All About Autism

I often share the significant research in the past year in the field of autism, but I decided today to focus on Education studies this past year. 2023 saw the U.S. surgeon general issue warnings about the dangers of the use of social media for developing brains.  There has been much discussion on a national level on how social media should be regulated.  Findings suggest that more frequent use of social media is linked to higher rates of mental distress, self-harming behaviors, and suicide among teenagers.  

So, what should we do?   The study suggest that families should engage in developmentally appropriate discussion about how to limit social media.  ChatGPT caused a huge furor when it was released as all of us thought about how it could be used to expand students’ learning and solve some of the cumbersome tasks in teaching.  So far, the analyses have yet to determine the most effective uses of ChatGPT. 

Interestingly, while the ChatGPT bot provides highly accurate information in areas like economics and critical thinking prompts, it was not able to do so in math and software testing.  The tool also provides out-of-date or incorrect information on various subjects as well as not provide the proper sources for its information.  Another area that has seen headlines is the move to decrease the school week to four days from five.  Currently 900 districts in the nation have implemented this schedule.  

Some of these districts are lengthening the school day to make up for the lost hours. However, this study found that teachers and students were exhausted by this longer day and that it did not “make up” for the lost full days.  Another study, which looked at the schools which provided the most instructional hours, found that over the span of twelve years the students actually received an additional two years of instruction. 

In a future blog post, I will look at the value of tutoring, chronic absenteeism, and family engagement. 

More to come….  

I recently received a newsletter from Dr. Chris Gray, Founding President of Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania. I was eager to read President Gray’s blog post centered on the importance of honoring Black History Month.  

In the blog, President Gray says, “Black History Month is vital to modern American society because it pays homage to the past while also serving as a catalyst for ongoing conversations about racial equality and justice as we all step forward into the future.”  Read President Gray’s full blog post.

I wholeheartedly agree with President Gray’s statement and firmly believe that it is critically important to recognize the exceptional contributions of so many Black Americans throughout history and understand where changes are still needed to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of society, from education to employment and housing and everywhere in between.  

We as a nation have witnessed both the challenges and triumphs of Black Americans, and we have a unique opportunity to look ourselves in the mirror and ask what we can do better to increase awareness of injustices and promote the much-needed progress needed to level the playing field. This goal extends far beyond just the month of February. It’s a continuous objective that we are all called to work toward collectively and as individuals.  

If history has taught us anything, it has reminded us that we have so many Black Americans among us who are visionaries, trailblazers, and change makers. History has also shown us the incredible resilience and perseverance of Black Americans. At the same time, we must face the reality that Black Americans face struggles we can’t ignore.  

In my first year of teaching in the Erie Public Schools, I met Ada Lawrence, a special educator and one of the first Black teachers and special education teachers in the Erie School District. She had been hired by my aunt, Dr. Gertrude Barber when she was Director of Special Education and Assistant Superintendent. Miss Lawrence and I were based at Wayne School. She was a great mentor! She spent her entire career teaching special education students in the Erie School District. She also was appointed to the Barber Center Board and served many years in that role. She was a trailblazer…as was Dr. Barber. 

Working together to make sure success is available to everyone is not only a request we should be making of ourselves, but also a commitment that will drive the changes we wish to see in the world.  

Did you know that 1.3 million men and women are on active duty serving in our military? There are 1.5 active-duty family members with 61% of them being children. If 1:36 children are being diagnosed with Autism, that tells us that there are thousands of children with a diagnosis of autism whose parent(s) are in the military.

Finding the appropriate resources for a child with autism can be daunting for any family, but military families face unique challenges. For example, deployment is not uncommon among military families. When a family member in the military is deployed, a military spouse may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of caring for a child with autism alone. Additional support and services are often needed to ensure both the child and parent receive the care they need. Children with autism may have issues with separation when a parent in the military is deployed.

Certainly, military families make great sacrifices to ensure our freedom and way of life. Helping military families impacted by autism starts with developing a greater awareness of their needs and developing a process by which they can be connected to the resources, professionals, treatment options, and coping strategies necessary to thrive.

I recently read about some excellent resources for these families, which is provided by the Organization for Autism Research.

Access the full resource guide using this link.

