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April is Autism Awareness Month Having had some experience with this much misunderstood issue i am only slightly aware of the difficulties that it can cause however i am acutely aware of the rewards and the amazing people that i was lucky enough to be brought in to contact with.
I also know that one of our loveliest orgers lives with this day to day, she shows her strength and courage daily and i think that she deserves our support and understanding in dealing with something that is a daily fight against the issue itself and against the prejudice it can invite. Ivy you are amazing. This month even more so our love to you and our admiration for all you are. What is Autism? An Overview Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe. Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins Hospital. At the same time, a German scientist, Dr. Hans Asperger, described a milder form of the disorder that is now known as Asperger Syndrome (read more). These two disorders are listed in the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as two of the five developmental disorders that fall under the autism spectrum disorders. The others are Rett Syndrome, PDD NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder), and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. All of these disorders are characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and social abilities, and also by repetitive behaviors. For more discussion on the range of diagnoses that comprise autism spectrum disorder, click here. Autism spectrum disorders can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, although new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as 6 months. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills. Pediatricians may initially dismiss signs of autism, thinking a child will “catch up,” and may advise parents to “wait and see.” New research shows that when parents suspect something is wrong with their child, they are usually correct. If you have concerns about your child's development, don't wait: speak to your pediatrician about getting your child screened for autism. If your child is diagnosed with autism, early intervention is critical to gain maximum benefit from existing therapies. Although parents may have concerns about labeling a toddler as “autistic,” the earlier the diagnosis is made, the earlier interventions can begin. Currently, there are no effective means to prevent autism, no fully effective treatments, and no cure. Research indicates, however, that early intervention in an appropriate educational setting for at least two years during the preschool years can result in significant improvements for many young children with autism spectrum disorders. As soon as autism is diagnosed, early intervention instruction should begin. Effective programs focus on developing communication, social, and cognitive skills [Edited 4/1/08 1:20am] | |
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To Ivy, her son and everyone that has to live with this. I hope some day soon they find the much needed answers to help understand, prevent and help those who already suffer with it. | |
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seems that i was busy doing something close to nothing, but different than the day before   | |
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my best friends son is autistic...the grace they handle things as parents astounds me...my heart goes out to anyone dealing with this... | |
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Phil, just thank you.  | |
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OMG.
I read an entire wikipedia thing on Autism last night 
And honestly, I was still confused as to what it was. Thanks for sharing Phil | |
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roodboi said: my best friends son is autistic...the grace they handle things as parents astounds me...my heart goes out to anyone dealing with this...
I feel the same way about the parents of autistic children that I've known. The Normal Whores Club | |
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Stymie said: Phil, just thank you.
You know how we both feel about you and yours. Your family is our family beautiful | |
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Thanks for sharing .With a very special thank you to Tina: Is hammer already absolute, how much some people verändern...ICH hope is never so I will be! And if, then I hope that I would then have wen in my environment who joins me in the A.... | |
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CNN is doing a special all day Wednesday April 2nd..... i need a dvr ugh... also on HBO there is a show called "Autism, the Musical" i could only watch the first half of it... its hard to watch and read some of this stuff when U deal with it on a daily basis... it is a good sign that it is something that is being talked about more and more in the public... the more awarness that is raised the better....
http://www.turnerinfo.com...ac1cf7f36b If U don't know someone with Autism....... U will...... April is Autism awareness month.... please get involved.... | |
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I too have a friend with a child diagosed with Autism ...
Locally - they had a billboard recently up on a major highway ... it read something like in 1990 1 in 13,000 diagnosed ... in 1999 1 in 1000 diagnosed ... in 2005 1 in 150 diagnosed ... (something like that ... but i thought it was a very effective ad !)  Colonel Angus may be smelly. colonel angus may be a little rough . but deep down ... Colonel angus is very sweet. | |
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ColAngus said: I too have a friend with a child diagosed with Autism ...
