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Bend Redmond Asperger Syndrome Support.  Home to the "new" planet syndrome.

 

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Illness: the pathway to creative genius? / Disease, rather than being a barrier to greatness, may be its wellspring - New research in fields as diverse as music, art, science and literature suggests that we’re wrong to think that great men and women achieve despite disease. Their illness in many cases is a path, rather than an obstacle, to genius. Einstein, Warhol, Newton, Cézanne, Goya, Michelangelo, Turner and Berlioz are among many whose achievements are now thought to have been influenced by disease. Conditions such as depression, autism, myopia, anxiety, chronic pain, gout, stroke and dementia heavily influenced their paths to creativity.

Video Game System Donation Drive for Hurricane Victims with Autism - Did your child get a new XBox, PSP, Gameboy or other video gaming system for Christmas? What will you do with the old one? We have a solution for you that will keep your closets uncluttered, and you can help a child in need!

 

College District Held Responsible for Disability Discrimination of an Employee with Asperger’s Syndrome - "...The jury concluded that the employer subjected its employee with disability to disparate treatment, and that GCCCD failed to timely engage in an ADA interactive process in good faith even after US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (DOE OCR) intervention and request to comply with the law. ...The jury saw here a competent, dedicated individual with Asperger's Syndrome whose needs and contributions were discounted by her employer.  And they held the employer responsible.  People with developmental disabilities take note, there is a place for you in the workplace.  Your skills and intelligence and effort can make a dramatic difference at work.  Do not give up!"

 

BEING WHO YOU ARE - Lots of kids aren't happy being who they are.  Particularly if they have neurobiological conditions that make them tend to act different from other kids. Conditions like Asperger Syndrome, Higher Functioning Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder and others. By Dan Coulter

 


ABA4Autism.com and the Psychology department at the University of Tennessee at Martin are conducting a second survey on the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This survey is for mothers of children with ASD as well as mothers of normally developing children who are ten years of age or younger.  Mothers who participate in the survey will receive a free ABA program to teach their children to follow directions as well as free ABA mini programs for common problems like sharing. To take the surveys please go to http://www.aba4autism.com

AutismCares is a coalition of National Autism Organizations who have come together to help families dealing with autism who are victims of Hurricane Katrina.   ...Read more.

Local Teen With Aspergers Missing In Europe - An 18-year-old student from Northeaster University, who suffers from Aspergers Syndrome, is said to be missing in Europe. William Lamar purchased a plane ticket, unbeknownst to his parents, and did not return on his American Airlines flight, which was ticketed to return on Friday, November 4th from London's Heathrow Airport. Lamar, who was last seen on October 27th, has a history of being naïve and vulnerable - a history that can, and has, put him in physical and financial danger. Lamar is described as having light hair, 6 ft - 6'1", 180-190 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair. Anyone with information on Lamar's whereabouts are asked to call Northeastern University at 617.373.2121.

Key Magazine would like to write a feature story about a high school senior who has Autism Spectrum Disorder who will be graduating from high school in 2006. About KEY - Each issue of KEY Magazine is distributed to more than one million high school students through their guidance counselors in the fall, winter and spring. The publication and this companion web site, www.keycolleges.com , provide students and parents with a resource for determining a college or career choice and applying for scholarships and financial aid. In addition, the magazine features humorous and entertaining articles about books, music, video games and products geared toward college students. KEY is published by PlattForm in Olathe, Kansas, a leader in marketing communications and direct-response advertising within the postsecondary education industry.  For more information please contact Kevin Kuzma, Public Relations/Publishing Manager. PlattForm at 500 N. Rogers Road, Olathe, KS 66062.  913-254-6087,  913-764-4043.  www.plattformad.com; www.careerexplorer.net;  www.search4careercolleges.com


 

Cheap Cinema Productions presents "Living the Autism Maze," a film by Anne Barbano and Jeff Farber, Saturday at 11:30 a.m., at the Savoy Theater, 26 Main St. in Montpelier. Admission is $5 (half benefits AAWARE); call 229-0509, or go online to www.savoytheater.com. The film is available, $24.95 for DVD, $19.95 for VHS, at www.livingtheautismmaze.com.

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Local filmmakers explore problems of autism treatment - Autism is a big problem – and apparently there is no consensus on what to do about it. Nicholas Barbano-Gage was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 9. His loving parents looked for guidance about what to do – but found very few, if any, answers. This is apparently a problem common to parents of autistic children. But Nicholas' mother did something. A Burlington filmmaker, Anne Barbano, created a film with Middlesex filmmaker Jeff Farber chronicling the family's experience as well as that of five others, plus commentary by various Vermont experts. "Living the Autism Maze," which premiered in Burlington earlier this year, will be screened Saturday at 11:30 a.m., at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier.

 

 

Club includes the excluded / At a monthly game night, kids with autism find fun and acceptance, and parents find support - Shouts and laughter punctuate the reverential air of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. - "I have an I-22!" an excited youngster shouts. "I have it, too!" yells another. As the bingo game gets into full swing, another mover and shaker hits the floor for a round of "Dance Dance Revolution," a video game in which players "dance" to music by stepping on large buttons that correspond to arrows on a screen. No, it's not Sunday School gone wild. It's a rainy Friday evening in Vancouver, and the game is on. - By Melinda Thompson

 

 

To Stretch Their Attention: UO professor's exercises show possibility of improving children's focus - Teachers may one day be able to train youngsters to pay better attention, and in a way they'll have space monkeys to thank for it.  But it was University of Oregon psychology professor Michael Posner who adapted exercises once used by NASA to train monkeys for space travel to show that young children can strengthen the attention centers of their brains. In recently published research with colleagues at Cornell University's medical school, he showed that attention improved after just a few training sessions. By Greg Bolt

 

 

INTERNATIONAL ASPERGER'S YEAR / Hans Asperger Centenary: 1906-2006  ...Read more.

 

Katrini - The Autism Community Responds with Love and Support

 

Dealing with Asperger Syndrome - Film reveals a journey of self-discovery.  After years of wondering why he was different, Nick Dubin's self-diagnosis last year that he had Asperger Syndrome brought relief.  ...Read more.

 

 

"UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE, MAKES THE DIFFERENCE" - For Adults with Asperger's Syndrome, partners, parents, siblings, families, therapists, educators, employers, service providers and other interested people and groups.  Roger N. Meyer of "...a different mind" and one of Oregon's finest, presents.  ...Read more.

 

Missing: Joseph Thomas, 20 - The Toronto Police Service is seeking the public's assistance in locating a missing man. Joseph Thomas, 20, was last seen leaving his residence in the Morningside Avenue and Guildwood Parkway area, on Tuesday, September 13, 2005, at approximately 1:45 p.m. He is described as: white, 5’4”, and 125 lbs., thin build, with short brown straight hair, brown eyes and clean-shaven. He was last seen wearing faded purple Raptors splash pants, dark coloured T-shirt and red running shoes. He was carrying a fanny-pack with a CD player. Joseph Thomas suffers from Autism and Down Syndrome. He has a good knowledge of the TTC and is known to frequent the system. The Toronto Police Service is concerned for his safety. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4200, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.222tips.com

 

Hurricane Katrina - What the autism community did out of love!                     

 

 

ICE - Paramedics will turn to a victim's cell phone for clues to a person's identity.  You can make their job much easier with a simple idea that they are trying to get everyone to adopt.  ICE stands for In Case of Emergency.  You can add an entry in your contacts list in your cell phone under ICE, with the name and phone number of the person that the first time responders should call on your behalf and save them a lot of time while having your loved ones contacted quickly.  It only takes a moment of your time to do.  Paramedics and other first time responder's know what ICE means and they look for it immediately.  ICE your cell phone NOW!

 

Lifeline is a government program that offers qualified people a discount on their monthly local telephone bill. Each state has its own guidelines to qualify. In Oregon, Lifeline is known as Oregon Telephone Assistance Program (OTAP).  - You're eligible for Lifeline if you participate in any of the following programs:

bulletFood Stamps
bulletSupplemental Security Income (SSI)
bulletMedicaid
bulletOregon Health Plan
bulletTotal Income (total household gross income does not exceed 133% of the Federally
bulletestablished poverty levels set forth for the number of persons in applicant's household.)
 

To apply for Lifeline call the Oregon Public Utilities Commission (PUC) at 1-800-848-4442, or in Salem at 373-7171 to be certified for eligibility. Your Lifeline benefits will take effect when proof of eligibility is received.

