February 5, 2009
Gov. Brad Henry’s State of the State speech for Oklahoma offered its biggest applause lines as the biscuits in a sandwich whose sausage was the autism mandate. This was a free Grand Slam breakfast for Henry because he knew a Republican Legislature was unlikely to send him a mandate bill.
A House committee wasted no time defeating the mandate and declaring it dead for the next two years. The early vote was smart because it dealt quickly with a sizzling issue rather than let it stay on the griddle for week after week.
That’s what happened last year. Mandate supporters — mostly parents of autistic children and therefore unlikely to be objective — aren’t finished. Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, the short-order cook who served up this issue in 2008, said the GOP stance is a recipe for a political scorching.
“I think that’s a serious miscalculation on their part,” Gumm declared. “These families aren’t going away.”
If taking a rational view of the mandate is politically unappetizing, then why did Republicans increase their strength in the Legislature in 2008?
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
To read the rest of the article here.
February 5, 2009
When Brian Beitzel, Danny Berg and Charlie Permint are swimming laps during practice, they look just like every other athlete on the Cape Henlopen High School swim team.
And that’s how coach Bill Geppert likes it.
The trio has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a neurological disorder that impairs a person’s ability to communicate and form relationships. Still, the three have managed to find a passion for swimming, and the team has welcomed them with open arms.
“It’s just been a wonderful experience for all of us,” Geppert said. “Not just for myself and my coaches, but also for the kids on the team. It brings me back down to earth and reminds me why I coach. It’s not about wins or losses, it’s about winning in the game of life. And I think we are all better people for having these guys on the team.”
Beitzel, Berg and Permint each have limitations as to what they can and cannot do in the pool. But since they’ve started, each has grown as a swimmer, Geppert said.
“We have to do different things with them,” said freshman John Merz. “Most of the time we help them out of the pool and make sure they know what they are doing. It’s great for them and great for the team. It really benefits everybody.”
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
To read the rest of the article here.
February 5, 2009
Dear First Lady Michelle Obama,
On January 20, 2009, President Elect Obama was sworn in as our great nations 44th President and you as our First Lady. As I watched the events of the day unfold, and with each passing moment, I became more filled with hope and renewed faith that there will be much needed change in the direction of our country. I was glued to the TV when watching The Neighborhood Inaugural Ball. Tears began streaming down my face when you and your husband began your first dance as President and First Lady. My husband and I dance to Etta James’ “At Last” in our kitchen all the time.
As a proud Air Force spouse, I was still glued to the TV during the Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball, and words will not do justice to the feelings I experienced when I heard you, yet again, voice your desire to support our military families.
Thousands of our families are in crisis, and we desperately need your help. While many aspects of our lives are unique to military service; one thing is not, and that is the autism epidemic. Not only am I a proud Air Force spouse; I’m the mother of four young children, two of whom have autism.
Autism does not discriminate, and is not unique to the military, nor are the lifestyle changes and huge financial challenges that come with raising and medically treating our children with autism. While it is a big one, the only exception is preparing for and living through continual deployments and temporary duty assignments. That said, in the civilian community there are countless parents who travel frequently for work. Our families and children, who make up the autism community, as a whole, do not have the support our families need nor do we have the coverage of treatment our children with autism require. I am positive you can understand some of the challenges our families face on a daily basis. There is much work that has to be done.
Autism is a physiological disorder affecting multiple body systems which impacts neurological functioning. When the physiological disease states our children suffer from are treated, they are then able, neurologically, to acquire necessary life skills imparted through behavior intervention modalities, and benefit and recover. Every child with autism is different, and has sustained differing physiological damage to their body systems in a different way leading to their neurological impairment. Each child requires a different treatment protocol designed specifically for them.
The CDC has a prevalence rate of autism occurring in 1 in 150 children based on selective data from 2000 and 2002. If you look to the Department of Education and look at population instead of prevalence, you will find that for the 2006-2007 school year data shows that 1 in 67 children have autism. In the military looking at population data, you will see that at least 1 in every 57 military dependent children of active duty members has autism.
I am very aware that Senator Durbin and President Obama drafted the “Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2008” (ATAA2008), while your husband was still in the position of U.S. Senator for Illinois. The autism epidemic commands consensus language for this Bill that Senator Durbin and your husband planned to introduce. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association are not on the front lines of treating and recovering children with autism. Our long standing autism organizations, researchers, and doctors who are putting the pieces of the autism puzzle together are on the front lines. They are the “troops” who are fighting, and winning against autism, for our children and our future.
