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Prospect of 'autism drug' raised

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Fredricko

25 April 2012 Last updated at 14:00 ET By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News

The prospect of a drug to treat autism has been raised after symptoms of the condition were reduced in experiments on mice that were performed by the US National Institutes of Health.

There is no cure for the condition.

The results published in Science Translational Medicine showed increased social skills and less repetitive behaviour in animals taking a drug.

However, treatments which work in mice frequently fail in humans and potential medication would be years away.

Autism spectrum disorder is thought to affect around 1% of children. It ranges from mild to severe and symptoms include social problems, delayed language and repetitive movements such as hand tapping.

Autism is mainly treated with specialist education, speech and behavioural therapies.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health said autism had been thought to be untreatable by drugs. The theory was that any problems would be "hardwired" into the brain.

It will be a long time until these findings can be translated for human patients

However, they said there was evidence that in some cases autism could be down to the way cells in the brain communicate with each other at synapses, the gaps between individual brain cells.

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Prospect of 'autism drug' raised

Experimental drug alleviated autism symptoms in mice

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Fredricko

By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff

While many potential drugs to treat autism are being tested in experimental settings, a new one appears fairly promising -- at least in mice. Researchers from the National Institutes of Mental Health and Pfizer reported Wednesday that an experimental compound, called GRN-529, increased social interactions and lessened repetitive self-grooming behavior in a strain of mice bred to display autism-like behaviors.

The mouse in the video above was interested only in repeatedly cleaning its coat of fur before it was given the drug; after getting the drug, it went to an attached cage to try to engage with a new mouse it had never encountered before.

Our findings suggest a strategy for developing a single treatment that could target multiple diagnostic symptoms, Jacqueline Crawley, a researcher at the mental health institute, said in a statement. Many cases of autism are caused by mutations in genes that control an ongoing process -- the formation and maturation of synapses, the connections between neurons. If defects in these connections are not hard-wired, the core symptoms of autism may be treatable with medications.

The study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, is one of several to test a class of drugs that inhibit a cell receptor called mGluR5, thats known to play a role in Fragile X, an autistic-like syndrome. Clinical trials to test these drugs on Fragile X patients are already underway.

Together, the new and previous findings suggest that clinical trials should be initiated to test the effects of mGluR5 inhibitors in autism patients, wrote Baltazar Gomez-Mancilla, a researcher for the drug company Novartis, in a paper that accompanied the study. But whether the agent would work in older children and adults with autism remains questionable at best. It could be, added Gomez-Mancilla, that the limited plasticity of the adult brain mandates intervention at earlier ages, ideally at the time of diagnosis.

Autism Partnership Family Foundation Hosts One Of The Largest Autism Workshops In The Country On Teaching Social Skills

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Fredricko

SEAL BEACH, Calif., April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Autism Partnership Family Foundation hosted two complimentary workshops for parents and professionals on the importance of the development of social skills in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). More than 1,600 total attendees are scheduled to attend the workshops, making the event one of the largest autism events in the nation. Approximately 800 parents and professionals joined the first workshop today, April 26. The second workshop is scheduled for Fri., April 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, Calif.

The curriculum for the workshops is designed to teach parents and teachers practical methods they can use to enhance social skills to children and teenagers with ASD and Asperger's Syndrome. The sessions are hosted by Dr. Ronald Leaf and Dr. Mitchell Taubman. With more than 30 years of experience in the field of autism, Leaf and Taubman are co-founders of the Autism Partnership, an organization that specializes in behavioral treatment and effective, comprehensive services to children and their families. Building on this success, Leaf and Taubman worked together to co-found the Autism Partnership Family Foundation to ensure that life-changing services are available to children whose parents may not be able to afford effective treatment.

Leaf and Taubman are licensed psychologists and authors of Crafting Connections, a book that highlights social skill development in clear and behavioral frameworks, and provides parents and teachers with a wealth of information regarding goals and strategies. They are pioneers in the field of autism research, and have co-authored several books. The two are influential advocates of the efficacy of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, which uses an understanding of why behavior occurs to address a wide range of social issues, including helping individuals to learn. ABA facilitates development and fosters the greatest degree of independence. Leaf and Taubman provide ABA therapy through their practice at the Autism Partnership.

"We know that people with ASD often suffer from depression or loneliness, which is why we place a heavy emphasis on developing communication and social skills in children and teens with ASD," said Leaf. "These workshops teach parents and educators how to pair communication skills with social skills, which can foster meaningful relationships and friendships."

