Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

First Responders in Alabama Get Training on Dealing with Children with Autism

scottie — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:46:48 +0000

Teaser:

The North Alabama Medical Reserve Corps received a grant from AmeriCares to provide first responder training to deal with kids with autism.

Body:

The North Alabama Medical Reserve Corps received a grant from AmeriCares to provide first responder training to deal with kids with autism. The first responders were busy this spring with flooding and tornadoes. Children with autism tend to be more frightened and likely to run away during times of stress and emergency. When first responders learn how to approach children who may suffer from communication and sensory issues, the children and their families have a better and less-stressed outcome.

Read original article: North Alabama Group Gets Grant to Train First Responders to Help Those with Autism

New Center at MIT to Focus on Autism Research and Therapies

scottie — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:01:59 +0000

Teaser:

The Simons Center for the Social Brain at MIT was recently created with funding from the Simons Foundation.

Body:

The Simons Center for the Social Brain at MIT was recently created with funding from the Simons Foundation. The center’s focus will be on neuroscience to help diagnose and treat autism. Mriganka Sur, who heads the center explains, "Our real goal is to excite innovation and new ways of thinking." The funding will allow “seed” grants to various groups of researchers who might not otherwise qualify for grant money because they are studying new types of research. The center believes that these scientists will be able to test new approaches. The center’s focus is centered on four goals: 1) identify the genes involved in autism; 2) develop animal testing to understand the biology behind autism; 3) study the difference in brains of people with autism from neurotypical brains; and 4) translate research findings into therapies that will help treat autism.

Read original article: New MIT Center to Fund Autism Research

Kids with Autism Can Ride Skateboards Too!

scottie — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:37:06 +0000

Teaser:

Lyra Stephens is captain of the roller derby league in Montgomery Alabama and mom to a son with autism.

Body:

Lyra Stephens is captain of the roller derby league in Montgomery Alabama and mom to a son with autism. She discovered A.skate Foundation a place that lets kids with autism to learn a solo sport – skateboarding. Her son uses her childhood skateboard when he’s not working on therapies with his mom at home. A.skate Foundation is free, gives grants to children for the gear, and promotes skateboarding as a sport. Their Web site explains, “Autism, like skateboarding, can be unpredictable and often times unruly. We embrace the parts of autism that are hard to understand and give these kids an outlet that is free of rules or judgment.”

Read original article: Skating Mom Helps Son with Autism Soar

One Family with Autism Helps Others with Financial Struggles

scottie — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:07:09 +0000

Teaser:

When Jodi and Keith Malec’s son Jacob was diagnosed with autism and cognitive impairments, they found themselves in the financial world of therapies and treatment.

Body:

When Jodi and Keith Malec’s son Jacob was diagnosed with autism and cognitive impairments, they found themselves in the financial world of therapies and treatment. As Keith says, “It’s like having a child in college from birth for the rest of their lives.” Friends and relatives helped them out financially with fundraisers, so to pay it forward, they started Friends of Jacob Foundation. The Foundation does the best it can to give grants to families in need. One recipient was Bobby Dugar, a single dad with an 11 year-old son with autism. The Foundation grant money provided a therapeutic swing as well as an iPad that allows Ryan to communicate. The foundation operates on a volunteer basis and have long term goals that include a large rural ranch for adults with autism.

Read original article: Friends of Jacob Foundation Helping Special Needs Kids

Australian Family Recognizes the Difference Early Intervention Can Make

scottie — Fri, 27 May 2011 17:22:57 +0000

Teaser:

An Australian family sees the difference early intervention and slipping through the cracks has made in the lives of their kids on the spectrum.

Body:

An Australian family sees the difference early intervention and slipping through the cracks has made in the lives of their kids on the spectrum. The Lillis twins were diagnosed early and the boys received treatment, including speech and visual therapies. One twin is mainstreamed while the other attends a special education school. Julie and Mark’s older daughter was verbal, but had trouble in other developmental areas – she was finally diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. Because she had struggled in a regular classroom, her parents had to double-back to get her needed therapies in order to catch up. Two local support groups – Fairstart Early Intervention and CatholicCare Early Childhood Intervention – have received grants to help others in the community like the Lillis family.

Read original article: Support Turns Life Around for Family

Are You a Parent Overwhelmed by Autism in your Life?

scottie — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:35:20 +0000

Teaser:

Lisa Jo Rudy, mother of a child with autism, writes frequently on the subject.

