» Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome

More Stress? Really?

Honey — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:57:18 +0000

I recently saw an article that said that Mothers of Children With Autism Have More Stress. To that I can only say “You think?!” It is no secret that raising a child with a child with special needs comes with added stress. I would be quick to point out that it is worth every once of it, but that does not make it any easier.

Parents of special needs children sometimes have to deal with therapists, extra doctor’s appointments, more meetings at schools, and, in some cases, stares of people who just don’t understand. I had a friend, who is the mother of a child with Cri Du Chat, tell me that she gets so frustrated at mothers who complain about their children having a low grade fever or on how long it takes them to get one typically developing child ready for the day. She has to tube feed her son, give him his medications, dress him, make sure that his special inserts for his shoes are put on properly and be out the door before 7 in the morning. She often laments that those parents don’t realize how easy they have it.

Reading this article and reflecting on some of my other friend’s experiences only reminds me on how important it is that we all take care of ourselves. If we are stressed out and on the edge of jumping into the loony bin, we need to take a step back and do a little something for ourselves for a change even if that little something is shutting yourself in a closet with your favorite snack or locking the bathroom door and taking a long, hot bath. One particularly stressful morning, I put my kids in our playroom and hid on our stairs with my cup of coffee for five minutes. It helped me to gather my sanity and be a better mom for the day. I encourage all of you to do the same.

Scientists Studying a Gene that May Cause Autism and Digestive Problems

Honey — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:39:37 +0000

It is known that 30 percent of people who have Autism also have Digestive Problems, which is higher than the general population. As a matter of fact, many parents of children with Autism who have put their children on restrictive diets have noticed an improvement in Autism symptoms. The most famous example being Jenny McCarthy’s son Evan.

Vanderbilt University is studying gene called MET which deals with both brain cells and the gastrointestinal system , but as Daniel Campbell, a research assistant professor involved with the study says, “As scientists learn more about the disease it appears that autism is not a single disease but a spectrum of disorders with common symptoms but different causes.”

To read more about his reaserch click here.

Professor Lectures on the Causes of Autism

Honey — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:37:36 +0000

Dr. Betty Williams, co-author of the book Very Young Children with Special Needs, presented the results of some of her research in a lecture. To find out more, please read this article.

Music and Special Needs

Honey — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 02:13:30 +0000

Please take a moment to read this very special article about a woman who teaches music to people with special needs.

At what turned out to be Jessica’s last lesson, I asked her what rain sounded like. She actually gave this some thought before gently playing a tinkling sound on the higher notes that steadily became more insistent. I again harmonized with chords whenever I could on the electric keyboard. “How about the wind?” I asked. Jessica responded by playing a glissando up and down the keys with varying intensity. “Thunder?” That was easy. She immediately gave a few staccato bursts from the bass keys. “OK! Lets play the music for a short Spring thunder storm.” We dove in. It was wonderful. Not only was it totally free-form, it was VERY musical! All too soon, the lesson was over and Jessica’s father, who usually waited across the street at the local coffee shop but today waited across the hall in our living room, popped his head into the studio and said that it was time to go. Read More

The Face of Autism – Quinn

Honey — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:16:38 +0000

Meet Quinn, a young boy with Autism. This is an great video put together by Quinn’s mom.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Autism and Mercury Poisoning

Honey — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:26:29 +0000

A father who has a son with Autism discusses the possible link between Autism and Mercury Poisoning. It is very interesting and informative.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Oprah on Autism

Honey — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 01:43:03 +0000

Earlier this week, Oprah had actresses Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete on her show to discuss the impact of their son’s diagnosis of autism in their lives. This is not the first time Oprah has had a show on autism, but it is the first where celebrities have come on and thrown off the perception of a perfect life to let us know that what happened to them could happen to anyone. I admire both women for being so honest and so determined to give their sons the best life that they could possibly give. Part of that determination was accepting what their child had, but refusing to let their sons slip away into that strange world where they would become almost unreachable. To hear more about this remarkable interview, please check out these articles.

Article 1�

Article 2�

Article 3�

New Fragile X Articles

Honey — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:47:55 +0000

An article on how one family deals with their son’s Fragile X and the strength that he brought to them.

A Fragile X study brings hope for those with Autism.

Another story of a family coping with their son’s diagnosis of Fragile X Syndrome.

Learning Disabilities and Therapy

Honey — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 18:31:07 +0000

This is a wonderful video that shows how important intervention and therapy� are for children with special needs.

Click here to view the embedded video.

IEP Video

Honey — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 02:49:38 +0000

This is an awsome video, made by a parent of a child with Autism. She took it to her son’s IEP meeting so that the people there could get to know her son and know what he needed in order to learn.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Autism/TV link?

Honey — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 03:31:52 +0000

With the number of children diagnosed with Autism on the rise, scientists are researching many different theories as to what is causing this trend. I came across this interesting article that suggests a possible link between Autism and TV done at Cornell University, It certainly made me think twice about letting my own son watch TV this week.

Early Detection for Autism

Honey — Wed, 16 May 2007 04:26:20 +0000

I was sent this interesting article on early detection in Autism. With 1 in 150 children being diagnosed with Autism, parents really need to be aware of the early symptoms so that they can get their child into early intervention programs as soon as possible.

Vernon Smith, “Accept Us”

Honey — Tue, 15 May 2007 04:53:19 +0000

A fascinating video on Vernon Smith, a Nobel Prize winner with Asperger’s Syndrome. It describes his social problems and why he has been so successful.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome Overview

Honey — Tue, 15 May 2007 04:24:39 +0000

Autism and Asperger

Autism is a developmental disability that usually appears before the age of three. Autistic children have impaired social interaction skills, will engage in repetitive activities, and are delayed in communication. The exact cause of autism is unknown, but the number of children diagnosed with this disorder has risen alarmingly over the past 20 years. It is estimated that 1 in every 150 children will be diagnosed with Autism.

People with Asperger are sometimes considered to be high functioning Autistics. They usually have an average or above average IQ, but are severely behind in social skills. Many doctors think that there is no difference between Autism and Asperger.

Articles� Please click onthe link to read the full article.

The National Autism Conference is to take place November 8 – 11, 2007.

A new bill in Pennsylvania would require insurance companies to cover the costs of Autism treatments.

Families are seeking compassion and awareness for Autism and Asperger’s

New Program to Register Children With Autism

Read how Ben Anderson lives with Asperger Syndrome.