Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Military Base Allows Campers with Disabilities to Soar

scottie — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:12:20 +0000

Teaser:

Ft. Leavenworth, like many military bases, has families packing up to move during the summer.

Body:

Ft. Leavenworth, like many military bases, has families packing up to move during the summer. To help families who have children with autism and other disabilities deal with the disruption they started Camp SOAR. Mission Command Training Program, the Fort Leavenworth Fire Department and Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers sponsor this four-year-old camp. The kids have the opportunity to ride horses, play with therapy dogs, dig in a garden, make art, and participate in music therapy. Each camper is paired with a buddy from one of the sponsoring organizations and the camp includes a nurse. The camp is run through the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) at Ft. Leavenworth; there is an EFMP at each military base. Parents can contact their local EFMP to see if they offer a similar program.

Read original article: Camp SOAR Offers Exceptional Opportunities

Sense-ational Endeavors is Camp for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:29:19 +0000

Teaser:

Shelly Beaver, a certified recreation therapy specialist, wanted a camp just for kids with developmental delays; one that could accommodate their special needs.

Body:

Shelly Beaver, a certified recreation therapy specialist, wanted a camp just for kids with developmental delays; one that could accommodate their special needs. Through Penn State Altoona’s Kids College, she created Sense-ational Endeavors. The week long camp will focus on each of the six senses and will include: bowling, soccer, musical therapy, dancing, art therapy, and pet therapy. In addition, campers will learn some life skills while organizing a lunch one day for families. Staff for the camp include therapists, special ed teachers, and supervised student nurses.

Read original article: Penn State Altoona Program Offers Accessible Camp

Georgia Mom Creates Support Group for Parents of Kids with Autism

scottie — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Davina Drakeley-Lever, a pediatric nurse in Georgia, who has a 5-year old with autism, realized that lots of parents who receive the diagnosis don’t know where to turn.

Body:

Davina Drakeley-Lever, a pediatric nurse in Georgia, who has a 5-year old with autism, realized that lots of parents who receive the diagnosis don’t know where to turn. Her son was eligible for BabyNet, the early intervention program in Georgia, and then continued to receive speech, OT, and adaptive behavior therapy in school. She has teamed with Dr. Caroline DiBattisto, a developmental behavioral pediatrician, to form a support group – Autism Spectrum Disorder Support and Resource Group or A-Team. The group will meet monthly and will provide evidence-based information and therapy resources for parents.

Read original article: Group will Share Autism Experiences

Rainbow Reins Provides Equine Therapy for Children with Autism

scottie — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Rainbow Reins Equine Activities in New Jersey provides therapeutic horseback riding for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Body:

Rainbow Reins Equine Activities in New Jersey provides therapeutic horseback riding for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Amelia Opderbeck is one young lady, whose favorite horse is Toby, who has become more social and conversational. Her father, Ted Opderbeck, says, “She's really blossomed. . . . To have something she feels so comfortable with, it really helps. And it has transferred into other parts of her life.” Marlene Meyer, a former nurse, is the founder of Rainbow Reins and uses horses to help kids with disabilities learn to interact, gain muscle strength, sensory integration skills, and emotional growth. She provides individual lessons as well as group camps.

Read original article: Horse-Riding Therapy Programs Help Children with Disabilities

Collaborative Approach to Autism: A Parent’s Perspective

scottie — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:09:18 +0000

Title	Collaborative Approach to Autism: A Parent’s Perspective
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Quirantes D
Journal Title	J Spec Pediatr Nurs.
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	14
Issue	3
Pages	203-205
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19614830
Teaser	Successful treatment for autism is best achieved when parents and physicians work together with skilled professionals and therapists to execute a well-developed treatment plan.
Full Text	Successful treatment for autism is best achieved when parents and physicians work together with skilled professionals and therapists to execute a well-developed treatment plan. This letter to a journal is written by a woman who is both a nurse and a mother to an eight year old boy with autism. She describes how many large cities have autism treatment teams in place, and doctors should be able to refer parents to these teams. Treatments are not cheap, though, and parents need help working through the healthcare system to find ways to pay for treatment. One of the problems that parents have is teaching other people about autism and what to expect from a child with autism. Parents want people to know that a child is a human being who knows what is going on even if he cannot speak.

