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Support for parents with Autistic children – Autism Parents Club
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The Autism News | English

Up to 60 people with ASD will be employed as software testers
By BBC News
A project in Scotland to train up to 60 people with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) for IT jobs has been awarded ?407,036 from the Big Lottery Fund.
Community Enterprise in Scotland will use the funding for its Specialisterne UK initiative in Glasgow over the next five years.
The project is based on a Danish model which employs people with ASD as software testers.
ASD is thought to affect about 1% of the population across Europe.
Community Enterprise in Scotland said it planned “an intensive six-month screening programme” to identify people who could benefit.
‘Mainstream work’
Participants would then be paid market rates and work in specially adapted settings.
Chief executive Gerry Higgins said: “Only 13% of adults with an autism spectrum disorder are in full-time employment.
“We look forward to creating a new, sustainable social enterprise which will employ people with an ASD, at a market-rate wage in a mainstream work environment.
“We know that Specialisterne has the potential to transform attitudes, lives and business practices.
He added: “We look forward to assisting business in the UK to understand the competitive advantage that people with an autism spectrum disorder can bring to business in this country.”
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8580255.stm
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Support for parents with Autistic children – Autism Parents Club
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The Autism News | English

By Sify News
A study has revealed that many children who have autistic traits are never diagnosed clinically, leading to them not receiving the support they need through educational or health services.
There has been a major increase in the incidence of autism over the last twenty years.
In recent studies these undiagnosed children have been included in estimates of how many children have autism spectrum disorder, or an ASD (which includes both autism and Asperger’s syndrome).
Such studies have estimated that one in every hundred children has an ASD.
A study found that a large number of undiagnosed children displayed autistic traits: repetitive behaviours, impairments in social interaction, and difficulties with communication.
These traits were at levels comparable to the traits displayed by children who held a clinical diagnosis (all diagnosed between years one and twelve).
However, the undiagnosed children were not deemed eligible for extra support at school or by specialized health services.
“ASD diagnosis currently holds the key to unlocking intervention from school systems and health programs,” lead researcher of the study, Ginny Russell, asked.
“Perhaps these resources should be extended and available for children who show autistic impairments but remain undiagnosed,” Russell stated.
Russell points out that the study also shows that there is a gender bias in diagnosing children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders – boys are more likely to receive a diagnosis than girls, even when they display equally severe symptoms.
The findings have been published in a recent issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. (ANI)
Source: http://sify.com/news/many-kids-with-autistic-traits-are-never-diagnosed-clinically-news-international-kdxr4hedgad.html
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Support for parents with Autistic children – Autism Parents Club
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The Autism News | English

Watch WBZ’s Report
Reporting Beth Germano | WBZ TV
A Worcester special needs teacher is being investigated by the state Department of Children and Families after allegedly grabbing one of her students and dragging him in an incident March 1.
The four year old boy, Andrew Stanley, is autistic and now afraid to go school according to his mother Stephanie who wants the teacher fired.
“He’s regressed, he’s more leery of people, certain people,” she said.
He’s also started kicking and spitting which are behaviors he never engaged in before, she tells WBZ-TV.
Stanley says she knew something was wrong at school when the boy came home with mysterious bruises on his leg last September, and she slowly saw the changes in his behavior.”
“She dragged him across the gymnasium floor yelling and screaming at him. I don’t think she should be allowed near any children,” the mother said.
Notes from school indicate Andrew frequently cries in the classroom.
“I’ve had to take him out of class terrified. Everyday is a battle,” Stanley said.
The superintendent of schools Dr. Melinda Boone issued only a statement. “Worcester public schools takes student safety very seriously and has taken immediate and appropriate action.”
Stanley says she’s now removed her son altogether, and is requesting a new public school for him. “If you can’t deal with kids then you shouldn’t be working, especially with special needs kids. He can talk, but he can’t articulate what happened to him.”
Source: http://wbztv.com/local/worcester.teacher.investigation.2.1581507.html
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Support for parents with Autistic children – Autism Parents Club
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Lisa Miller-Marin
Me too….
Cat Taylor
so.. I guess we’ll have t try make this news story somehow related to autism.
So do autistic men cheat just like “nt” men..? 
Lisa Miller-Marin
I am happy to say I have an Autism daddy and he is here 100%.
Jennifer Hankinson
I read that Jenny’s son doesnt even have autism, that he has Landau Kleffners…is this true? If yes why are we trusting her the way we do about autism recovery???
Christina Fergo
Actually, Jenny’s son has autism. Time magazine speculated that her son has Landau-Kleffner, Jenny NEVER said that. He did spend months in the UCLA autism ABA program. I’m pretty sure they would have noticed if he didn’t have autism.
Karelyn Martin
I think Jenny has been a great advocate for our children, Iam sorry but not a lot of people are willing to expose themselves the way she has… I have learned lots of great things from her. I really don’t know why she has been so criticized…
Sandra Rick-Pearson
If any were to read what McCarthy has said in the past prior to her editing it, I doubt her son had autism at all. Goes right along with that CA study; McCarthy didn’t like the 1st diagnosis so she paid some one else to make it an autism diagnosis, and the ability to sell books on topics we all already knew about long before she ever went ‘public’. In any event, her son, by McCarthy’s own words, is recovered now. If he ever did have autism he sure doesn’t now.
Cat Taylor
I read up on Landau Kleffners and it sure sounds like a form of autism to me.
Nancie Ann
No one can recover from the diagnosis. There is always a “twang” of it hanging around.
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
SO00 Sandra, my son & quite a few other children that I know have stories VERY similar to Evan’s.. does that mean OUR children aren’t autistic either?????
Nancie Ann
UCLA the way to go. I love Ivor Lovaas!
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
@ Nancie- but the diagnosis CAN change! My son went from Moderately severe to High Functioning is under 2 yrs.. & now he is recovered form the traits that made normal every day life difficult.
