the vaccine schedule. The schedule has never been subjected to a study to determine its safety. READ MORE: http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations/vaccinations_177.htm

The burden of autism / In Malaysia, awareness of autism has increased in the last few years but more research is needed to assess the situation and to draft an efficient support system to address it. - A MAXIMUM of US$80,000 (RM251,075.12) a year – that’s the cost estimated by the Autism Society of America (ASA) for the average parent or family to look after an autistic child in the United States. Broken down, this amounts to US$6,666.70 per month (RM20,992.90).  This figure covers the cost of “modern” treatment such as early intervention, physiotherapy, speech therapy, behavioural therapy and others. It does not include the family’s other cost of living expenses, such as transport, house rent or mortgage, food and schooling for their other children. In Malaysia, the cost of living is much lower but the additional cost of raising an autistic child is a burden on the average family, says National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) chairman Teh Beng Choon.

The Next Vaccine-Autism Newsmaker: Not Isolated, Not Unusual - In February, I leaked news of the Federal government's admission that vaccines had triggered autism in a little girl named Hannah Poling. The stunning revelation, though still reverberating around the world, was roundly downplayed by US officials, who insisted that Hannah had an extremely rare, genetic case of "aggravated" mitochondrial disorder, with zero bearing on other autism cases. Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rushed to the airwaves, exhorting parents to adhere to the nation's intensive and virtually mandatory immunization schedule, and brushing off their legitimate anxieties by saying: "We've got to set aside this very isolated, unusual situation." Well, the days of setting aside are over: Hannah Poling is neither isolated nor unusual.

UAE firms give something back - Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been gaining ground in the region as more companies demonstrate their willingness to give something back to the community. But while multinationals appear to be leading the way in the UAE, local companies are catching up and realising its value, not only in helping others, but also in enhancing credibility among their peers.

Utah doctor on CDC vaccine safety panel - A Utah doctor is leading a government work group that is helping the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify its top priorities for its five-year vaccine safety and research plan. The National Vaccine Advisory Committee's Vaccine Safety Working Group - which held its first meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this month - will look at the overall scientific system of vaccine safety and which new tools, such as genetics, could be used to improve it. Andrew Pavia, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Utah, said yet another important function is to help gather public input that will be considered by the CDC when setting its scientific agenda.

Vaccine Injury Case Offers a Clue to the Causes of Autism / Could a group of disorders involving the "power plants of the cell" explain why some vaccinated children develop autism but the vast majority don't? - When the parents of Hannah Poling, a nine-year-old, Athens, Ga., girl who was diagnosed with autism just after the age of two, announced that a federal vaccine injury court had awarded them a settlement, the case reignited a decade-old debate about whether vaccines could potentially trigger the disorder. But what was somewhat lost in much of the coverage of the case was a little-known condition that the court said was aggravated by the vaccine, and which gave Hannah the features of autism.

€22m spent on special needs court battles - MINISTERS spent €22m fighting court battles against parents demanding educational help for children with special needs over the past five years, it emerged last night.  Fine Gael accused the Government of wasting resources by trying to “wrestle to the ground” families of pupils with autism, ADHD and intellectual, physical and sensory disabilities asking for their constitutional rights.  Campaigners insisted the stance was a far cry from the 2000 promise by then Education Minister Michael Woods there would be “virtually an open cheque book” for disabled pupils following the High Court Sinnott case which secured the right for such students

AP misstated mercury in vaccines connection - I am writing this letter so as to correctly inform the public of the levels of mercury in vaccines.  The Associated Press article in The Telegraph of March 6 mentioned that since 2001, thimerosal only has been in the flu shots. This information is not accurate.  The thimerosal was being phased out, but had not been completely removed starting in 2001. The stocked shelves of all the doctors' offices still contained vaccines that had high doses of mercury in them, because the government never recalled the vaccines. Unless a parent asked to see the vaccine insert that came with the vaccine that was being administered to their child, they had no way of knowing if it contained thimerosal or not.  Also, thimerosal is still being used in the manufacturing process of making the vaccine and then is supposedly filtered out.