 

Back to school with autism - Your Guide to Parenting Special Needs . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! August 24, 2005. Back to school with autism. "I love someone with autism." "Autism is part of our world." "Autism is ... read more.

 

 

New AS Group:  "After School. Now What?"

 

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How do I manage money?

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How do I handle friendships?

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College?  Job?  Work?  School?

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How do I live on my own?

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Keeping myself safe?


Tools for young adults (17-25 years) with Asperger's, high-functioning autism, or pervasive developmental disorders. Free Introductory Presentation: Thursday, September
15 at Tigard Chamber of Commerce,   12345 SW Main Street,  Tigard, Oregon.  Next series starting in September, 2005. $50 per 90-minute group. 12 weekly meetings. Skills notebook and other materials included. Information for insurance billing available. For more information or to schedule a free screening interview, contact: Peggy Piers, M.Ed. (503) 977-2411 or Karen Joy Campbell, LCSW (503) 998-7030

 

 

Lane County Dept. of Environmental Health is offering free blood lead screening to children ages 6 mos through 5 years who are at risk of lead poisoning. While tests can  also be done by family doctors, these are free screens
 
Who: Children of crawling age up to 6 years old
What: Free blood lead screening
When: Mon and Tues, Aug 15 & 16, 8 am to 5pm
Where: Monday at the Lane County Mental Health, 2411 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Eugene;  Tuesday at Willamalane Park Swim Center, 1276 G. St, Springfield.  Details: Parents should bring the mailing address of their child's doctor so test results can be forwarded.  More info: www.cdc.gov/lead

 

FAAAS, Inc. Presents Conference 2005.  "Asperger's Syndrome, Relationships, and Cassandra".  October 8-9, 2005.  Co-Sponsored by: Massachusetts Mental Health Center MMHC is a major teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.  Keynote Speaker: Professor Tony Attwood, Ph.D.  Guest Speakers: Isabelle Henault, Ph.D. & Maxine Aston, B.Sc. Faculty: Lawrence E. Lifson, M.D.  ...Read more.

The Male Condition ~ What big scientific debates have attracted a lot of attention over the past year. One concerns the causes of autism, while the other addresses differences in scientific aptitude between the sexes. At the risk of adding fuel to both fires, I submit that these two lines of inquiry have a great deal in common. By studying the differences between male and female brains, we can generate significant insights into the mystery of autism. By Simon Baron-Cohen

Autism One - A Worldwide, Web-Based Radio Station for the Care, Treatment, and Recovery of Children with Autism

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Sunday, August 14th:
8:00 pm – 8:30 ET  Patricia S. Lemer, MEd, NCC, MS Bus: After the Diagnosis, Then What?
9:00pm– 9:30 ET Michael Lang, MFA: Pathways of Recovery

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Monday, August 15th:
11:00 am – 11:30 ET Laura Cellini : Parent Activist

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Tuesday, August 16th:
10:30 am - 11:30 ET  Teri Small: Autism: Help, Hope, and Healing. Teri’s guest of July 26th, Dr. Woody McGinnis will return with a more detailed look at the topic:  “Nutritional Interventions for Oxidative Stress.”  Advanced questions to tsmall@autismone.org.  Dr. McGinnis’s July 26th interview is archived for Part I of this topic.
12:00 pm – 1:00 ET  Betsy Hicks: Path to Wellness
Betsy and Marty Hecklinger from Sage Systems will discuss food intolerances

New Musical explores complexity of Autism - Although the ages of the actors at Andy’s Summer Playhouse range from 8-18, don’t expect anything childish emerging from their summer stage. “Most of us who work here totally despise child theater,” said Bob Lawson, artistic diirector of Andy’s and writer of the upcoming musical, “Tabula Rasa.” “A lot of our work is very complex. Some of the kids may not get a lot of the meaning, but they are totally engaged.” “Tabula Rasa,” which opens today and runs through Aug. 21, is an original musical interweaving three convergent storylines: the first a creative retelling of the Wild Boy of Averyon, a true story of a boy in 19th-century France assumed to have been raised by wolves; the second about a 21st-century autistic girl named Emily who is confined in a medicated state; and the third an incorporation of the classic “Hansel and Gretel” tale originally told by the Brothers Grimm. By Tom Kressler

Research Project - The University of Texas at Austin - Project Title: Understanding the decision making process that parents use in selecting treatments for their children with Autism or Down Syndrome IRB# 2002-10-0098  ...Read more.

For families living with autism, Asperger's - "Helping Your Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder" (New Harbinger; $17.95), by Drs. Stephanie B. Lockshin, Jennifer M. Gillis and Raymond G. Romanczyk, provides coping strategies for families with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a group of neurobiological disorders that includes autism and Asperger's syndrome. Using a family-centered approach, the book shows parents how to balance the needs of the ASD child with those of the entire family. Chapters focus on managing stress, enhancing family communication and teaching the ASD child helpful skills - such as respecting physical and personal boundaries and staying with an adult in public places - that have a positive impact on family life. The book includes a resource guide and a list of warning signs for parents to consult if they need professional help.  ~ Sherry Joe Crosby

AutismLink now has a free, comprehensive national Web site, www.autism.com, providing free information and support for parents, people with autism spectrum disorder and others.

 

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Get ready to set your VCRs or Video Recorders again....  Tuesday, June 21st channel 12 KPTV  10:00 am / The Montel Williams Show  Guest discuss the possible link between Mercury and Autism.

Introducing "The Bend Learning Center" For Children and Adults with Learning Differences.  Specializing in Dyslexia and Non-Verbal Learning Disorders.  Join director Sanford Shapiro in an informational meeting about Bend’s new Summer School for dyslexic children.

When: Friday, June 17, 2005 from 3-6 pm
Where: Mount Bachelor Village Resort- 19717 Mt. Bachelor Dr., Bend, OR

...Read more.

Williams-area teen subject of forest search - An air and ground search is being conducted in the forest near Williams for a missing teenager.  The Coconino County sheriff's office says they're looking for 17-year-old Derek Overhage. It says the teen suffers from Aspergers syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism.  Derek reportedly walked away from his home in the Woods subdivision three miles east of Williams just before 5 p-m yesterday. The sheriff's office says he may be heading to the Phoenix area, where he has family members.  By the AP

 

 

"...of a different mind" is a combined business web site and a personal web site of Roger N. Meyer.   Within this web site, he offer's you views of his writing, his work and himself.  Roger  is a published author, a special education advocate, a paid social security representative, and individual disability and civil rights advocate.  He is co-founder of Oregon Parents United (1998), and co-founder of ASPIRES (2000). Roger lives in Portland, Oregon - U.S.A.

 

Deadly immunity - When a study revealed that mercury in childhood vaccines may have caused autism in thousands of kids, the government rushed to conceal the data -- and to prevent parents from suing drug companies for their role in the epidemic. By Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  - A Salon/Rolling Stone joint investigation

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ABC Bosses Tell ABC News Kill The Interviews With Robert Kennedy Jr. …

 

 

 

Save the date!  June 7, 2005  CALL IN DAY FOR President Bush, Laura Bush and Congress after 12 noon - Eastern Time. - Unlocking Autism and the National Vaccine Information Center are asking for your support from your home and work on June 7th for a call in/fax in day to Washington, DC.  The last call/fax in on April 28th, started by Lynn Notgrass, was so successful, that the White House was in contact with us by 8:45am central time to ask us to have people stop calling.  We told them that we had talked to parents for years and that they could talk to them for that day. ...Read more.

 

Amber Alert - Unicel is getting ready to release a Nation wide promo on Amber alerts.  They are offering FREE Amber alerts for any subscriber with text messaging. This  is is a FREE service.  Anyone who has a cell phone with text messaging will get this service FREE as a contribution to Amber Alerts and Unicel's commitment to the cause.  Anyone interested can go to https://www.wirelessamberalerts.org/index.jsp  Other wireless carriers are also offering this.  BRASS salutes "all" carriers.  "YOU" can make a difference."  Please join Amber Alert.  You never know when you can save a life.

 

DEPRESSION IN THE BRAIN (Broadcast starting week of June 1, 2005) Host Dr. Peter Kramer examines new research on the biology of depression including new findings showing depression is not only a disease that affects the balance of chemicals in the brain, but the anatomy of the brain, as well. This is the latest scientific evidence confirming that clinical depression is a physical, medical illness which causes changes in the brain. Guests include: Dr. Robert Sapolsky, professor of biology and neurology at Stanford University and the author of both popular and academic books related to stress and its effects; Virginia Heffernan, the television critic for the online magazine Slate and a contributor to the anthology "Unholy Ghost: Writers on Depression"; Dr. Yvette Sheline, associate professor of psychiatry and radiology at Washington University in St. Louis; Dr. Ronald Duman, a neuroscientist and professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at Yale University; and singer-songwriter Dar Williams, who performs and discusses her song "After All."

