About.com: Autism
"I Want Normal Kids"
This week, the news has been full of the tragic story of a Texas mother who murdered her children because she suspected them to be autistic. According to the LA Times,
...Socialization, Homeschool and the Child with Autism
This fall, we begin our fourth year of homeschooling our now-fourteen-year-old son with high functioning autism. Homeschooling has been a good choice for us, at least as a temporary measure (we are debating the pros and cons of high school!), but one of the tougher aspects has been combating the prevalent myth that homeschooling means zero socialization.
...Which Autism Are We Discussing Today?
A post in today's Autisable post so clearly illustrated an important point that I just had to mention it here. The post is titled "Yes, a Cure for Autism Would Be Nice," and its content and tone suggest that it was written by a teenaged sibling of a brother with low-functioning autism.
...How to Help a Child with Autism Take Part and Make Friends
How do you teach a child with autism to socialize in a typical setting? The answer is neither simple nor fool-proof. One parent writes:
Our 3yo son has just been diagnosed with Asperger's and Social Integration Dysfunction. My frustrations lie in his inability to initiate any sort of play. Everything is SO literal. Do we force him to socialise? I see his enthusiasm at watching other children play but it seems as if he is watching them through a window. Rarely does he join in, nor does he seem to want to. We recently signed him up for a soccer camp where he spent 30mins of the 45mins screaming to go home. When we finally did leave he spent the rest of the day talking about it as if he had had the best day of his life and asked to go back?? Do I keep forcing him to social? Is this harming him? Is this more for me than him? Any thoughts?
...Autism: Not for the Faint of Heart
Living with autism is hard work.
Living with the complex and often contentious world that surrounds autism is harder.
Addressing the subject of autism in a public forum is even harder.
All that is nothing compared with the red tape, the misconceptions, the high drama and the angst that confronts parents and adults with autism every single day.
...Top Autism Support Groups and Organizations - Your Opinion Requested
When I was new to autism, I got involved with several autism support groups. The first, probably not surprisingly, was the local chapter of the Autism Society of America. Across the board, ASA chapters tend to be solid and helpful - and since ASA has no particular therapeutic agenda, a broad range of parents attend. Even better, there are ASA chapters in many communities. Typically, members of your local ASA Chapter are good folks to approach for information about local doctors, therapists, schools and more.
...Picky Eating and the Child with Autism
In yesterday's news, researchers found that children who are picky eaters at an early age may be diagnosable with autism. Of course, plenty of kids with and without autism are picky eaters, which explains the need for "children's menus" at almost every restaurant in the United States. But kids with autism may find it especially tough to manage new tastes and sensations.
...New "Signs of Autism" Findings
Could picky eating be a sign of autism?
Could unusual speech patterns or pronunciation be a sign?
This week, researchers have published findings that suggest either or both could be the case.
The "picky eating" study was conducted by researchers in the UK, and is published in the journal Pediatrics. A According to the website Disability Scoop:
...Autism and Swimming: A Perfect Match
Yesterday at 10 p.m. I posted the question "Does your child with autism swim?" on the Autism at About Dot Com Facebook page. This morning, I woke up to 23 enthusiastic YESes!
...Autism as a Business Opportunity (in a good way)
More and more businesses and non-profits are seeing families living with autism as a business opportunity - and that's (often) a very good thing.
A couple of weeks ago, I met a representative of AMC (the movie folks) at the Autism Society conference. AMC has become quite serious about autism, and they put up a good chunk of change to sponsor the conference. Parents of kids with autism (and anyone else who's interested) can now attend first run "sensory friendly" movies in a number of towns across the US - and know that (1) the room will not be in total darkness; (2) the sound will not be overwhelmingly loud; (3) kids will be allowed to move around and make noise as necessary.
...Facing "Autism Reality" Is More Easily Said Than Done
It's usually a good thing to face reality. After all, how can you move forward if you haven't faced up to and truly grasped your present situation? If you're broke, you have no money. If you're a rotten athlete, you'll never make the NBA. And once you face reality, ordinarily, you can realistically gauge your options and make reasonable decisions.
...Autism, Assumptions, and the Man with No Face
On my way home from the Autism Society of America conference in Dallas, the airport shuttle stopped at another hotel. A young man and a young woman climbed into the van. Both carried white canes. The young woman was quite attractive, and held the young man's arm. The young man, probably in his late twenties, had almost literally no face.
...Review Your Autistic Child's Public School Program
Is your child with autism is in a public school setting? How well do you feel your school, district, or program meets your child's needs? What advice would you give parents considering a move to your area? Follow the link below to create a unique, searchable review!
...Review Your Child's Private Autism-Only School
If your child with autism is attending a specialized, private autism-only school, you probably have strong feelings about the program, the administration, and the outcomes. You may also have hints and tips for other parents interested in sending their child to the school. Here's your chance to share your knowledge with others!
...OSR1, Autism and the Web: A Case Study in Confusion
Today's Chicago Tribune states that a warning letter from the FDA has been issued stating that "OSR#1 is not a dietary supplement but a toxic, unapproved drug with serious potential side effects."
...July 4th on the Autism Spectrum
Jeff Baker/Getty Images
July Fourth is one of those lose-lose holidays for folks on the autism spectrum. If the noise doesn't make you nuts, the crowds will. If the crowds don't bother you, the gluten-and-dairy-filled desserts are likely to do you in. Meanwhile, it's almost impossible to avoid SOME celebration of our national holiday: even if you're safely tucked in bed, you'll wind up having to cope with the noise of "rockets' red glare!"
...Your Opinion Requested: What Should Autism.About.Com Readers Review?
About.com has just provided us with a new tool to allow readers to review just about anything... and I'm pondering how best to use it for my site. What would you want to review (outside of medical treatments)? schools/districts for autistic kids? toys/teaching tools? events/conferences? books/DVDs? What are your thoughts?
Physical Therapy and Autism
When Tom was first diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, he was instantly provided with physical therapy. Since I didn't see any obvious physical problems, I was surprised, though of course I didn't turn it down. PT is typically provided for children with autism because so many of our kids have low muscle tone, toe-walking, issues with coordination and difficulties with ordinary physical play.
...Your Advice Requested: Autism, Aspergers and Romance
Just today, I heard from a publisher about a new book entitled Connecting with Your Asperger Partner: Negotiating the Maze of Intimacy by Louise Weston. I asked for a review copy - to go along with a number of new books about romance, partnering and autism. Clearly, this is a topic that's near and dear to many hearts... which made it even tougher to read this comment from a reader in response to an old blog post entitled Is Your Spouse Autistic:
...Trading New Stims for Old - A Good Idea?
I've been pondering deeply, but come to no conclusions over the question "why are some nervous tics considered normal and acceptable while others are not?"
The child or adult who paces, twirls her hair, bites his nails or taps his pencil is considered to be perfectly ordinary, and comes in for no special therapies, bullying or scorn as a result of his or her actions. Yet the person who flaps his hands, walks on his toes, twirls objects instead of hair, or opens and closes doors is treated with derision and provided with therapy or even medication to change or "exterminate" those actions.
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