A short slide to the mean streets - "...Pedersen was the youngest of four children of a Hare Krishna family. His mother had schizophrenia and his father was declared an unfit parent when Pedersen was only eight years old. He lived in foster care until be was 19. He also has Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism that gives him an unusual, halting rhythm when he talks. His hands are chapped from years of kitchen work.  "I'm not the smartest person, but I try to dress like I am," laughed Pedersen, who is the only person in the shelter today wearing a blazer jacket. "Everyone has issues whether they are in a shelter or not, but I've supported myself for the seven years of my adult life." But Pedersen's attempt to improve his income resulted in his termination from Denny's when his hours at Swiss Chalet came into conflict with his established work schedule. He was later terminated by Swiss Chalet just before his three-month probation was up..."

Autism a learning process for parents as well as kids - Gov't will ... - The Department of Correctional Services is exploring the possibility of establishing a juvenile correctional facility for girls in the vicinity of Sabina Park, Kingston, according to Commissioner of Corrections Major Richard Reese.  "We are looking at a facility at South Camp Road, which will accommodate 45 girls," Reese told The Gleaner yesterday. He noted that the location would be ideal given the proximity of a number of schools. He added that the girls could attend classes during the day and return to the facility in the evenings.

Autistic boys’ mum started her own school - ANNA KENNEDY knew young son Patrick was an angry lad when he started blowing up cereal box models of his school  The youngster, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, was being bullied because of his problems  But Anna could not get him or autistic younger brother Angelo into any of her area’s 26 oversubscribed special needs schools That’s when she and husband Sean who both come from Middlesbrough, decided to take control The couple re-mortgaged their London home and borrowed £627,000 from a bank. They leased a building from the council - and opened the school their boys needed. Now Hillingdon Manor primary and secondary school has 86 pupils aged from three to 19 and is attracting worldwide praise. Anna, 48, has also written a book called Not Stupid about raising Patrick, a 19-year-old college student, and 15-year-old Angelo.

Biomedical intervention helps moms battle autism - It’s little wonder that a single puzzle piece is used as the symbol by most organizations that deal with autism. This disorder that now affects one in 150 children in this country involves a puzzling array of symptoms and behaviors. Medical research accepted by most physicians indicates there is still no known single cause or cure for autism. However, leading autism researches and some local moms have joined thousands like them across the country and have refused to accept there is little or nothing that can be done to help their children. Having turned to biomedical interventions in addition to other therapies, they have experienced varying degrees of success and setbacks.

Call to remove barriers for the disabled - Doha • Prominent speakers at the Third International Forum on Children with Special Needs, which opened at the Shafallah Center yesterday, called on the international community to remove all barriers that prevent disabled people from taking part in sports and leisure activities.  The three-day conference on 'Sports and Ability' was opened by H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned. The opening session was attended by the first lady of Iceland, Dorrit Moussaieff, the first lady of Panama, Vivan Fernandez, the first lady of Poland, Maria Kaczynska, the first lady of Bulgaria, Zorka Parranova, the wife of the Albanian Prime Minister, Liri Berisha and the wife of the last British premier, Cherie Blair. Bob and Suzanne Wright of US-based Autism Speaks were among the other dignitaries.

Demand high for MU's Asperger program -  When Rebecca Wallen first read about Asperger Syndrome, she couldn't believe her eyes. "It sounded like they had written the book about my son," she said. While much remains to be known about this form of autism, advocates say programs and services continue to be needed locally. A college program for students with Asperger syndrome has been available at the West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University since 2002, but waiting lists abound. The lists -- which seem to exist for all programs at the Autism Training Center -- reflect the dramatic increase in autistic disorder diagnoses nationwide, according to Barbara Becker-Cottrill, executive director of the center.

DVD models behavior for autistic children - Sometimes it's difficult for children with autism to catch on to everyday life skills, like how to greet another person, how to express themselves in appropriate ways and how to understand others by their body language. To make it a little easier for them, a Poway couple have produced a DVD geared to autistic children ages 2 to 7, with an upbeat, positive, musical message. It's called "Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse." Scott and Anne Leslie came up with the idea after their son, Gage, was diagnosed with autism. According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder, autism affects the brain's normal development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

GPS Tracking for Autistic Children - Keeping track of children can be difficult, especially if you have a child with special needs. That`s why more and more parents are turning to G-P-S systems to help them keep an on the whereabouts of their kids. For parents who worry about losing track of their young children, GPS trackers are available in the form of watches, keychains, and small boxes that you can slip in a coat pocket. A Garrison family who has two sons with autism have been considering the devices because of an incident where their 7-year-old son roamed away from their home. The police department searched for him for an hour and a half before he was found. Tricia Kiefer with the North Dakota Autism Connection says their story is all too common when it comes to children with autism...