Read more about and listen to "Depression in the Brain" on The Infinite Mind.

New!!! Purchase an MP3 instant download of "Depression in the Brain" to listen to on your IPod or computer!

Tell your story! Discuss "Depression in the Brain" on The Infinite Mind chatboard

 

Senate Bill 2715 will be introduced to the legislators on June 15, 2005 in the common wealth of Massachusetts, home to Families of Adult Afflicted with AS (www.faaas.or)  This is the first bill of it's kind to be introduced on behalf of adults with AS and their families in the USA.

All are welcome to come and testify.  The clerk said 'letters of support' for this Bill will be accepted from around the world...to show the legislators that there is a desperate NEED for services for the many AS ADULTS in various areas of their lives and at different times in their lives....and that the families who support them also need support and services and assistance.  I have sent for the protocol and upon receipt will pass it on to any who are interested.

This is only a start.  Maybe if this bill gains support or passes, other states will look at similar legislation?

This is the AS communities chance from around the world to submit testimony in favor of or against this bill or for services you feel your loved ones with AS need or for adults "with" AS to share what you feel you need in terms of support.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts / House Bill # 2715 May 25, 2005 / IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND FIVE / An Act  RELATIVE TO ASPERGER'S SYNDROME.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:


Instructing the Department of Public Health to develop a public education program about
Asperger's Syndrome in Adults.  The Department will interact with Families of Adults Afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome (FAAAS), Incorporated and other groups to:

 

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Serve as a resource to disseminate information

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Develop training programs for professionals

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Identify progress by creating registries and  surveillance
programs

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Monitor and research adults afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome

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Assist families and caregivers

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Seek resources from the federal government for related
disabilities.
   

Letter's should be dated and submitted before June 15, 2005.

 

Contact:

 

Sen. Susan Fargo

Rep. Peter Koutoujian

Joint Committee on Public Health

Room 130, State House

Boston, MA 02133

 

Dear Madam Chairwoman, Mr. Chairman, and Members:

 

I write today in support of House 2715, An Act  Relative to Asperger's Syndrome.........

 

http://www.mass.gov

 

 

 

New Vaccine site launches.  Generation Rescue / Empowering parents with the truth to help their children heal.  We want you, the parent, to know about recent information that has emerged regarding the cause, controversy, and cure of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders such as Asperger's, PDD-NOS, ADD/ADHD, sensory integration disorder, speech delays, and other learning and behavior issues. While we often refer to autism alone, we believe that all of these neurodevelopmental disorders fall along the same spectrum and that they are all different degrees and manifestations of mercury poisoning.  Autism is preventable and reversible / ( sometimes when something seems too good to be true it helps to see it again )    [flyer]

 

 

Musical by Neil Simon Celebrates Temple Grandin - "Temple",  music by Norman Durkee, book and Lyrics by Silvia Peto (March 2- April 1, 2006).  Based on the real life of a girl who did not speak until she was three but grew up — despite her autism — to achieve success, a doctorate and more, "this world premiere musical celebrates the determined ingenuity of a miraculous spirit through the true story of Temple Grandin." By Ernio Hernandez

 

Autism Is A World will air on CNN on Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m. and midnight and on Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

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Review - CNN presents flawed look at autism - "...The documentary Autism Is A World will air this week on CNN, but, unfortunately, it's a misleading look at the issue. This film, directed by Geraldine Wurzberg, focuses on one individual, 26-year-old Californian Sue Rubin. While Rubin is a fascinating person, the problem here is that the director presents her as a kind of oracle of autism - a role she seems to accept. Worse, there is no attempt to put her story in the larger context of the autistic spectrum. A viewer with no previous understanding of autism (a complex developmental condition which impairs the ability to communicate and interact socially) might come away with the impression that Rubin is a typical autistic person. While there is nothing wrong with a documentary that focuses on an anomalous case like hers, it's a damaging omission that the filmmaker does not make this point clearly. The director also leaves some of the most obvious and pressing questions about Rubin's case unanswered."  By Hannah Brown

 

ASPERGER'S SYNDROME: A SPECIAL REPORT (Part Two of Two) - In one of our most important programs to date, this second of a two-part special report on Asperger’s Syndrome offers a groundbreaking and extraordinary look at Asperger's in children and young adults. Click here to listen to "Asperger's Syndrome (Part 2)   

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ASPERGER'S SYNDROME: A SPECIAL REPORT (Part One of Two) - "“Let’s not use the word ‘cure’ if you don’t mind… When you talk about cure you imply that we’re broken. I don’t feel broken.” So says Liane Holliday Willey, a woman who not so long ago would have been described as a “victim” of Asperger’s Syndrome. It’s been more than 60 years since the Austrian doctor Hans Asperger identified the condition that bears his name, but it has only been in the past decade or so that we have begun to understand its broader implications. Asperger’s Syndrome may be a part of the autistic spectrum, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that an “Aspie” can’t function in the world." Click here to listen to "Asperger's Syndrome" on The Infinite Mind. 

 

 

IDEA Regulations on Fast Track, Expected in June - Troy Justesen, Acting Director of the Office of Special Education Programs, was recently  interviewed by Rachel Kosoy of the Disability Law Resource Project. During this interview, Dr. Justesen said he expects the proposed regulations for Part B of IDEA to be published during the first or second week of June. By Wrights law

 

 

Parent, Pregnancy, and Birth Factors Found Possible Associations with the Risk of Autism - Pregnancy factors, parental psychiatric history, and preterm delivery may be associated with the risk of autism, according to a recent study supported in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The study, "Risk Factors for Autism: Perinatal Factors, Parental Psychiatric History, and Socioeconomic Status," appears in the most recent issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.  ...Read more.

 


 

 

F. Edward Yazbak, MD, FAAP Appeals to the Autism community and request's the IOM to: withdraw the report of the Immunization Safety Review Committee Meeting  of February 9, 2004; form a new committee under a new chairman all of whom should be impartial experts independent of influence of Government and pharmaceutical companies and reconvene a meeting on vaccines and autism as soon as possible and ensure that all independent research is considered.  ...Read his appeal and Letter.

 

Legislators still need to hear from us regarding cuts to the Oregon Health Plan, so we have set up a letter template on the action center on the Oregon Network. Please go to: 

http://ocdd.e-actionmax.com/showalert.asp?aaid=1280

And send the legislators a note about restoring the cuts to dental and vision coverage on OHP. Details and talking points are available on this site. IT IS REALLY FAST AND EASY TO DO, and will take you less than 5 minutes to get letters off to the key 14 legislators.

For more information:  Sharon Lewis / Grassroots Oregon Coordinator, The Arc of Oregon.  1745 State Street, Salem, OR 97301  503-756-1214  slewis@oregonddcoalition.org

 

Toy helps students untangle classwork / Donation enables autistic youths to focus on their studies - The twisted green toy in Carl Pruitt's hand might mean the difference between a productive day and a meltdown. "It makes you feel better," said Carl, a seventh-grader at Leslie Middle School. Carl, along with 535 other students in the Salem-Keizer School District, has autism. For Carl and other autistic students, holding what is called a Tangle Toy is a way to cope with the stress and stimuli that can make school a difficult experience.  By Michelle Theriault - Statesman Journal

 

 

The Relationship Between Chemical Exposures and Incidence Of Learning and Other Developmental Disabilities.  Experts at the briefing will address subjects including: the connection between chemical exposure and developmental disabilities; why the developmental disabilities community is concerned about chemical exposures; autism rates and the personal experience of mother of an autistic child; the promise of the National Children’s Study; and ways we make chemicals child-safe.

WHO: Bruce Lanphear, MD, MPH – Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Joe Meadours; Alabama Mental Health and Mental Retardation Department; Laura Hewitson, PhD – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and autism researcher/mother of an autistic child; Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP – Mt. Sinai School of Medicine; Lynn Goldman, MD, MPH – Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University

WHAT:  Congressional briefing on the latest scientific understanding of the relationship between chemical exposures, and learning and other developmental disabilities.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 10, 2005, 10:00- 11:30am.  406 Dirksen Senate Office Building
 

 

Sanford Shapiro is currently the director of Stanbridge Academy, a San Francisco area school for students with learning disabilities. Sanford and his wife are moving to Bend next month to open the Bend Learning Center...Read more.  