Nancie Ann
Ditto Alicia. My son will be 18. He went from non verbal to verbal but he has traits and maybe now that autism is so out there more help for the younger children. Back in the early 90’s there wasn’t much of anything except teach and ABA. I went with ABA. More hours the better esp. @ a young age.
Nancie Ann
Landau Kleffners is autism with seizures.
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
& Sandra- they tried to say my son was epileptic too after his 1st couple of seizures.. I KNEW that wasn’t the problem!& I fought to get the RIGHT diagnosis.. & hmm guess what…. amazing he hasn’t had a seizure now in almost 3 years.. (guess he is not “epileptic” after all !!!)…
Sandra Rick-Pearson
Autism is debilitating at different levels per person and any child can progress but to actually claim full recovery is misleading parents. McCarthy first actually used the word cure and was promptly redirected to the correct term. Anyone who reads past interviews with McCarthy can form their own opinion of her. She’s neither informative or humorous, nothing she states or written about we didn’t already hear or read years prior.
Anyone who has a street mouth such as McCarthy does my child no good, no where.
@Nancie Ann
“Landau-Kleffner syndrome can be difficult to diagnose and may be misdiagnosed as autism, pervasive developmental disorder, hearing impairment, learning disability, auditory/verbal processing disorder, attention deficit disorder, mental retardation, childhood schizophrenia, or emotional/behavioral problems. Some affected children may have a permanent severe language disorder, while others may regain much of their language abilities (although it may take months or years). In some cases, remission and relapse may occur. The prognosis is improved when the onset of the disorder is after age 6 and when speech therapy is started early. Seizures generally disappear by adulthood.”
This is not autism.
Kathy Blanco
Agree Nancie, seizures and autism are common. A sign of damage to the brain. I know what I speak of.
Shannon Polachek Behric
Is Jenny running out of things to run her mouth about…? What does cheating have to do with Autism? Plus…if you look at the statistics of cheating…men vs. women…they are almost equal in incidence.
Jennifer Hankinson
Sorry, I have been trying to read about LKS and it looks like neuroinflammation to me. I was under the impression it was genetic. I stand corrected 
Nancie Ann
Thanks Sandra back in the day LK was not even a diagnosis it came out in the 90’s. I also know a lot about the diagnosis and I’m a RN.
Sandra Rick-Pearson
Shannon Polachek Behric~ you’re right, both male and female cheat equally. Seems McCarthy wrote all she could on the autism topic to sell books, she needs to expand.
Kathy Blanco
If you think about it Shannon, Harris Coulter’s wonderful essay on how vaccines damage the parts of the brain for impulse control and sexulization, you go there, and I do think it may be interrelated to overvaccination of our population, and pollution.
Sandra Rick-Pearson
Sorry, LK was termed in 1957
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
My child stopped having seizures at the age of 4, after I stopped taking him mto the dr. & MADE him develop an immune system.
What you are missing Sandra is that Jenny’s son & mine also have SENSORY issues.. is that a trait of Landau-Kleffner syndrome, also? Becuase it is definitely a trait of autism.
Nancie Ann
It is named for William Landau and Frank Kleffner, who characterized it in 1957.But in the world of autism putting the two together wasn’t until the 90’s. Sorry for that mistake!
Sandra Rick-Pearson
Sensory is a diagnosis to it’s own. You don’t have to have autism to have sensory disorder.
Sandra Rick-Pearson
LK and autism are 2 different disorders. You can be misdiagnosed with autism and have LK. They are not the same things.
Nancie Ann
Amen Alicia………..
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
so now u are saying our children who have stories like Jenny’s son, don’t have autism, but yet have a form of a sensory issue, & LKS???? WHATEVER! I am done with this.. I KNOW what is wrong with my child! & I am sure most of the mothers feel the same way!
Melinda Gallup
Ugggg… I can’t stand Jenny McCarthy. Not only because of her morals (or lack of them, I should say), but because she’s out to “cure” her son and refuses to accept him for who he is. I thought her first book was pretty good, but then I realized that she was just using her son to make money when the second one came out and she completely contradicted everything she said in the first book.
Sandra Rick-Pearson
LK seizures are not life long; they end. Please don’t assume I am talking about any one but McCarthy. Anyone putting themselves in her place is not done by me. I have researched McCarthy well, I have not researched anyone here so don’t put words where I didn’t say them.
It is a fact a person can have sensory disorder and not have autism, and in fact many do only have sensory disorder.
I think McCarthy has an agenda, that’s my opinion being a mom of a child with autism. You don’t have to like my opinion, then don’t. But her she is on an autism FB selling a book about why men cheat…. who cares why they do!
Connie Scroggins Nail
I love that ginny has got asd out their in hollywood its duh shes with jim cary friends with stars that coughs on camera and gets a million dollars who better to spread awareness and fund raise research!!! Plus shes not all about autism just like me i have a classic nonverbal 5 yr old but hello i comment and disscuss many things in life my son is on a ten months old level im told but i dont use that as an excuse to bad mouth ppl because i dont agree with everything they feel and think!I pray and yes i cry alot but all in all i keep the spiteful and selfpity away .
Melinda Gallup
And Alicia… There’s nothing “wrong” with your child, and if you treat him like he’s different, that’s how he’s going to think of himself later in life. My son was non-verbal and through therapy and a lot of hard work, he is now able to have an actual conversation. We don’t tell him he’s autistic and “label” him. People have asked “what’s wrong with your son?” and I just tell them, “Nothing. What’s wrong with you?”
Sandra Rick-Pearson
Melinda Gallup~ very true. My son knows he has autism and can feel the difference when he’s not accepted. I am all for progress but recovery would mean you’re asking for a different child than who you have. All people have difficulty some where along the way, no one is cognitively perfect, either. You don’t have to recovery a child; just offer the correct tools to help them advance and progress.