It's becoming an epidemic. Billions for war and yet we parents beg for money for research and services for our kids.Locally - they had a billboard recently up on a major highway ... it read something like in 1990 1 in 13,000 diagnosed ... in 1999 1 in 1000 diagnosed ... in 2005 1 in 150 diagnosed ... (something like that ... but i thought it was a very effective ad !) | |
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purplekisses said: CNN is doing a special all day Wednesday April 2nd..... i need a dvr ugh... also on HBO there is a show called "Autism, the Musical" i could only watch the first half of it... its hard to watch and read some of this stuff when U deal with it on a daily basis... it is a good sign that it is something that is being talked about more and more in the public... the more awarness that is raised the better....
http://www.turnerinfo.com...ac1cf7f36b a Dvr is a gooood thing, Autism does need to be made more aware and discussed and how people see Autism as a "Mental Disease" in my mind its not its the medical field's lack of research and mercury in the injections. | |
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purplekisses said: CNN is doing a special all day Wednesday April 2nd..... i need a dvr ugh... also on HBO there is a show called "Autism, the Musical" i could only watch the first half of it... its hard to watch and read some of this stuff when U deal with it on a daily basis... it is a good sign that it is something that is being talked about more and more in the public... the more awarness that is raised the better....
http://www.turnerinfo.com...ac1cf7f36b I watched the last half of that the other night. [Edited 4/1/08 8:23am] | |
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Thanks so much for sharing this. | |
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Wow, I can't imagine what it would be like to find out your child has this disease. Apart from devastating, it's also a life long struggle for the child and family.
Stymie - I thought of you instantly and give you huge credit for being such a strong woman. | |
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I saw this on Ivy's signature.
She has shared much with us regarding Autism... How did she become so wonderful? I wonder.... ^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect, it means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections... unknown | |
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Ivy. My granddaughter, who is named after me,  was diagnosed with autism last year. She just turned three. Since she lives with me, I am constantly learning from her. I actually knew almost nothing about it until it hit home. She is smart when it comes to certain things. She will notice if one tiny toy is out of place. She will line up all the Scrabble pieces in a perfect row, and notice if one letter is backwards.
She can't tell you what she wants yet, as in food, or if she hurts. That's what gets frustrating. Because she cries and you know she wants something, but you don't know what it is, and then you want to cry, because you're hurting for her. She will repeat what YOU say, but can't seem to vocalize her needs. My friend who works with kids told us to take pics of all of her favorite things, put them in a binder, and when she cries she will learn to point out what she wants. So, that's what we have done. She has a home therapist and nutritionist, but from sitting in on the sessions, I think we have helped her more. There is so much info that I've read in the last year, and the "friend" I spoke of is a former co-worker who is in grad school and only works with autistic children. There are so many differences with autism, and no child or person will be the same. Some have grown up, attended college, gotten Phd's. There was one news item I saw a while back that told of a teenager who was diagnosed with severe autism and couldn't speak a word. They had gone so far as to think she was mentally handicapped too or worse. Yet one day, they gave her a computer, and she started writing like crazy. http://abcnews.go.com/Hea...223&page=1 Two years ago, working with pictures and symbols on a computer keyboard, she started typing and spelling out words. The computer became her voice.