Supporting Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Questions Parents Ask and What Nurses Need to Know

scottie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:30:26 +0000

Title	Supporting Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Questions Parents Ask and What Nurses Need to Know
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Elder JH, D’Alessandro T
Journal Title	Pediatric Nursing
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	35
Issue	4
Pages	240-253
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19785304
Teaser	Nurses may be able to help families as they go through a process of accepting the diagnosis and seeking care for their children with autism.
Full Text	Nurses may be able to help families as they go through a process of accepting the diagnosis and seeking care for their children with autism. Parents can go through emotional phases that are similar to phases of grieving someone’s death. Parents may go through shock, sadness, anger, disorganization, despair, and eventually reorganization and acceptance. Nurses can learn about therapy and treatment options to help support parents as they make decisions about care of their children with autism. Medication is often part of the treatment plan, and nurses can help parents by giving information and support to them.

Etiological Explanation, Treatability, and Preventability of Childhood Autism: A Survey of Nigerian Healthcare Workers’ Opinion

scottie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:58:22 +0000

Title	Etiological Explanation, Treatability, and Preventability of Childhood Autism: A Survey of Nigerian Healthcare Workers’ Opinion
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Bakare MO, Agomoh AO, Ebigbo PO, Eaton J, Okonkwo KO, Onwukwe JU, Onyeama GM
Journal Title	Annals of General Psychiatry
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	8
Issue	6
Pages	6-14
URL for Abstract	http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2646731
Teaser	A survey of Nigerian health care workers showed that the workers may have some negative opinions or beliefs about autism and autism therapies.
Full Text	A survey of Nigerian health care workers showed that the workers may have some negative opinions or beliefs about autism and autism therapies. The researchers surveyed 134 Nigerian nurses about their attitudes and opinions related to autism. The survey found that 55% of the nurses thought that autism was treatable and 32% thought that it was preventable. Nurses working less than 6 years were more likely to think autism was preventable. Also, 25% of the nurses thought that autism was caused by supernatural causes. The authors think that changing the opinions of the healthcare workers through education is important. The authors also think that families of people with autism would be more likely to seek care and therapy if the healthcare workers encouraged it.

The School Nurse’s Role in Treatment of the Student with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:57:40 +0000

Title	The School Nurse’s Role in Treatment of the Student with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Bellando J, Lopez M
Journal Title	J Spec Pediatr Nurs
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	14
Issue	3
Pages	173-182
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19614826
Teaser	The school nurse is the “front line” medical professional and may be an important part of the care of children with autism in school.
Full Text	The school nurse is the “front line” medical professional and may be an important part of the care of children with autism in school. Children with autism may have a range of health issues and use a range of therapies during school. The school nurse may be most helpful if she knows about the treatments and medical conditions. Medical issues include seizures, gastrointestinal (GI) problems, sleep problems, and medications. The school nurse can also be a part of the individualized education plan (IEP) for the child with autism.

Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Part II: Screening, Diagnosis, and Management

scottie — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:56:44 +0000

Title	Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Part II: Screening, Diagnosis, and Management
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Inglese MD
Journal Title	Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	24
Issue	1
Pages	49-59
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19159835?ordinalpos=11&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	Nurses may want to learn about screening, diagnosis, and support of children with autism because they are likely to encounter them in the community and in the medical setting. Since 1 out of 150 children are diagnosed with 3 years of age) has been designated childhood disintegration disorder. The term “autism” is usually used to describe disorders included on the autism spectrum.">autism spectrum disorders (3 years of age) has been designated childhood disintegration disorder. The term “autism” is usually used to describe disorders included on the autism spectrum.">ASD), nurses are likely to meet with or care for children with autism. Early diagnosis and early intervention are important to better help children with autism. Since diagnosis of autism in infants and toddlers can be difficult, nurses can look for delays in babbling, talking, and social interactions. There are also at least 11 different developmental tests that can help diagnose developmental delays. Autism treatment includes many different approaches for care. As children grow and become adults, autism treatment can change in order to meet their changing needs.