Connie Scroggins Nail
ASD needs research the #s are going up who here knew any asd kids growing up? Can kids of today say the same and if your child is high on the spectum then great for you alot of kids are not and theirs no hiding somethings wrong you should be thankful you can make that choice to not claim asd my son and others in his class to say that is like refusing to accept that the world is round!!!
Nathalie Augagneur
WOW, Sandra! I absolutly agree with you!!!
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
@ Melinda – don’t twist the meaning of my words when I say that I know what is “wrong” with him. I wasn’t meaning it to be a negative thing, I love him just the way he is, but lets face the facts our children ARE differant! Some of the differances are the things we love most about them, Like Conner’s perception of things. But then again some of the differances also make life hard for them, & they need to have their differances known so that adjustments can be made if needed, & there is nothing wrong with tryign to change those “differances” if we can to make life eaiser for them.
@ Sandra – FINE if you don’t agree with Jenny’s methods, but to undiagnose her son as Autistic?? What gives you the right? & It does touch a nerve to us some of us parentswho have children whose stories are VERY similiar to what happened with EVAN.. it is like your are undiagnosing ours as well.
Shannon Polachek Behric
Melinda…I also totally agree with you. Kathy…I don’t disagree that there are children that are vaccine injured…but it doesn’t mean they have Autism. My second child was not vaccinated because he has an older Autistic brother that had all his vaccines. I was being extra cautious and trying to “stack the deck” in his favor. Guess what…he has recently been diagnosed on the spectrum as well. What caused his Autism? It certainly wasn’t from being vaccinated. I agree with Sandra and Melinda…my boys are amazing little human beings…such beautiful souls. I embrace their differences and just do everything I can to make it easier for them to live in this crazy world. Like Sandra said…give them the tools but still love them UNCONDITIONALLY!
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
@ Sandra – I do agree with you on one thing… her latest book should NOT be advertised on an Autism website! Considering it has nothign to do with it.
Sandra Rick-Pearson
I don’t care if any agree with my opinion or not. Kids every day are misdiagnosed, a new report reflects that very thing. McCarthy is no more an expert on autism than I am, but this autism community is no doubt her employer for the last few years. Like I said, I am only talking about McCarthy, and who have a situation “VERY similiar” to her has nothing to do with my opinion. I have not research you, so don’t force your way into my opinion. There is no way, being a mom to a child with autism, find it acceptable that McCarthy couldn’t find a way to raise funds other than putting on a Bunny Suit, and her street mouth. None of those funds raised effected my son and I doubt it did any of yours. All McCarthy is doing is yapping about stuff we already knew, depending on the age of the child diagnosed. My son is about to turn 11. McCarthy’s book and GR is old news to me.
I cant wait to hear her expert opinion on why mean cheat and how wonderful to have time to write about of all things, cheating. The rest of us in the real non Bunny- steet- mouth- world, at least for some of us, decided not to be her sheep.
Shannon Polachek Behric
I think it is sad and a little pathetic that we have let an uneducated Ex-playboy Playmate become the voice of Autism. People need to read “Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and the Search for a Cure” by Paul A. Offit MD…an actual medical doctor that follows actual science!!
Sandra Rick-Pearson
I thiink it’s sad anyone follows a Bunny who advertises very expensive interventions which for most is out of pocket and no sure way it’ll help the majority with autism, other than make their parents broke, and she rarely suggests medical tests prior or a 2nd opinion. Had McCarthy’s expert plan mean anything, all our kids would be doing the exact same thing and autism wouldn’t have such high rates. We’d all have had the chance prior to her showing up, since her expert plan is nothing new. It’s been around at least as old as my son is. The mothers who wrote books about this very same topic as McCarthy are probably appalled, and far broker than McCarthy.
Follow the money trail, it ends in her bank account.
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
@ Sandra – I was not trying to “force my way” into your opinion. You have yours, I have mine. Hoever; if you are goign to voice yours publicly, you need 2 be prepared for a healthy debate, b/c not everyone shares your opinion.
I never said I was Jenny’s “sheep”, I am not ANYBODY’s “sheep”. However, she just helped to bring to light things ALOT of us parents were ALREADY voicing. She helped to shed the light on it more. (Maybe she shouldn’t be using her son’s Autism to make money, shame on her, but I don’t care about that.)
@ Sandra, Shannon & Melinda – My son will be 7, & thanks to the therapy, diet change, & no antibiotics, he is now “mainstreaming” in school, & is in his class 98% of the time. He is only pulled out for language therapy b/c he is still a “concrete, literall” thinker. (Meaning you can’t tell him something is a piece of cake, b/c he is expecting to see a piece of cake!) I DO love him UNCONDITIONALLY, but I also want to help him be all that he can be, & I would like to change some of his “quirks” b/c it HURTS me to see him get made fun of & hurt b/c some children don’t understand why he says & does the things he does! I HAVE to lable him differant b/c of those reasons. It does NOT mean I love him any less than my other 3 boys who are “normal”. I am PROUD of him 4 ALL that he has acomplished & is trying to accomplish! What is wrong with me trying to recover him? (Which I have been able to do with most of the traits.) Am I not supposed to be happy that I recovered him enough in 2 yrs to change his diagnosis severity?
