If your autistic child has any kind of gross motor coordination and predisposition to mimicry of movement, you might be interested in Dance Camp in Miami.
Self Advocacy
A new model of helping children with autism has been adopted in American schools, it’s known as the Self Advocacy Curriculum.
Developed by Valerie Paradiz, PhD, Integrated Self Advocacy is a structured program to help meet the individual educational needs of children on the autism spectrum.
Methods To Measure How Well Schools Implement Teaching Programs
A new study was published recently regarding a seriously overlooked aspect of autism intervention programs: how effectively they are actually implemented.
The study is titled “Assessing implementation of comprehensive treatment models for young children with ASD: Reliability and validity of two measures.” The principal investigator is Samuel Odom, director of the Frank Porter Graham Child (FPG) Development Institute and professor of the School of Education, at the University of North Carolina (UNC).
Autism Families Getting By On Less
Mothers of children with autism are less likely to work and when they are employed these moms tend to earn less than others, leaving many families with only one breadwinner. Autism is associated with an average drop in household income of 27 percent, even as compared to families with children who had other functional limitations, having a child with autism still resulted in a 20 percent drop in household income.
Previously, most studies looking at the economic implications of Autism have focused on the direct cost of treatment and other care, this study demonstrates the “double hit” taken by families raising children with Autism.
83 Cases of Autism Associated with Childhood Vaccine Injury Compensated in Federal Vaccine Court
For over 20 years, the federal government has publicly denied a vaccine-autism link, while at the same time its Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) has been awarding damages for vaccine injury to children with brain damage, seizures and autism. A new investigation, based on verifiable government data, breaks ground in the controversial vaccine-autism debate. The investigation found that a substantial number of children compensated for vaccine injury also have autism and that such cases have existed since 1989, the year after the VICP was formed.
SafeMinds‘ Executive Director, Lyn Redwood, RN, MSN comments, “This study dramatically shifts the debate on autism and vaccines. The question is no longer, Can vaccines cause autism? The answer is clear. Now, we have to ask, How many cases of autism have vaccines caused and how do we prevent new injuries from occurring?” The government has asserted that it “does not track” autism among the vaccine-injured. SafeMinds responds that not looking is the easiest way not to find something. SafeMinds is calling for immediate federal research into the mechanisms of injury in these children in an effort to protect other children from harm and Congressional action to reform the VICP.
The peer-reviewed study looked at cases of vaccine injury that have been monetarily compensated by the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. It was published today in the Pace Environmental Law Review. The study investigated approximately 1300 cases of childhood brain injury as a result of vaccines in which the Special Masters ruled for the plaintiffs, looking for references to autism, symptoms of autism or disorders commonly associated with autism. It reports that twenty-one cases actually stated “autism or autism-like symptoms” in the court records. The researchers then identified and contacted 150 more compensated families to find out whether the children had autism. They were able to find an additional 62 cases (greater than 40% of their sample) for a total of 83 cases of autism. In 39 cases (47%) there was confirmation of autism beyond parental report.
The federal government has called autism a “national health emergency,” conservatively affecting 1 in 110 children and costing the country billions of dollars each year. If a portion of autism cases are vaccine-induced and there is evidence that officials have been “looking the other way,” this cannot be tolerated. The VICP’s recent attempt to dismiss the over 5000 cases in the Omnibus Autism Proceedings is suspect in light of these new findings based on its own records.
Lawsuit highlights challenge of autistic students in public schools
The boy was autistic, severely limited in his ability to speak and interact.
The teacher’s aide assigned to him said she was in fear one day when he began acting aggressively, a behavior not uncommon in children with autism.
But the boy’s parents say the aide was the aggressive one, picking up a chair, acting like a lion tamer as the boy cowered in fear. Finally, the parents say, the aide threw the chair at the boy, striking him in the legs.
Jacksonville (Texas) retreat offers getaway for autistic kids
The Moores bought a 50-acre ranch in Jacksonville in 2007 and had 29 families stay at the retreat its opening year.
The retreat, which features a one-acre lake, hiking trails and barnyard animals, gives autistic children a unique opportunity enjoy the outdoors in serenity, Moore said.
Children can pet and feed miniature horses, donkeys, goats, dogs and chickens at the retreat.
“There’s a bond that takes place there. It’s amazing,” Moore said. “A lot of times, instead of the kid going out and picking out a horse, a horse will actually come to the kid.”
Kids can also play on the retreat’s playground, which features a balance beam, a sand pile, a play house, and a water slide.
Full story at Jacksonville Progress.
School in Daytona Beach Recognized
The Chase Academy, a local nonprofit organization which provides an innovative education for children with autism and spectrum disorders, is the recipient of the American Advertising Federation-Daytona Beach Gives Back Program.
Mimi Lundell, an educator and parent of a son, Chase, with autism, co-founded The Chase Academy with fellow-educator Amy Filson. The school, now in its second year, is at 908 Beville Road in Daytona Beach.
The Chase Academy will receive special event marketing support from the federation chapter.
Camp Coast
The YMCA’s Mission is: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
Locally, their mainstreaming camp for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Camp Coast (Children on the Autism Spectrum Together), is a mission accomplished, thankfully, through donations from the community.
