22-12-2011 08:22 Joseph Buxbaum discusses the influence of genetics on autism spectrum disorders. Series: "MIND Institute Lecture Series on Neurodevelopmental Disorders" [2/2012] [Health and Medicine] [Professional Medical Education] [Show ID: 23075]
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Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: From Genes to Novel Therapeutics - Video
A new study suggests that a child with an autistic older sibling will develop the disorder.
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Study suggests link between Autism, siblings
http://www.rethinkautism.com Autism Tip For many parents, toilet training can seem like an overwhelming challenge, but using the right strategies can make it a fun and positive experience for both you and your child! ABA-based intervention therapy video tips for every child displaying signs of pdd-nos or symptoms of autism spectrum disorders from high functioning, aspergers children working on more advanced language and social skills to lower functioning and non-verbal individuals working on basic skills such as eye-contact, motor and play.
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Autism Tip: Toilet Train Successfully!
Little Girl and her severely-autistic uncle in pool together illuminate special bond. Great example of how children can be taught to accept, love and help people with special needs by being actively involved in their lives.
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Growing Up with Severe Autism
Jen Trani Guitar App download! mhlo.co Seth Mnookin is a Lecturer in MIT's Graduate Program in Science Writing. His most recent book, The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear, uses a combination of investigative reporting, intellectual and scientific history, and sociological analysis to explore the controversies over vaccines and their rumored connection to developmental disorders. He is also the author of the 2006 New York Times-bestseller Feeding the Monster: How Money, Smarts, and Nerve Took a Team to the Top, which chronicles the challenges and triumphs of the John Henry-Tom Werner ownership group of the Boston Red Sox.
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Vaccines and Autism with Seth Mnookin
Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- My Keepon was originally developed as a therapeutic tool for autistic children who can be overwhelmed by face-to-face interactions. Last year, the creators teamed up with toy maker WOW! Stuff, which agreed to dedicate a portion of revenue to autism research.
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Robot Dances Its Way From Autism Therapy to Toys `R' Us
By DANG U. KOE
MANILA, Philippines Many parenting experts have long spoken of the ills of exposing children to too much electronic visual stimuli like television and computers. But progressive education proponents are also challenging todays parents to open their minds to the possibility that the next generation will face a school environment very different from ours. The learning environment of the future will be enriched with integrated photos and video teaching aides, instant access to latest research and interaction across vast distances.
Mona Magno-Veluz (@mightymagulang), ASP National Secretary, returns as this weeks Angel Talker.
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The unique challenges of individuals in the autism spectrum have given software and platform developers an opportunity to use technology to address the difficulties our ASD learners face.
Mobile Apps. A quick visit to the Apple App Store or the Android marketplace will give you many free and paid options for applications that can help a child with autism. Aside from picture-text apps that help language learning, the online application market is packed with student and teacher tools for behavior-tracking, conversation coaching, social stories development, listening therapy, observation recording, among others. Autism Speaks maintains a recommendations page on learner-tested applications.
Motion-controlled Gadgets. Games and learning software which responds to movement has been made possible by Ninendo Wii, Playstation Move and Microsoft Xbox Kinect. Many therapy centers all over the world have begun using these game platforms as tools in motor skills development for children on the spectrum.
A team of students from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde recently bagged first place in the Microsoft Philippines Imagine Cup 2012 for their software development project, KidCAMP, a Kinect-driven web and mobile application developed for PWA learners that provides communications and teaching tools, assists teachers in creating learning materials, and monitors student performance.
Digital Talking Books. The Autism Society Philippines, in cooperation with AusAid, is set to develop a series of DAISY (Digital Accessible Information System) digital talking books intended to teach children their human rights as individuals with disabilities, proclaimed by the United Nations. The project will feature social stories and will be illustrated by graphic designer Gabriel Atienza, a person with Asperger Syndrome.
Social Media. Setting aside the global debate on how much social media children should be exposed to, the various online platforms like Facebook and YouTube, have provided individuals with autism a medium to communicate with the outside world from the comfort of familiar surroundings.
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Autism-friendly Technology
The Autism Society's mission is to improve services for individuals with autism, such as family camps, networking groups and educational seminars.
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Chris Myers Extra Mile Award - Autism Society
MILLVILLE The new Cumberland County Center for Autism is in the works and could be open by this time next year.
That is, if Barb Russick has her way.
The mother of a 14-year-old autistic teen and founder of support group Puzzle Peace Moms has been laying the ground work for two years, getting community support, raising funds and attracting the attention of local officials.
