Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Students with Autism Do Well in STEM Subjects

scottie — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

This article in Nature looked at students with autism doing well in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Body:

This article in Nature, adapted from a blog in Scientific American, looked at students with autism doing well in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The U.S. has recognized the importance of STEM subjects in a global economy. A recent study showed that students with autism choose STEM subjects to major in at a higher rate than neurotypical students. But, as you might have guessed, students with autism were less likely to go to college. Xin Wei, a researcher at the Center for Education and Human Services at SRI International, explained, “[Students with autism] look for patterns, and, in science, you are always looking for patterns that you hope reflect a natural law.” Now the hope is that schools will better train students with autism to get a post-high school education.

Original Article:

Students with Autism Gravitate Toward STEM Majors

Support Helps Young Adult with Autism Live and Work Independently

scottie — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

A 26-year-old Virginia man with autism lives on his own and works at a law firm.

Body:

A 26-year-old Virginia man with autism lives on his own and works at a law firm. Kevin Gibson has his own apartment and prepares his own meals, as well as working as a file clerk at MG-IP. Martin Geissler, founding partner of MG-IP, explained, “He’s one of our most punctual employees. He takes a great pride in his work.” Gibson received his life and job skills training from Service Source, a national organization that helps people with disabilities find gainful employment. But Gibson had a head start with an early diagnosis and early intervention that included speech therapy, physical therapy, and communication skills. His story doesn't end at the law firm, he explained, “Hope when I retire, I’m going to move to Texas and open up an airplane hobby shop.”

Original Article:

Support System, Determination Help Autistic Man Lead Full Life

Project Lifesaver Helps Track Kids with Autism Who May Wander

scottie — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Augusta County Sheriff's Department in Illinois recently adopted Project Lifesaver for kids with autism.

Body:

The Augusta County Sheriff's Department, as well as Staunton and Waynesboro police in Illinois recently adopted Project Lifesaver for kids with autism. Some children with autism may wander away from home. Project Lifesaver consists of a bracelet that sends off a tracking signal; the child or person with special needs wears this. Law enforcement officials said that it typically takes more than 10 hours of searching to locate the person, with a tracking bracelet, the time is decreased to 30 minutes. The bracelet costs $300, however, parents may be able to find grants to help pay for this safety feature.

Original Article:

Project Lifesaver Available in Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro

Latino Parents Struggle to Learn About Rights They have with Their Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:32:21 +0000

Teaser:

This article about Latino families with autism is the third in a series about difficulties faced by families whose native language is not English.

Body:

This article about Latino families with autism is the third in a three part series about difficulties faced by many families whose native language is not English. California, like many states, requires an individual education plan (IEP) for kids with autism, but in many cases lacks funds for providing these services in Spanish, and to low-income families. Fiesta Educativa is one organization that helps empower families with disabilities. Angelica Herrera, a parent coordinator with Fiesta Educativa explained, “A lot of the pamphlets we have are in English and we try to get as many as we can in Spanish but it’s [just] not there.” Another resource, the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center (ELARC), does not have information translated into Spanish; however, they hire bilingual service coordinators to assist Latino clients. The Los Angles School District only provides Spanish translation if requested. Several organizations are trying to fill the need: Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) explained that parents need to reach out for assistance, but first they need to understand autism; they have had an outreach program since 2009. The Disability Rights Legal Center has published an online guide, The Children’s Benefits Access Guide.

Original Article:

Know Your Rights to Advocate for Your Autistic Child

Chicago Attorneys Raise Money for Autism

scottie — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:10:45 +0000

Teaser:

Have Dreams, a recreational facility for kids with autism, has some fans among Chicago attorneys.

Body:

Have Dreams, a recreational facility for kids with autism, has some fans among Chicago attorneys. Matthew Johnson’s son has been attending the after-school program for three years. The kids not only do crafts and play games, but they learn socializing skills that help them in other areas of their lives. Have Dreams was founded in 1996 by a group of parents who wanted a place for their kids to feel safe. Charles Gilbert, with the IL attorney general’s office, said his son still participates in some of the activities even though he’s 23 now. Kim Denkewalter, another attorney became involved when he met a young man with autism. He started a golf fundraising event for Have Dreams. This year the attorneys are hosting a fundraiser for Have Dreams that they hope will bring in $400,000 for the program.

Original Article:

Lawyers Help Raise Money for Autism

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.

Original Article:

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

Sheriff’s Department Learns to Recognize Signs of Autism in Children and Adults

scottie — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:20:18 +0000

Teaser:

Tracy Gott, mom of a child with autism, and Sullivan County (TN) Sheriff Wayne Anderson believe it is important for law enforcement officers to learn about autism.

Body:

Tracy Gott, mom of a child with autism, and Sullivan County (TN) Sheriff Wayne Anderson believe it is important for law enforcement officers to learn about autism. Without some training on the signs of autism, officers might mistake a non-verbal child as being rude or stubborn, or an adult as being on drugs. Gott also explains the importance of letting local law enforcement know if you have a child or adult on the spectrum they should know about. “That way local authorities can put your information into their system in the case there is an emergency at your home.” The Autism Society of East Tennessee has more information and provides education and awareness.

Original Article:

Officers Learning How to Recognize Signs of Autism

Homeschooling Children with Autism

scottie — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:57:40 +0000

Teaser:

Parents who choose to homeschool their children with autism may want to examine the pros and cons.

Body:

Parents who choose to homeschool their children with autism may want to examine the pros and cons. The pros of homeschooling a child with autism include: one-on-one teaching, flexibility to attend therapy programs, and the ability to work with the child's own schedule. Cons include: understanding state laws that govern homeschooling, parents' work schedule, and potentially expensive curriculum packages. There are many resources for homeschooling, including workshops for parents, some of these are: Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA); and GiftsNC. It also can be important for parents and their children to find others like them who are homeschooling so that they do not miss out on social interaction.

Original Article:

original article

Occupational Therapist Hopes for New Preschool to Provide Daily Interventions for Children with Autism

scottie — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:10:24 +0000

Teaser:

Chris Porras, a Harlingen, Texas-based occupational therapist, hopes to get community support to open a preschool that would provide daily interventions for children with autism.

Body:

Chris Porras, a Harlingen, Texas-based occupational therapist, hopes to get community support to open a preschool that would provide daily interventions for children with autism. In her occupational therapy (OT) work with Easter Seals, she is able to work with each child only a short time every week, but understands that children work best with daily treatments in sensory integration, motor skills, and progress tracking. The goal for the preschool would be to allow children to mainstream into elementary school. The preschool would also provide family support, education, and legal services.

Original Article:

original article

Outcomes in Adults with Asperger Syndrome

scottie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:18:38 +0000

Title	Outcomes in Adults with Asperger Syndrome
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Barnhill GP
Journal Title	Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
Year of Publication	2007
Volume	22
Issue	2
Pages	116-126
URL for Abstract	http://foa.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/22/2/116
Full Text	Adults with autism may have job issues, mental health issues, and problems with the legal system. This review articles describes what is known about adult outcomes for people with Asperger syndrome. The author notes that treatments for autism work on symptoms of autism. She suggests that good treatments are explained to and agreed upon by the person with autism. Early diagnosis will make it possible to begin treatments earlier in the person's life. Since the symptoms of autism can vary a great deal from person to person, good treatment plans are designed for each individual.