The effectiveness of Applied Behavior Analysis therapy was recently documented in a new study to be published June 2012 in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis titled "Comparison of Social Stories and the Teaching Interaction Procedure for Teaching Social Skills to Children with Autism." Authored by clinicians from both Autism Partnership and the University of Kansas, including Leaf and Taubman, the study compared two teaching strategies for people with ASD. Social Studies, a commonly used approach that is used by teachers throughout the world, was compared to Teaching Interaction Procedure, which has been used by Autism Partnership since 1997. The study showed Teaching Interaction Procedure to be highly effective and that the commonly used procedure, Social Studies, was relatively ineffective.

For more information, please visit http://www.autismpartnership.com/workshops.

About the Autism Partnership Family Foundation Autism Partnership Family Foundation is the non-profit sector of Autism Partnership, a service agency with an international reputation of excellence. The Autism Partnership Family Foundation was founded to assist children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in achievingthe happiest, most fulfilling life possible. Its mission is to ensure that life-changing services are available to children whose parents may not be able to afford effective treatment.

About the Autism Partnership The Autism Partnership is an organization that specializes in behavioral treatment and effective, comprehensive services to children with autism and their families. Founded in 1994 by Dr. John Eachin, Dr. Ronald Leaf, and Dr. Mitchell Taubman, the Autism Partnership combines knowledge garnered from university clinical research along with expertise gained from delivering services in a community-based setting. Autism Partnership staff speak at national and international conferences and have published numerous research articles which have appeared in peer-reviewed scientific journals. For more information, visit http://www.autismpartnership.com/.

Hyundai Motor America And Autism Speaks Partner To Raise Awareness During National Autism Awareness Month

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Fredricko

COSTA MESA, Calif., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Hyundai Motor America joined Autism Speaks on Saturday, April 21, 2012 for the annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks that brought together more than 30,000 participants at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. to raise awareness about the prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to combat this complex disorder.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120425/LA94730)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091001/HYUNDAILOGO)

Showing Hyundai's support during National Autism Awareness Month in April and its dedication to the health and well-being of its local communities, Ruth Eisen, Executive Director and Associate General Counsel for Hyundai Motor America, kicked-off the event with opening remarks touching on her own family's challenges with autism and the need to increase funding for research. A 2012 Hyundai Tucson then paved the way for runners and walkers as the 5K's official pace car.

"As the mother of a child with autism, I am proud to work for Hyundai and to see its commitment and compassion for children's health," said Ruth Eisen, Executive Director and Associate General Counsel for Hyundai Motor America. "Hyundai and I are honored to have been a part of the 2012 Walk Now for Autism Speaks and to help increase research for, and awareness of, autism to better the quality of life of the kids and families dealing with autism every day."

Hyundai's participation at the Walk for Autism Speaks is part of its larger corporate social responsibility program that runs under the mantra of "doing good things together." Hyundai is committed to being a responsible member of the community and giving back to its neighbors while focusing on health and education for children nationwide.

"We are so proud to have company sponsors like Hyundai involved with Autism Speaks," said Matt Asner, Executive Director for Autism Speaks Los Angeles. "They are leading the way in corporate social responsibility, showing families like the ones we serve at Autism Speaks that they are here for us, and support us, and support autism awareness in our community."

For more information about Hyundai Motor America's CSR initiatives, please visit http://www.hyundaiusa.com/new-thinking/csr.aspx.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAHyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide.

ABOUT AUTISM SPEAKSAutism Speaks is the nation's largest autism advocacy organization,dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, fundingresearch into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. http://www.autismspeaks.org

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Hyundai Motor America And Autism Speaks Partner To Raise Awareness During National Autism Awareness Month

Larger brains for some boys with autism?

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Fredricko

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- In the largest study of brain development in preschoolers with autism to date, a study by UC Davis MIND Institute researchers has found that 3-year-old boys with regressive autism, but not early onset autism, have larger brains than their healthy counterparts.

The study is published online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition. It was led by Christine Wu Nordahl, a researcher at the UC Davis MIND Institute and an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and David G. Amaral, Beneto Foundation Chair, MIND Institute Research Director and University of California Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

"The finding that boys with regressive autism show a different form of neuropathology than boys with early onset autism is novel," Nordahl said. "Moreover, when we evaluated girls with autism separately from boys, we found that no girls - regardless of whether they had early onset or regressive autism -had abnormal brain growth."

Brain enlargement has been observed in previous studies of autism. However, prior to this study, little was known about how many and which children with autism have abnormally large brains.

"This adds to the growing evidence that there are multiple biological subtypes of autism, with different neurobiological underpinnings," Amaral said.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose symptoms include deficits in language and social interaction and communication. The condition affects 1 in 110 children born today, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is diagnosed more frequently in male children than female children - at a ratio of 4 to 1.