 

 

Police receive autism training / Milton-Freewater police held a workshop aimed at helping them deal more effectively with autistic people. - "...On Tuesday, Milton-Freewater police learned to recognize autistic behavior and assist people with the disorder. Dennis Debbaudt, a Florida-based private investigator who has an autistic son and has developed a training program for law enforcement personnel, educators and other safety officials, said the question is not whether Milton-Freewater will receive such calls.  It's when. ``There are more people with autism than we thought,' he said. ``The likelihood of your being in contact with them is high.' Milton-Freewater Police Chief Mike Gallagher agreed, saying the better understanding and training will help his officers when they come in contact with autistic individuals.  ``We may be right up to the national average in our community,' he said. ``There are several individuals in our community with that spectrum disorder.'"  By Cathy Grimes

 

 

P.E.R.KS.  May/June 2005 Last Newsletter    In the immortal words of Sandy Alfonso who gave countless hours to PERKS and has been a tireless advocate for disabled kids in Central Oregon and neighboring districts, ...“If only” becomes a huge block to our happiness. “If only we had more money”… “If only we had better tools… staff… administrators… equipment…”, then life would be better. I’ve heard it said that there is no such thing as “money problems”. It’s only an “idea” problem. If you get into the “if only” trap, you will feel victimized and helpless. “If only” implies that the situation is out of your control and there’s nothing you can do about it. Such self-deceit is damaging. We always have choices and will improve our lot in life if we take responsibility for the choices we make, and let go of those things that are outside of our control. Empower yourself by changing “if only” to “Here’s what I can do…” Then put your energy into things that are possible instead of depleting your energy on something that’s not changeable. 

 

President Bush: GET THE MERCUCRY OUT OF VACCINES. April 28, 2005 is National Call President Bush Day.  President Bush's comment line 202-456-1111 / Switch board 202-456-1414. Please join us on April 28, 2005 for a national call President Bush Day and tell him to "GET THE MERCURY OUT OF VACCINES." Also, ask him to identify assistance for our children who have been injured. We need our insurance companies to pay for our tests, doctor visits and chelation to help our children get well. Please make our message heard loud and clear and we can only do that if we all come together. Please forward to everyone you know to help with this issue. Family and friends can also call.  An Open Letter from Unlocking Autism and how YOU can help!

 

"Two states passed bans of mercury in vaccines in 2004:  California and Iowa.  Seven additional states had ongoing mercury ban legislation in 2004: Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.  Four other states are pursuing legislation into 2005: Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Ohio. As 2005 starts, Mercury Ban representatives in the following 23 states are actively pursuing legislation to ban mercury in vaccines: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming." 

 

 

CNN will present the television debut of Academy Award-nominated film Autism Is a World, a co-production of CNN Productions and State of the Art Inc. The film -- which the network described as “a candid and compelling look into the mind of Sue Rubin, a 26-year-old Los Angeles woman living with autism” -- will air Sunday, May 22, at 8 p.m.

 

 

Now Available: The Floortime DVD Training Series; Drs. Stanley Greenspan and Serena Wieder Show Parents How to Help Their Children Meet The Challenges of Autism and Related Disorders -  Now Available Directly to Parents: One of the Three Most Widely Used Approaches, as Cited in the Recent NBC Series and National Academy of Sciences Report on Educating Children with Autism / Parents of children with relating and communicating disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, can now learn at home how to help their children master the basics of relating and communicating.- Meant to supplement the child's work with professionals, the Floortime DVD Training Series shows parents how to use the Floortime approach to help their child relate and communicate. The series was developed by acclaimed child development experts Stanley I. Greenspan MD and Serena Wieder, PhD, creators of the DIR(R) approach for children with autism and other special needs. The method, known familiarly as Floortime, encourages parents to get down on the floor with their child, following his lead and natural interests in play, entering his world to help him connect with others.

Autism Today - Weekly Newsletter, April 26th 2005, Issue 17, Vol 03:

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Five of Six Children with Autism - There is a quiet irony in Jeanette and Patrick O'Donnell's house, where autism has taken hold of five of their six children.  ...read more

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More Questions Than Answers In Autism - Researchers are spending more time and money seeking clues to the mysterious brain disorder called autism ... more

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An Autism Day - Hold me mom.  She says with heavy eyes Nothing seems to be going right today...read more 

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Max and Friends -  Max and Friends is a multimedia skill building program for children with autism and related disabilities. The innovative package uses DVDs, story books and music to present proven therapy-based exercises in a fun, simple format for children with special learning needs. ...read more

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Evidence of Harm - TeleClass - Author David Kirby explores the chilling possibility via TeleClass that a vaccine additive may be fueling an apparent epidemic of autism, ADD, speech delay and other disorders in America’s children. Get Full Details Now!

 

 

Helping Hand Program - The goal of the Helping Hand Program is to provide families with financial assistance in getting necessary biomedical treatments, supplements and therapy services for their autistic child, as well as basic living expenses for families under extreme financial stress.  Do not apply if you are seeking funds for respite care, fencing, trampolines, swing sets, trips to Disney World, etc.  This program is intended ONLY for those in DIRE financial need.   Priority is always given to single parents.  Applications must be postmarked by May 6, 2005 and will be kept eligible through the end of the year.  ...Read more.

 


 

Portland Habilitation Center is a qualified rehabilitation facility based in Portland.  They have trained and employed Oregonians with disabilities for over 54 years.  They currently employ over 800 adults with disabilities of varying sorts.  Many of our employees are from your referrals. A couple of unions have filed legislation that would severely damage or completely destroy the state law that allows agencies such as theirs to employ Oregonians with disabilities.  The bills are House Bill 3281 & House Bill 3271.  The former exempts all schools and colleges from working with people with disabilities through our organizations and the second completely eliminates our enabling statute.  ...Read more and how you can help!

 

 

Robert Parish is the father of a young man with ASD (Jack Parish), and an independent filmmaker.  Robert recently completed a new 28:00 short documentary called ASD 101. Available on DVD for $34.95 (including shipping and handling), the program features two nationally-recognized experts, Patricia Manning-Courtney of Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio and Dr. Arnold Miller of the Language and Cognitive Development Center in Boston, as well as parents and siblings of children diagnosed with ASD.  ...Read more.

 

Autism Action Alert  / Combating Autism Act of 2005 - NAAR is asking you to contact your Senators in Washington, DC and urge them to co-sponsor S-843, the "Combating Autism Act of 2005," which was introduced this week by Senators Rick Santorum and Christopher Dodd. The bill would provide $880 million for federal autism research, treatment and public awareness programs over the next five years. Learn More and Act Now

 

Urgent: SSI Program and Medicaid in Jeopardy: Contact Senator Smith TODAY to say “Save SSI and Medicaid!”  As we all know, the Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program was "designed to provide positive assurances that the nation's aged, blind, and people with disabilities no longer have to subsist on below poverty-level incomes." SSI provides critical monthly income assistance to more than seven million of the most vulnerable Americans -people with disabilities and the elderly -- who have very low incomes and assets. SSI eligibility also qualifies people with disabilities and the elderly for Medicaid. For many children and adults with developmental disabilities, SSI is a major, if not the only, source of income.


Status:

In the House FY 2006 Budget Resolution, the Ways and Means Committee is slated to cut $18.7 billion from the programs under its jurisdiction. The SSI program is one of the largest mandatory programs under the Committee's jurisdiction. The Senate's Budget Resolution DOES NOT require cuts in SSI. Senate and House leaders are meeting THIS WEEK to work out a compromise between their two positions. The end result could be SIGNIFICANT CUTS to the SSI program.


Action Needed:
Please e-mail Senator Smith NOW. As a Republican member of the Senate Finance Committee and a proven champion for people with disabilities, Senator Smith has considerable power to influence the debate over cuts to entitlement programs. Tell him that you support the SSI program and urge him to tell his leaders to stick with the Senate budget bill and REJECT THE HOUSE CUTS. We need to protect key programs like SSI for people with disabilities. We need his leadership to prevent cuts and caps to Medicaid.

 

Contact Senator Smith today to say “Save SSI and Medicaid!” - This sample letter was prepared by the Oregon Network, a project of the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Oregon Developmental Disabilities Coalition.