Grain-free diet doesn't mean going hungry anymore - Wheat flour is such a staple ingredient in Canadian kitchens, when mixing pancakes, thickening stews or making cookies, I've wondered if I could live without it. If I had an intolerance to gluten, though, or other condition where consuming wheat or other gluten-rich grain made me ill, I would have to do just that. Knowing people in this situation I've learned that life, without a bag of all-purpose flour in your pantry, does go on. In fact, it can flourish, so much so that two Canadian authors, Jodi Bager, president of Grain-free JK Gourmet, and Jenny Lass, a freelance writer and cooking instructor, have cooked up their second book on the topic: Everyday Grain-free Gourmet: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Whitecap Books, $29.95).

Grandpa's anger at lack of help - The grandfather of two disabled Caloundra children has lashed out at the government spending $2.5 million on the poisoned “Tree of Knowledge” in Barcaldine while his son’s desperate pleas for help are ignored. David Graham was infuriated when he heard of the federal memorial funding at the same time his son Michael and partner Rosemaree Butler were at their wit’s end trying to care for their severely disabled children Chloe, 7, and Johnny, 6.

First Student Donates $5000 to The Help Group for Autism Awareness ... - First Student, the nation's leader in student transportation, donated $5,000 to The Help Group of Sherman Oaks, California. A special reception was held April 9, 2008, in recognition of National Autism Awareness Month. The reception was hosted by The Help Group and honored individuals and organizations that have shown a commitment to the children and families of California who are living with autism spectrum disorders. Bill Young, First Student region operations manager for California, and Clay Fauth, First Student contract manager, attended the reception where First Student was recognized by The Help Group for the generous contribution

Kennedy Krieger roars and rides for autism research - Frankie Waldron, 4, works as hard as he can eight hours every day — just so his family can understand his simplest requests. Frankie was diagnosed with autism at the 18 months. “You overlook typical milestones in children, because with Frankie, everything’s such an accomplishment,” said Peter Waldron, Frankie’s father and a Lutherville resident. “The other day, Frankie pointed at the fridge and said, ‘I want ice cream,’ as clear as day. So the whole family had ice cream at 7 a.m.” Initially, Waldron and his wife, Julie, suspected Frankie was just developmentally delayed. But after he stopped making progress, they took him to Kennedy Krieger to investigate. The tests indicated autism and the Waldrons entered Frankie into Kennedy Krieger’s early intervention program.

MEN 'TREATED LIKE CHILDREN' - Young men with learning difficulties were treated like children at three Plymouth care homes, a city tribunal was told. Some residents aged 16 to 25 at the homes managed by Surecare were told that they could not play computer games in their rooms after a certain time at night. The Commission for Social Care Inspection said this meant that men living at the homes in Keyham, Devonport and Pennycomequick were suffering "institutional abuse". The commission cancelled the company's registration as a provider of services at the three homes, a move which effectively closed the homes down. Surecare is appealing to reverse that decision, leading to yesterday's hearing in front of the Care Standards Tribunal at the Copthorne Hotel in Armada Way, Plymouth. The Herald revealed last July how unannounced CSCI spot-checks at the homes in Kemyell Place, Mills Road and Amherst Road led to the discovery of what inspectors claimed was a breach of statutory care regulations.

Mom wants to be there to help her son with autism - "My son was the happiest, silliest, kindest child," says Luann Brown. "He wouldn't hurt a bug. He'd even ask permission whenever he wanted a drink." But when Chucky Brongo reached puberty, he became a different person. Brongo, now 17, has autism, and between 14 and 15 he became aggressive. "He was completely out of control," Brown says. "His head was his weapon. He would smash his head into every doorway" and he often would head-butt anyone who tried to restrain him. "We'd take him to the hospital and they'd adjust his medications and send him home," she says. And within a few days, Chucky would act out again.