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
Recovery is:
1. The act, process, duration, or an instance of recovering.
2. A return to a normal condition.
3. Something gained or restored in recovering.
4. The act of obtaining usable substances from unusable sources.
or
1. the act or process of recovering, esp from sickness, a shock, or a setback; recuperation
2. restoration to a former or better condition
3. the regaining of something lost
Noun 1. recovery – return to an original state; “the recovery of the forest after the fire was surprisingly rapid”
betterment, improvement, advance – a change for the better; progress in development
2. recovery – gradual healing (through rest) after sickness or injury
convalescence, recuperation
healing – the natural process by which the body repairs itself
lysis – recuperation in which the symptoms of an acute disease gradually subside
rally – a marked recovery of strength or spirits during an illness
3. recovery – the act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost)
retrieval
human action, human activity, act, deed – something that people do or cause to happen
repossession – the action of regaining possession (especially the seizure of collateral securing a loan that is in default)
reclamation – the recovery of useful substances from waste products
deliverance, rescue, saving, delivery – recovery or preservation from loss or danger; “work is the deliverance of mankind”; “a surgeon’s job is the saving of lives”
ransom – the act of freeing from captivity or punishment
retaking, recapture – the act of taking something back
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
I am the mom of a beautiful little boy named Conner, who has Autism. (High funtioning / Asperger’s Syndrome.) His onset was back in 2005 (he was 23 mos), right after his vacccinations. See Conner stayed sick ALOT through his younger life (hmm maybe that should have been an indication that maybe he didn’t have a very strong immune system but I did not know this at the time), & because he was sick so often, sometime he wasn’t able to get his vaccinations on time. He was sick when it was time to get his 18 mos. shots, & wasn’t well enough to get them till a couple of months later. When I brought him in to get them, the Dr. decided it was almost time to get his 24 mos shots & decided to “catch him up”. Within 48 hours Conner had spiked a fever of 106, & had a seizure. Brought him to the hospital, & they coudln’t tell me what had caused it other than the fever, but yet, they coudln’t tell me what had caused the fever. After that I watched Conner regress. Up until that point he was progressing normally. After that, he was no longer the laughing, smiling, chatty little guy he used to be. He started grutning & pointing for things he wanted, he no longer wanted affection, or to play with his brothers. He had left our world & went into his own. When he was mad, or upset, he woudl BITE himself. We coudln’t go anywhere with him becuase with him being so cute, someone always wanted to touch him, & he hated that. He became such a picky eater, & stopped sleeping, & so many other things. No matter what we tried we couldn’t get through to him. We thought at 1st that his regression was a result of the his baby brother getting all the attention. After a month, we talked to the dr. & the doctor said some kids just stop talking for a while. A couple more months go by & the Dr. wants to have Conner’s ears checked (that was a horrible experience). Ofcouse his hearing was fine. Then one day it hit me, “Conner was Autistic” (thanks in part to the show “Monk”
! I instantly started researching Autism on the internet. When my husband got home from work that evening, I told him what I found out. He instantly didn’t want to believe it. I tried to talk to the dr., but he didn’t want to listen. Finally, when we moved, I foudn a program called “first steps” that helped to evaluate children for developmental disabilities & I called them. They sent out an occupational therapist & a speech pathologist. Upon their evaluation they stated that he was “Moderately-Severe ASD w/ PDD, OCD, & sensory issues”. Then they explained to me why Conner did the things he did, & what I coudl do to help him. OK, so now I had the what, now I needed the how & why. How, & why did this happen to him. I was not satified with the whole “no one knows why” reasoning. I did more research, & found out that during my pregnancy with Conner, when I had placenta previa, Conner did not receive all the oxygen & nutrients he needed in the womb. (The poor little guy barely weighed over 6 lbs when he was born even though he was a full term baby.) The result was minimal brain damage. & Because he was like a “full-term preemie”, he also had a weakend immune system, was colicky & had GERD. Further research revealed that b/c of this BD & the immune defficiency, when they caught him up on his vaccinations, his Autism was triggered. (During those 2 yrs Conner continued to keep getting sick ALL THE TIME, & it got to where he woudl have a seizure even he wasn’t running a fever. It was my husband that told me to stop taking him to the Dr. so much. B/C how coudl he have an immune system when he pretty much stayed on Antibiotics. So I listened & started playing Dr. mom. Since then Conner hardly EVER gets sick, & hasn’t had a single seizure.) Through therapy & LOTS of paitience, & a diet change (Conner amazingly put HIMSELF on a low dairy, mostly meat, & LOTS of water diet. It was like HE knew what he needed to help make him better.) we were able to revers the traits of Autism that made everyday life difficult for him. 2 yrs ago, his diagonisis changed to what it is now. (he is now a “butt-booger” as his brother Mikey thought the dr. said..LOL) In fact he is now going to school with “normal” kids his own age!!!!! He laughs, plays, makes jokes, & LOVES affection!!! 4 years ago, I thought I would NEVER here the words “I Love You, Mommy”, now I hear them all day, every day!!! Conner is doing WONDERFUL!!! We are soooo proud of him!! & are amazed by him more & more everday. :0) THERE IS HOPE~AUTISM IS TREATABLE!!
Sandra Rick-Pearson
I think we all know the dictionary definition of recovery and I think we all know there’s a difference in the way it’s used by many. At first McCarthy spouted cure, which is really what she meant until she had to be redirected. Kids get picked on if they have autism or not. Kids without autism have quirks. I am all for a debate, but don’t state ‘our children’ when I wasn’t speaking about ‘our’ anything. Stick to the debate topic. I am talking about ‘hers’, meaning McCarthy.
Laura Moretti
Sandra, all perfectly put !!!
