Autism Therapy: family

definition of family: not yet defined.

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Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Sample of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders
J Autism Dev Disord, by , published in 2009, summarized Nov 4, 2010

Children’s GI problems appear less likely to respond to autism treatment and therefore GI symptoms may need to be considered and treated when creating a treatment plan for a child with autism.

The purpose of this study was to study the GI problems in a large sample of children with autism. The authors studied 172 children who entered two large-scale autism drug therapy trials. The groups (GI problems and no GI problems) were the same with regards to sex, race, special education placement, and family background. It seemed that those children who had more GI problems also had more behavioral problems. Children with autism and GI problems also had more social problems than children without GI problems.


Public vs. Private Insurance: Cost, Use, Accessibility, and Outcomes of Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, by Young, A., Ruble L., and McGrew J., published in 2009, summarized Oct 1, 2010

Children with autism who have public insurance seem to do as well as children with autism who have private insurance.

There are very few studies that look at how the type of insurance a family has affects the therapy received by a child with autism. The purpose of this study was to compare families with public and private insurance to see the services that they received for their children with autism. In the state of Kentucky, families with public and private insurance had the same out-of-pocket expense, service use, and mixture of services used.


Challenges of Service-Dog Ownership for Families with Autistic Children: Lessons for Veterinary Practitioners
JVME, by Burrows, KE, and Adams CL, published in 2009, summarized Aug 31, 2010

Service dogs may be a friend to a child with autism and help keep the child safe, but the family with the dog needs the support of a good veterinarian.

The purpose of this study was to learn from families what it is like to have a service dog to support a child with autism. Each family must find its own way to bring a service dog into the family. The authors found that the troubles with service dogs may offset the good of having a service dog. The authors suggest that veterinarians look at the results of this study so that they can better help the owners of service dogs. Veterinary schools can teach veterinarians how to learn what needs to be known about families who want service dogs.


Empowering Families through Relationship Development Intervention: An Important Part of the Biopsychosocial Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, by Gutstein, SE, published in 2009, summarized Jun 15, 2010

Relationship development intervention (RDI) may be helpful as part of a larger autism treatment program.

The purpose of this article is to teach psychiatrists about RDI. RDI has been in use for ten years now and it is a major relationship-based tool for autism intervention. RDI consultants focus on family support and parent training. They also focus on helping any IQ weaknesses in the child. The author notes that while RDI has not been studied in outcome based research, the thought behind the therapy makes sense and therefore the therapy likely offers value to the child with autism and the family.


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Some Kids with Autism May Suffer from Cyber Addiction

May 18, 2012

iPads and video interaction has provided a means for children with autism to communicate; it may also have provided addictive behavior. Christopher Mulligan founded Groupworks West, which provides assistance when people with autism show a susceptibility to addiction to the Internet and video stimulation. He has found parents who used the technology because it helped their kids communicate, but found it also lessens their social interaction with other people. Mulligan explained one reason for increased dependence on technology, “One of the first things cut were all recreational services including summer camp. They had horseback riding, swimming – wonderful services – and cutting summer camp funding really added a lot of stress to parents. Almost all of the families I help are families where both parents are working.” The kids’ only means of stimulation and interaction are through the Internet.

Read original article: Autistic Teens and Children Struggle with Cyber Addiction


Florida State Senator Creates Web Portal for Families with Autism to Manage Healthcare

May 17, 2012

Florida State Senator, Jeremy Ring, understands the problems of parents of kids with autism and other behavioral difficulties managing their child’s healthcare. He developed a Facebook-like, but private, free Web-based healthcare management platform. Mercurian helps families organize family care teams – this can be anyone from a home care attendant to a relative to teachers and therapists. Team members can share as much information as they like to help track the child’s progress. The hope is that the data collected will help families notice changes in behavior, improvements in communications between families and professionals, and provide updates to schools and physicians.

Read original article: Senator Creates Website for Children with Autism


Workshop Provides Coping Skills for Children with Special Needs

May 11, 2012

Loresa Stansell, a counselor, provided a workshop in Tennessee entitled, No More Chasing Normal, to families, caregivers, and teachers of kids with autism. She offered suggestions, including visual schedules even for verbal children, to help with behavior and communication. Another idea she suggested was a “rehearsal manual” that parents can use to set longer term goals for their children, for example, learning to wash laundry, or cook. Stansell also uses her own A-typical Episodic Grief Model; rather than ending with acceptance, it ends with adaptation, because children with special needs are always growing and changing.

Read original article: Workshop Offers Coping Tips


Autism-Friendly Mary Poppins Comes to Broadway

May 10, 2012

The Theatre Development Fund sponsored the second autism-friendly Broadway show – Mary Poppins. The New Amsterdam Theatre sold out within two days. Along with parents and kids with autism, there were 40 autism specialists, mainly from Hunter College and Autism Friendly Spaces to assist families. So that children were prepared, there were descriptions of the characters and song lists. There were areas where children who were fidgity or anxious could go to calm down. Children could even watch the show via live feed if the audience crowd proved too much for them. Coloring books, puzzles, and video cues were available. The next event will be a repeat of the first – The Lion King. Tickets go on sale this summer.

Read original article: Parents Cheer Autism-Friendly "Mary Poppins"


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Please comment on this autism topic.

Responding to casein-free diet

Apr 18, 2012 by Anonymous

This is another topic families ask me about and I would print this for them if there was a PDF source


Responding to casein-free diet

Apr 18, 2012 by Anonymous

This is another topic families ask me about and I would print this for them if there was a PDF source


Responding to Vitamin B6 and magnesium

Apr 18, 2012 by Anonymous

I think these factsheets are useful, and I would print them for interested families if there was a PDF source.


Responding to Vitamin B6 and magnesium

Apr 18, 2012 by Anonymous

I think these factsheets are useful, and I would print them for interested families if there was a PDF source.


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Please comment on family or other autism therapy topics.

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