 

Activists nationwide respond to National Infant Immunization Week - National Infant Immunization Week and Vaccination Week in the Americas have joined forces in effectively promoting their annual observance of vaccinations being an important cornerstone of public health. Throughout the western hemisphere, the festivities and honors will occur the week of April 24-30, 2005. ...Read more.  Avoid The Grave.  Vaccination is a Must.  Call for the Facts! - Poster

Analysis of Co-Chair Budget Plans:  Better, But More Left to Do - On April 4, the House and Senate co-chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee each released a spending plan, with the biggest area of disagreement being how much to spend on schools.  While there is good news in the budget proposals for kids and families (both plans restore some of the Governor’s proposed cuts), both plans continue to recommend new reductions and fail to address the $64 million in General Fund dollars lost from children and family programs from 2001-03 through 2003-05.  Additionally, the Senate Co-Chair’s proposal includes a $28.3 million cut to prevention and intervention programs administered by the State Commission on Children and Families. To view Children First’s analysis of the Co-Chair budget plans, go to www.childrenfirstfororegon.org.

Budget Committee to Hold Hearings Across the State - The Joint Ways and Means Committee of the Oregon Legislature is holding hearings across the state. The goal of the field hearings is to make it easier for Oregonians to comment on the state budget proposals. Join the conversation!

Sample Message:

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I expect you to find the dollars to fund the services that Oregonians want and need, including (insert your issue here). Please consider all revenue recovery ideas.

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The current budget proposals are unacceptable. They pit us against each other – schools against services for seniors, children against state police, college students against preschoolers. Please stop this.

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Until you can solve the current budget crisis, there should be no new tax breaks. It is irresponsible to continue to decrease the size of the revenue pie when we have spent the last fours years drastically cutting vital services.

2005 Legislative Agenda by Children First

 

Representing Autism:  Writing, Cognition, Disability. A conference hosted by the SCE (Society for Critical Exchange) Disability Studies has largely overlooked the culture and discourses of cognitive disabilities. Nonetheless, one cognitive disorder has begun to receive a great deal of attention both in the academy and in the popular media.  ...Read more.
 

 

Honorable Theodore K. Kulongoski Declares April 27th Autism Awareness Day and April Autism Awareness Month encouraging ALL Oregonians to join in this observance...Read the proclamation.

 

 

C.D.R.C. at Risk of Budget Cuts - Legislators are in the process of determining the 2006-2007 budget for Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Within OHSU is the Child Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC). The Governor has proposed taking $4.5 million from the CDRC budget. The Joint Ways and Means Education Subcommittee will be holding a public hearing on April 19, at 8:30 to 10:30 AM at the capitol building. We are encouraging as many families to attend as possible and testify about the impact of CDRC in their lives. ...Read more.

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For more information, see the Oregon Network Alert and a new website dedicated to the effort to save the CDRC from cuts.  For more talking points on the budget, please see the DD Coalition website.  For updates to committee schedule, please visit the state web site at:
www.leg.state.or.us/budgethearings.pdf 

 

French Company Reports Autism Gene Isolation Using AGRE Samples - IntegraGen, a personalised medicine company based in France, has been using samples from US families, provided by the Autism Genetics Resource Exchange (AGRE), to investigate the genetics of autism. Researchers at IntegraGen have discovered twelve genes associated with autism and the first results of this work are submitted for publication. Most of these genes affect two major gene networks, one regulating synaptic transmission in the cerebellum and the other involved in axonic transport. The Company is developing a genetic test for autism that might help with diagnosing the condition. The test is currently undergoing extensive clinical validation and is expected to be available in 2006. Earlier and more accurate diagnosis of autism in young children will allow direct interventional therapy to be given at the earliest possible age, when it is of greatest potential benefit.

IntegraGen uses its unique genomic analysis expertise to identify genes associated with complex diseases and to develop diagnostic tests. The Company applies its innovative gene mapping technology, GenomeHIP® (Genome Hybrid Identity Profiling), to rapidly discover genetic loci that are implicated in complex, multi-factorial diseases. GenomeHIP® is a major advance that overcomes the limitations of existing marker based familial linkage study methods. More information on IntegraGen can be found at www.integragen.com

Helping Hand Program - The goal of the Helping Hand Program is to provide families with financial assistance in getting biomedical treatments, supplements and therapies, as well as basic living expenses.  Priority is given to single parents.  ...Read more.

Looking for Families That Have Used Medicaid to Increase Independence - We are looking for stories from people with cognitive disabilities and family members about how they have used Medicaid to increase their independence. We will collect written and recorded stories for use on www.theDesk.info, the only web site that explains Medicaid for people with cognitive disabilities.  If we use your story, you will receive a free T-Shirt and $50.  If you have a story send an email message to stories@thedesk.info or call toll-free at 1-877-431-8532.  If you know someone else who has a story, forward this message to them or tell them about it.  We are especially interested in stories from Hispanic families, for presentation in Spanish.

The Disability Law Resource Project (DLRP) at ILRU for a Web cast on IDEA 2004 -
IDEA 2004 is most current version of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, the nation's law that works to improve results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities.  Troy R. Justesen, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education will present this Web cast on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, from 3:00-4:30pm Eastern; 2:00 Central; 1:00 Mountain; 12:00 Pacific; 11:00 Alaska; 9:00 Hawaii.

 

 

April is Autism Awareness month and we will be highlighting what States are doing to raise and celebrate awareness.

 

Fairview Housing Trust Fund for Adults with Developmental Disabilities is in Danger - Legislators are in the process of prioritizing programs within the Department of Human Services. They have put the Fairview Housing Trust at the bottom of the priority list and the Trust is at risk for being eliminated.

Large school districts don't need two bureaucracies - Small school districts need Education Service Districts; big districts don't. It's that simple. And in that nugget is legislation that can save hundreds of millions of school dollars -- dollars needed for the classroom.  Oregon's 20 Education Service Districts were meant to provide services that school districts cannot economically provide for themselves. Special education is the best example, but the range of ESD services includes assistance with technology, curriculum, assessments and much more.  By Charlie Ringo / Guest Opinion

 

 

Documentary Dispels the Myths of Asperger's Syndrome, a form of Autism - Asperger is is one of the least known Pervasive Developmental Disorders on the Autism spectrum.  Many parents of children with Asperger symptoms are in denial that their child may have a disability.  This documentary dispels the myths, half truths and mystique of Asperger's, as seen through the eyes of a family with a child who has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.  "RYLEE'S GIFT-ASPERGER'S SYNDROME," is based on real life experiences.

 

 

A Dragon By The Tail - A byronchild world exclusive report - On the eve of an historic, billion-dollar world vaccination campaign, a leaked transcript ignites questions of vaccine safety and research corruption. Meanwhile, US senators fast-track a bill to protect vaccine manufacturers from litigation. With millions of lives at stake, and billions of dollars to loose, will a merger of philanthropy, big business and compromised science win an epic race between corporate agendas and medical ethics? In this world exclusive report, byronchild exposes how the most powerful medical research bodies in the United States compromise their vaccine safety research for vested interests, as they assist in a global vaccine policy, while a bill looms in the background to protect it all. By Lisa Reagan Click here to download this article in .pdf format

The Autism Society of Oregon (ASO) and the Portland Trail Blazers have teamed up to create Autism Awareness Night!  ASO is selling tickets to the Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets Game, which will be on Saturday, April 2, 2005.  The purchase price includes registration for the Autism Walk-a-thon on Sunday, April 10th (visit www.autismwalkathon.com for more information about the walk).

3rd ANNUAL AUTISM WALK-A-THON.  PORTLAND WATERFRONT PARK.   

 APRIL 10, 2005

Time: Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. Walk begins at 10:00 am
Place: Morrison Bridge, Waterfront Park, Downtown Portland
Distance: Approximately 1 mile round trip
Website: www.autismwalkathon.com

The Autism Society of Oregon (ASO) has developed a 911 form for families who might come in contact with first time responders, i.e. police, fire departments, paramedics, etc.  ...Read more.

