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| By Lori McIlwain, National Autism Association For parents of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who are prone to wandering or bolting away, it can feel like an overwhelming challenge to keep them safe in any setting. Over the last three years, roughly 13% of ASD wandering incidents happened from a school or school-related environment according to the National Autism Association (NAA). Other settings can be just as frightening. Trips to the store, a relative’s home, or vacation settings can create opportunities for escape, leaving parents hesitant to leave the home. While it’s very possible that a wandering incident can occur outside of the home, the right steps can help reduce the risk. SCHOOL SETTINGS Simply discussing the issue of wandering with your child’s school holds extraordinarily value. If your child has a history of wandering or bolting, ask his or her school for a functional behavioral assessment (FBA). Based on its findings, a behavioral intervention plan (BIP) should be developed and used consistently between home and school. Here are other tips to consider:
 Lori McIlwain has a 15-year-old son with autism and is co-founder and board chair of the National Autism Association (NAA). In 2007, Lori began advocating for federal resources that would reduce and eliminate emotional trauma, injuries and deaths associated with autism-related wandering/elopement. She has also advocated for federal laws that would eliminate dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in public and private schools. Through NAA, she has launched multiple safety initiatives and direct-assistance programs. |
Showing posts with label autism spectrum disorder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autism spectrum disorder. Show all posts
April 15, 2015
Managing ASD Wandering Tendencies on all Fronts…
February 9, 2015
Cineplex launches Sensory Friendly Screenings for people with autism
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| Christian Killough, and his father Steve Killough, foreground, watch 'Puss in Boots' during a special sensory friendly showing at the Rave Theater in Montgomery, Ala. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011.(AP Photo/Montgomery Advertiser, Mickey Welsh) |
TORONTO - Cineplex Entertainment is launching a special screening program for people with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
The Canadian movie theatre company says its Sensory Friendly Screenings will include 2D projection, increased auditorium lighting, lower volume and smaller crowds.
Theatres will also allow families to bring in outside food and take a break from screenings in a nearby "calm zone."
Cineplex says the screenings will take place in select venues on select Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., before theatres open to the general public. MORE >
The Canadian movie theatre company says its Sensory Friendly Screenings will include 2D projection, increased auditorium lighting, lower volume and smaller crowds.
Theatres will also allow families to bring in outside food and take a break from screenings in a nearby "calm zone."
Cineplex says the screenings will take place in select venues on select Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., before theatres open to the general public. MORE >
January 28, 2015
Study of siblings with autism reveals surprising results
IVAN SEMENIUK - SCIENCE REPORTER
The Globe and Mail
With symptoms that can range from missed social cues to severe linguistic and cognitive impairments, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has proved a complex condition for geneticists to get their heads around.
Now the largest study to date based on the whole genome sequences of siblings with ASD, together with their non-autistic parents, is throwing a genetic spotlight on those complexities and yielding some surprises.
Among them: In only one third of the cases where the autism of one sibling with ASD was linked to a genetic variant did the other sibling with autism share the same variant.
At face value, such a result might seem to defy common sense. Autism is thought to affect about 1 in 68 children, which means the odds of two siblings having the disorder for entirely unrelated reasons should be very low.
One possible explanation is some of the variants the study looked at will prove in time not to be implicated in autism. Or there could be other still-hidden inherited factors that the siblings share that may increase the likelihood of ASD in some way. “Then, if they have another mutation, they’re pushed across the autism threshold,” says Stephen Scherer, director of the Centre for Applied Genomics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto who led the study. MORE >
August 22, 2014
Children With Autism Have Extra Synapses In Their Brains
www.iflscience.com | by Lisa Winter
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| Photo credit: (Left) Excess synapses in the brain of a child with autism (Right) Properly pruned synapses of a developmentally typical child. Credit: Guomei Tang/Mark S. Sonders/Columbia University Medical Center |
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects about 1 in 68 children born in the United States. In an effort to find out why, a group of researchers led by David Sulzer at Columbia University Medical Center examined the synapses in the brains of children with autism. They discovered that during childhood, children with autism do not undergo regular synaptic pruning, resulting in having an excess. This also identified a potential conversion of genetic targets that could be used to create a new treatment for ASD. The paper was published in the journal Neuron.