National School Choice Week 2024 begins on Sunday, January 21, and ends on Saturday, January 27. 

This will be the fourteenth annual celebration of National School Choice Week. The first celebration of National School Choice Week was in January 2011. 

Why do we celebrate School Choice Week? 

The goal of National School Choice Week is to raise awareness about the K-12 education options available to families in communities across the country. During the Week at the Elizabeth Lee Black School, we spotlight the many benefits of an education at our school for preschool and school aged students.  We choose to highlight the achievements and accomplishments of our students. 

The Week is held in January, as for many families this is the time when parents  start the process of selecting a school. If you are interested in understanding the educational options available in each type of school state-by-state, you will find them at  schoolchoiceweek.com/mystate. 

The educational landscape is ever evolving for children with special needs and typical children. The event hopefully offers responses to parents’ questions, helping them navigate and discover the most suitable school options for their children. 

We celebrate School Choice week at the Elizabeth Lee Black School by wearing our school color, green.  The children and staff were “decked” out in this color on Monday.  Let’s celebrate our school!

We have been discussing the negative impact of COVID on school aged students. A group that is often not discussed are children who were not yet three years of age, and who should have been entering preschool between 2019 and 2021. One might think that these children were so young. How could they experience the impact of COVID? However, we are now seeing that they certainly did. Some of these children would have attended preschool. Instead, they were at home with very limited opportunities for social interaction with their peers or adults who were not family members. Their parents or caregivers were losing their jobs, routines changed daily. Some of these children lost loved ones. All of the above factors certainly lead to stress for the child and his/her family. 

New data suggests kindergarteners tested in 2023 had scores that placed them two percentage points less likely to begin school at grade level than peers tested in 2019. Math and reading levels are in decline among kindergarteners, which is concerning educators and researchers alike.  

Beyond academic decline, we’re seeing an increase in behaviors among young students entering school. More students are requiring one-on-one attention to help mitigate behavioral challenges and help keep these students engaged and able to learn as effectively as possible.  

What have we experienced at the Elizabeth Lee School? First and foremost, many children come to us at five or six years of age and have never been to school.  Yet, preschool is a critical stage in a child’s development, where they are introduced to a structured environment that fosters social and emotional growth. It provides children with a platform to learn how to interact with others. It is an environment where children learn to share, take turns, and cooperate with others. These skills are crucial for building positive relationships and are fundamental in developing social skills. 

Preschool also teaches children how to solve problems and make decisions. Children learn how to think critically, analyze situations, and make sound decisions. This skill is essential in developing emotional intelligence, where children learn how to understand themselves and others better. Emotional intelligence helps them navigate social situations and make meaningful connections with others. 

Furthermore, preschool helps children build confidence and self-esteem. Through play and exploration, they learn to trust their abilities and develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments. This helps to build resilience, which is a crucial aspect of emotional development 

These are the challenges all of us are facing as we move forward in our attempts to provide a high-quality education for our young children. 

Did you know that January is National Thank You month? What better way to start the month than with a thank you! It was started in 1977 by author Marsha Friedman as a way to promote the power of saying thank you. However, this is not something that “just began.” Actually, the ancient cultures around the world had traditions and rituals expressing gratitude and thanksgiving often in relation to successful harvests or blessings from the gods. The tradition carried on in the 1600’s with the Pilgrim’s First Thanksgiving in 1621. By 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated on the final Thursday of November.

So, what do we know today? 

Expressing gratitude is linked with many mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease. 

What’s the right amount of gratitude? 

Simply put, gratitude should be practiced daily. Try starting your day by thinking of someone you’re grateful for as soon as you wake up. It could be a teacher who recognizes your child’s gifts, an employee that is especially kind to his peers.  Later, thank that person with a text, note or kind word when you see the person. I am “old fashioned” and would say a written note can have the most powerful impact.  

Did you know that behavior changes biology? 

Positive gestures benefit you by releasing oxytocin, a hormone that helps connect people. 

You’ll also benefit the person on the other end of the gesture. After all, who doesn’t like to be thanked for their efforts or just for being who they are? Sharing kindness can make you healthier and happier. 

Why not track your gratitude?