As the mother of two boys with autism, I know what I’ve done for my children versus what my American Academy of Pediatrics pediatrician recommended. Her recommendation, which I followed, landed my younger son at age 4 in the children’s psychiatric ward for 11 days. Her recommendations were discontinued 3 years ago, and she has since been “fired” for numerous reasons including that mentioned above. Her plan was not patient centered. Her care, of our children, was not individualized and specific to our children. Our plan for our children, based on research and input from those at long standing autism organizations, has led to recovery. Our youngest son will most likely be completely mainstreamed, educationally speaking, next year.
Our military children do receive some coverage for the treatment of autism, but it is covered as a “special education” benefit under TRICARE (military healthcare coverage), and United States Code 1079. Less than 10% of our children are receiving this benefit due to the failures of TRICARE, and essentially a failure of our Department of Defense.
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
For more information on this info check out the original article here.
February 5, 2009
In response to my blog on the costs of their intensive home-based therapy Autism Partnership has made it clear the cost is not $20,000 but rather $10,500. They also posted the following comment:
We understand the negative reactions being voiced over CNN’s reported cost of $20,000 for RES-Q (Autism 911), but there is more to the story. In fact, the cost is $2500 per day and is usually completed in five days (which was the length of time for Marissa’s intervention).
RES-Q is actually a very tiny part of the work we do. Out of more than 300 children we see yearly, an average of only 5 will need the intensive in-home intervention. The families who have participated in RES-Q have been able to obtain funding for the intervention through a variety of means. One of the reasons why funding agencies recognize the value of and need for this intervention is that it often means the difference between continuing to live at home vs. requiring residential placement.
We work diligently to keep costs as low as possible, but we are not willing to sacrifice the quality of services. To develop staff with the level of expertise and training that Rick has is costly. Although it might seem as simple as sending a therapist out for a few hours, there is extensive support and time behind the scenes to ensure a successful outcome for treatment. The intervention is a team effort which includes psychologists with more than 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults with ASD.
Those of us who founded Autism Partnership and all of our staff members did not enter this field out of a desire to get rich. If that was the goal, we would have chosen other fields. We take seriously our commitment to helping parents and their children. We provide a variety of services including direct intervention, parent support, and consultations in schools to help teachers and school districts provide effective education. We work collaboratively with funding agencies so that parents get financial support and can afford the intervention that is so vital to their child. We also conduct low fee and free workshops, as well as writing books to help families.
Our goal in participating in the CNN report was for parents to see that there is hope, that children can change. As Marissa’s mom said, she didn’t realize that Marissa could be capable of accomplishing so much. We are thrilled that Autism Partnership was able to help Marissa and her family. It is gratifying that they are able to enjoy life in ways they thought were not possible. Children with Autism having amazing potential. Our job is showing parents and teachers how to help them achieve the high quality of life they deserve.
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
For more information on this info check it out here.
February 5, 2009
There have been many exhibits of student work in the Greenwich High School Media Center through the years, but none quite like the show put on by Christian Parrotta.
A show of Christian’s paintings, drawings and ceramics work is running through the month and shows a range of ability and talent, something made all the more remarkable by the fact that Christian suffers from autism and is unable to communicate much verbally. That hasn’t stopped him, though, and his art is flourishing as his talent is given its first big exposure.
To further the development of Christian as an artist, his teachers have been there to provide a guiding hand when needed. Her colleagues give a lot of the credit to the art department’s program associate, Julie Nixon, but art teachers William Booth and Laraine Pirie have been key contributors as well. Mr. Booth said he’s very impressed by the show.
“We’re celebrating Christian’s unique developing style,” Mr. Booth said.”He has an extraordinary sense of color and we recognized that he’s really going places with his work.”
Putting the show together was the work of Gary Pishkur, Christian’s paraprofessional at GHS. Mr. Pishkur not only made the arrangements, but also mounted the art himself.
“We want to be able to find niches where kids can excel and thankfully we’ve found that niche for Christian,” Mr. Booth said.
As someone who works with Christian on a daily basis, Mr. Pishkur has watched what he calls “the dramatic progression” of his abilities. In his 15 years in the district, Mr. Pishkur said he’s never worked with a student like Christian.
“He is, by far, the most centered and motivated kid in terms of production and his own art that I’ve really ever seen,” Mr. Pishkur said. “He doesn’t need to be told anything. He will listen and comprehend what you’re saying, though, and then use it in his own style.”
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
For more information on this info check out the original article here.