Shes wanted a center for autism in Cumberland County for years.
Right now, were looking at the old Millville Development Corporation (MDC) building across the street from Wawa on Route 49, Russick said. Im so excited about this.
She called it a long-awaited dream come true.
When I started Puzzle Peace Moms, a center for autism was always a long-term goal, Russick said.
Her group meets during the first and third Friday of each month at Mount Pleasant Church social hall on Pearl Street in Millville.
There are some major steps Russick and her group need to take before they become the countys go-to center for those seeking education or help for a child living with autism.
First, we need to obtain our nonprofit status, Russick said. Then, we need a grant.
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Cumberland County Center for Autism in the works, needs nonprofit status and grants
A freezer malfunction at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital has severely damaged one-third of the worlds largest collection of autism brain samples, potentially setting back research on the disorder by years, scientists say.
An official at the renowned brain bank in Belmont discovered that the freezer had shut down in late May, without triggering two alarms. Inside, they found 150 thawed brains that had turned dark from decay; about a third of them were part of a collection of autism brains.
This was a priceless collection, said Dr. Francine Benes, director of the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center, where the brains were housed. You cant express its value in dollar amounts, said Benes, who is leading one of two internal investigations into the freezer failure.
The damage to these brains could slow autism research by a decade as the collection is restored, said Carlos Pardo, a neuropathologist and associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University.
The collection, owned by the advocacy and research organization Autism Speaks, yields very, very important information that allows us to have a better understanding of what autism is, as well as the contribution of environmental and immune factors, said Pardo, whose 2004 study of brains stored in the bank was the first to find that autism involves the immune system. The benefit has been great.
With that understanding, more effective treatment or prevention becomes possible.
The McLean freezer, one of 24 in the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center, was protected by two separate alarm systems, and staff checked an external thermostat twice a day to ensure that the tissue samples were maintained at about minus-80 degrees Celsius. But on May 31, center Assistant Director George Tejada opened so-called Freezer U and wasnt greeted by the expected blast of cold air. Though the alarms had not been triggered and the external thermostat read minus-79, the actual temperature was 7 degrees, roughly equivalent to a refrigerator. Based on the condition of the brains, Benes estimates the freezer had turned off three days earlier.
Benes said the situation is so unusual - the perfect storm of alarm and thermostat failure and the concentration of samples - that she cannot rule out foul play. She said she has not spoken to law enforcement officials, pending the completion of the internal investigation.
In the interim, she said, McLean will upgrade security in the freezer room, which is under lock and key and watched by a surveillance camera.
The freezer contained about 150 brain samples from people who had died with a neurological condition such as autism, Parkinsons disease, or Alzheimers disease, or a psychiatric one like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
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Freezer failure at brain bank hampers autism research
Advocates of West Virginia children with autism want to the make the most of the state's new law requiring some insurance coverage for their treatment.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Advocates of West Virginia children with autism want to the make the most of the state's new law requiring some insurance coverage for their treatment.
That's why they're holding a summit July 13 at Stonewall Jackson Resort in Lewis County. They hope to help parents learn about, obtain and then use this coverage for their children.
The summit is also for treatment providers and representatives of the insurance companies and programs that will provide the coverage.
Scheduled speakers include several officials who helped launch autism insurance coverage in other states.
The Mountaineer Autism Project is a summit sponsor along with Training and Resources for Autism Insurance Navigation in West Virginia. TRAIN WV is a project funded by a Benedum Foundation grant devoted to creating statewide access to autism care.
Read more in Monday's Charleston Gazette.
That's why they're holding a summit July 13 at Stonewall Jackson Resort in Lewis County. They hope to help parents learn about, obtain and then use this coverage for their children.
The summit is also for treatment providers and representatives of the insurance companies and programs that will provide the coverage.
Scheduled speakers include several officials who helped launch autism insurance coverage in other states.
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Autism forum aims to unite parents, insurers
At the University of Minnesotas Institute of Child Development in Minneapolis, Microsoft's Kinect is being put to a novel use: detecting autism. New Scientist reports that researchers have equipped a nursery with five Kinect cameras, which, together with computer vision algorithms that can detect unusual behavior, may be able to speed the diagnosis of autism.
How exactly does the system work? The Kinects can ID individual children based on their shape and clothing. Monitoring these children, the Kinects feed their data to a series of PCs with software that can track the kids activity levels, comparing them against an average. If a given child is either more or less active than average, he or she might have autism. Then again, he or she might just be tired, or hyper, which is why at that point an old-fashioned human doctor will have to weigh in on the matter.