The current study is one of the first published from data collected by the UC Davis MIND Institute Autism Phenome Project (APP). The project's goal is to recruit and enroll as many very young children as possible in order to collect sufficient biological and behavioral information to characterize different autism subgroups and to explore different neural, immunologic, and genetic signatures of autism.

For the study, the authors enrolled a total of 180 children between age 2 and 4. One hundred and fourteen of the participants had autism spectrum disorder; the remaining participants were 66 age-matched typically developing controls. Of the children with autism, 54 percent were diagnosed with the regressive form and 46 with the non-regressive type.

The researchers collected magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans on 180 participants at age 3. To evaluate the rate of brain growth prior to age 3, they analyzed head circumference measurements taken from pediatric well-baby visits from birth through 18 months. Roughly half of the children with autism were reported by their parents as having experienced a regression, characterized by the loss of previously acquired language and social skills.

MRIs were carried out on study participants during natural, nighttime sleep using protocols developed specifically for the Autism Phenome Project by Nordahl.

"Obtaining MRI scans in 3-year-old children without the use of sedation may seem quite challenging. But, by working closely with the parents, we actually were successful more than 85 percent of the time. Patience on the part of everyone and the dedication of the families was critical for our success," Nordahl said.

The study found that accelerated head growth and brain enlargement was consistently observed only in the subset of children diagnosed with regressive autism. Specifically, total brain volume in 3-year-old males with regressive autism was more than 6 percent larger than that of age-matched typically developing peers. Twenty-two percent of boys with regressive autism, as opposed to 5 percent of boys without regressive autism, had enlarged brains, the study found.

Changes in brain size were not apparent in boys who did not experience a regression. Girls with autism, regardless of autism onset status, also did not show abnormal brain growth. The study findings suggest that abnormalities in overall brain growth are specific to male children with the regressive type of autism, and that rapid brain growth may be a risk factor for regression, the researchers said.

While brain size was clearly larger at age 3, the study also determined when the precocious growth began, by examining records of head circumference that provides a reasonable estimate of brain size in young children. These analyses clearly indicated that brain growth diverged from normal at around 4 to 6 months of age. This is of particular interest, because many families believe that the trigger that led to their child's regression took place close to the time that the regression happened. But the data reported in this paper indicate that the process leading to the enlarged brain, which presumably also is associated with the onset of autism, started when the child was a newborn.

Much remains to be elucidated regarding brain changes associated with autism, the authors note. In the current study, not all boys with regression demonstrate the precocious brain growth. The investigative team also continues efforts to define the underlying brain pathology in children with early onset autism and in girls with autism.

"It is not clear how many different types of autism will be identified," Amaral said. "The purpose of defining different types of autism is to more effectively study the cause of each type and eventually determine effective preventative measures and better, individualized treatments. This is a first step in defining autism subtypes based on the data from the Autism Phenome Project, but it certainly will not be the last. There are already indications that other subtypes of autism will be more closely associated with immunological differences or genetic alterations."

The study's other authors are Nicholas Lange of the Department of Psychiatry and Biostatistics at Harvard University Schools of Medicine and Public Health McLean Hospital; Deana D. Li, Lou Ann Barnett, Aaron Lee, Tony J. Simon, Sally Rogers and Sally Ozonoff of the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the UC Davis School of Medicine; and Michael H. Buonocore of the Department of Radiology, UC Davis School of Medicine.

The study was funded by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the University of California, Davis Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute.

At the UC Davis MIND Institute, world-renowned scientists engage in research to find improved treatments as well as the causes and cures for autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, fragile X syndrome, Tourette syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Advances in neuroscience, molecular biology, genetics, pharmacology and behavioral sciences are making inroads into a better understanding of brain function. The UC Davis MIND Institute draws from these and other disciplines to conduct collaborative, multidisciplinary research. For more information, visit http://mindinstitute.ucdavis.edu.

My point still stands: autism can take a flying leap

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Fredricko

My point still stands: autism can take a flying leap February 23rd, 2012, 4:12 pm · · posted by Jo Ashline, OC Moms

This morning I published a blog post about autism here on the Mom Blog (which is part of the Orange County Register). It was taken down an hour later. The reason was NOT because it was, as one Facebook commenter put it, “bigoted and offensive.” It was because I used a word that I learned the hard way can’t be used in a media outlet like OC Register.

And I respect that. I respect my editor. I respect the editors she answers to.

I respect that there are certain protocols in place that prevent me from being a potty mouth. Guidelines are in place for a reason and if I want to continue writing this blog, I’m going to have to find a more creative way to express my emotions than resorting to those tried and true no-no words.

I’m up to the challenge. I DO want to keep writing here. I have plenty more to say and plenty of people I haven’t offended yet.