More funding for study of autism urged - ONE child is diagnosed with autism every minute worldwide, but the “fastest-growing serious developmental disability” does not get the attention it deserves, Autism Speaks co-founders Bob and Suzanne Wright told Gulf Times yesterday. Autism Speaks is a New York City-based organisation seeking to improve public awareness about the disability and promote research into autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Research into diseases like leukaemia, paediatric Aids and diabetes gets millions of dollars worth of funding from governments and charities, while only 0.3% of the US National Institutes of Health funds go to autism research, said Suzanne Wright.

Preparing tomorrow's autism educators - Associate Professor of Special Education Pamela Wolfberg has to keep amending the poster displayed on her office door. The poster shows the incidence of children identified with autism spectrum disorder, a figure which has risen from one in 10,000 children in 1998 to one in every 150 at the present time.  As the number of diagnoses creeps up, the supply of qualified educators isn't keeping pace. "There is a lack of qualified teachers who are fully credentialed and competent to serve students with autism," said Wolfberg. There is also a shortage of teachers from diverse backgrounds and those trained to work in ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse communities. "Bay Area schools are a classic example of these settings," she said. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes classic autism, Asperger syndrome and other developmental disorders. Children with ASD encounter problems with social interaction and communication and often miss out on peer play experiences which are a vital part of childhood.

Students who turn violent are core of Issaquah labor dispute - With shocking speed, a 13-year-old autistic boy in the Issaquah School District wrapped his teacher in a headlock, punched her in the head and stomach, and shoved her against cabinets. Two special-education aides in the room were held at bay as the boy started to kick at them. It wasn't the first time he had attacked classroom staff nor would it be the last. The 2006 incident is at the center of a labor dispute between educational assistants, who want to retain contract language that lets them opt out of working with students whose behavior poses a safety threat, and the district, which argues that aides and teachers can't choose whom they'll work with.

Teach kids how to interact with autistic peers - Twelve-year-old Hannah Koller, Appleton, knows what it's like to interact with an autistic child, as she does daily with her 9-year-old brother, Jacob: "Be patient and don't get frustrated. And don't do anything that's drastically different from what they are used to."This was the same advice experts gave when asked how to interact with a child diagnosed with autism. A genetic, neurological disorder that affects children differently over its wide spectrum of symptoms, autism can isolate children from the people around them.

The boyz are back in Town - Once upon a time, a long time ago -- in 1993 -- I remember sitting in a bar in San Francisco with a fella by the name of Bono. He told me that in America they tend to think of other people's success as a good thing. In Ireland, Bono went on, they kick you harder when you're up than when you're down.   few months later, back in the oul' sod, Ireland seemed to be getting its sado-masochistic jollies from kicking five young boys. It was practically a national pastime to slag off Boyzone.  Admittedly, as guilty pleasures go, they didn't come any more car-wreck fascinating and unintentionally uproarious than Boyzone's frenetic performance on the Late Late Show back in 1993.

The Means and Methods to your Mind - A recent article featured on the BBC web page today concerning "Phorm", a new advertising search engine aimed at targeting advertisements based on search habits rather than content raises questions and concerns about internet privacy and legality. The new service tracks web users searches and targets advertisements based on interests that they have. It redirects users through it's service. It's hopes are to compete with Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. The company says that it allows the website owner to make more money and enable the smaller websites to obtain traffic and advertising revenue. The tracking of your web searching, otherwise known as micro-profiling is being practiced by all of the large search engines. While larger companies may balk at this new service, smaller websites caught in the mire of the massiveness and obscurity created by so many users of the internet may be a welcome opportunity for those with niche markets.

Understanding, treating autism begins with diagnosis - When Cindi Meulemans' son Ryan, 9, was 18 months old, she began to notice that he exhibited aggressive behavior toward other children, didn't want to share and was overwhelmed or got frustrated easily. Carol Koller said she noticed her son, Jacob, 9, as a toddler had speech delay problems and couldn't switch from focusing on one thing and transitioning to another thing.

Vaccine success for teenagers - There were no deaths last year among under-19s from group C meningitis thanks to a national immunisation programme, a report has revealed. Previously, Meningococcal C/meningitis has killed up to 78 people a year and left serious complications such as brain damage and amputations in survivors. Overall, the Government's national immunisation programme has prevented well over 3,000 cases of death or serious illness, the Director of Immunisation's report reveals. The report also revealed that since its introduction in 2006 the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has prevented an estimated 470 cases of serious illness or deaths in young children, such as meningitis, septicaemia and severe pneumonia.