"The idea is not that we are going to replace the diagnosis, but we are going to bring diagnosis to everybody," one of the researchers, Guillermo Sapiro, told New Scientist. "The same way a good teacher flags a problem child, the system will do automatic flagging and say, 'Hey, this kid needs to see an expert'."
This is one of the extreme instances of what Microsoft has termed the Kinect Effect, the tendency of people outside of Redmond to come up with novel uses for a technology originally intended simply for gaming. (It was an effect documented well before Microsoft decided to condone and, smartly, co-opt it.) Sapiro and colleagues will present their system at the forthcoming IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in St. Paul.
Sapiro et al. hope to bring their novel use of the Kinect even further, perhaps automating some of what Sapiro calls the very difficult and expert analysis that a psychiatrist would do. Sapiros team has already developed computer-vision algorithms that can detect more subtle indicators of autism spectrum disorders, like a childs ability to follow an object with his eyes. Perhaps some day, a Kinect-powered video game could both entertain a child while testing him for a disorder.
New Scientist doesnt make clear whether Sapiros projects have official Microsoft approval, but Microsoft has endorsed at least one other project in which Kinect is used to treat children with autism, as evidenced by this video from last year.
BBDO and Autism Speaks also used Kinect for a bit of autism-related advocacy. In an effort to raise awareness about the challenges of parenting a child with autism, BBDO built an interactive Kinect-powered installation featuring a virtual girl who simply refused to look users in the eye.
Im unsure whether the proliferation of autism-related Kinect hacks says something profound about the nature of motion-sensing its connection to autism spectrum disorders, or whether its simply an indication of the ways in which Kinect hacks increasingly touch on every aspect of modern life. After all, autism certainly isnt the only medical condition people have tried to ameliorate, detect, or treat with Microsofts transformative technology.
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Can Kinect Help Detect Autism?
COLUMBUS, GA -
Recent studies show 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with autism in the United States.
A group of Columbus students are not letting their diagnosis hold them down, andthey can now say they are authors after penning the pages of a new book.
The short stories and pictures of animals inA is for Autismwereall written and illustrated by students with autism, like 16-year-old Keveran McDonald. Keveran's father, Mark, says it is overwhelming to see the pages A is for Autism.
"I'm very proud of his accomplishments. Sometimes you don't think things like this would be possible, but they surprise you. Just makes me really proud," said McDonald.
Rebecca Gristina, the President of the Board of Directors at Bridges Learning Center in Columbus, a school that focuses on helping autistic children, says this three-year project allowed a group of their students to channel their emotions.
"A lot of the kids struggle with building relationships and friendships with peers. Traditionally developing peers, and these stories are mostly about friendship," said Gristina.
All of the proceeds from book sales will go back to the school where 75% of the students have some kind of financial aid. That money will go to close that gap as well as help with therapy for the students.
"We involve our students in hypo-therapy which is horseback riding and water therapy. We also have a computer program called brain jog which focuses the kids on their eye movement in order to build that eye contact," said Gristina
McDonald says because of this school, his son has a chance to thrive.
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Local students with autism write book
ATLANTA (AP) -- Autism cases are on the rise again, largely due to wider screening and better diagnosis, federal health officials said Thursday.
The rate of U.S. cases of autism and related disorders rose to about 1 in 88 children. The previous estimate was 1 in 110.
The new figure is from the latest in a series of studies that have been steadily increasing the government's autism estimate. This new number means autism is nearly twice as common as officials said it was only five years ago, and likely affects roughly 1 million U.S. children and teens.
Health officials attribute the increase largely to better recognition of cases, through wide screening and better diagnosis. But the search for the cause of autism is really only beginning, and officials acknowledge that other factors may be helping to drive up the numbers.
"We're not quite sure the reasons for the increase," said Coleen Boyle of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Autism is diagnosed by making judgments about a child's behavior; there are no blood or biologic tests. For decades, the diagnosis was given only to kids with severe language and social impairments and unusual, repetitious behaviors. The definition of autism has gradually expanded, and "autism" is now shorthand for a group of milder, related conditions, including Asperger's syndrome. Meanwhile, there's been an explosion in autism-related treatment and services for children.
As in the past, advocacy groups seized on the new numbers as further evidence that autism research and services should get greater emphasis. The new figures indicate "a public health emergency that demands immediate attention," said Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer for the advocacy group Autism Speaks.