Erica Ascher Hager
@alicia & nancy who are any of us to talk about another person’s child without seeing their full medical records and what tests they went through to rule things out, or to diagnose for that matter. Alot of people have said they dont think my daughter is autistic & have said so and my response is that she has been diagnosed with second opinions, several tests MRI(s) EKG, behavioral observations, medical exams and so on by many different disciplines of doctors, including GP, Neuro, Pysch, GI, ENT & teachers etc. Some kids can “recover” to more “normal” or NT behaviors more then others. Different therapies work for different kids. Rather then criticize a parent for getting a diagnosis then doing everything in their power to help that child we should be praising them. I seriously doubt she would deliberately pay off a dr to hear the word “autism” and then sell some books. My daughter has good days and bad d ays — most of the time you would never know she has autism. Other days its like meltdown central due to sensory issues and inablity to verbally explain herself. Clara is verbal unless something is bothering her (usually an ear or sinus infection) then she regresses. But kids like her and others like her is why the diagnosis is now considered a spectrum. My son is also autistic and is 7 now and is reading above grade level BUT still isn’t potty trained fully he is verbal but has issues with communication and socialization. Both are more toward the aspberger side of the spectrum BUT the sensory puts them into the autistic side. Clara got a TON of early intervention ST OT & PT (she didnt walk until almost 2 and barely spoke before then as well). JOhnny could talk but was mostly babble until 3-4 yrs VERY HARD TO UNDERSTAND and would alternate between being the best behaved sweetest kid you ever met to unhappy meltdown central — once we got his diagnosis and he started school and therapy things gradually are improving. Clara is a poster child for early intervention at work. She still is autistic BUT the SYMPTOMS of autism are much less noticeable she is recovering from the symptoms — I dont do the GF diet but I DO limit sugar and preservative intake — we eat tons of veggies and some fruit but I try to give carbs or “sugar foods” before activity outdoor play and things where they will get burned off, when its quiter times we do more protien based things. Its a trick I learned when dieting that translates well with kids as well. Our neuro gave the best advice try one new therapy at a time for at least 3 months to see if it makes a difference without changing anything else. that way its easy to see what is changing in child’s life and what is preceeding that change.
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
@ Erica – I appologize for taking Sandra remark about Jenny’s son a little to personal. :0{ & I got upset at the comments that made me sound like a bad mother b/c I am trying to recover my son, like I don’t love him the way he is! Grrrrr.. I get a little testy when someone steps on my mommy toes..LOL..
By diet change, I to didn’t do the strict GFCF diet, however I paid really close attention to the food I bough & if you notice.. nost of the food you buy is now GF or CF… I have Conner of a children’s multi vitamin, he drink a glass of juice a day, has 3 glasses of milk (1 w/ each meal), try to get him to eat veggies, but he defintely LOVES meat… & he drink a LOT of purified water!!!! (NO SODAS!!!!!!!) & He is doing wonderful! :0) Thankfully, NO MEDS have been needed.
I applaud you in all your efforts with your children! :0) I totally love parents who go above & beyond to do EVERYTHING in their power to improve their child’s daily life!
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
@ Sandra – um.. I am sorry but I dont’ follow on the “all kids get picked on, & all kids have quirks”.. what exactly does that have to do with anything? Why bring that up?
Sandra Rick-Pearson
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan~ you’re the one who brought up the quirks and other kids, not me. No one stepped on your toes, I surely didn’t by my opinion of McCarthy. You don’t see people who believe in vaccines taking it personal with all the threats made against Offit. At one time McCarthy’s son was a Crystal Child and she was an Indigo mom. Since she came to the autism community she wiped out any trace of those sites of hers. She traded one in for the other and I am sorry, she is no more an expert on autism as she is about why men cheat. If she has time to wonder about all that, she must not be wondering about the sorts of things we wonder about, like quirks and being made fun of by others.
Shannon Polachek Behric
Alicia…to indicate that other mothers are not doing EVERYTHING to help their children just because they aren’t doing what you are doing is ignorant and a bit extreme…don’t you think? We all know and want what is best for our own children and they are all different. There are NO miracle cures.
Sandra Rick-Pearson
McCarthy isn’t doing anything more than what she should be doing, as a mom. You also don’t have to do ‘everything’ to be a good mother and a lot of times it’s those who do do everything that are the ones who you wonder about. She’s also not the first whose been on national TV talking about their child. McCarthy is no bigger than any of us, and she’s no advocate for me. You all can have her! I have more respect for Holly Robinson than I do McCarthy, and she’s the one who redirected McCarthy on national TV!
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
I got offended when a couple of you made me sound like a bad mother examples:
(melinda)”Alicia… There’s nothing “wrong” with your child” …yes there is to a certain extent…
(shannon)”love them UNCONDITIONALLY” ….I never said I didn’t..
(sandra)”I am all for progress but recovery would mean you’re asking for a different child than who you have.”… no the Autism MADE my child differant, (he was progessing NORMALLY till then), I want to recover him from the EFFECTS of the Autism…
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Shannon – I did not indicate ANYTHING! I applaud ANY parent who is doing eveything in thier power to help their child. I do not approve of those who just say “tha’t is just how they are” & just accept defeat. I am so sorry I did not “pat u on the back” as well.
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Sandra – I dropped the jenny issue, & even Appolozied for taking it personally! (Sorry I didn’t say the appology directly to YOU) But since we are back on it AGAIN.. personally I DON”T CARE what Jenny does with the money form the book sales!!!!!! (I know I would like to get a paycheck from being an AUtism Advocate, that way I could speak out for my cuase full time, AND still be able to support my family!) I DON”T CARE if some people consider her a “foul-mouthed Slut-bunny”.. She raised awareness & I thank her for that. Autism & the vaccine issue was not as up front & in the media till she opened her “foul, loud-a33ed” mouth.
And for the other.. All I said was that ” I would like to change some of his “quirks” b/c it HURTS me to see him get made fun of & hurt b/c some children don’t understand why he says & does the things he does!” as a reason WHY I do make my son’s differances known. Your the one who said “Kids get picked on if they have autism or not. Kids without autism have quirks.” What was the purpose of that respone? what did you mean? That was what I was asking in my ealier comment.
Feel free to message me if you would like to debate further.. I will get back 2 u 2morrow.. I am done 4 the day.
Sandra Rick-Pearson
Alicia~ I wouldn’t send a message to you personally, I don’t really appreciate all the caps myself. No one made you sound like any kind of mother and in fact I am quite sure you’re a wonderful mother. No one said anything about defeat, either. I’m sorry you get that impression from others but that of course was not the intended meaning at all. It’s nice you dropped the Jennie issue, but she sort of is the topic 
If you still don’t understand my comment about quirks and being picked on, just forget it. It’s not worth debate time.