Stepping Stones to Independence / Preschool helps kids, parents face the challenges of autism - The High Desert Education Service District’s Stepping Stones preschool program offers intensive, individualized curriculums for Central Oregon children diagnosed with ASD or severe communication disorder. Stepping Stones serves children ages 2 to 5, and provides one teacher for each child. The school accepts every child diagnosed with autism—no child is turned away. Instead, head teacher Tracy Kennedy trains another teacher if another child needs to attend. In its five years in business, Stepping Stones has served more than 40 children and has become an invaluable resource for Central Oregon parents trying to navigate the murky waters of autism.  By Bryn Cross

Scalar Technology in Autism - Careful review of “scientific literature” reveals that scalar electromagnetic energy is the preferred method of identifying the true etiology and treatment of disease.  The combined work of Antoine Priore, a french scientist, and Royal Raymond Rife, an American scientist, offer the best review of this subject and both have recorded results in treating a wide variety of diseases. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s Antoine Priore and a teem of leading French scientists demonstrated conclusive, total remissions of terminal disease  in hundreds of laboratory animals.  Royal Raymond Rife and his associates from 1930 on also had the same results, however in human patients. His work and experiments were carried out in many research hospitals in the United States only to be stopped by the hostility of the medical pharmaceutical companies much as was Antoine Priore’s work.  Physicians in the U.S.A were informed by the AMA that if they used this machine they would be barred from the practice of medicine.  Today most of the physicians in practice are unaware of this work, since most of the physicians living during Rife’s time are now deceased.

The Kindersite Project is for of children with differing special needs, including Autism spectrum and Deafness benefiting from using the Kindersite.  They are asking parents to test the technology on their site and provide feed back.  This technology is FREE, so check it out!   ...Read more.

PERKS UPDATE – Partners in Education Representing Kids with Special Needs - March/April 2005 Issue  - Bend La-Pine School District 

OHSU researchers study communication disorders in autism - Researchers at OHSU's OGI School of Science & Engineering have launched a unique, new research project that will use advanced speech and language technologies to better understand childhood communication disorders. These new technologies may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of disorders such as autism in which communication problems are central. The research is being funded through a $2.9.million, 5-year grant provided by the National Institutes of Health.  Press Release

Kathryn Dunn's Story - OHSU to Take child Away from Mother / OHSU threatens to take an autistic child from his mother: her crime - seeking medical treatment for her son. - 2/2005  Press Release

Autism~Heartfelt Thoughts from Mothers - Who knows the POWER of love a mother has for their child, other than mother's themselves?  Who will love them warts and all?  Who will share their journey with other families and give you a glimpse into a world of mother's who have done what we do out of love 24/7 every day of our lives?  Each mom in this book which spans the USA, Finland, Australia, Belgium, Canada and The Netherlands, shared their thoughts on their Biggest Challenge, Greatest Blessings and Words of Wisdom - also included are pictures of all the moms and their child with autism.  This author is researching another book on father's. So if you are a father and want to share YOUR story, please email your thought's to Judy at AutismThoughts@yahoo.com.

 

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Mothers Wanted!  Hello! My name is Judy, I have a 20-year old daughter named Jill who has autism, and I am writing a book about Mother's of children with Autism. The title of this book is Autism Today ~ Heartfelt Thoughts from Mothers My goal in writing this book is to share what all of us as mothers of children with autism know -that we are not alone. Also, to bring some comfort in the similarities we share in raising our children with autism, and allow others a heartfelt look into "our world". I would love to hear from those of you who are interested in participating in this project.  For more information, please email me at  autism_today@yahoo.com or call me at 913-706-6404. Thanks! 

 

 

Newsweek - Babies and Autism 2/28/2005 Issue

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NEWSWEEK COVER: 'The New Age of Autism' Scientists Hope to Identify Early Markers of Autism in Babies as Young as Six Months / Press Release

Seeking information on Asperger Syndrome and Military Service - "...On the ASPIRES web site, please find the first article of its kind, anywhere, addressing Asperger Syndrome and military service.  It is found at http://www.aspires-relationships.com/articles_as_in_the_military.htm

This is a call for members of this listserv and other's who have been in the active, reserves, or national guard military service to please contact me so that I can complete a second article on the same topic, with a focus for the second article on identification, evaluation, reassignment or separation from the service with an emphasis, in all such steps, on a "soft landing."  By Roger N. Meyer

NBC Attacks Autism With “Autism: The Hidden Epidemic?”  A Week Long Series On The Networks of NBC News. - “Today,” “Nightly News with Brian Williams,” CNBC, MSNBC, NBC Owned and Operated Stations, Telemundo and MSNBC.com will spend the week of February 21 - 26, 2005 looking at autism from all angles.  ...Read more.

An exciting new magazine is about to be launched!  The Autism Perspective- TAP Magazine will be a quarterly and full-color publication devoted to the subject of autism spectrum disorders; persons with autism, parents and professionals.  The magazine will cover a variety of issues from the “here and now” of everyday life including many of today’s triumphs, struggles, and hope.  The magazine promises to be about options and different perspectives without taking sides.  This will be a forum for discussion for everyone in the autism community.  I encourage anyone that is interested in talking about their perspective and experience living in the autism community to contact TAP.  The all volunteer Advisory board is impressive, and the magazine will present a positive, upbeat and eclectic variety of perspectives!  Actor Gary Cole, wife and daughter with autism are featured on the cover of the Premiere Issue.

Visit the TAP website for subscription information at: www.theautismperspective.org 

TAP is where voices can be heard and stories can be shared…

 

Caught on Tape - "...This investigation shows the horrific verbal abuse by the bus driver and aide toward Andy from one day with a tape recorder on the school bus (can you imagine how often this happened?)  This report shows how one parent was able to get answers she needed to help her son and subsequent action that was taken (aide and bus driver were fired)!!

 Now we need your help to make changes in NYS for all buses that transport children with special needs to have cameras and audio to ensure the safety mentally and physically of all children. You will be outraged, angry and shocked by what you hear and see on the Ch. 2 news story."  ...Read more.

Asperger Syndrome Experts Endorse New “INTRICATE MINDS” Peer Awareness Video Some of the country’s leading experts in Asperger Syndrome (AS) have endorsed a new video designed to help classmates accept and befriend students with AS, who are now frequently subjected to teasing, harassment and isolation.  The video is titled, “INTRICATE MINDS: Understanding Classmates With Asperger Syndrome.”  ...Read more.

Canada Regulators Order ADD Drug Withdrawn - Canadian regulators ordered a drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder off the market late Wednesday because of reports that it has been linked to 20 sudden deaths and a dozen strokes, including some among children.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, however, said it had evaluated the same reports and doesn't believe the data warranted such action in the United States. In a statement late Wednesday, Health Canada said it is asking makers of related stimulants used to treat the commonly diagnosed condition to provide a thorough review of their worldwide safety data. By FindLaw

AS Children for Adoption - Please hit this link. The gift of life and love starts with all of us, as it takes a community to raise a child in our current times.  Please take a moment and visit the Northwest Adoption Exchange to see "special"  children just waiting to be loved and accepted.  Offering these kids a home and opening your heart is one of the greatest reward's you can do in your life time. 

 

 

The Monthly OARacle - The Monthly E-Newsletter of the Organization for Autism Research.  "Research and Resources That Help Families Today!" Their January 2005 newsletter is now online!

 

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The Evolving Model of the Inclusive Classroom

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Study Tests Computer Program to Improve Social Skills

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OAR Publishes Autism Guide for Educators

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Employment Study Extends Across Kentucky

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Secondary and Postsecondary Education for Learners with ASD

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Research Article: Applied Research and Children With AS in Inclusive Settings

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Resource: Strategies for Success: Inclusion for Students with ASD
 

 


"Research and Resources That Help Families Today!"
 

On Thursday, Feb. 3, CBS will air "WITHOUT A TRACE"  (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT on the CBS Television Network) starring Anthony LaPaglia, Poppy Montgomery, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Enrique Murciano and Eric Close, will feature a storyline in which the FBI team searches for a 12-year-old boy with autism who vanishes from a Manhattan museum while on a school field trip.

In addition to being a very moving and accurate story that depicts a family with a child affected by autism, as well as some of the varied traits of the affected child, the actors who play the parents, Christine Tucci and Vincent Angell, are really married and are themselves the parents of a 3-year-old son with autism.  According to Christine and Vincent, this is probably the most important role of their lives, considering their connection to the topic, and they applaud the writer of the episode for the accuracy of their portrayal.

Also, Christine and Vincent taped a PSA that will run at the end of the episode encouraging parents to seek out early diagnosis and intervention.

Press Contacts: 


Diane Ekeblad              323/575-2029  diane.ekeblad@tvc.cbs.com
Barbara Abseck            212/975-4637  beabseck@cbs.com

 

 

Autism - The Silent Epidemic is a video presented by Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) on Autism Spectrum Disorders, (ASD's).  It is a VERY POWERFUL presentation with valuable information, featuring beautiful children before and after autism hit and one child after recovery.