Ryan and I have done a gratitude journal in the past. I decided that it’s time to dust it off the shelf and begin again. We have the most time during dinner, so that is when we will begin. I will keep you posted as to how he embraces this concept and if it has any positive impact on his behavior. We have so much to be thankful for! 

The New York Times recently published a list of notable deaths in 2023, covering a wide spectrum of figures from the world of literature, politics, popular culture, technology, sports, medicine, and the list goes on. As I read the biographies of these men and women, I came to one name that stood out for me, Donald Triplett, the first person diagnosed with autism in 1943. 

Donald was born in 1933 and from the young age of two, he engaged in behaviors that today we associate with autism. He was singing Christmas carols before 2, enjoyed memorizing numbers, reciting them and then quickly moved on to multiplication faster than a calculator. There were no programs at that time for children who were “different”, so at the recommendation of his doctors, he was sent to a nearby institution. It would be 40 years before the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was passed. However, Donald’s parents, who were only permitted monthly visits, soon saw that he was no longer the spirited child that they knew and brought him back home. His parents became his strongest advocates, and sought treatment with Dr. Kanner, the world-renowned psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Hospital. It was he who diagnosed him with autism. Donald’s mother strongly encouraged the local public schools to allow him to attend and he completed high school. Later, Donald graduated from college and worked in his family’s bank for decades. He developed two full time hobbies, golfing and world travel. Donald was a happy man. People liked Donald and as he approached old age, in his little community he was beloved. His Mother wrote, “Donald had turned out much better than we hoped for.” That sounds so familiar! 

Donald’s story is one that more and more people today are experiencing. 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism today. His story is one of hope, support, and an unwavering commitment from the community, which gave Donald the compassion and support he needed to live a life of authenticity and acceptance. We’re still learning so much about autism. As I always say, “If you know a person with autism, you know a person with autism.” Throughout his 89 years, Donald showed us that people with autism have gifts to share with the world and that we must learn to embrace people with autism and all they have to offer.  

Donald Triplett passed away on June 15, 2023, and leaves a legacy behind that will last for years to come. May his story be an inspiration to us as we continue to learn more about autism and help support those impacted by it. It certainly inspires me today as I see numerous parallels between Ryan’s life and Donald’s.  

For further information on Donald Triplett, read “In a different key, the story of Autism” by John Donvan and Caren Zucker. 

Human rights, including the right to be treated with dignity and respect, the right to reach one’s fullest potential, and the right to live without prosecution and injustice, is the foundation of our society and helps shape the world in which we live.  

It was 75 years ago that one of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was released. I find it interesting that our founder Dr. Gertrude Barber founded the BNI 72 years ago. With 562 different translations, this document is the most translated document in the world according to the United Nations. The last 75 years have certainly shown us that we are fully capable of working collectively to ensure the wellbeing of everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, or ability. While we have been able to make great strides in helping ensure freedom, equity, and justice for all, we still have steps to take to make sure we continue these efforts by working together to foster awareness of critical issues facing those whose inalienable rights are threatened.  

I am hopeful that 2024 will give us ample opportunities to keep working to embody the values that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights captures. To learn more, visit https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day. 

I want to thank you for your continued support of the All About Autism Blog. 2023 has been an opportunity to share experiences and build a richer understanding of topics that impact our lives and those we love.  

I will be taking a break from blogging until after the start of the new year.  

Merry Christmas! 

The Barber National Institute has gained countless supporters over the years. In addition to helping raise critical funds to support life-changing programs for our adults and children, our annual fundraisers are also, without question, friend raisers.  

So many of our annual fundraisers are a huge success thanks to an outpouring of community support. This year, we had so many key stakeholders come together to make the following possible: 

The 21^st Annual Ladies Only Luncheon was held at the Kahkwa Club on Saturday, November 18. We welcomed over 400 women to enjoy a delicious meal prepared by the Kahkwa Club culinary team, inspiring stories of how the Barber National Institute is making dreams come true so many children and their families, and our much-anticipated raffle featuring gorgeous gift baskets all donated by very generous supporters. 

“Shining Bright, Winter Night” Barber Christmas Ball, which took place on Saturday, December 9 at the Bayfront Convention Center, marked 59 years of this annual gala that benefits programming at the Barber National Institute. Thanks to the efforts of our chair couple John Bloomstine, his wife Colleen and their family, we were able to raise funds for our pool renovation project, which is currently underway.  A record crowd of over 1200 attended this sold-out event.  