"All of a sudden these words started to pour out of her, and it was an exciting moment because we didn't realize she had all these words," said speech pathologist Barbara Nash. "It was one of those moments in my career that I'll never forget." Then Carly began opening up, describing what it was like to have autism and why she makes odd noises or why she hits herself. "It feels like my legs are on first and a million ants are crawling up my arms," Carly said through the computer. Carly writes about her frustrations with her siblings, how she understands their jokes and asks when can she go on a date. "We were stunned," Carly's father Arthur Fleischmann said. "We realized inside was an articulate, intelligent, emotive person that we had never met. This was unbelievable because it opened up a whole new way of looking at her." This is what Carly wants people to know about autism. Therapists say the key lesson from Carly's story is for families to never give up and to be ever creative in helping children with autism find their voice. So, we have started letting Tessani use the computer and even at 3, she knows her alphabet, and will click on the correct animal if you give her the first letter. So, I think the computer will be a great learning tool. I think I mentioned this to you, Ivy. I've read a lot lately about how much the computer is helping these kids. Also, in my searches I found this, which IMO is good advice for all parents. http://www.slate.com/id/2151538/ TV Really Might Cause Autism
A Slate exclusive: findings from a new Cornell study. By Gregg Easterbrook Posted Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, at 6:52 AM ET Last month, I speculated in Slate that the mounting incidence of childhood autism may be related to increased television viewing among the very young. The autism rise began around 1980, about the same time cable television and VCRs became common, allowing children to watch television aimed at them any time. Since the brain is organizing during the first years of life and since human beings evolved responding to three-dimensional stimuli, I wondered if exposing toddlers to lots of colorful two-dimensional stimulation could be harmful to brain development. This was sheer speculation, since I knew of no researchers pursuing the question. Today, Cornell University researchers are reporting what appears to be a statistically significant relationship between autism rates and television watching by children under the age of 3. The researchers studied autism incidence in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington state. They found that as cable television became common in California and Pennsylvania beginning around 1980, childhood autism rose more in the counties that had cable than in the counties that did not. They further found that in all the Western states, the more time toddlers spent in front of the television, the more likely they were to exhibit symptoms of autism disorders. The Cornell study represents a potential bombshell in the autism debate. "We are not saying we have found the cause of autism, we're saying we have found a critical piece of evidence," Cornell researcher Michael Waldman told me. Because autism rates are increasing broadly across the country and across income and ethnic groups, it seems logical that the trigger is something to which children are broadly exposed. Vaccines were a leading suspect, but numerous studies have failed to show any definitive link between autism and vaccines, while the autism rise has continued since worrisome compounds in vaccines were banned. What if the malefactor is not a chemical? Studies suggest that American children now watch about four hours of television daily. Before 1980—the first kids-oriented channel, Nickelodeon, dates to 1979—the figure is believed to have been much lower. The high rise in autism in such a short time span leads me to believe there has to be an underlying cause other than random, and I will continue to research and write letters to our government, etc. until there are more funds and more truth about this. I remember watching a special about a family with SIX children, ALL diagnosed with different forms of autism. That cannot be just a fluke. I will try to find the news story. Anything new I find, Ivy, I'll send your way. And please let me know what you find out, and any news on funding in Chicago. "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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Another article I found helpful....I saved it, but not the link. 
I argue that people with autism may have an extreme of the male brain - good at systemising, very bad at empathising - and that studying autism with E-S theory in mind, can help increase our understanding of the condition.
Two largest sub-groups of autism are classic autism, and Asperger syndrome. Both share certain features: a difficulty in developing social relationships; a difficulty in communication; the presence of unusually strong, narrow interests; and a strong adherence to routines.(This describes my granddaughter) They differ in that in classic autism, the person might have an IQ at any point on the scale (even in the learning disabled range) and the person invariably had a language delay as a toddler. In Asperger syndrome, the person is always at least average in IQ (and may be well above average), and talked on time as a toddler. Autism spectrum conditions affect about one child in every 200, with males being far more likely than to be diagnosed. What's interesting is that the obsessional interests that people with autism spectrum conditions show often focus on a system. It may be an intense preoccupation with light switches in the house, or running water from the taps in different sinks in the house. For their long-suffering parents, these "obsessions" can be very hard to cope. But according to the E-S theory the child may simply be focusing on the tiny details in the system - how fast the water flows when the tap is turned to different angles, or which lights go on when different switches are in the up or down position - using their intelligence to work out the underlying rules that govern the system. The characteristic approach they take is to home in on a topic or area of knowledge, and comb it for every detail, until they feel they've covered most if not all of the information available. The "obsession" might last weeks, months, or even years. And then typically, they move on to a new area to master. 