Di Alvarado
because it is inbreed…back in biblicals times men had many wives…now as we evolve we want them to only have one…will men ever change voluntarly?
Shannon Polachek Behric
Wow Alicia…you are a very bitter person. I don’t need a pat on the back from you or anyone else. I just think it was really inappropriate for you to be so vicious towards people you don’t even know… for having a different opinion than you. Forget a pat on the back…you need a hug!
Santa Mullarkey
…why..? because nothing is ever enough for many people…!!!
Alicia Ree Galbraith Buchanan
Shannon- I really was not meaning to sound vicious! I appologize for sounding that way! Thnx 4 the hug! LOL Normally I am a very positive upbeat peson.. :0)
Donna Reagan Keith
…Because there’s a woman willing to cheat with them!
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Support for parents with Autistic children – Autism Parents Club
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The Autism News | English

CHILDREN as young as two are being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs that have been linked to deaths overseas.
By Herald Sun
Almost 2000 children aged under 18 were prescribed the drugs in Victoria in 2007-08.
Figures provided by the Therapeutic Goods Administration reveal at least four two-year-olds were among 422 under-10s given drugs designed to quell psychotic episodes normally found in adults with schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.
But there are concerns some doctors are writing scripts for preschoolers and primary school children for unapproved medical reasons, such as behavioural problems.
“You can assume children under 12 are illegitimately being prescribed these drugs for behaviour problems. It should not be the case,” said University of South Australia’s Assoc Prof in psychiatry Dr Jon Jureidini.
“The vast majority of preschoolers who are prescribed are not for psychotic episodes but for behaviour problems,” he said.
“These drugs are not marketed, or recommended by the TGA, for that use.”
Common medications such as Risperdal, Zyprexa and Abilify are not approved for use in children under five due to the lack of evidence on their safety.
But the TGA has approved Risperdal to treat children with autism.
In 2007-08, almost 10,000 under-18s were prescribed anti-psychotic medication in Australia.
Side-effects can be so severe in adults that elderly patients with dementia are warned they have a higher risk of sudden death.
Other common side-effects include excessive weight gain, low blood pressure, increased risk of diabetes and dystonia (painful muscle spasms).
Dr Louise Newman, of the Royal Australian College of Psychiatrists, argued that in some cases there was a need for children and toddlers to be placed on the drugs.
“They could suffer neurological disorders where the brain might have lesions,” she said. “It is wrong that we don’t talk about children with depression and other psychological disorders.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Ageing, which released the figures under Freedom of Information to the Church of Scientology, said the prescribing of drugs was at the doctor’s discretion.
“The TGA starts monitoring all medicines for adverse events the minute they go on to the market,” the spokeswoman said.
Source: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/toddlers-given-anti-psychotic-drugs/story-e6frf7kx-1225844491890
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Motherhood is not always a fun and rewarding experience. Dr. Phil talks to women who say they can’t cope with their children, and they’re running out of resources.
Part 1:
Part 2:
By Dr. Phil
“I am so tired of being a mom. I wouldn’t wish this life on my worst enemy,” laments Cyndi. Her son, Alex, suffers from Down syndrome and severe autism.
“Rain Man is higher functioning than my son,” says Cyndi’s husband, Ulis, referring to the movie in which Dustin Hoffman played an autistic man.
Alex is not potty trained at 12 and has to wear two diapers at the same time. “He will spread feces all over his body. He once broke his own nose because he had a sinus infection. Because he’s non-verbal, he couldn’t talk and tell me he was hurting,” Cyndi says. “At 96 pounds, I can’t lift him up anymore. I am physically becoming disabled myself. No one should have to live like this. I told my husband, ‘We’re going to have to try to find a facility that takes kids or adults with severe mental disabilities.’”
“My wife and I argue about Alex every day. I would never allow my wife to place Alex in a special home,” Ulis declares. I would like Alex to live with me forever. Life is not a card game. When you’re dealt a hand, you can’t just fold it and say, ‘I quit.’”
“He has the hope that someday it’s just going to get better, and I have the realization that unless I get help for him now, it’s not going to get any better,” Cyndi says. “I’ve been living in an nightmare for the past 12 years. I can’t do it one more day.”
When the videotape ends, Cyndi blinks back tears.
“Difficult to watch, but that’s your day,” Dr. Phil says sympathetically.
“I am physically and emotionally just drained. I don’t know some days how I’m going to get him out of this room and get him to school,” she says.
Dr. Phil turns to Ulis. “Are you aware that she is so at the end of her rope?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“What do you think needs to happen here?” Dr. Phil asks.
“I need someone who can help me with him, help me train him to listen to me when I tell him, ‘It’s time to get up and go to school, and it’s time to brush your teeth,’” Cyndi replies. “Having Alex is like having a baby for the rest of your life. It’s not getting better because he’s getting bigger and stronger. My husband hurt his back, actually, carrying Alex up the stairs.”
“Because he weighs, like, 100 pounds, right? Almost, but is functioning at an infant level, so you have to physically help him move,” Dr. Phil observes.
“Correct. And he can walk up the stairs. He can do it, but he chooses not to. There have been times I’ve had to almost drag him up the stairs. I’m up until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning, and then having to get up and go to a job,” she replies.
“You heard me speaking earlier to [the previous guest] Robyn about the emotions of this situation, and your emotions are in a tailspin as well, right?” Dr. Phil asks Cyndi.
She agrees. “When I see other families out, and their children are running and playing and interacting, I think, ‘Why couldn’t that have happened to me?’ I asked my doctor with each of my children to let me know if anything was going to be wrong, because I knew as a young person that I couldn’t deal with a child like this. And this is my worst nightmare because not only does he have Down syndrome, but he has autism. That was very hard,” she says. “After he was born, I started thinking, ‘We can work through this. We can make it work.’ Then when the autism set in it just got to be too much.”