But today I had to make a choice. As a writer I am faced with this inner voice that tells me whether or not something I put out is done so with integrity. That doesn’t mean that everything I write is award-winning or will move mountains, but it does mean that when I hit publish, I do so with the confidence that I’ve given it my all. Even if it’s a piece about Victoria Beckham.

I reread that post half a dozen times. I tried my best to think of replacements that would still get my point across. But darn it all to heck if I just didn’t get the same feeling when I filled in the blanks with, I Told Autism To Take A Flying Leap or I Told Autism It Can See Itself Out or I Told Autism That Maybe It Can Sort Of Possibly Retreat But Only If It Feels Like It.

So I chose to leave it alone and post it on my personal website, joashline.com, where you can read it in its uncensored entirety.

Now. To address these accusations of bigotry and hatred.

I do not speak from a place of discrimination. I do not speak from a place that puts some people before others. I have more diagnoses than I know what to do with, including but not limited to panic attack disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, alcoholism and depression — and that’s just the first line of my medical file. These are all things that make up who I am, in part, but they are not things that I celebrate.

These are all diagnoses that have shaped me in some form or another, but I have no problem flipping them off after a bad day because of them, or after a particularly good one in spite of them.

The same is for my son’s autism. I do not consider him defined by his autism. I consider him affected and afflicted and hindered by it. That is our version. That is our reality. This is a child who requires 24 hours of non-stop supervision, because he would not think twice about running out into traffic or drinking bleach or walking off with a stranger or jumping into a body of water even though he cannot swim.

This is what our version of autism looks like.

We invest in doctors and therapy and innovative technology — not because maybe we think autism is kind of OK as long as we have a handle on it, but because we want to get rid of it. Because we see what it does to our loved ones and we hold onto the belief that it CAN and it WILL get better.

So my opinion stands. Autism can, er, take a flying leap.

And I promise to keep it legit on this site and entertain and anger and otherwise annoy you without the use of banned words. I used to teach kindergarten for goodness sake. I CAN do this!

But if you’re ever in the mood to hear a naughty word or two — because sometimes it’s that one naughty word that can really drive home a point — well then, you know where to find me.

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My point still stands: autism can take a flying leap

Searching for the why behind rising autism rate

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Fredricko

By Catherine Lord, Special to CNN

updated 5:08 PM EDT, Sun April 1, 2012

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Editor's note: Catherine Lord is the director of the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, a subsidiary of Weill Cornell Medical College and New York Presbyterian Hospital.

(CNN) -- This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its newest study on the rate of autism among 8-year-olds, showing that 1 in 88 has some form of the disorder. Previously, it was 1 in 110. Does the new figure indicate that we are seeing an epidemic of autism, as some have speculated?

At this point, it's not clear.

One possibility is that we are seeing the result of better detection rather than a real surge in autism.

Catherine Lord

However, there are some striking parts about the study, which used data from 2008 collected in 14 sites across the United States. The rate of autism increased by more than 45% from 2002 to 2008 in numerous sites. It was a larger and more consistent increase than from 2002 to 2006. Also intriguing is that the increase was very uneven in terms of geography, gender, race and ethnicity.

Some sites had nearly five times as many children with autism as others. In several sites, almost 1 in 33 8-year-old boys were diagnosed with autism. This seems difficult to believe, particularly when these sites had smaller samples and children with less severe intellectual disabilities.

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Searching for the why behind rising autism rate

Parenting Through the Challenges of Autism: A new book out today by MIT Sloan School’s Anjali Sastry offers practical …

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Fredricko

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

When Anjali Sastry received the formal diagnosis that her three-year-old son had autism, she feltas any parent wouldlost, afraid, and helpless.

But after the shock wore off, she got educated. She read every book and scientific study about autism she could get her hands on. She shadowed her sons therapists, and met professors of special education doing promising research. She hunted down developmental psychologists to get ideas on learning techniques she could try with her son at home. She built teams of helpersfrom teachers to family members to babysittersand designed newsletters and reports that would support her childs learning. Over the years, whenever a friend, colleague, or friend-of-friend received a diagnosis of autism for one of their children, Sastry was the person to turn to for help. Many people told her: You should write a book.

And so she did. Sastry says her book, Parenting Your Child with Autism, is one that she wishes she could have received all those years ago when her oldest son was first diagnosed. The book, co-authored by Dr. Blaise Aguirre, is both a handbook to help caregivers choose the right treatments and educational approaches for their child, but also a self-help guide filled with wisdom and warmth from an empathetic mother who understands the complexities of parenting children with special needs. (Sastrys younger son has Aspergers, an autism spectrum disorder.)