February 5, 2009
Wayne Rohde knew the conservative group he talked to Wednesday would be cool to his efforts for legislation to mandate insurance companies provide coverage of treatment for autistic children. But some of their comments caught him by surprise.
ome members of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee suggested to Rohde, whose 11-year-old son, Nick, is autistic, that families with autistic children form a nonprofit organization and seek donations or get together and self-insure the payments that cost some families about $5,000 a month.
Many in the group, made up of conservative Republicans and libertarians, said they opposed the concept of state government interfering with a private industry.
One doubted the costly behavioral treatments, saying a cream applied to a child’s temples could be more effective. Another suggested Rohde, who moved to Oklahoma 11 years ago, move back to the state where he was born and let that state take care of his family’s needs.
When Rohde told the group that eight states already require insurance companies to cover autistic children, Charlie Meadows, the leader of the group, asked if it is wrong with families who have autistic children to move to states that have passed insurance mandates.
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
For more information on this info check out the original article here.
February 5, 2009
Autism task force reports to Ala. Legislature
February 04, 2009 17:49 EST
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A task force established by the Alabama Legislature to study the increased incidence of autism in Alabama has made a list of recommendations that includes opening centers around the state.
The 25-member task force recommended that the state establish several centers where individuals with autism could be diagnosed, teachers could be trained and other autism-related services provided.
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
For more information on this info check out the original article here.
February 5, 2009
FORT PIERCE, Fla. – A Port St. Lucie school teacher who was suspended without pay after she allowed her kindergarten students to vote on whether a 5-year-old autistic child could remain in class attended a hearing to appeal the decision Monday.
The St. Lucie County school board voted in November to suspend Morningside Elementary School teacher Wendy Portillo for a year without pay.
In May, Portillo asked her class to vote on whether Alex Barton should be allowed to stay. Barton has been diagnosed with Aspberger’s, a type of autism.
“Ms. Portillo acknowledges that there should be some appropriate sanction … However, she respectfully, and as her representative, I respectfully disagree that the proposed punishments as above set forth by the superintendent is appropriate,” Portillo’s attorney, David Walker, said during the hearing with state education officials.
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
For more information on this info check out the original article here.
February 4, 2009
February 5, 2009 – A research team at Brown University appears to have discovered an area in the brain that could be targeted for future autism and mental retardation treatments.
The novel Fragile X granule discovery is covered in detail in the Journal of Neuroscience. A new line of research for treatment for autism is now available thanks to this finding.
“If you are going to treat the disease you need to be able to target the defective elements,” said Justin Fallon, professor of neuroscience at Brown. “The Fragile X granule offers such a target.”
Professor Justin Fallon is listed as the senior author on the research paper along with two postdoc. students at Brown University: Michael Atkins and Sean Christie. Another researcher that participated in the research paper was James Schwob from Tufts University Medical School.
As we know, autism can be caused by buffet of genetic factors, but Fallon’s lab focused on one particular area, which was the Fragile X protein. When the Fragile X protein is mutated, it leads to Fragile X syndrome, and this causes mental retardation, which often comes also with autism.
Within the autism field there is an increasing recognition that autism and mental retardation are diseases of the synapse, which is the basic unit of the exchange and storage of information in the brain. The role of the Fragile X protein has been studied in depth by several groups in the post-synaptic, or receiving side, of synaptic connections. Fallon’s team used this as a starting point for their research in their study of the Fragile X protein and synaptic connections in healthy mice.
Using high-powered light and electron microscopes, Fallon’s team studied mouse brain tissue and made a number of observations, including that Fragile X exists at the pre-synaptic, and area not studied. For more information on this information check out here.
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
February 4, 2009
In Madison, Wisconsin the Governor, Jim Doyle, requested that lawmakers pass a new bill requiring coverage of autism treatments by the insurance companies.
As we all know most insurance companies have managed to avoid payouts for autism related treatments since it is classified an emotional disorder, not a neurological condition. Wisconsin provides some autism treatments, but the waiting lists are 18 months.
The Democrats attempted to pass a similar bill during that previous session, but guess what??? The Republican-controlled state Assembly killed the bill.
Fortunately the recent elections gave control of the Assembly to the Democrats. Since Doyle is a Democrat it is reasonable to expect the bill will pass
At a press conference Doyle pushed the bill with many lawmakers and the support of 12-year old Drew Goldsmith, who has autism. Doyle stated that passing the bill could save money for families paying for autism treatment out-of-pocket and also reduce the state program’s very long waiting list by about a third.
Wondering if your child has the symptoms of autism? What Autism treatments Work Best? Save your child from a challenged future by spotting the signs of autism early and learn the therapies that can dramatically improve your child’s quality of life at Autism Symptoms & Treatments
For more information on this info check it out here.
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