Some parents and teachers will indulge the child so that the child can follow their obsessional interests all the way. And just sometimes, this can lead to great achievement or the development of expertise. Other parents or teachers - with good reason - feel a need to interrupt the child's obsessional focus. But the E-S theory sees individuals with autism spectrum conditions as having a learning style that prefers depth over breadth, and accuracy or exactness over gist. So much for their strong systemising. What about their impaired empathising? (This is a real problem with my granddaughter. She will only hug you or kiss you if she thinks YOU want her too, then she will kiss you hurriedly and run away. Also, she does not like eye contact, which my friend says actually "hurts" autistic children if you try to force them to look into your eyes) This is the area that is likely to lead them into trouble, or to leave them disabled. Difficulty empathising translates into a whole set of hurdles. You might be last person to get the point of a joke, which can leave you feeling like an outsider. You might end up saying something that another person finds hurtful or offensive, when that was the last thing you intended. You might misinterpret other people's actions and motives. And you might just not pick up how others see you, and hence not know how you come across as odd or different. People's insincerity or subtle emotions may just go straight over your head. Such difficulties can lead to a child with autism or Asperger syndrome being neglected, or even ostracised by their peer group. Or worse, teased and bullied. Tragically, such bullying often goes undetected by teachers and even parents, so that the child suffers in silence at school for years and years. During the teens, this difficulty in fitting into a peer group can lead the person with Asperger syndrome to become depressed. No wonder educators are now urgently waking up to the existence of Asperger syndrome, since if it can be better recognised, many of these secondary difficulties might be avoided. And the hope is that a better understanding of such conditions - the extreme male brain - may lead teachers to be more tolerant of the very different learning style such children possess. If nurtured, systemising is not only a valuable contribution, but can even result in a refreshingly original way of thinking and seeing the world. Simon Baron-Cohen is the director of the Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University. His new book, the Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain, will be published by Penguin on May 1 For more information, visit the National Autistic Society UK website www.nas.org.uk "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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Ivy. If I grow up, I want to be as strong as you. You're amazing.
xxoo M MyeternalgrattitudetoPhil&Val.Herman said "We want sweaty truckers at the truck stop! We want cigar puffing men that look like they wanna beat the living daylights out of us" Val"sporking is spooning with benefits" | |
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Here is the video of the family with 6 autistic biological children.
http://www.abc4.com/media...d=8&rss=26 They are currently participating in a genetics study, but the dr on the video says it's probably a combination of genetic and environmental factors. [Edited 4/1/08 14:31pm] "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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The social care advert that's on TV right now sums it up well.
I have several friends with autism and I give them all the time in the world. Autism support is something I will always side with. Great cause. | |
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ColAngus said: I too have a friend with a child diagosed with Autism ...
Locally - they had a billboard recently up on a major highway ... it read something like in 1990 1 in 13,000 diagnosed ... in 1999 1 in 1000 diagnosed ... in 2005 1 in 150 diagnosed ... (something like that ... but i thought it was a very effective ad !) I saw on that said Every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with Autism.
Are there any know reasons why this exists? Is it getting worse or are people finally becoming familiar with Autism and thus more are getting diagnosed? Christian Zombie Vampires | |
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Stymie said: ColAngus said: I too have a friend with a child diagosed with Autism ...
It's becoming an epidemic. Billions for war and yet we parents beg for money for research and services for our kids.Locally - they had a billboard recently up on a major highway ... it read something like in 1990 1 in 13,000 diagnosed ... in 1999 1 in 1000 diagnosed ... in 2005 1 in 150 diagnosed ... (something like that ... but i thought it was a very effective ad !) I bet you 1 Billion would solve it or at least we'd be more on our way to figuring it out. Christian Zombie Vampires | |
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"Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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Hope from (J-Mac) Jason McElwain, an autistic hero....
"Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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My son was misdiagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, a higher functioning type of autism, when he was very young....as he got older, the diagnosis changed until it became ADHD...he still exhibits some autistic characteristics, such as the fixations on things and his social interactions, but its nothing at all like what the doctors predicted for him....he'll be starting his senior year in high school next year, and even though he still is socially awkward, he is looking at a very bright future....I write all of this because I have the utmost respect and admiration for parents with Autistic children...in the early years, I leaned heavily on support sites and the grace and love that came through in their posts helped me and my wife deal much more effectively and proactively with our son...we finally got the right diagnosis (ironically, a teacher in his grade school in N.Y. had an Autistic child and called bullshit on the previous diagnosis) but the support we got will always remain high on our list of proof that there are truly genuine, loving people on this rock...
He was like a cock who thought the sun had risen to hear him crow.
