Autism in the News – Wednesday, 2.24.10
RESEARCH
INTERVIEW: Attacking autism (Rochester, N.Y.)
You may not instinctively group autism with cancer, AIDS, and heart disease. But people afflicted with this often-misunderstood disorder will most likely require some level of assistance throughout their lives. The time, money, and personnel required to provide a lifetime of care make autism one of the country’s top public-health challenges, says Vincent Pandolfi, assistant professor in the psychology department at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Read more.
NIH Grant to Aid Autism Language Investigation (Dallas, Texas)
A UT Dallas neuroscientist has earned a $1.6 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate how autistic children process language and why they experience communication difficulties. Read more.
Gene mutation is linked to autism-like symptoms in mice, UT Southwestern researchers find (EurekAlert)
When a gene implicated in human autism is disabled in mice, the rodents show learning problems and obsessive, repetitive behaviors, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found. Read more.
EDUCATION
Balls promises special needs support (U.K.)
Ministers today promised a helpline and extra support for parents of children with special educational needs.Read more.
Teaching assistant could face jail after assaulting pupil (U.K.)
A teaching assistant from Sheffield could face jail after being convicted of assaulting a special needs pupil, with whom she worked on a one-to-one basis. Read more.
Camelot plans school for autistic pupils in CL (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
A Texas company is planning to establish a school for students with autism in Crystal Lake. Read more.
Special Ed. Assistant Accused Of Biting Child (Minneapolis, Minn.)
He was trusted to help teachers with students in special education class. However, the teacher’s aide quit his job after being accused of abusing a disabled child. Read more.
PUBLIC POLICY
Va. panel kills autism treatment coverage mandate (Richmond, Va.)
Legislation that would have required many Virginia employee health care plans to cover a treatment for autistic children died Tuesday under business and insurance industry claims that its costs would hurt business. Read more.
Antibully measure advances to Senate (Boston.com)
A bill aimed at dramatically reducing bullying in schools gained a key endorsement yesterday and will go to the Senate for a vote early next month, weeks after a South Hadley teenager committed suicide following apparent harassment from her peers. Read more.
RESOURCES
TouchPoint touches lives (Joplin, Mo.)
Home training for families with an autistic child is available through TouchPoint. Read more.
Costs may force Davoren centre to close (Australia)
A childcare centre for the north’s most vulnerable children is at risk of closing because of rising staff costs. Read more.
ADULT SERVICES
Soup Leads to Independence for Arizonans with Autism (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Adults with autism have a new opportunity to live independent lives, thanks to the first business venture of a Phoenix-based support agency. Clients of the Southwest Autism Resource and Research Center (SARRC) will be making and selling soup prepared from recipes donated by some of Arizona’s best-known chefs. SARRC interim president Jeri Kendle says hands-on training is part of the eleven-week “Culinaryworks” curriculum. Read more.
Legislative budget proposals would keep Rainier School open (Buckley, Wash.)
The future of Rainier School is looking safer as lawmakers cast their eyes on state facilities to downsize and close. Read more.
PEOPLE
Hunt for missing St Leonards man moves to Rock-a-Nore (U.K.)
Police looking for missing man Piers Hopson are shifting their focus to Hastings Old Town. Read more.
Three Google executives convicted after allowing video of autistic boy being bullied to be posted online (U.K.)
Three Google executives were convicted today by an Italian court because they did not act quickly enough to pull down an online video that showed an autistic boy being bullied. Read more.
Va. Del. Marshall Draws Criticism For Comments Linking Birth Defects, Abortion (MedicalNewsToday.com)
Virginia Del. Robert Marshall’s (R) office issued a formal apology Monday for comments he made last Thursday suggesting that the birth of children with disabilities was God’s way of punishing women for obtaining an abortion during a first pregnancy, the Washington Post reports. Read more.
Joy at Redcar boy’s success on dance show (U.K.)
The proud mum of three autistic boys has spoken of her joy after one of her talented sons reached the final stages of a TV dance show. Read more.
Fencing company donate shed (U.K.)
Kind-hearted owners of a Kings Langley fencing company are to donate a shed to a woman with autism. Read more.
Monroe teen emerges from cocoon of autism (Monroe, N.Y.)
By all appearances, Vijay Buddiga is a typical college student. He is a freshman at SUNY New Paltz and lives on campus. Last semester, he earned a B average. He likes to hang out with friends, play his guitar and party. Read more.
Student Excluded From Field Trip Because Of Autism (Madison, Wis.)
Cathy Hasslinger says she tried everything to make sure her son would be included in his class’ field trip. Read more.
Agoura Hills woman grateful to charity for saving son’s dog (Agoura Hills, Calif.)
The mother of an 11-year-old boy with autism in Agoura Hills is praising the generosity of an animal charity that paid for life-saving medical treatment for her son’s therapy dog. Read more.
When robber struck, she got help. Now, it’s her turn. (St. Paul, Minn.)
When Emily Zitek’s Braille laptop was stolen as she rode a Metro Transit bus a couple of years ago and a former U.S. senator bought her a new one, she wanted to find a way to pay the kindness forward. Read more.
Autistic man who was jailed 13 months awaits housing (Canada)
The last time Ken McEwan was released from prison, he coped at home for two weeks before landing in a psychiatric ward. This time, his family hopes he can hang on for several months. Read more.