“Has it gotten to the point that now your emotionality isn’t really helping?”
“Probably,” she responds.
“He can walk, but he doesn’t. Even though he suffers from Down syndrome and autism, there are communication levels that can be reached, but you understand that the manner in which y’all are engaging him is contributing to the difficulties as well,” Dr. Phil says. He points out that Alex is able to communicate to some degree because he was heard on the videotape calling his mother “mean!”
“Is it possible that you guys are in over your heads so far that it is unkind to Alex to keep him in that situation? Have you considered whether or not he might be happier, he might be better, if he were institutionalized in a facility that could care for him, either temporarily or longitudinally?” Dr. Phil asks Cyndi and Ulis. “Have you considered that?”
“Every day, but he can’t tell me that he’d prefer to be in a place like that. He can’t tell me what he would not prefer,” Ulis replies. “He can’t tell me what somebody would do to him, or what they’re doing to him, or what he likes or doesn’t like. That would be my major concern.”
“You said, looking at it from Alex’s point of view, how would you like, all of a sudden, to not be able to go to bed in your own bed, in your own house, in your own home? With his limited understanding, all of a sudden, he’s just somewhere else. That’s just more than you can even conceive, to endure emotionally, to do to him,” Dr. Phil notes.
“Right. He can’t tell you, ‘I don’t like it here,’” Ulis replies, voice breaking.
“That’s my biggest fear because it’s always all over TV about children being abused. This kid can’t say, ‘Mom, somebody touched me in the wrong place. Somebody hurt me,’” Cyndi says, tearfully. “He can’t say, ‘My head hurts. I’m sick in my stomach.’”
“As hard as it might be on you, if there was a quality alternative, if there was something that could help him get to a better level of health, you would have to consider that,” Dr. Phil says.
Dr. Phil introduces Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, who sits on the board of the Autism Society of American. “Now that you’ve seen some of the video and all, and you’ve been through the medical records as well, there are some health issues going on here,” Dr. Phil says.
“I can’t even count the number of times in his life that he’s been on antibiotics,” she replies.
“The problem with the antibiotics is you’ve got to give them when he has a problem, but you can take them so much, that they compromise your ability for your body to function properly,” Dr. Phil adds.
“Typically, when you take that level of antibiotics as a young child, you start to destroy all of the healthy bacteria as well,” Dr. Granpeesheh explains. “None of this is being treated because, unfortunately, what we see with kids with Downs, and particularly with autism, is that we focus more on the external symptoms and we don’t really focus on any of the medical symptoms, which are also causing some of these behaviors.”
“You heard me talking earlier about the behavioral management that needs to go on here. That’s not happening in this situation, but might happen in an institutional environment to raise his level of functioning through behavioral management, correct?”
“With Alex, it’s gotten to the point where it’s so severe, that he would probably have to start out with a short-term inpatient facility, and then gradually mainstream back into the home and school setting,” Dr. Granpeesheh says.
The Kennedy-Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland is the leading hospital in the country that specializes in research and treatment for pediatric development disabilities, including Down syndrome and autism. “We asked them if they would provide a doctor to begin talking to you guys about what’s going on, about what the options are, about what the courses of treatment would be. They’ve agreed to make one of their top doctors available,” Dr. Phil says. “We can begin to try to marshal some resources to help in this situation.”
“That would be wonderful,” Cyndi says.
“At this point, you’re in over your head, and you need some reinforcements,” Dr. Phil tells her. “This can get better. It’s not about dumping him in some cold, stark institution. It’s about having an integrated plan to get him moving in the right direction as best we can.”
Source: YouTube
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EMPIRE Cinema sponsors Alice in Wonderland for SMARTER Brunei
By Azaraimy HH | Brunei News
Autistic children from SMARTER Brunei went on a group visit to the Empire Cinema, part of a training scheme entitled ‘Community Adaptation Programme’, according to Malou Radovan, a teacher with SMARTER Brunei.
Through this programme, SMARTER Brunei arranged the cinema day-trip for the month of March, which was headed by the activity coordinator, T Alex Arce. Malou Radovan said that the visit was aimed at allowing individuals with autism to explore and experience different leisurely activities such as watching an entire film in a cinema in this case. The autistic children were encouraged to express themselves and how they felt after watching the film.
Over 180 participants which included individuals with autism (IWAs) from the three centres of SMARTER (ASD – Sengkurong, Kuala Belait, and BACA), their family members, friends and their teachers, arrived early Sunday morning at the Empire Cinema to watch the movie ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
The group took up all the available space in Cinema Two as well as some parts of Cinema Three. Popcorn and beverages were provided to the visitors to further enhance their movie experience.
A day earlier, the students had a preparation and review session for this activity, which saw the students learning the different concepts related to cinema such as the immediate area, community helpers, and the steps involved in going to the cinema as a group. A basic simulation of watching a movie was conducted in order to familiarise the students with a cinema. Some available space was converted to look like a cinema as well.
“This is SMARTER’s third time organising an activity in collaboration with the Empire Cinema. We have always considered ourselves fortunate to be able to collaborate with their staff and management. The Empire Cinema has always been able to accommodate us and actively supports our activities. They too have acquired an in-depth understanding of the needs of our IWAs especially in regards to their sensory issues which was addressed during the day.
“They managed to manipulate the cinema, thus, making it an autism friendly cinema by turning on dim lights to avoid plunging the children into total darkness as well as minimising the volume setting as well.
“With this we were able to create a gateway and a two-way relationship wherein our IWAs were able to adapt to the community and the community adapt to our needs. We hope to be able to accomplish this achievement with other establishments as well to help us attain our vision of having an autism friendly nation.
“On behalf of the parents and family members of SMARTER Brunei, we would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to the management and staff of Empire Cinema for their kind gesture in sponsoring our community adaptation programme for March,” Malou Radovan said.