 

 

New York Police Department wants to hear from YOU! - Chief Deluca is on the committee that is reviewing and recommending law enforcement training standards for the state of New York. Chief Deluca wants to see autism spectrum issues represented in police training statewide.  Chief Deluca is asking that autism and law enforcement advocates please send letters of support for this to him at: gdeluca@twcny.rr.com  Letters of support should be brief and to the point.  This is one of the rare opportunities to have our voices heard, have input into the process, and make a difference for people on the autism spectrum.  Letters of support can be from anyone, anywhere. Letters from New York are particularly important. Chief Deluca can be reached at work phone (315) 823-1122.  This request is time sensitive. Please take the time to write a short letter of support now and email to Chief Deluca.  If we can help make this happen in New York, it can happen everywhere in the country!  Chief Deluca needs our support right now!  Thanks!  Dennis Debbaudt www.autismriskmanagement.com - 1/26/2005

 

 

National Survey on Abuse in the Schools is Here!!!! Mother's from Hell 2 which is a parent support group originally started in Eugene Oregon is conducting a survey on the abuse of special education children in America's public school's from 1995 to the present. If your children have experienced any abuse, please take a moment and complete this survey

 

 

NIH Center of Excellence in Autism Research Seeks Research Participants - Our Center is seeking individuals with High Functioning Autism or Asperger's Syndrome between the ages of 8 and 55 to participate in our current studies. The individuals must be verbal and not be in the gifted  program at school. We are also seeking families with more than one child with autism of any level of severity. Both children need to be 2.5 years of age or older.

 

 

Input Needed on District Budget - The Bend-La Pine School Board and budget committee are seeking input from the community about budget priorities. A short, on-line survey has been developed to collect insights on budget issues. If you would like to take the survey, please click here.

A User's Guide to the 2004 IDEA Reauthorization (P.L. 108-446 and the Conference Report) authored by Robert Silverstein, J.D., Director of The Center for the Study and Advancement of Disability Policy and funded by the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities. 

The Reading Rewards Project is funded by philanthropists, Nancy and Walter Behrens of Lincoln City, Oregon, who believe in fostering the love of reading in children.  They have offered to pay each student for every book they read and provided field trips to many educational destinations.  Endorsed by Barbara Bush and hailed by Lincoln City School District, parents and kids.  They are asking other's to consider starting a program in other communities to continue to give the gift of reading to Oregon children.

We still need your tips & stories!  Deadline extended! - Dr. Gutstein is currently working on the next RDI™ Book and would like to include your examples: what you tried, short anecdotes about progress, and any helpful tips you can provide. If you've posted on anyah.message boards or told us stories in chat, please just copy & paste and send your thoughts along!

Please let us know what personal information we can include, by including the following in your email: "The Connections Center has our permission to use this story and the following in any of their materials:"

Name or initials: [example: "Steven Gutstein" or "SG"]
Location: [example: "Houston, Texas"]
Child's name or initial: [example: "Mistletoe" or "M" or "none"]

Please send your stories and tips before January 21, 2005, to: feedback@RDIconnect.com, with "RDI Story" in the subject line. Thanks so much for your help!

Dr. Gutstein will be presenting in Portland, OR  (May 6 - 7, 2005)

LD Online Report - January 2005. - This issue deals with assistive technology in the classroom and at the workplace plus a handy tech guide

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How To Support Students with Learning Differences

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Considering Your Child's Needs for Assistive Technology

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Using Technology to Enhance the Writing Process for Students with Disabilities

Thirty-Four States Seek Banning of Mercury in Vaccine - The grassroots organization Mercury Ban is working toward a ban of mercury from infant and pregnant mom vaccines.  We are joining forces with Americans in 23 states - parents of children with autism or other vaccine injuries and other concerned citizens - who are signing up on a daily basis to seek protection by state legislators from mercury injected into infants and young children. Two states passed bans of mercury in vaccines in 2004:  California and Iowa.  Seven additional states had ongoing mercury ban legislation in 2004: Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.  Four other states are pursuing legislation into 2005: Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Ohio.

Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD) / January 2005 Newsletter FCTD deals with Mediation and advocacy.  They believe, "...The root cause of the problem, in the words of actor Paul Newman in the Oscar-winning movie Cool Hand Luke, can be attributed to "a failure to communicate." Mediation, in the hands of professional practitioners, is a desirable and beneficial alternative to due process hearings and other forms of litigation. It helps shift the potential for adversarial legal warfare to a civilized discussion between parties who ultimately come to understand and appreciate the needs of those sitting on the opposite side of the table. The result, happily, are decisions that are forged and agreed upon by all parties, instead of verdicts imposed by judicial fiat.  Their current Newsletter can be viewed by Word Doc  Pdf.

Bend La-Pine School District to appeal Special Education ruling. / K.H. and Bend-LaPine School District. - The Bend La-Pine SD will be appealing this decision which allows the parents to be reimbursed for a private therapeutic school as the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) claiming the Bend La-Pine School’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) and placement was inadequate and ordering the Bend La-Pine SD to full fill their obligation under the Individual Disability Education Act (IDEA). Order also states this IEP was vague at best.  Suits like this have raged over the last four years and according to the Bend Bulletin, the Oregon Department of Education has only won one but others are in appeal.  Will this be the last straw and set precedent for Oregon Parents?  Stay tuned.  Read the order  

 

To All Parents of a Child With ASD: Would you be interested in assisting the psychological well being of siblings of children with an ASD?  My study investigates which factors of the siblings’ relationship and family situations relate to better psychological health among siblings of children with an ASD. ...Read more.

University of Cambridge – Autism Research Centre announces Asperger Syndrome (AS) Sib Pair Project - We are looking for adults or children who are diagnosed with AS to take part in a new genes project, along with their brothers and sisters.

This new worldwide study involves collecting a DNA sample and a questionnaire from individuals with Asperger Syndrome and their biological brothers and sisters. Providing a DNA sample is quick, easy and a completely painless process.

For further information please see:
http://www.autismresearchcentre.com/volunteers/sib_pair.asp

Or email Sally Wheelwright: sjw18@cam.ac.uk

Autism Today is conducting a survey on how to better serve the autism community.  They are offering the first 500 people that fill out their survey a free viewing of an Autism Education Online presentation 'Keys to Success for Those with Autism' by world renowned Stephen Shore Ph.D., a person on the autism spectrum.

Demystifying Asperger syndrome - Every schoolyard has a few: the kids on the fringes. They have obsessive interests and play alone. These kids just don’t fit in, and it’s painful for them and their families who often aren’t sure how to help.  We are now learning that this kind of behaviour could be a sign of Asperger syndrome. Asperger is a high-functioning kind of autism that results in kids who are sometimes called “little professors.” It’s tough to diagnose and wasn’t even defined until the mid 1990s. Thousands of adults may have grown up with Asperger without knowing it.  60 minutes.  Produced by Telefactory Inc.  Sunday, January 9, at 10:00 p.m. EST, repeated Sunday January 16 at 4:00 p.m.

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This show is now available on video.  The price for individual home use is $59.95 and $99.95 for a public library or organization.   You can order it by Visa or Mastercard by calling Vicky Etheridge,  Supervisor, U.S. Sales Office,  TVOntario at 901 Kildaire Farm Road, Bldg. A, Cary, NC  27511
Email: vetheridge@tvontario.org
Phone: 800/331-9566 or 919/380-0747
Fax:  919/380-0961

ASA Celebrates 40th Anniversary - The year 2005 is a significant one for the Autism Society of America (ASA). It marks 40 years since Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., brought together a group of parents and formed the first organization in America dedicated to providing education, advocating for legislation, promoting research, and raising awareness about the then rare disorder of autism.

In the early years, ASA, then known as the National Society for Children and Adults with Autism (NSAC), spearheaded a wide range of activities, including creating the nation’s first-ever newsletter on autism (1968), working on legislation to provide education and services for individuals with autism (1968), hosting the first national conference on autism (1969), establishing an information and referral service (1970), and organizing the first national autism awareness campaign (1972).

Over the last four decades, ASA has been responsible, in part or in whole, for the introduction of many pieces of major legislation and has been instrumental in significantly increasing the federal funding for autism research. ASA’s informational programs have also grown from a black-and-white newsletter sent to a few thousand newly-diagnosed parents to a four-color, quarterly magazine on autism sent to close to 20,000 members, an electronic e-mail newsletter sent to more than 40,000 subscribers, four-color informational brochures that reach another 100,000 a year, a dynamic and extensive online database of resources and services accessed by 2,000 visitors a day, and an interactive Web site that provides invaluable and free information about autism to another 2 million visitors each year. In addition to the thousands of members and supporters that ASA helps every year through the national office, thousands more receive help and support through ASA’s network of 200 chapters, which has grown from a dozen chapters in 1971 to close to 200 in 2005.