Parenting a child who has autism is a journeyone that Ive been on for over ten years now, says Sastry, who is a senior lecturer at MITs Sloan School of Management. When your child has autism, every decision can seem weighty because youre working so hard to help your child learn without the advantage of the full complement of skills, capabilities, and motivation that are mostly inherent in typically developing children. My goal is to help parents make smarter decisions by becoming the special kind of experts they need to be when it comes to their kids.

Sastry, whose professional focus is on global health deliveryproviding medical care in poor settings where needs are high, aims to teach caregivers how to blend research with action by applying the scientific method to their parenting.

There is so much data about autism coming out all the time, she says. Parents must have an understanding of the ideas supported by those studies, but in order to choose the best options for their kids, they ought to assemble their own evidence. This involves gathering data about their child based on the time they spend with them, and experiments where theyve tried new things at home and school; making sense of it with the help of doctors, teachers, and therapists; and then combining it with other information. Only then will they be able to evaluate whether their child could do better with a new approach, dietary change, medication, or treatment.

The book begins with a survey of current thinking about autism and its causes and cures. The next section is a guide to the diagnostic process, and gives advice for parents on how to collaborate with medical professionals to select the right interventions. It also gives suggestions for partnering with teachers and schools.

The final part of the book contains personal and professional recommendations to help parents build an everyday life that works for the entire family. Its parent-friendly techniques range from simple programs that shore up a childs social interaction and language, to approaches for teaching household chores clearing the table, making the bed, for instance - that will foster the childs independence. These ideas are based on anecdotes from Sastry and other parents as well as medical experts.

Parents of children with autism report very high levels of stress, says Sastry. But there is also evidence that they rebound within two years after getting an initial diagnosis. My best advice to families coming to terms with the diagnosis is that even if the way forward seems difficult right now, it will get better. You do regain your footing. If our book helps you get there any faster, well have reached our goal.

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Parenting Through the Challenges of Autism: A new book out today by MIT Sloan School’s Anjali Sastry offers practical ...

New treatment for irritability in autism

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Fredricko

Public release date: 31-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rhiannon Bugno biol.psych@utsouthwestern.edu 214-648-0880 Elsevier

Philadelphia, PA, May 31, 2012 Autism is a developmental disorder that affects social and communication skills. Irritability is a symptom of autism that can complicate adjustment at home and other settings, and can manifest itself in aggression, tantrums, and self-injurious behavior. These disruptive behaviors are frequently observed in children with autism, which may considerably affect their ability to function at home or in school.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdoses, but it may have other applications related to its effects in the brain. NAC helps maintain and restore glutathione, which play a key role in the antioxidant defense system. Additionally, cysteine as supplied by NAC treatment, stimulates a protein, the cystine-glutamate antiporter, resulting in the decrease of glutamatergic neurotransmission. NAC has two resulting effects: 1) it may protect brain cells by raising the level of a protective antioxidant metabolite called glutathione, and 2) it may reduce the excitability of the glutamate system by stimulating inhibitory receptors.

These drug actions are important because, although the causes of autism are unknown, it is clear that there are many influencing factors and scientists are pursuing multiple hypotheses. Two in particular relate to NAC: one theory is that autism may be caused by an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in the body; the other is that the glutamate system may be dysfunctional in individuals with autism.

These hypotheses led researchers at Stanford University and the Cleveland Clinic to conduct a pilot trial of NAC in children with autistic disorder. Children were randomized to receive either NAC or placebo daily for 12 weeks and their symptoms were evaluated four times during that period.

They found that irritability was significantly decreased in the children who received NAC. In addition, NAC was well-tolerated and caused minimal side effects.

Lead author Dr. Antonio Hardan commented, "Data from this preliminary trial suggest that NAC has the potential to be helpful in targeting irritability in children with autism. It is also unclear if NAC improves other symptom domains in autism."

"At this point it is too early to tell how NAC reduced irritability in autism, but this finding will be an important addition to the field if it can be replicated," said Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, where the study is being published.

Dr. Hardan agreed, adding that "large randomized controlled trials are needed to attempt to replicate the findings from this pilot trial and to determine whether or not NAC is effective in targeting other symptoms observed in autism such as repetitive and restricted interests." This small pilot study was the first step and so the next stages of work can now begin to determine whether NAC could potentially become an approved treatment for autism.

Officer urges autism training for first responders

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Fredricko

By Alan Johnson

The Columbus Dispatch Friday May 11, 2012 5:49 AM

Sgt. Mark Farrar of the Akron Police Department, here with his son Kyle, spends many days speaking to fellow law-enforcement officers about how to deal with people with autism, like Kyle, now 5.

Akron Police Sgt. Mark Farrar knows the facts of autism in his head and the pain of autism in his heart.