Source: http://news.brunei.fm/2010/03/24/empire-cinema-is-autism-friendly-smarter/
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Jaymen Bourne
By Campbell Live | 3 News
Jaymen Bourne is the much-loved son of Mangan and Therese.
He is profoundly autistic, and smashed up their rented home to such a great extent that their landlord basically has no choice but to evict them.
But Jaymen can’t help himself, and his parents can’t stop him – and soon they’ll have nowhere to live.
Trapped without words, Jaymen communicates through damage. Once he gets a hole, he’ll keep picking away until the entire wall is gone.
There are times when Jaymen is just like any other 16-year-old – he listens to music and hangs out in his room, but most 16-year-olds don’t communicate with their parents through pictures.
The landlord says the Bournes are otherwise good tenants and nice people, but he can no longer get insurance – and without insurance, they can’t stay.
And with nowhere to move to, the Bournes don’t know who to turn to.
Watch the video.
Source: http://www.3news.co.nz/Teens-autism-driving-family-into-homelessness/tabid/817/articleID/147963/Default.aspx
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Mom: How Asperger’s changed my family
Shonda Schilling writes about her struggle to understand her son
Video: March 24: Baseball great Curt Schilling and his wife Shonda talk candidly about their son’s battle with Asperger’s syndrome as detailed in their book, “The Best Kind of Different.”
By Today | MSNBC
Shonda Schilling, the wife of retired Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, shares the painful and joyous story of her son Grant’s struggle with Asperger’s syndrome, and how it changed her life and her family. In this excerpt from her book, “The Best Kind of Different,” she recounts her breaking point as a mother who didn’t understand what was wrong with her son.
To those who know my son Grant and me, I frequently referred to it as the summer that one or both of us would end up medicated.
It was 2007, and Grant was seven. I was rounding the bend toward forty, but there were moments when I was so worn out I felt more like seventy. Every day was filled with exhausting challenges, one after another.
On a visit to my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, that summer, I somehow got it in my head that I should take Grant along with my other kids–Gehrig, then twelve, Gabby, ten, and Garrison, four–to an Orioles baseball game. I suppose it was wishful thinking on my part. There were so many reasons it could have been a special evening–so many reasons to be sentimental. Not only had I grown up going to Orioles games at the old Memorial Stadium, taking in game after game there with my dad, mom, and brother, mostly in the one-dollar bleachers, but the Orioles were also how I met my husband, Curt, who used to pitch for them. To make that particular game in the summer of 2007 even more exciting, Curt was pitching again, only this time for the opposing team, the Boston Red Sox. I wanted the kids to be there for that–to see “our” team play my home team.
When we got to the stadium, I proudly led the kids up to the stands. Then . . .
“I wanna go!”
Grant was visibly upset, his face a bright red.
“I wanna go! I wanna go!” he started chanting over and over while holding his hands over his ears. He draped his upper body over my knees and started rolling back and forth aggressively as he screamed.
Luckily it was loud in the stadium. People were milling about, shouting at one another, and cheering. There were announcements and music over the PA. But it wasn’t so loud that Grant’s tantrum went unnoticed. All nearby heads turned in our direction. People had the most concerned looks on their faces, as if to say, “What did you do to your kid, lady?” A few more I-wannagos and the expression morphed into an indignant “Jeez, why can’t you get control of your kid?”
And then they opened their mouths.
“Grant!” one of the men shouted. “You need to listen to your mom!”
“Calm down, Grant!” one of the women said.
Have you ever heard the expression “If you want to help, don’t”? It’s a good one. Those people meant well, but they were only making matters worse, not to mention making me feel even more humiliated. Despite entertaining vivid thoughts of killing those people (or perhaps just seriously injuring them), I managed to smile through gritted teeth. I needed to put on a good face. People might recognize me, and they were clearly judging me, assuming I didn’t know how to control my kid. They weren’t too far off base, but I didn’t need them to point that out to everyone around us. Plus, it just made Grant more upset.
“Grant, we need to stay here,” I said as firmly and quietly as I could, still all smiles. Grant didn’t stop, though.
“I wanna go, nooooow!” he shouted again. He continued flailing, and I worried that he might hit himself on the aluminum chair in front of him. I tried to hold him, but he wouldn’t have it.
Then I tried bribing him. “We’ll go to the toy store tomorrow, Grant,” I offered.
Nothing.
“You can pick the movie tonight.”
“You can stay in my bed.”
“You can have cotton candy. We can have popcorn.”
Still nothing.
Frankly, at that point, I would have let him eat a hot dog with cotton candy for a bun and ice cream on top just to get him to stop. But none of my offers worked. (Of course, the next day he would still remember I’d promised a trip to the toy store, and he’d insist on it.)
“Let me take him for a walk,” my mom offered. I felt bad. I didn’t want her to miss this game, either. “Grant, come for a walk,” she said, reaching for his hand, but he kept rocking and screaming. He only wanted me. But there was nothing I could do to make him happy.
I felt completely defeated. I wanted nothing more than for Grant to want to be there. But not only did he not want to be there, he didn’t even understand what was going on. For a long time I had been trying, unsuccessfully, to get Grant excited about baseball. I wanted him to be able to bond with his dad the way his siblings had, but in his seven years, that hadn’t really happened. There was a disconnect that I couldn’t understand, and nothing I tried seemed to fix it.
At the game, I couldn’t even get Grant to grasp that it was his father down there on the field, that he was one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, playing right there in this game that had brought all these fans to this huge stadium. I just kept thinking, If Grant sees Curt out there, he will take an interest. He will understand it, and he will be proud. I thought about how many kids would give anything to be sitting in those stands, let alone watching their father pitch for the Red Sox. What would it take to get Grant to realize what this all meant?
Preview the book : The Best Kind of Different
Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36003115/ns/today-today_books/
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