Body:

Lisa Jo Rudy, mother of a child with autism, writes frequently on the subject. In a recent post, she spoke about the struggles parents can have when their child is diagnosed with autism. Visits with friends become few and far between; it may be hard to get in a good meal; and it may be difficult to leave the house. Rudy talks about depression and the need for a break from every-day hardships. The article focuses on resources for respite, coping with stress, depression, and finding grants to help with family finances.

Read original article: Resources for Struggling Autism Parents

Can Virtual Simulation Help Teens on the Autism Spectrum Learn to Drive Better?

scottie — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 19:01:36 +0000

Teaser:

What teenager doesn’t want to drive; but what if the teen has Asperger’s or high-functioning autism?

Body:

What teenager doesn’t want to drive; but what if the teen has Asperger’s or high-functioning autism? A group of researchers at the University of Virginia led by Ron Reeve are studying whether using virtual reality driving simulators to teach drivers ed will help these students. Reeve explains that there is no legal reason why kids cannot drive, but there may be symptoms that interfere. For example, “they may hyper-focus on one aspect of driving and struggle with the multi-tasking required to simultaneously keep the car in the correct lane, maintain an appropriate distance from the car ahead, attend to a changing stop light or other signal.” His initial study plan is to have 10 students with Asperger’s/high-functioning autism learn to drive using a virtual reality driving simulator and gradually move to regular driving. Ten other students with Asperger’s/high-functioning autism would receive typical training; either parents’ teaching, driver’s ed, or professional driving school. Finally both groups of drivers will be evaluated by instructors who do not know which of the groups the students were in.

Read original article: U.Va. Receives Grant to Study Simulator's Effects on Teen Drivers with Autism

Planet Dog Foundation Funds Service Dogs to Help Kids with Autism

scottie — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:49:18 +0000

Teaser:

Planet Dog Foundation, a “green” dog toy company, has funded Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities/East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD).

Body:

Planet Dog Foundation, a “green” dog toy company, has funded Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities/East Coast Assistance Dogs (ECAD). ECAD uses at-risk kids to train the service dogs, mostly Labrador and Golden Retrievers. The kids train 25 to 30 dogs a year and at the same time learn a sense of responsibility. The service dogs are used in several ways; one program, Project Heal, is for wounded veterans. Canine Magic is a program for children with autism. The dogs act as “safe anchors” for the children, ensuring that they don’t run off.

Read original article: Planet Dog Foundation Gives Grant to Regional Assistance Dog Program

Speech and Language Pathologist Dreams of a School for Pre-Teens on the Autism Spectrum

scottie — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:50:17 +0000

Teaser:

Barbara Lechner, an Ohio speech and language therapist, who has worked with preschoolers with autism, wants to give pre-teens the same opportunities.

Body:

Barbara Lechner, an Ohio speech and language therapist, who has worked with preschoolers with autism, wants to give pre-teens the same opportunities. Her pre-school, Language Experience Center, works with 2-year-olds. Lechner realized that pre-teens with autism face different situations, such as those involving social interaction with peers, inner anxiety, and fear of bullying. She is in the grant-applying process for a school to serve 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. She says, “The school would focus on academics but would include art, cooking, gardening and computer classes. Students would be encouraged to develop their special talents.”

Read original article: Granville Woman Pursuing Dream of School for Autistic Youth

School Receives Funds to Enhance Autism Instruction

scottie — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:25:02 +0000

Teaser:

The Educational Partnership for Instructing Children (EPIC), celebrating their 14th anniversary, received a grant from the Drive for Autism Foundation.

Body:

The Educational Partnership for Instructing Children (EPIC), celebrating their 14th anniversary, received a grant from the Drive for Autism Foundation. This fulfills a number of needs on EPIC’s wish list, including TV sets, special furniture, and educational materials. The TVs will be used to show instructional videos to demonstrate social interaction skills, the furniture will be used to better house equipment and supplies, and tables can be used to teach skills such as folding laundry. Dr. Paul Argott, Clinical Director at EPIC, stated, “Our goal is to enable our learners, to achieve as much independent function as each is capable of, so when they leave the school one day, they can function as independently as possible in the natural world."

Read original article: A Paramus School's Wish (List) Comes True