With all hands on deck, autism can be defeated — DAIN - ON April 2, 2008, the world marked the first commemoration of World Autism Awareness Day - an important initiative spearheaded by the State of Qatar, under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, the Consort of His Highness the Emir of Qatar, in raising awareness about children with developmental disabilities. It was a day the United Nations reaffirmed its commitment to the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities — a commitment rooted in fundamental principle of universal human rights for all. Autistic children are sometimes called children of pain. In some parts of the country they are often regarded as being “evil” or possessed by animals or spirits. But this is far from truth even if autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the world.

Women believe they can drink while pregnant - but one glass of wine could damage your baby for life - Like many young women, Julie Gelo liked to drink heavily.  She spent her Friday and Saturday nights with friends, knocking back vodka and cokes and wine. When her soldier fiance Lynn came home after serving abroad, she continued to drink with him, too.  She did not realise she was pregnant until several months had gone by, and by then the damage had been done.  In 1972, Julie's daughter Faith was born with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, an incurable disorder that causes behavioural and social problems as well as learning disabilities.

Autistic boys’ mum started her own school - ANNA KENNEDY knew young son Patrick was an angry lad when he started blowing up cereal box models of his school. The youngster, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, was being bullied because of his problems. But Anna could not get him or autistic younger brother Angelo into any of her area’s 26 oversubscribed special needs schools. chat’s when she and husband Sean who both come from Middlesbrough, decided to take control The couple re-mortgaged their London home and borrowed £627,000 from a bank. They leased a building from the council - and opened the school their boys needed.

Firefighters turn up the heat - on eachother - Standing atop a tiny platform on the 37-metre-long boom of a fire engine, it was easy to see the hive of activity that the Brisbane Region Firefighter Championships and Safety Expo has brought to the usually quiet Marchant Park at Chermside. Despite the unsettled weather, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QRFS) were expecting over 100 people at the weekend-long event, which has seen firefighters from across the South-East battling it out through different hose and equipment drills.

Judge considers dismissing mother's negligent death charges - Motions to drop criminal charges over a Bloomfield woman's role in her disabled son's death were heard in district court Thursday, but no ruling was immediately made by a district judge. Sandra Greenwood, 60, is charged with second-degree neglect of a health care resident and fourth-degree involuntary manslaughter for the death of her son, Jared, 26, who was found dead in September 2007 on the bathroom floor of his Bloomfield home, covered in feces, dirt and garbage.The victim had severe autism and mental retardation, and was taken care of by his mother, although the state stopped paying for that care in March 2007 after disability assistance wasn't requested that year, prosecutors said in filing the charges.

Justice for all - Dozens of immigrant residents in Centro Hispano on East Second Street sat side by side in rows according to category, eagerly waiting for advice.
The three categories were immigration, DMV and others. About 10 lawyers, advocates and translators sat around benches Thursday evening with tiny placards stating their specialties, from landlord-tenant law to criminal, family and divorce, waiting to volunteer a few hours to help local residents in need. Jeanie Cronin, president of Centro Hispano, said the organization has held free legal clinics for about three years. The purpose is to help immigrants with legal problems and answer questions, so they won't have to pay consultation fees, which can cost as much as $500 or more. "We feel we're helping them," Cronin said.

Kennedy Krieger roars and rides for autism research - Frankie Waldron, 4, works as hard as he can eight hours every day — just so his family can understand his simplest requests. You overlook typical milestones in children, because with Frankie, everything’s such an accomplishment,” said Peter Waldron, Frankie’s father and a Lutherville resident. “The other day, Frankie pointed at the fridge and said, ‘I want ice cream,’ as clear as day. So the whole family had ice cream at 7 a.m.”  Initially, Waldron and his wife, Julie, suspected Frankie was just developmentally delayed. But after he stopped making progress, they took him to Kennedy Krieger to investigate. The tests indicated autism and the Waldrons entered Frankie into Kennedy Krieger’s early intervention program.

