Autism Speaks Official Blog

RESEARCH

Reseacher: Gap between science and practice hindering aide to parents, teachers of autistic kids (The Palm Beach Post)
What we know about autism and its related disorders has grown exponentially in the last 10 years — and that’s a good thing, experts say, considering in the last month the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates for how many children are affected by it jumped from 1 in 153 to 1 in 110. Read more.

Loss of enzyme reduces neural activity in Angelman syndrome (EurekAlert)
Angelman Syndrome is a rare but serious genetic disorder that causes a constellation of developmental problems in affected children, including mental retardation, lack of speech, and in some cases, autism. Over a decade ago, researchers found that AS was caused by mutation in a single gene, but no one had been able to explain how this defect resulted in the debilitating neurological symptoms of the disease. Read more.

TREATMENT

Doctors sued over ‘dangerous’ autism treatment (Chicago, Ill.)
The father of a 7-year-old Chicago boy who was diagnosed as a toddler with autism has sued the Naperville and Florida doctors who treated his son, alleging they harmed the child with “dangerous and unnecessary experimental treatments.” Read more. 

EDUCATION

Seven-Year-Old Boy Will Not Be Charged With Assault And Battery (Falmouth, Mass.)
A seven-year-old Massachusetts boy was set to face criminal charges this week for allegedly attacking two teachers at his school reports the Cape Cod Times . Read more.

Teacher’s carer ‘destroyed’ (UK)
A special needs teacher who says her career was destroyed by classroom assaults at the hands of an autistic pupil is battling for massive compensation at the High Court. Read more.

Shadow training helps classroom aides become more effective (New Jersey Jewish Standard)
I’ve been doing shadow training for years through my practice,” says psychologist Tamar Kahane, Teaneck resident and founder of Englewood’s Kahane Center for Developmental and Psychological Well-being. Read more.

DA urged to review allegation of abuse (Randolph, Mass.)
A disability advocacy group says a Randolph school for children with special needs and the state agencies that oversee it failed to adequately assess allegations in 2007 that a teacher was physically and mentally abusing six young, nonverbal students in her classroom. Read more.

Special needs measure passed by House (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to provide scholarships and new educational opportunities to children with special needs. Read more.

Sen. Golden to Host Special Ed Forum: ‘What Parents Need to Know’ (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
State Senator Marty Golden, along with members of his Committee on Special Education, today announced the 4th Annual Special Education Forum, entitled “What Parents Need to Know” for families and students of School District 20, 21 and 22, to be held on Friday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dyker Beach Golf Course located at 86th Street and 7th Avenue in Brooklyn. Read more.

Kyrene preschool program helps kids play, work together (Tempe, Ariz.)
In the “housekeeping” corner of a Kyrene de las Manitas Elementary School preschool class, Brailey McDaniel, 5, carefully carried her muffin tin filled with colorful plastic cookies, cakes and fruits out of the oven and offered them to friends. Read more.

PUBLIC POLICY

Autism insurance is debated (Raleigh, N.C.)
A debate is under way in North Carolina over health insurance coverage for children with autism, and the issue turns on whether the therapy is considered educational or medical. Read more.

Some worry about Delaware’s ‘most vulnerable’ and possible funding cuts (Del.)
Twenty-four-year-old Ben Bashkow of Newark owns and operates his own paper shredding business, Big Ben Shredding. Read more.

GOP lawmakers slate autism forum (Naperville, Ill.)
State Rep. Darlene Senger of Naperville and a half-dozen other local Republican state office holders are making plans for a legislative forum on autism. The session is set for 7 p.m. Monday at the Wheaton Community Center, 1777 S. Blanchard Road. Read more.

RESOURCES

Mystic Aquarium hosts Synergy Center programs for students with disabilities and social challenges (Mystic, Conn.)
For children and teenagers with disabilities or challenges such as anger management or bullying, the Waterford-based Synergy Center Corporation offers unique new options: the Synergy Socials Program and Social Species from the Sea to Me, two social skill-building classes at Mystic Aquarium, a division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc. The Synergy Socials Program is open to children ages 5 to 9 with disabilities such as Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Rett Syndrome and Intellectual Disabilities, or who may simply have difficulty getting along with other children. Read more.

VSA Arts of Michigan provides for ‘creative movement’ (Kent County, Mich.)
VSA Arts of Michigan is a non-profit organization connecting people with disabilites to the arts. Read more.

Ulster Sheriff launches Project Lifesaver (Kingston, N.Y.)
If you are caring for a senior citizen suffering from Alzheimer’s or a child with autism, Down syndrome or other developmental disorders, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Department has gained another tool to help track these individuals if they wander away. Read more.

Families with special needs kids focus of free guide (Palm Springs, Calif.)
A coalition of city leaders and nonprofit groups is expected to launch today a resource guide for special needs children — and the creators say it’s the first of its kind. Read more.

Northeast Arc: Teens enjoy drop-in support group (Salem, Mass.)
Teens have so much on their minds these days — preparing for college, mid-term exams, relationships, social issues, dating. Teens on the autism spectrum frequently have many additional issues to resolve as they transition to adulthood. Read more.

ADULT SERVICES

Assisted-living home for disabled opens (Greenfield, Wis.)
An assisted-living home described as the first in Wisconsin for women who are deaf and have cognitive disabilities such as mental retardation has opened at 4324 S. 50th St. Read more.

Every voice must be heard (N.J.)
Their numbers were impressive. Their voices were clear and strong. Their arguments were compelling. Read more.

PEOPLE

Tears for Luke Selwyn, a little boy who loved water (Australia)
She was his constant companion who helped him navigate the confusing world his autism had created. Read more.

Seek and enjoy (Muscatine, Iowa)
Muscatine moms Kami Olmstead and Karen Holladay know eggsactly what a kid with special needs wants for Easter: An Easter egg hunt. Read more.

Police: Boy left in car while mom visits drug house (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Police made a disturbing find after pulling over a mother who was leaving what they call “a known crack house.” In the backseat was a six-year-old boy who had been left in the car while his mother was inside. Read more. 

CONFERENCES

Inaugural Conference on Autism set for March 15 at Rowan (N.J.)
More than 100 educational professionals, advocates, parents and therapists from throughout South Jersey will come together for Rowan University’s Inaugural Conference on Autism on Monday, March 15. Read more.