Throughout 2005, ASA will be celebrating and building on our 40 years of successes in the areas of
advocacy, education, research, and public awareness. Look to upcoming issues of the Advocate, ASA’s Web site, and ASA’s free electronic newsletter, ASA-Net, for more details.

For the full article, please go to ASA's homepage (http://www.autism-society.org/) and click on "ASA Celebrates 40 Years of Service to the Autism Community."



ASA and the “Autism Caucus”
- For the 109th, the Congressional Coalition for Autism Research (CARE), also known as the Autism Caucus, will once again be co-chaired by Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ). Both of these representatives have shown themselves to be tireless advocates for our community and look forward to increasing federal funding for areas including research, treatment and educational and transition services in the coming year.

Doyle has publicly called for enlisting the autism community to help grow the Caucus’s membership. “If your Representative is not yet a Member, I encourage you to contact them directly and share your views on the importance of autism advocacy,” Doyle said. While current 109th Congress membership has yet to be updated, there is a link on Congressman Doyle’s Web site (http://www.house.gov/doyle/autism.shtml) with a list of members from the 108th Congress. Members re-elected in November are expected to remain on the coalition’s roster, but it is important for constituents to reach out in the next few weeks and confirm their continued dedication to the issue and the caucus. If you speak with a staff person who is new to the issue of autism, and if they have specific questions, please send an e-mail to Jeff Sell (jsell@autism-society.org). It is important that the ASA community keep the Bethesda office informed of ongoing legislative dialogues so that we may meet the informational needs of the 109th Congress and the Administration.

For more on ASA's activities on Capitol Hill, including a recent meeting with Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Claude Allen, click here, or visit ASA's Web site and click on "News."

Autism And Art Explored At New York Exhibition - The Ricco/Maresca Gallery, New York, NY, has organized a major group show: “Autism/Asperger's/Art.” The exhibition, by curator Larry Dumont, M.D., presents a spectrum of important work created by artists with autism and related developmental "differences."

Roger Ricco, Frank Maresca, and Dumont, Director of Child and Preadolescent Psychology, Kids Peace, Orfield, PA, have invited leaders in the field of autism research and art to participate in concurrent special events throughout New York City. In conjunction with the exhibition there will be a round table discussion which includes artists and other professionals from the Creative Growth Art Center, The Riddle Institute, Studio XI, The Shield Institute, ASPIE (The School for Autistic Strength, Purpose and Independence in Education) and Boundless Art.

This event will be held on Tuesday, January 25, 5 pm, at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. The show will hang January 6 through February 5, 2005, at Ricco/Maresca Gallery, 529 W. 20th St., NY, NY. Updated schedules of participants, opening receptions, events and catalog information can be found at http://www.riccomaresca.com/ and info@riccomaresca.com.


Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon Car Magnet is now available through Magnet America.  Check them out!

Stephen Shore to Rejoin ASA Board - We are so pleased to announce that AHA/AS/PDD's Advisory Board member, esteemed colleague and friend will be rejoining the board of The Autism Society of America. For anyone fortunate enough to have attended our April conference in 2003 you heard Stephens wonderful talk as our keynote and his return last year as one of our workshop presenters. He will be back this year with our adult panel in a thought provoking topic of relationships and sexualty. Stephen is the second of now two adults on the autism spectrum on the board of ASA!!

Congressman Dan Burton wants to know about children with Autism - Congressman Dan Burton is asking parents of children with autism spectrum disorders to send in their personal stories. When was the onset of autism? What were the surrounding circumstances? What are the hurdles you face in attempting to secure appropriate educational placements and services? What are the hurdles you face in attempting to secure or access insurance coverage/benefits? What are your child's prospects for the future? Congressman Burton will be personally reading these stories, and selecting representative samples to be read by him on C-Span.

 

Please send in your stories to Congressman Burton, as follows: Congressman Dan Burton, 8900 Keystone Crsng. #1050 Indpls., IN 46240 Please be sure to note at the bottom left of your letter "Autism Family."

KGW, Portland's Channel 8 is hosting a Town Hall meeting with Senators Wyden and Smith on Sunday, January 9, 2005 at 7pm and are asking the public to submit questions.  This is a great opportunity to share your concerns about autism services in Oregon.  Please email your questions to questions@kgw.com

"We are pleased to announce Autism One Radio Launch January 11, 2005.  The Voice of Change, Real Time, Real Issues, Real Answers, Hope is Real, Our Children Get Better.  A web-based, autism, radio station with over 45 programs devoted to helping children with autism.
Please click
here to learn more."

Year 2003 Tax Benefits for Parents of Children with Learning Disabilities

The Today Show and CNBC will both air series on autism the week of February 21. The Today Show series will be 11 parts, airing at 8:15 and 9:15 each day, with a "bonus" third piece on Friday. The CNBC series will be 5 parts (for a total of 16 total pieces).  Check your local listings for times in your area.

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Education on autism -  A Huntington man will be featured in an upcoming series on NBC’s "Today" show to help educate and provide hope to people with autism and their families, says the show’s producer. Donald Harvey, 38, of Huntington was filmed Tuesday doing his daily activities, including getting ready in the morning, going to the YMCA, and running the vacuum cleaner at the Radisson Hotel Huntington, by The Herald-Dispatch

Commonly Prescribed Antibiotic Implicated in Autism -  In a study released this week, the antibiotic Augmentin TM has been implicated in the formation of autism. The study published in Medical Hypotheses strongly suggests the possibility of ammonia poisoning as a result of young children taking Augmentin.- In a study released this week, the antibiotic Augmentin TM has been implicated in the formation of autism. The study strongly suggests the possibility of ammonia poisoning as a result of young children taking Augmentin. Augmentin has been given to children since the late 1980's for bacterial infections. Composed of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium, Augmentin has proven a potent antibacterial, especially for ear infections which quickly become resistant to amoxicillin alone. - Press Release

Autism Today - Tuesday's News / January 04, 2005 

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A Christmas Prayer Poem by Doris Washington

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Autism Education Online

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Autism Today Gift Certificate Speical

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Aloha, Come to Hawaii with Autism Today

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Autism: Why the Silence?

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Dr. Tony Attwood Online

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The NEWEST Autism Resources and Autism Todays Books of the Month

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U.S. to Launch Massive Study Into Children's Health

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What's New in the World of Autism - Part 2

Demystifying Asperger syndrome - Every schoolyard has a few: the kids on the fringes. They have obsessive interests and play alone. These kids just don’t fit in, and it’s painful for them and their families who often aren’t sure how to help.  We are now learning that this kind of behaviour could be a sign of Asperger syndrome. Asperger is a high-functioning kind of autism that results in kids who are sometimes called “little professors.” It’s tough to diagnose and wasn’t even defined until the mid 1990s. Thousands of adults may have grown up with Asperger without knowing it.  60 minutes.  Produced by Telefactory Inc.  Sunday, January 9, at 10:00 p.m. EST, repeated Sunday January 16 at 4:00 p.m.

Oregon Public Schools Autism Prevalence Report - School Year 1992-2003  12/2004  

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Autism Incidence Rates
(All States)

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Autism Prevalence Reports
(All States)

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Autism Clock

Author working on his second book and seeking input from "you."  All of us have our stories about dealing with schools: some are horror stories, and others actually have a happy ending. But for parents like us, whose children are on the autism spectrum, the stories are never the same as those of neurotypical children  My first non-fiction book, "THE ASPERGER PARENT: HOW TO RAISE A CHILD WITH ASPERGER SYNDROME AND MAINTAIN YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR," dealt with the stresses we all feel and how we cope with them (well, or badly) in various ways. It's meant to be a sort of support group between covers, and to give a little encouragement when needed. Now, I'm working on a new book about parents whose children are on the autism spectrum (Asperger's, autism, and all related conditions), and how they deal with school systems, both public and private. The challenges, the obstacles, the help and the stories. Mostly the stories. ...Read more.

 

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  "I know of nobody who is purely Autistic or purely neurotypical.  Even God had some Autistic moments, which is why the planets all spin." ~ Jerry Newport

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Updated 12/12/2007