MEDICINE CONCERNS FOR CARE HOME AFTER MAN'S DEATH - An inspection into a care home where a resident died after carers failed to administer his drugs has raised concerns over medication management.  Andrew Turner (29) was found dead at Heath Farm autism centre at Scopwick, near Lincoln, in 2006 after his carers failed to give him his epilepsy medication for more than 48 hours. At the end of an inquest into his death in January, a jury decided Mr Turner died of an epileptic seizure which could have been prevented if errors had not been made by five senior staff administering his medication. A new report into an inspection carried out in The Barn - the home where Mr Turner lived at Heath Farm - by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) in January has highlighted areas where the handling of medication could be improved.

Method rounds autism's words into form - Logan Booth was 11 years old when he formed his first word, and he didn't say it. He wrote it.  Logan, 14, has autism and does not talk  But he can communicate with about a half-dozen people who are close to him by reading their written questions and writing out his answers longhand. He can also hunt-and-peck his responses onto a computer keyboard.  Because a trusted person's hand must be touching Logan's hand for the process to work, the communication technique is controversial. Critics say it isn't Logan who is writing or typing but the person who is touching him.

Mother, volunteer aims to conquer autism through communication and ... - The annual Autism Walk is scheduled this morning at Jervey Gantt Park.Close to 100 parents, educators and children are expected to participate in the one-mile walk to help raise awareness about autism. Also scheduled to attend is one woman, a single mother of two boys with severe autism, who's on a mission."I want to teach [my sons] to live on their own," said 50-year-old Sylvia Miller. "I don't touch the autism. I don't care about it. I'm teaching them how to live with it. I'm teaching them how to live independently, and to understand why others do what they do."

Raising awareness of autism - For families who learn their child has autism Mike Gowan wants them to know there is help. There is information and support which families with autistic children can access in Niagara. That support is important, Gowan says.  The Pelham man is president of the Niagara chapter of Autism Ontario, and knows firsthand how challenging it can be to raise an autistic child.  When his son Spencer was diagnosed, the incidence rate was one in 10,000. Now it is one in about 165. Gowan is sure part of the explanation lies in the fact that many who had autism spectrum disorders in the past went undiagnosed. But he has little doubt the incidence of autism is on the rise.

Ready to tell my secret - I'm not really sure how to start this, because the title makes it sound so Jerry Springer-something-I've-been-ashamed-of and it is not. It is something that I have spoken only to my family and closest friends about in the two plus years it's been part of my life. I have been in shock and in mourning. I have been too consumed finding a way to do what needed to be done; to be a voice to help the thousands of other moms and dads out there that are reeling from the same word: Autism. One of my precious boys has Autism, and ever since the diagnosis was given, we've been fighting to get our Jack back.

Support for those touched by autism - Those whose lives are affected by autism will have a place to call "home" now.  A group of Flushing mothers of children with autism have developed a nonprofit organization that soon will open Kathleen's House. The house, at 2235 Monaco St. in Flint Township, will be a place for families, educators, medical professionals and others who work with children with autism to educate themselves with a library of resources and have fun in activities including art or sign language sessions.

The Vaccine Debate - The 'vaccine debate' about whether vaccines are safe or could be causing autism has been in the news a lot in the last few years. There is no real debate about vaccines from either side of the issue though. People who are against vaccines, including parents who believe that vaccines have harmed their children, aren't likely to listen to health experts who talk about how important vaccines are, how many lives they have saved, and how the benefits of vaccines far outweigh the possible risks of vaccines, especially those that are unproved.

Autistic and uncovered - Molly Schad and her husband, Steve, refinanced their home several times, saved nothing for their children's education, borrowed from her parents and even considered selling her engagement ring to pay the bills. The Schads aren't challenged by the lousy economy or the housing slump. The Schads have a child with autism. Despite having health insurance, the Schads have spent about $60,000 on various treatments for their son Harry, 7, since his diagnosis five years ago. They ceased some of those treatments last year because the cost became too great.

Autistic children enjoy movie - The nearly 100 families that came to Corning's Palace Theatre Wednesday had at least one thing in common: a child with autism. "I'm going to see a movie with my autistic brother Eddie," said James Vandright.  Was Eddie excited?  "Yes," said Eddie Vandright.  Organizers treated autistic kids and teens to "Happy Feet" and "Horton Hears a Who." With tickets and snacks, it was a complete moviegoing experience.