Throughout childhood development, regular cellular processes get rid of about half of the synapses the child was born with. Synapses allow neurons to communicate with one another through chemical or electrical signaling. Though some have speculated that excess synapses could be a sign of autism, there had not been any studies on the matter until now. Read more
March 28, 2014
World Autism Awareness Day — April 2, 2014
April 2, 2013 across the Globe
The World Autism Awareness Day Resolution had four main components: (1) the establishment of April 2 as WAAD, (2) participation of UN organizations, member states, NGOs and all private & public organizations in WAAD, (3) raise awareness of Autism on all levels in society, (4) Security-General should deliver this message to member states and all other UN organs.
March 8, 2014
What It's Like on the Autism Spectrum
Intense stories of family with autism spectrum disorder, as submitted by Atlantic readers
James Hamblin | theatlantic.com
What I still can’t comprehend is how he’ll be able to go on living in a world not designed for him.
It’s the most important thing in his life, so why is it not for everyone else?
I am used to people asking what his savant abilities are, as they assume that all people with autism must have one.
Every parent of a child on the spectrum can tell you about that play date. You watch the other kids, then you watch your kid.
That said, I am fine calling myself either thing, or nothing at all.
Our differences can indeed be key to our success. But the challenges of autism remain real.
In The Atlantic print magazine this month, Hanna Rosin tells the story of her son Jacob's diagnosis with Asperger syndrome, in the context of the psychiatric community's recent change in the definition of the disorder to part of what's now known as autism spectrum disorder.
We received a lot of thoughtful responses from readers who have experience with the disorder in their own lives, themselves or their families, about how the diagnosis has affected them, and what the changes in definition mean to everyone. Here are excerpts from some of those stories.
I remember starting home-based behavioral therapy and that three months after... CONTINUE >
—Kammy Kramer; Eagan, Minnesota, USA
MORE STORIES
It’s the most important thing in his life, so why is it not for everyone else?
I am used to people asking what his savant abilities are, as they assume that all people with autism must have one.
Every parent of a child on the spectrum can tell you about that play date. You watch the other kids, then you watch your kid.
That said, I am fine calling myself either thing, or nothing at all.
Our differences can indeed be key to our success. But the challenges of autism remain real.
February 26, 2014
How Do I Tell My Son Everything About His Autism?
Carrie Cariello | Huffington Post
So, we've got this guy in middle school now. And he is all sorts of cool. Savvy. Phrases like let's play have been replaced by let's hang out. He makes egg sandwiches for himself in the morning and wants to walk home from the bus stop alone in the afternoon. There is swagger in his neon-sneakered step.
I imagined we would sit our 10-year-old son, Joey, down when the time came and have the Sex Talk. But about six months ago I realized he knows way more than we think; juicy details and tidbits gleaned from the back of the school bus and movies and music. Every once in a while he'll ask something like, "So you and dad had sex five times?" And I will say, yes, just five.
I figured we'd sit our other son, Jack, down at some point and have a similar discussion, about him and autism. And I've been dreading this talk, the You Have Autism talk, much more...
November 8, 2013
April 28, 2013
How do I teach sexuality to a person with ASD?
*Answer:* Teaching sexuality is often a daunting task whether you are a parent or professional. When it comes to ASDs, there is a two-fold problem: physical development is often typical while cognitive and social-emotional development are delayed and some sexual behaviours may be rooted in other causes such as sensory issues, rigid patterns of behavior, or the enjoyment of negative attention. You have to be a detective and investigate the reasons why sexual behavior is being exhibited; the cause may not be what it appears to be. For example, excessive touching of the genitals may ... more »
April 20, 2013
AT-HOME FITNESS TIPS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
Gray is the CEO of Right Fit Sport and Wellness Center in Willowbrook, IL, and has been creating fitness programs and working with individuals who have special needs for more than 30 years. She has seen how exercise improves an individuals’ motor skills, muscle tone, and socialization skills. Exercise is also beneficial in eliminating self-destructive and self- stimulating behaviors in children with Autism.
Her latest program, “Five to Stay Alive,” consists of at-home activities recommended for children with autism to help fight obesity. They include:
1. Around the Block. Create a neighborhood path for children to follow and have your child run this path a designated number of times per day. He/she could wear a pedometer to measure steps and calories and track progress.
2. Raise the Bar! You’re a Star! Start with a dowel rod and raise it over head and back down. Eventually this can be substituted for weight bars.
3. Chair Squats. This movement is required for most power moves of the lower extremities and most athletic events.
4. Push-ups. If your child is able, have them do a designated number of push- ups every day.
5. Jumping Jacks. Again, depending on where children are on the spectrum, will make a difference in how many they can do.