(George Eliot) the video for the above... 
http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related | |
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I just watched a very good special on CNN entitled "Finding Amanda" http://www.cnn.com/SPECIA...ws/autism/ hosted by Dr. Sanja Gupta, it was wonderful. You should check it out. | |
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http://www.cnn.com/2008/U...topstories
Jenny McCarthy: My son's recovery from autism Story Highlights
McCarthy believes diet and vitamins helped her son recover from autism Vaccines played a role in son's autism, she says McCarthy and Jim Carrey think children being given too many vaccines, too soon Editor's note: Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey are actors and parents actively involved in autism-related causes. McCarthy is the author of the book "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism." Actress Jenny McCarthy believes that vaccines could have contributed to her son's autism. (CNN) -- In light of the recent Hannah Poling decision, in which the federal court conceded that vaccines could have contributed to her autism, we think the tide is finally turning in the direction of parents like us who have been shouting concerns from our rooftops for years. Autism is a debilitating disorder, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is suffered by 1 in 150 kids, making it more common than childhood cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Recently, England and Ireland reported that autism is affecting one in 58 individuals. Is it any wonder that autism has become many new parents' No. 1 fear? We've met some of the most amazing moms and dads who are forging their own path to prevention and recovery. When our son, Evan, was diagnosed with autism we were lucky enough to benefit from their knowledge and experience. Evan has been healed to a great extent by many breakthroughs that, while perhaps not scientifically proven, have definitely helped Evan and many other children who are recovering from autism. Parents vs. scientists: Watch the latest test case » There are some who wonder what we mean when we say "recovering" from autism. They confuse the word recover with cure. While you may not be able to cure an injury caused in a terrible car accident, you can recover; you can regain many skills that you once lost. In the case of autism, we think there are treatments that often bring about such healing, so that the observable symptoms of the condition no longer exist. Even though we may no longer see any symptoms of autism, we can't say a child is "cured" because we do not know what they would have been like had they never been injured. We believe what helped Evan recover was starting a gluten-free, casein-free diet, vitamin supplementation, detox of metals, and anti-fungals for yeast overgrowth that plagued his intestines. Once Evan's neurological function was recovered through these medical treatments, speech therapy and applied behavior analysis helped him quickly learn the skills he could not learn while he was frozen in autism. After we implemented these therapies for one year, the state re-evaluated Evan for further services. They spent five minutes with Evan and said, "What happened? We've never seen a recovery like this." Evan is now 5 years old and what might surprise a lot of you is that we've never been contacted by a single member of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or any other health authority to evaluate and understand how Evan recovered from autism. When Evan meets doctors and neurologists, to this day they tell us he was misdiagnosed -- that he never had autism to begin with. It's as if they are wired to believe that children can't recover from autism. So where's the cavalry? Where are all the doctors beating down our door to take a closer look at Evan? We think we know why they haven't arrived. Most of the parents we've met who have recovered their child from autism as we did (and we have met many) blame vaccines for their child's autism. We think our health authorities don't want to open this can of worms, so they don't even look or listen. While there is strong debate on this topic, many parents of recovered children will tell you they didn't treat their child for autism; they treated them for vaccine injury. Many people aren't aware that in the 1980s our children received only 10 vaccines by age 5, whereas today they are given 36 immunizations, most of them by age 2. With billions of pharmaceutical dollars, could it be possible that the vaccine program is becoming more of a profit engine then a means of prevention? CDC: Autism information center We believe autism is an environmental illness. Vaccines are not the only environmental trigger, but we do think they play a major role. If we are going to solve this problem and finally start to reverse the rate of autism, we need to consider changing the vaccine schedule, reducing the number of shots given and removing certain ingredients that could be toxic to some children. We take into account that some children have reactions to medicines like penicillin, for example, yet when it comes to vaccines we are operating as if our kids have a universal tolerance for them. We are acting like ONE SIZE FITS ALL. That is, at the very least, a huge improbability. Even if the CDC is not convinced of a link between vaccines and autism, changing the vaccine schedule should be seriously considered as a precautionary measure. (If you would like to see some ideas for alternative schedules, check out http://generationrescue.org.) We wish to state, very clearly, that we are not against all vaccines, but we do believe there is strong evidence to suggest that some of the ingredients may be hazardous and that our children are being given too many, too soon! "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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