Autism Awareness at the Movies - More than eighty families packed the Palace Theater in Corning Wednesday to help promote autism awareness. Event organizers aimed to make the movie experience more familiar and comfortable for children with autism. Families chose between 'Horton Hears a Who' and 'Happy Feet'. The movie volume and theater lighting were also modified to make everyone more comfortable and less scared.  “It just makes it easier because there's somewhere to go, because he doesn't sit. An hour and a half is a long time to sit,” says Kim Schultz, a Horseheads parent.

Autism myth lives on - As the brother of an autistic person and a brain scientist, I have been hoping that the increased focus on autism in the news would lead to a greater public understanding of this disorder. Instead, I am angry that this coverage is spreading dangerous myths. My sister, Karen, is autistic. In the 1970s, my parents wondered why she behaved so differently. At the time, a prevalent idea was that an emotionally distant mother could somehow prevent a child from understanding emotions or relating normally to others. Our parents had a simpler idea, that they might have hurt Karen's head during a bath.

Genes may link autism and muscle-weakening disease - U.S. researchers have found a genetic link between autism and a muscle-weakening disorder known as mitochondrial disease, they said on Sunday, in a finding that may open new avenues of research into the causes of autism.  "Recent studies have suggested that as many 20 percent of patients with autism have markers for mitochondrial disease,"" said Dr. John Shoffner, a neurologist and geneticist at Medical Neurogenetics in Atlanta, who presented his findings at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in Chicago.  "There has really not been much work done so far to push that issue,"" Shoffner said in a telephone interview.  Mitochondrial diseases are a set of genetic disorders in which energy-producing structures in cells are impaired. The disease is often triggered by an illness, such as a high fever, which can result in severe muscle weakening.

Having a big brain may protect you from memory loss - The bigger your brain is, the lesser you are prone to memory loss, says a new study stating that people having a larger hippocampus, a part of the brain, have sharp memories despite having Alzheimers plaques. Autopsies have proved that some people die with sharp minds and perfect memories, even though their brains showed large traces of plaques of Alzheimers disease, but now researchers have said that it is all because of the large hippocampus in these people.  This larger hippocampus may protect these people from the effects of Alzheimers disease-related brain changes. Hopefully this will lead us eventually to prevention strategies, said study author Deniz Erten-Lyons, MD, with Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and member of the American Academy of Neurology.

Kennedy says his recovery helps in mental health care fight - Representative Patrick Kennedy says his personal struggles to recover from depression, alcoholism and substance abuse make him a compelling advocate in Congress for improved mental health care coverage.  The Rhode Island Democrat played a leading role last month in passing a House bill that expands coverage for people needing mental health and addiction treatment. Kennedy says speaking about his own struggles helped move the bill forward.  Kennedy has battled addiction since high school. He crashed his car into a Capitol barricade nearly two years ago, and agreed to a plea deal on a charge of driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

Lawsuit On Behalf Of Boy With Autism - The state Department of Health and Human Services has been sued in federal court because of alleged cuts in mental health programs.  The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Tuesday that Legal Services of Southern Piedmont in Charlotte and the National Health Law Program are suing for a 12-year-old boy with an inherited condition that can cause learning and behavioral problems.  The lawsuit says Devon Tyler McCartney of Robeson County is autistic and epileptic. The lawsuit says his time with a mental health worker paid by Medicaid were cut last year from 28 hours a week to 21 hours a week until he lost services in January.

Measles or autism? Not a choice - Public discussion of childhood immunizations has been set of late by their opponents. They contend, extremely vehemently, that the vaccinations can cause autism. The risk of childhood disease, many of these critics say, is a small one compared to the risk of autism. Now one of the diseases behind those vaccinations has struck close to home, with the L.A. Times reporting Monday that a local child has been hospitalized with measles. Arizona and Wisconsin have reported outbreaks as well.  And the CDC recently urged measles vaccinations for unimmunized travelers to Israel, site of a recent 900-case outbreak.