Chart all progress on a chart and keep track of repetition and loads. Offer incentives as motivators such as stickers or a fat-free dessert.
Kids with Autism benefit greatly from exercise. A structured routine is essential to see results. Another fitness tip is to combine music and play with exercise because it enhances the child’s sensory response while boosting independence, happiness and self-esteem. “The biggest benefit”, says Gray “is weight loss”. Be sure to check out Suzanne’s book, “101 Games and Activities for Youth with Autism”, and her DVD “Raising the Bar: Exercises for Youth and Adults with Autism”, for more information on fitness for individuals with Autism. To learn more about Suzanne Gray log on to www.right-fit.com.
Kids with Autism benefit greatly from exercise. A structured routine is essential to see results. Another fitness tip is to combine music and play with exercise because it enhances the child’s sensory response while boosting independence, happiness and self-esteem. “The biggest benefit”, says Gray “is weight loss”. Be sure to check out Suzanne’s book, “101 Games and Activities for Youth with Autism”, and her DVD “Raising the Bar: Exercises for Youth and Adults with Autism”, for more information on fitness for individuals with Autism. To learn more about Suzanne Gray log on to www.right-fit.com.
April 13, 2013
Air travel made easier for children with autism
Since the beginning of the year, Minneapolis-St. Paul International has been part in a new program to help the kids prepare for air travel.
For the Nielsen family, the already overwhelming adventure at the airport brings additional worries... more >
April 12, 2013
What in the World is Going On April 2013 Edition
April is Autism Awareness month. April 2nd marks World Autism Day, which was created by the United Nations in 2008. Autism Speaks celebrates this day with their Light It Up Blue Campaign. Check out their blog which gives daily updates as they count down until April 2nd. See how people around the world are planning to light it up blue to raise autism awareness. And speaking of Autism Speaks, they just launched their Employment Tool Kit. The creation of the kit started back in June 2012 with an employment Think Tank which captured the current state of employment for adults with autism... more »
April 2, 2013
Today is World Autism Awareness Day!
Today, throughout the world, individuals will come together highlighting the needs and dreams of people living with autism. Today, all of us at the Global Autism awareness honour and respect each individual living with autism for whom they are. We celebrate and honour parents, siblings, grandparents, teachers, and other professionals who provide support and love to those living on the autism spectrum.
March 4, 2013
World Autism Awareness Day — April 2, 2013
April 2, 2013 across the Globe
The World Autism Awareness Day Resolution had four main components: (1) the establishment of April 2 as WAAD, (2) participation of UN organizations, member states, NGOs and all private & public organizations in WAAD, (3) raise awareness of Autism on all levels in society, (4) Security-General should deliver this message to member states and all other UN organs.
February 18, 2013
When Autistic Children Are Children No More
Three Chicago families confront the looming social crisis.
By Cassie Walker Burke
T
he peas must be sorted. On a recent Friday morning, several 20-something volunteers buzz around a North Shore basement that houses a food pantry for the needy. Pouya Bagherian, an outgoing young man who is prone to mistakenly throwing valuables into the trash, goes through bags of donations. Jason Kaplan, a quiet type who is most comfortable plugged into his iPod, checks each can of peas to make sure it has no puncture marks. And Frank Craven, who is slight and wears thick-rimmed glasses, organizes the cans on a shelf so that the earliest expiration dates are in front.
These tasks require an enthusiasm for repetition that many people would find mind numbing. Not these three. Bagherian and Kaplan, both 26, are autistic; Craven, also 26, has a rare autism-like condition called Lowe syndrome. Coming here lets them build real-world skills such as organization and teamwork, plus earn the satisfaction of a job well done. Equally important, it gives them a reason to get up in the morning.
Many autistic adults have a hard time finding their place in the world. Less than half enroll in higher education or find work. (According to the Social Security Administration, only about 6 percent of adults with autism work full-time.) Many lack the skills to live alone. Those who cannot work generally qualify for monthly Social Security disability payments, which are too low to cover vocational coaches, therapeutic day programs, or other interventions that may help an autistic person reach a modicum of self-sufficiency. Meanwhile, the federal government does not require school systems to provide special education for students older than 18 (most states, including Illinois, have extended the requirement through age 21). “If you have a developmental disability like Frank, when you turn 22, you disappear,” says Craven’s mother, Jane Gallery, a 61-year-old Winnetka resident. “You fall off a cliff.”
