Our Blog is Moving!
We are pleased to announce that on March 6th we are moving our blog onto the Official Autism Speaks website. We are making this move to serve you better!
We know that it will take some getting used to, but we are here to help you adapt. Here are some quick answers to questions you may have:
Will my emails subscription still work?
Yes, if you have been subscribing to our blog already, you will continue to get updates. If not, subscribe now via email or in a reader.
Will my bookmarks still work?
We’ll try our best to make bookmarks still work but sometimes we may not catch changes in time as we sync content from our old WordPress blog to our new Web site. We apologize in advance for this. If you have any questions, please feel free to email contactus@autismspeaks.org
What else will be changing about the blog?
The new blog will just be better integrated into our main Web site. This means you can search on one topic and not only get blog content but all our other content as well.
If I’m using an RSS reader, will I have to change anything?
No! If you have any problems, feel free to unsubscribe, and then add our RSS feed back into your reader.
Weekly Whirl – World Autism Awareness Day is 1 Month Away!
If anyone knows how hectic life can get – WE DO! That’s why we have created the Autism Speaks Weekly Whirl to fill you in on all of the highlights of the week! The last thing we want is for you to be left out of the loop! Please share with friends and family to spread the word about all of the exciting things going on in the autism community. Keep in mind, these updates aren’t limited to Autism Speaks — we will be featuring news from across the community.
Can you believe that one month today marks World Autism Awareness Day! On April 2, 2012 we will again kick off our global initiative, Light It Up Blue, to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. Our goal is to light the whole world blue – city by city, town by town – by taking action to raise autism awareness in our communities. Please email LIUB@autismspeaks.org for more information and tools!
Autism Speaks would like to thank all the buildings, communities, schools and families that participated in 2011 Light It Up Blue. Prominent buildings across North America and the world – including the Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada turned their lights blue to raise autism awareness and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. Click on the images above to see all the buildings that were a part of the fourth annual World Autism Awareness Day celebration in 2011.
Here are some of our favorite shots from 2011!
Autism in the News – 03.02.12
‘Parent training’ may help kids with autism behave better (HealthDay News)
Children with autism often display challenging behaviors, but new research suggests that parents can learn to better handle tantrums and aggression, which may improve their child’s overall functioning. Read more.
Grants Available for Autism Services (Penn Live)
Families with children and adults who cope with Autism Spectrum Disorder are eligible for mini-grant to help with the costs associated with the disorder, Rep. RoseMarie Swanger announced this week. Read more.
Autism training for teachers clears hurdle (Roanoke, Va.)
A bill intended to require specialized training for teacher aides who work with autistic students barely made it out of a Senate committee Thursday after senators noticed the bill doesn’t provide funds for the training. Read more.
Autism groups to merge (StlToday.com)
The local nonprofit groups Life Skills for adults with developmental disabilities and TouchPoint Autism Services will merge their organizations as of July 1 to support a growing number of adults with autism. Read more.
State Senate Committee Hold Hearing for Autism Insurance Bill (My Fox Detroit)
t was standing room only as a state Senate committee heard testimony Thursday on a new bill that would mandate insurance coverage for autism treatment in Michigan. Read more.
Autism Speaks’ daily blog “Autism in the News” is a mix of top news stories of the day. Autism Speaks does not vet the stories and the views contained therein do not necessarily reflect Autism Speaks beliefs or point of view.
Autism Fire Rescue Program Featured on NBC’s ‘Today Show’
The training of first responders is absolutely critical to keeping individuals with autism safe. Unfortunately, there are far too many stories of dangerous situations that arise because of a lack of communication and understanding between safety professionals such as firefighters, and individuals with autism and their families. Yesterday, NBC’s Today featured Bill Cannata, the father of a young adult with autism who has developed a program that has educated over 15,000 first responders around the country in how to handle people with autism, and as a result, saved lives. Bill was also a member of the professional advisory committee for the Autism Speaks Autism Safety Project, where he provided tips and quick facts for firefighters interacting with individuals with autism. To further these efforts, in 2011, the Autism Speaks Family Services Community Grants program provided funding for the Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition (ALEC), designed to help foster a deeper understanding of autism spectrum disorders by training public safety and law enforcement personnel. Autism Speaks applauds these first responder training efforts.
I know exercise is important. But with all our autism-related therapies, there’s no energy left. Advice appreciated.
Today’s “Got Questions?” answer comes from Michael Rosanoff, M.P.H., Autism Speaks associate director for public health research and scientific review.
As challenging as it may be for anyone to develop and maintain a physically active lifestyle, the challenges can be amplified for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We are constantly reminded how important it is to teach our kids to make healthy life decisions. But sometimes it can feel like an impossible task when they have other special needs and obstacles.
So it may be no surprise to learn that nearly a third of children with ASD are medically obese. The problem appears to increase with age, with obesity affecting over a third of young adults on the spectrum.
Inadequate physical activity is among the primary reasons for these high rates of obesity. But let’s be honest, getting
active can be particularly challenging when a child or adult is also struggling with autism-related issues in areas such as self-control, motivation or physical coordination. And the sights, sounds and tactile aspects of team sports can feel overwhelming for someone with sensory integration issues.
But there’s great payoff in finding physical recreation activities that do work for an individual on the autism spectrum.
Did you know that exercise can decrease the frequency of negative, self-stimulating and self-injurious behaviors? This may be because the highly structured routines and repetitive motions involved in, say, running or swimming can distract from negative self-stimulating and repetitive behaviors. Physical activity can also promote self-esteem and improve mood and attention. For those who can participate in team sports, this type of structured activity can foster social interactions.
This isn’t to say that physical activity can or should replace proven behavioral interventions for ASD. Rather it can enhance their benefits.
For more information on recreational programs and activity tips for children and teens on the autism spectrum, see the physical fitness page in the Health & Wellness section of our website. To learn more about the importance of exercise for individuals with ASD, please see our special science report, “Sports, Exercise, and the Benefits of Physical Activity for Individuals with Autism.” And please use the comment section to share your experiences. What works and what doesn’t for you, your child or other loved one?
‘The Doctors Are In” – 03.01.12
On Thursday March 1, Autism Speaks Head of Medical Research Joe Horrigan, MD, was joined by autism specialist, dentist José Polido, DDS. Here is the transcript.
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Suzanne and Bob Wright interviewed about upcoming Palm Beach Walk Now for Autism Speaks
Watch an interview with Autism Speaks Co-founders Suzanne and Bob Wright about the upcoming Palm Beach Walk Now for Autism Speaks. The Wrights discussed Autism Speaks and its mission with Michael Williams of WPTV. Plus, read coverage of the event from the Palm Beach Daily News.
The Palm Beach Walk takes place on Sunday, March 4. Visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.org to find a Walk in your area.