With the incidence of autism rising rapidly 1 in 88 children (and 1 in 54 boys) are born with some form of it law-enforcement agencies are being affected because, Farrar says, the autistic are seven times as likely as others to come into contact with first responders such as police, fire and paramedics. They also are more likely to be crime victims.

We talk about autism in kids as if they mysteriously disappear when they become adults, Farrar said yesterday at Attorney General Mike DeWines Two Days in May crime-victims conference in the Hyatt Regency. Those kids are growing up, becoming adults, living in our communities. We cant assume first responders know how to deal with them on their own.

Farrar, 39, who spends half his time patrolling the streets of Akron, has a son Kyle, 5, who has Aspergers syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism. Farrar became a self-taught expert on the subject after his sons autism was diagnosed, and he now trains law-enforcement and other organizations about autism, often on his own time.

Autism is a development disorder that often shows up early in childhood. It is marked by communication and behavioral issues but is not mental retardation.

An audience of 1,000 was spellbound yesterday as Farrar blended the story of his familys struggles raising Kyle and the growing trend for autistic individuals to become victims and sometimes perpetrators of crime. He showed a clip from the Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman movie Rain Man, offering a glimpse of life with autism.

We have to convince police theres a need for this training, not because I have a son, but because of research and statistics, he said. As I say in training law enforcement, This is coming to a call near you.

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Officer urges autism training for first responders

Utah autism treatment pilot struggles for funding

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Fredricko

Health Legislator is confident of funding, but expected donations from UHC, Zions are elusive.

Despite assurances during the Legislative session that major insurance companies and a bank would donate $1 million toward a new autism treatment pilot, the state has not yet received any money.

That could halve one part of the program, set to begin this summer, at a time when a study of a small area in Utah indicated the state could have the highest autism rate in the nation.

"As of right now there is no money," said Marc Babitz, director of the Division of Family Health and Preparedness at the Utah Department of Health. "I am not aware of one private donation."

But Rep. Ronda Menlove, R-Garland, who sponsored the bill to create the pilot, says there is "no question" that money is on its way.

"Weve been working with the entities this past week working out the details," she said.

Expected donor Zions Bank did not immediately comment. Intermountain Healthcare says it plans to provide financial support although the details are still being finalized.

The two-year pilot program is expected to pay for therapy for about 350 children between the ages of 2 and 6, through a combination of Medicaid, state and private dollars.

Three groups of children will be served, including up to 50 covered by the Public Employees Benefit and Insurance Program; at least 200 kids covered by Medicaid, supported by $4.5 million in Medicaid dollars; and up to 100 from the autism fund, paid in part with private dollars. Those children may be on private insurance or be uninsured.

Babitz said he remained hopeful the private money would still materialize; $1 million in state dollars will become available in July.

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Utah autism treatment pilot struggles for funding

Lakeside Center for Autism uses technology as treatment tool

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Fredricko

March 20, 2012

By Warren Kagarise

Dan Stachelski, CEO, director and a speech-language pathologist at Lakeside Center for Autism, stands at a mosaic of jigsaw puzzle pieces made by some of the youngsters in art class who attend the school. By Greg Farrar

The hustle and bustle at Lakeside Center for Autism is intentional.

Tucked in rooms outfitted in technology both tried-and-true and cutting-edge, children and therapists spend hours each day to overcome the obstacles put in place by autism. The commotion and laughter emanating from behind the closed doors come as signs of success.

Lakeside Center for Autism uses the popular Microsoft Kinect system and other tools to treat the complicated neural development disorder.

Its all about participation, company CEO, president and founder Dan Stachelski said. Technology can do that.

Stachelski, a Snoqualmie resident, founded and developed Lakeside Center for Autism after forming a sprawling in-home speech therapy practice across the Eastside. Now, Lakeside Center for Autism serves 100 families and conducts 1,700 appointments each month.

The company has earned local and national attention for using Kinect to treat autism.

Issaquah Chamber of Commerce leaders spotlighted Lakeside Center for Autism as a business innovator in the Innovation in Issaquah contest late last month.

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Lakeside Center for Autism uses technology as treatment tool

Carino's Italian Raises $50,000 for Autism Speaks and Autism Society With Dollar Donation From Every Kid's Meal …

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Fredricko

AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwire -05/07/12)- Carino's Italian today announced that it successfully reached its goal to raise $50,000 for Autism Speaks and Autism Society by selling 50,000 kid's meals at participating restaurants in April, National Autism Awareness Month. Both organizations will split the charitable contribution 50-50, which will be made through the Carino's Foundation, the restaurant's charitable giving arm.