A new mania

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:47:42 +0000

Wow, did Christmas ever sneak up on me this year! I thought I had a handle on things, but here it is, Christmas Eve-eve-eve, and Thomas turns six tomorrow. I should watch the old video of us opening presents with newborn Thomas nestled in the crook of his dad’s arm, looking around at the bright, decorated-for-Christmas world. I’ll not watch the video of me swollen to the size of a Dodge Caravan, limping to bathroom for the millionth time to check my staples. Despite my diligence, the incision became infected anyway and Thomas’ first few weeks at home were full of visitors – visiting nurses, that is.

The last week of school before Christmas break was so cold! School was cancelled on Friday which was a bummer for the kids in Thomas’ class; everyone missed out on their holiday parties. Thomas didn’t mind so much because he’s always apprehensive about anything out of the ordinary. I was especially disappointed that Hayley’s holiday sing would be cancelled, but I received an e-mail saying that it was rescheduled to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, so the whole family was able to go. Thomas had a really hard time sitting in the audience and being quiet, but nobody seemed to notice or care. After the kids finished singing, Santa Claus came in to hand out gifts to the preschool students. When it was Hayley’s turn, we asked if Thomas could talk to Santa too. Santa, as usual, was completely obliging, thereby saving us a hectic and stressful (and expensive, because they rob you for those pictures) trip to the mall on Sunday. Woo-hoo! I got a few pictures, none of them terrific, but it was good enough.

Thomas’ birthday party was on Saturday and up until the morning of, he was not into it. “I hate my birthday!” he was saying over and over. “There’ll be enough time for that when you’re a grown-up,” I answered. He understands that grown-ups don’t like getting older. Anyway, the morning of his party, he decided that he was excited and that he “loves his birthday.” Every time he says he hates something, I try to explain to him that he doesn’t really hate it, he just doesn’t know what to expect. He agrees with me on that. Now, the trick is to get him to say that he’s “a little worried” instead of “I hate it!”

Since tomorrow is his birthday, I was going to make him cupcakes or cake, whichever he preferred. He wants nothing. That’s what he said. Actually, I kind of think he’s just not a “cake person,” like me. I prefer fruit pies to cakes personally, but he wanted ice cream for dessert last night instead of leftover cake. Maybe we can make gingerbread men instead or something.

Santa has told me that he is indeed bringing Thomas the Lightning McQueen bicycle that he wants for Christmas. He’s also bringing the matching helmet and elbow pads, of course. I have already placed the old tricycles in the garage very quietly and nobody seemed to notice, so that’s really good. I’m just thinking about Thomas riding around the living room and dining room on Christmas morning, knocking things off shelves and the Christmas tree…bikes were always a popular Christmas present, but who can actually ride them in Chicago on Christmas Day? Which reminds me, Santa made the tires on the bike and didn’t put air in them…Mrs. Claus had better find the old bicycle pump in the garage.

So tomorrow is Thomas’ birthday, then we go to my mother-in-law’s on Christmas Eve for dinner and presents and then on Christmas, we’re going to my Uncle Bill’s house. Only thirty people are coming this year! It will be an intimate gathering for once, which will be good for Thomas. I think that some Christmases, there have been sixty or more people present which always seems more like Oktoberfest at the local fairgrounds than Christmas.

It has been so cold here that going outside with the kids – to play in the snow or just go for a walk – has been impossible. I can’t imagine another three months of this. It has to get better, right? Actually, I heard a meteorologist say that “they” expect December to be the coldest out of the winter months here in Chicago. Jonathan has been missing time at work not because of the bad economy but the rotten weather. I hate worrying about money and work right before the holidays, but it’s hard not to. We’re lucky he has a job at all. I’m still trying to find something I can do at home, but I’m discouraged by all of the scams out there.

Thomas has a “new mania,” like Mr. Toad in “The Wind in the Willows.” He loves playing with Jonathan’s PSP, which is a hand-held game console. We cannot get him to put this thing down. Like all of Thomas’ phases, we expect him to grow out of it, but it has been a real struggle trying to put time limits on this thing. I got it for Jonathan for Father’s Day a couple years ago, and it turns out that it was the worst decision I’ve ever made because when Thomas isn’t playing with it, Jonathan is. At any given moment, one of the men in my life is completely zoned out.

This will be my last post before Christmas, so I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and a prosperous New Year. I especially mean the prosperous part.