One-of-a-kind model for autism services
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Marc Bennie, 15, and his sister Julia, 13, have autism and are receiving support services at The Ability Hub. They are with their parents Maureen and Ron Bennie in Calgary on November 10, 2012.Photograph by: Christina Ryan , PostMedia News |
CALGARY — In 1999, when Maureen Bennie’s son, Marc, was diagnosed with autism at age two, she and her husband were left to cope on their own.
No one referred them to any support services for Marc, or even told them where they could find help. “I was given five pamphlets and I had one meeting with a social worker. That’s all the help I got,” Bennie recalled.
"The Child Development Centre, located at the crossroads of the University of Calgary campus and the Alberta Children’s Hospital, houses an array of autism services for all ages."
Instead of being steered immediately toward interventions that could have given Marc a fighting chance at blunting autism’s devastating course, Bennie wasted valuable time struggling to find speech and behavioural therapy — as well as ways to pay for those expensive services.
“It took me six months to figure it out on my own,” she said.
Still reeling from the shock of the diagnosis, Bennie felt so overwhelmed that she spiralled into a depression.
Read more >
February 15, 2013
Autism therapy activates brain’s social side
UC SANTA BARBARA / YALE (US) — Researchers have documented positive changes in brain activity in children with autism after they received a type of behavioral therapy.
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"There's a social deficit in autism, so any improvement toward social interaction really helps with development. That's what makes this very exciting," says Avery C. Voos, a graduate student at UC Santa Barbara.
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The team used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure the effect of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) on both lower- and higher-functioning children with autism receiving the therapy for the first time.
The brain images allows researchers to see what areas are active while processing certain stimuli—in this case human motion. Comparing pre- and post-therapy data from the fMRI scans of their 5-year-old subjects, the researchers report seeing marked—and remarkable—changes in how the children were processing the stimuli.
“The cool thing that we found was that these kids showed increased activation in regions of the brain utilized by typically developing kids,” says Avery C. Voos, first-year graduate student at the Koegel Autism Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Voos co-led the study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
February 2, 2013
Scientists Investigate Possible Connection Between Autism and Vitamin D
With autism rates climbing and levels of vitamin D declining because of more sunscreen use and less time spent outdoors, scientists have begun to look into a possible link. A recent study was the first to discover that children with autism had significantly lower levels of vitamin D in their bloodstreams than non-autistic children. Yet many questions remain, and experts say none of the research so far has shown a convincing link.
Vitamin D is one of many environmental factors eyed by researchers seeking to understand why autism rates have continued their uninterrupted climb... READ MORE >
January 29, 2013
Autism turning into regional epidemic, experts warn
Fatima Muhammad | Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Specialists are suggesting that research facilities at universities be utilized to develop programs to help autistic children. They also asked for an in-depth study to determine the real causes of the “alarming increase” of autism in the region.
Dr. Ehab Raja, head of the medical team at the Arab Network for Autism (ANA), said students more often than not turn in their research papers and keep them at university libraries. They rarely seek to apply their research findings in practice. He added that they hope to adapt these researches and turn them into practical tools to help autistic children.
The doctor was speaking to Saudi Gazette on the sidelines of the ninth meeting of the ANA at Jeddah Autism Center Saturday night.
READ MORE >
January 28, 2013
Dan Marino continues 20-year Walk with Autism
It was 20 years ago Claire Marino wondered if there was a better way to help kids with autism. That question has helped thousands of kids.
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| Dan Marino Foundation Walkabout Autism Event |
Dave HydeSun | Sentinel Columnist
MIAMI GARDENS
People always lament how sports stars aren't heroes like they used to be. Lance Armstrong lies. Tiger Woods stains his name. The entire Baseball Hall of Fame ballot is at issue.
But what if everyone's telling the wrong stories? Because this is what happened all Saturday morning. A young man approached Dan Marino. They began talking like old friends. They talked of the young man's martial arts, of his cooking studies, of what he plans to do afterward.
After a few minutes, as the young man walked away with his mother, Marino said, "Kenneth's been with us for years."
But what if everyone's telling the wrong stories? Because this is what happened all Saturday morning. A young man approached Dan Marino. They began talking like old friends. They talked of the young man's martial arts, of his cooking studies, of what he plans to do afterward.
After a few minutes, as the young man walked away with his mother, Marino said, "Kenneth's been with us for years."
READ MORE >
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