"We are thankful to all our guests for making our fundraising effort for autism a success," said Creed Ford III, CEO of Carino's Italian. "For the third consecutive year, the Carino's Foundation has made it a mission to raise money for autism. Our financial contribution is able to support two organizations that are fighting this growing epidemic in our country, which now affects 1 in 88 children, according to the latest CDC figures that were released."

The Austin, Texas-based restaurant chain will continue to shine a light on autism by having a presence at all of the Walk Now for Autism Speaks events in Texas throughout the year. The Carino's Foundation blog at http://carinos.com/cares posted a series of touching stories about the Autism Society's Autism Champions throughout April.

"Carino's commitment to raising funds and awareness for autism is an example of what businesses can do to make a difference in people's lives," said Pat Robbins, Texas Areas Director for Autism Speaks. "We are honored to be one of the beneficiaries of its continued generosity."

"The Autism Society was honored to work with Carino's to highlight the people who make a difference in the communities we serve nationwide," said Scott Badesch, Autism Society President and COO. "Thanks to Carino's, not only will the national office have more funds for programs, but Autism Society chapters in Carino's communities will also benefit from the foundation's generosity."

Carino's Italian's kid's meals are all less than 500 calories. It was the first casual Italian dining restaurant chain to offer healthy kid's meals.

About Carino's ItalianHeadquartered in Austin, Texas, Carino's Italian owns and operates 67 restaurants nationwide in conjunction with over 70 franchise partner locations. Carino's Italian offers a wide selection of original, fresh, delectable dishes at superior value that every family can afford to enjoy. For more information about Carino's Italian, please visit http://carinos.com. To receive the latest updates, please "Like" Carino's Italian on Facebook at http://facebook.com/carinositalian and follow Carino's Italian on Twitter at http://twitter.com/carinositalian.

About Carino's FoundationCarino's Foundation is giving arm of Carino's Italian. Through the years, Carino's Foundation has supported many charitable organizations that focus on the needs of children from hunger relief to medical care to research. It has raised more than $2 million for various nonprofits since 1997. For more information about Carino's Foundation, please visit: http://carinos.com/cares.

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Carino's Italian Raises $50,000 for Autism Speaks and Autism Society With Dollar Donation From Every Kid's Meal ...

Autism Speaks Selects Prometheus Research to Develop Integrated Data Management System

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Fredricko

NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Research, a leading provider of data management services for behavioral and biomedical research, announced today that it has been selected by Autism Speaks to develop an integrated data management system which will enable autism researchers to securely manage and share their data.The newly organized Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) Data Coordinating Center (DCC) centralizes clinical, environmental, and biospecimen data from several Autism Speaks-funded programs and initiatives to better serve the research community.

Using their Research Exchange Database (RexDB) platform and best-of-breed electronic data capture system, ROADS, Prometheus empowers researchers to effectively manage and exchange interdisciplinary data while maintaining the flexibility to incorporate new significant results such as genetic, EEG, imaging data and additional studies.

"We're very excited to begin working with Autism Speaks, a premier autism research and advocacy organization.This project will enable wider integration of Autism Speaks' valuable research data and enable them to re-use the data in ways not possible before," said Dr. Leon Rozenblit, President and CEO of Prometheus Research.

Prometheus Research's domain expertise in autism and related disorders makes it an ideal partner for Autism Speaks.Prometheus has supported or collaborated on some of the largest and most ambitious autism research endeavors in the world, including the National Database for Autism Research (NDAR). The tools and processes they've helped develop in the areas of study governance, data collection, data curation, data distribution, and data persistence are now considered best practices for collaborative research, and are already in use at places like the Yale Child Study Center and the Marcus Autism Center.

"AGRE's dedication to collaboration and data sharing has accelerated the pace of autism research significantly over the last decade," said Autism Speaks Vice President of Clinical Programs Clara Lajonchere, Ph.D. "We strive to utilize technology that will meet the emerging needs of science and feel that the team at Prometheus Research has developed the tools that will help us achieve our goals."

About Autism SpeaksAutism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed over $180 million to research and developing innovative resources for families. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 95 cities across North America. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit http://www.autismspeaks.org.

About Prometheus ResearchPrometheus Research provides data management services and web-native data-management software to biomedical researchers investigating autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Its team specializes in designing and building systems capable of accelerating complex interdisciplinary research and of multiplying the value of hard-won research data. Prometheus staff are consummate innovators, and Prometheus technology powers some of the most ambitious and important research endeavors in autism, including the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). Many of these innovations also are made available to the open source software community, most notably HTSQL, an instant Web interface for databases, and the Research Exchange Database, RexDB. To learn more about Prometheus Research, please visit http://www.prometheusresearch.com.