The CDC study released Thursday is considered the most comprehensive U.S. investigation of autism prevalence to date. Researcher gathered data from areas in 14 states Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin.
They looked specifically at 8-year-old children because most autism is diagnosed by that age. They checked health and school records to see which children met the criteria for autism, even if they hadn't been formally diagnosed. Then, the researchers calculated how common autism was in each place and overall.
An earlier report based on 2002 findings estimated that about 1 in 150 children that age had autism or a related disorder such as Asperger's. After seeing 2006 data, the figure was revised to about 1 in 110. The estimate released Thursday, based on 2008 data, is 1 in 88.
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Autism rates up; screening, better diagnosis cited
HERNANDO Hundreds turned out on the historic Hernando court square for the first annual celebration of "World Autism Awareness Day."
City buildings were bathed in blue light and blue ribbons were tied around the courthouse columns in the event christened "Light It Up Blue."
Approximately one in 110 children and young adults will be diagnosed with the behavioral condition known as "autism."
Face painting, informational booths and other activities called attention to the disorder for which there is no known cause.
Children with autism often have difficulty emotionally connecting with peers and family members.
However, many autistic children do well in mathematics and other disciplines and function well in certain settings.
DeSoto County has one of the most highly touted autism early intervention programs in the country.
Each year, Wayne Bartley and others help stage the "Let A Kid Be A Kid" fund raiser for autism research and educational programs.
The annual benefit has amassed more than $100,000 over the past decade and counting.
"As far as anyone knows, this was the first Light It Up Blue event in the State of Mississippi," Bartley said. "The real heroes of the event were Holly Neel and the Hernando High School Interact Club. The kids did all the work. They set up a Facebook page and let people know. It was amazing. They really embraced it."
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Autism Day draws hundreds
Jim Calhoun, like many coaches, is superstitious. He might have a lucky tie or piece of jewelry he must wear to end a losing streak, or keep a winning streak going.
But one item that remains in good times and bad is the blue puzzle piece he wears on the lapel of his suit jacket. The symbol for Autism Speaks, like the cause itself, remains close to his heart at all times.
"He has never taken it off," Jeff Calhoun said. "I can't tell you how many people who have mentioned it to me parents, families touched by autism, who tell me how much it means to them. He is very passionate about it. Just by lending his name and reaching out to people, he has done more than we could ever ask."
Said Amy Calhoun: "When I see that blue pin on his lapel, it sometimes brings tears to my eyes. He is taking this on for Reese."
The cause is a personal one for the Calhoun family. Jeff and Amy's daughter, Reese, now 8, was diagnosed at 2, and her grandfather's involvement with the advocacy group Autism Speaks is very deep.
But because he is scheduled to undergo back surgery on Monday in New York, Calhoun will not be able to participate in an event he has helped launch "CardioRaiser: Workout for Autism Speaks" at Cardio Express in Manchester and Southington from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Farmington Bank is the presenting sponsor.
"It's just so important to raise awareness," Jeff Calhoun said, "because autism, anything that involves the brain, is something we don't talk about much as a society. We want to share our story, and hope it lets people know they are not alone."
Hundreds are expected to participate, and the event is expected to raise at least $100,000 for the Connecticut chapter of Autism Speaks. Participants may choose from a variety of exercise activities to help in the cause. Although Jim Calhoun cannot be there, some of his assistants are expected to stop by the morning after UConn plays Syracuse (Saturday night at 9 p.m.). Panera Bread will provide breakfast for participants.
The event will become an annual one, Jeff Calhoun said.
"I am deeply committed to the cause of helping families confronting the many challenges of autism," Jim Calhoun said in January, when the event was scheduled. "It is my hope that this event will bring Connecticut families together to raise dollars so important to all those facing this complex neurobiological disorder."
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Autism Is Jim Calhoun's Biggest Opponent
Campaign Focuses On How Families Can "Light It Up Blue" To Raise Autism Awareness Across Canada
TORONTO, March 1, 2012 /CNW/ - Toys"R"Us, Canada today announced the launch of its in-store and online fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization. Now through Monday, April 30, Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores will offer customers an Autism Speaks puzzle piece in exchange for a $1 donation. Monetary donations will be collected at all 73 stores (including Express locations) across the country and online at Toysrus.ca. The company is heightening its focus on autism awareness, unveiling a new theme for the 2012 campaign, "Shine A Light For Autism."