Sword And Screen - It's not unusual to read about tight security on a film set, but how many directors get to attack persistent onlookers with a sword? Belgian filmmaker Nic Balthazar wielded such power while making of Ben X; specifically, during the parts that were shot in an online role-playing game called ArchLord. Rest assured, no real heads were severed from bodies, although the director may have left some angry gamers in his wake. Ben X is a Flemish-language film about a teenager who suffers from Asperger syndrome (a form of autism) and from incessant bullying at school. Like many youth, he spends part of each day immersed in an online universe, and Balthazar decided to show this second life by actually filming it inside a game. The concept is not new -- it even has a name, machinima, a portmanteau of machine cinema -- but Balthazar's may be the first mainstream film to make extensive use of the technique.

The Trouble With Genius - Students diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism, perform as well as or better than their peers academically but, despite their large vocabularies, struggle with social interaction. The University of California, Santa Barbara’s Koegel Autism Center, long a world leader on autism research, hopes to teach the students the art of conversation. In many ways, Paul Griffin is typical of a talented college freshman.  A gifted artist, perceptive reader and nimble athlete who jumps horses competitively, Paul graduated from high school with a 3.8 grade-point average. He wants to join a fraternity and relishes — only half-jokingly — the thought of “girls and beer.” Yet, if you talk to him for less than a minute, you realize something is amiss. Paul is one of eight freshmen at the University of California, Santa Barbara who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a mild form of autism characterized by difficulties in social communication.

The tyranny of cool - "...Around the same time as the book deal came through, the story of a young man who threw himself from the Gravensteen Castle in Ghent caused a furor in the papers. The teen suffered from a mild form of autism, and when it was revealed how much he suffered at the hands of his peers, Belgian society was ready to take a long look at how open it was to difference. The initial project ended up as a book titled What I Should Have Said Was Nothing. The book was then translated to the stage, where it was a smash success. Ben X - the movie - was the next logical step. "One of the bigger problems we discovered was how bullying is perceived as taboo. It's frowned upon, and yet everyone has done it. People don't want to admit to themselves they've bullied someone - but they know it's true,'' he says. The other half of that equation is the victim. Balthazar says even those hurt most by bullying are often afraid to speak out against it because it's perceived as a sign of weakness."

Understanding autism - Each year in April, we pay special attention to a group of disorders first described by Leo Kanner in 1943. Autism spectrum disorders are challenging neurodevelopmental disorders that can be difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to explain. The key signs of autism are failure to develop language, unusual language, lack of social interest, and challenging behaviors (DSM-IV). Early signs are present in most (failure to point at 9 months, failure to speak or coo, disinterest in socializing). However, some children appear to be developing more typically and then regress. To further complicate the picture, many on that spectrum have different abilities and disabilities. In other words, knowing an individual has autism does not mean you know that unique individual.

Video production to be viewed nationally - Robert Moran of Pomona is one of four Cal State Fullerton students who will share a $20,000 prize and be honored on national television later this month for winning a collegiate video competition.  Moran, with Carla Franco, Sabrina Johnson and Peter Martinez, produced a news feature, "SoCal Immigration: Law, Labor, Liberty," that won the Fox News Channel's College Challenge national video news competition.  The group will be featured on Fox and Friends on the evening of April 25. They will be flown to New York City with faculty adviser Brent M. Foster to appear on the program.  The video program featured an interview with co-founder of the Minuteman Project, James Gilchrist, conducted by Moran and Martinez, as well as interviews with educators and various immigrants.  "I felt that we were working on the project everything came together like magic, said Moran.  The 30-year-old Pomonan noted that he has Asperger's syndrome, which is a mild form of autism, which can challenge someone conducting such an interview.  "For me, having Asperger's syndrome made this award extra special because it's proof that any obstacle can be overcome."

Why living with autism is a daily challenge - Karen Robson, disability service manager at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (Uwic), explains why more must be done to support adults with autism  FEELING a sense of belonging is something that many of us take for granted. Adults with autism, however, see life differently, leading to isolation and being routinely ignored as a report, titled I Exist, published by The National Autistic Society Cymru (NAS Cymru) recently highlighted. As a campaigner for disability rights for over 11 years, I am all too familiar with the struggle faced every day by thousands of disabled people in Wales to lead independent lives and participate in society. For those with autism (including Asperger syndrome) access and equity are frequently denied to them due to a lack of essential support to meet their needs.

 

04-07-2008

04-06-2008