Operation Warm delivers winter coats to young children in need in our communities at no cost to families. With the motto of “more than a coat”, the nonprofit organization believes that it is important to focus on meeting the needs of the whole child. A winter coat provides physical warmth and protection just as it proves confidence and hope for a brighter future. Our partners at PNC Financial Services have collaborated with Operation Warm to help the Elizabeth Lee Black School obtain coats for our preschool students in need.  

The Elizabeth Black School Christmas Showcase is an opportunity for our students to share their holiday spirit with the community. This is the first showcase we’ve had since the COVID pandemic, and we’re happy to be offering this hybrid event both in person and through Teams on Thursday, December 14.  

Dollar General stores in our region are collecting new toys and personal items that will benefit the Elizabeth Lee Black School. Customers have an opportunity to purchase items while shopping in 11 stores in the Erie area and donate those items directly toward the drive at checkout.  

For a list of events at the Barber National Institute, visit Upcoming Events (barberinstitute.org). 

Thanks to everyone who supports our mission of “making dreams come true!” 

Merry Christmas! 

Holidays and family events can be both joyous and stressful for both parents and children. If you have a child with special needs, these celebrations can become challenging. Here are some tips that may help you prepare for a not-so-stressful holiday season. They are tips that I learned over the years. I hope you find them helpful. 

Look at the Holidays through Your Child’s Eyes

What aspects of the holiday does your child enjoy? Many parents simply enjoy buying gifts for their child. However, too many gifts can be too stimulating for some children. When Ryan was two, I began the tradition that baby Jesus received three gifts for Christmas and so he would receive three gifts as well. Twenty-eight years later we still are following that tradition. The key to remember is to focus on what your child finds interesting. That is most important. As an example, clothes were never interesting to Ryan although I enjoyed buying them. 

Adapt an Advent Calendar 

Ryan and I often did a countdown which focused on the religious aspect of Christmas. I also prepared Ryan for visits with family and social outings by using social scripting. By creating a countdown and practicing expectations, Ryan was better prepared for the events. 

Decorate Throughout the House 

If your child is over stimulated by sensory experiences, you may wish to limit the number of decorations in one room and/or gradually decorate your home. Decorations are fun, but they are a change, and with change, can come anxiety. In our house, Ryan loved lots of decorations and continues to do so. We had snowmen inside, outside, and everywhere, an outdoor lighted Santa, wreaths, and of course, a large tree with lights and decorations. 

Keep it Simple 

Limit your schedule. When Ryan was about three years old, I noticed that he was quickly bored when visiting other’s homes, causing various behavioral challenges. At that point, I made visits shorter. We followed the same routine starting early around 4:30 p.m. and ending by 6:30 p.m. Talking to your family about your schedule and why you need to keep your visits short and structured will not only help you but allows them to understand. 

Two Cars are Better Than One  

By driving two cars (if possible) you can allow the other family members to remain at a family function or outing and you can leave early. This will alleviate your feelings of guilt and sadness. 

Be Aware of Repetitive Behaviors  

Keep an eye out for signs of anxiety. This could be the cause of an increase in your child’s repetitive behaviors. If you do see signs, know that your child’s anxiety is increasing and give your child a break. 

Bring a Favored Activity 

Whether it’s a toy, iPad or his favorite game, select something your child really enjoys and take it with you on your visits. This can create a comfort zone for your child and you amid the hustle and bustle of an event or outing. 

Attending Worship Services  

When Ryan was little, the Church or crowds at Church and unclear expectations seemed to trigger some behaviors. It was best for us to plan, sit with a friend and start a routine. Years later, we continue to maintain the same program. Every week, Ryan and I attend church. We sit in the same row near the back of the church. Prepare your child – go early to get a seat, perhaps at the end of the row. Taking a supportive friend or family member will allow your other children to remain in case you need to leave early. 

Relax and Laugh 

Take time to dwell on the possibilities of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Acknowledge and celebrate when things are going well for your child, yourself and for others. Gratitude strengthens hearts and minds. 

 I hope that your holiday season is full of encouragement and gratitude!