"With so many children affected by autism and not enough known about causes or cures, we hope that our fundraising and awareness campaigns can contribute to solving the autism puzzle," said Kevin Macnab, President, Toys"R"Us Canada. "Through our ongoing partnership, the "R"Us family remains committed to helping Autism Speaks and the critical work they do in supporting families affected by autism spectrum disorders."
Shining A Light For Autism In-store and online
During the campaign, customers can contribute a cash donation at all Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us locations, including Express locations, and online at Toysrus.ca.
In-store signage displayed in Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores across the country feature children with autism dressed as super-heroes, with the Autism Speaks puzzle piece logo as their powerful emblem. The puzzle pieces are bursting with light, while inspiring everyone to donate to the cause by looking to the hero within.
"Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores across Canada are in a unique position to reach numerous parents daily, providing important awareness information about autism in their stores, as well as online," said Suzanne Lanthier, Executive Director of Autism Speaks Canada. "We are thrilled to bring hope to families who live with the realities of autism every day, through ongoing support in our research and advocacy efforts."
Toysrus.ca also serves as a resource for parents, caregivers, families and friends of children with autism. Visitors can find a list of "Ten Toys That Speak To Autism," which provides toy suggestions to help guide anyone purchasing toys for a child with autism.
Walking To Benefit Autism Speaks
In conjunction with the campaign, the company is also kicking off its national sponsorship of Walk Now for Autism Speaks, a year-long series of more than 85 walk events taking place throughout North America. Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us employees will walk alongside the company's iconic mascot, Geoffrey the Giraffe, as well as individuals with autism, their families and friends to raise money and awareness for the cause. All funds raised through the Walk Now for Autism Speaks events will go directly to Autism Speaks to support research awareness and family services programs in Canada.
One of the most well- documented cases of severe autism with self-injurious behavior and seizure issues--presented for public awareness, advocacy and education. .
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Show Me One Year With Severe Autism - Video
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.
The new organization will be known as Life Skills, and TouchPoint (formerly the Judevine Center for Autism) will still be used to refer to autism services.
"As these children who are diagnosed with autism are aging, we really wanted to be prepared to meet that need," said Wendy Sullivan, CEO of the new organization.
Parents can be "confident you can stay with this organization through the child's lifetime," Sullivan said.
Life Skills provides 24-hour assistance including in-home care, job training and placement to teenagers and adults with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other developmental disabilities. TouchPoint Autism Services offers early intervention services, behavior therapy, parent training and employment services through seven offices in Missouri. Both groups, which have offices in west St. Louis County, are United Way member agencies.
The organization will have a combined 1,200 employees. There are no immediate plans for layoffs or eliminating positions, Sullivan said.
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Autism groups to merge
When Caleb Geary was diagnosed with autism at age 3, he had never spoken or eaten solid food.
Now 6, the boy speaks and tests at his first-grade level progress that his parents attribute to insurance-based services at home and intensive behavioral intervention at the boy's school in Hamden.
But they worry what will happen to Caleb's diagnosis and the services that have come with it if the American Psychiatry Association's proposal to change the definition of autism is adopted.
Lori Geary said she has already fought to get her son the help he needs. Tom Zwicker, Caleb's father and the director of an autism center for the Easter Seals of Coastal Fairfield County, said he believes insurance companies will start requesting annual diagnostic evaluations if the definition is revised. As a result, his son and many other children will lose out on services to treat their conditions.
"You have an entire group receiving services that would be left out in the cold," said Zwicker, who lives in Branford. "We're going to lose a whole generation of children."
The autism community has been embroiled in a heated debate for the past few weeks over the proposal to dramatically change the criteria for autism diagnosis in the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The DSM-5, scheduled to be published in 2013, is the first revision since 1994.
The revision would create an umbrella category known as "autism spectrum disorder" that would include traditional autism, as well as Asperger's Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) which currently are considered separate disorders. A new category, social communication disorder, would also be created.
"What became very apparent is that there aren't clear boundaries, and that they really are all on a spectrum," said Darrell Regier, director of research for the APA. The current criteria, he said, is "fuzzy" and as a result some people have been mislabeled as autistic, while others who need treatment can't get it because their symptoms don't match the current criteria.
"The thing that we tried to do is be a little more clear about the different deficits that these people have," Regier said.
But some experts worry that the revision's main effect will be to drastically reduce the number of people who are diagnosed with autism and who now qualify for services to treat it.
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Redefining Autism: Proposal Worries Many Parents