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Autism Speaks Selects Prometheus Research to Develop Integrated Data Management System

Mothers of kids with autism earn less

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Fredricko

By Kathleen Doheny HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, March 19 (HealthDay News) -- Mothers of children with autism and autism spectrum disorders earn significantly less than what mothers of children who have no health limitations earn, a new study has found.

These moms even earn less than mothers of children with other health limitations.

Mothers of children with autism earned, on average, less than $21,000 a year, the researchers found. That was 56 percent less than mothers whose children had no health limitations and 35 percent less than mothers whose children had other health limitations.

In addition, moms who have children with autism are 6 percent less likely to be employed, and work an average of seven hours less per week than mothers of children with no health limitations, the study found.

While the researchers did not find differences in fathers' incomes, the overall income in families that have children with autism suffers, said lead researcher David Mandell, associate director of the Center for Autism Research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and associate director of the Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.

"Families of children with autism experience a 28 percent reduction in income compared to families with typically developing children," he said. The family incomes of parents whose children have autism is also less, 21 percent, than those whose children have other health limitations, Mandell found.

The study is published online March 19 and in the April print issue of Pediatrics.

For the study, Mandell and his colleagues looked at data from the 2002-2008 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. This ongoing survey of U.S. households collects detailed information on medical conditions, health services use and expenditure, and other data.

The researchers looked at 261 children with autism spectrum disorders, nearly 3,000 with other health limitations and more than 64,000 with no health limitations.

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Mothers of kids with autism earn less

Families of kids with autism earn less

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Fredricko

Rachael Rettner MyHealthNewsDaily

Adriana Lara, a mother in Hutto, Texas, is not able to work because her 5-year old son Joshua has autism. Lara must stay home to give Joshua the care he needs, and to drive him to his therapy sessions five days a week.

"It's just impossible for me to be able to hold a job and do all these things with Josh," Lara, 31, said. The family depends on the salary of Lara's husband, a psychologist at a Veteran's Affairs hospital.

Joshua's therapies, including speech, music and occupational therapy, cost about $5,000 a month. Eighty-five percent of the cost is currently covered by a government grant, but the grant will run out this summer, and the family's insurance policy won't cover Joshua's therapies, Lara said.

"We dont know how we're going to afford it," Lara said. While public schools offer autism therapies, Joshua's school does not offer the type of intensive therapies he needs, Lara said. For instance, the therapies provided by Joshua's school are not one-on-one, Lara said.

A new study highlights the unique financial burden faced by families of children with autism, like Lara's. The burden is particularly significant for mothers, the study finds.

On average, mothers of autistic children earn $14,755 less per year than mothers of healthy children, and $7,189 less per year than mothers of children with other health conditions (such as asthma and ADHD) that limit their ability to engage in childhood activities, according to the study.

Despite the fact that they tend to have completed more years of education, mothers of autistic children are 6 percent less likely to be employed, and they work on average 7 hours less weekly than mothers of healthy children, the researchers say.

"We don't think that autism creates more of a strain on the family per se than other chronic conditions of childhood," said study researcher David Mandell, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "I think the reason these mothers are leaving the workforce is because the service system for children with autism is so fragmented," Mandell said.

Health care and workplace policies need to recognize the full impact of autism, and alleviate costs for the families with greatest needs, the researchers concluded, writing in the March 19 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

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Families of kids with autism earn less

Mothers of Kids With Autism Earn Less, Study Shows

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Fredricko

These moms even earn less than mothers of children with other health limitations.

The study is published online March 19 and in the April print issue of Pediatrics.

The researchers looked at 261 children with autism spectrum disorders, nearly 3,000 with other health limitations and more than 64,000 with no health limitations.

About 67 percent of the children with autism had mothers who worked outside the home. About 92 percent of the kids with autism had working fathers.

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Mothers of Kids With Autism Earn Less, Study Shows

Parents of Kids with Autism Earn Less

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Fredricko

A new study highlights the unique financial burden faced by families of children with autism, like Lara's. The burden is particularly significant for mothers, the study finds.

Higher bills, lower salaries

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Parents of Kids with Autism Earn Less

Rethink Autism Tip: Help Your Child Be Successful in Group Activities! – Video

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Fredricko

29-02-2012 09:30 Help your child participate in large groups at school by first teaching her to engage in activities with one or two friends!

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Rethink Autism Tip: Help Your Child Be Successful in Group Activities! - Video

Mother Uses Marijuana to Treat Autistic Son – Video

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Fredricko

28-02-2012 18:50 Courtesy: ABCNews.com Mieko Hester-Perez appears on Good Morning America in 2009 to discuss the benefits of marijuana for her son with autism.

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Mother Uses Marijuana to Treat Autistic Son - Video

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