I’d like to update readers on some of the latest research that I have been reading.
A new California Institute of Technology study suggests that specific changes in an overactive immune system can indeed contribute to autism-like behaviors in mice and that, in some cases, this activation can be related to what a developing fetus experiences in the womb. Continue reading
This past Sunday, 60 Minutes repeated an October 2011 program “Apps for Autism.” I have since received a number of calls asking my thoughts on the show. Lesley Stahl interviewed a 27-year-old young man who, prior to the iPad, had pointed to words on a laminated piece of paper to communicate. Now he is spontaneously using his iPad as his “voice.” As I discussed in an earlier blog, we have found that the iPad can be an important tool to develop our students’ communication skills. However, there is no single app that works best for all children. We initially purchased Proloquo2go only to find that this app did not meet the needs of most of our students. I would suggest that you work Continue reading
Joseph Barber, M.D., provided an outstanding presentation on medication last night. If you were unable to attend, a synopsis is provided on his blog.
His next presentation, “Roles of Regulation, Reactivity and Flexibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder,” will take place Wednesday, September 12 from 6-7:15 p.m. Dr. Barber will discuss the effects of autism spectrum disorder on developmental stages and progression. Learning to understand Continue reading
I look forward to reading about the latest innovations in technology in reports from the “Technologies for Autism: Tools, Trends and Testimonials,” held July 6-8, 2012 in Valencia, Spain.
Read about it here.
Ryan and I running together at the Mother’s Day Race
Summer. Opportunities for outdoor recreation abound. Snow and ice may have kept us indoors during January and February, but we have no excuse not to be outside now. You don’t have to belong to a gym to engage in physical activity. Nor do you have to engage in long periods of exercise. We have found at BNI that physical activity engages the students, provides outlets for excess energy, decreases self-stimulatory behaviors, reduces anxiety, and promotes self-confidence and well-being. Some suggestions Continue reading
As a longtime advocate for the use of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) both in school and at home, I was very pleased to read that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) publicly endorsed the use of ABA in the treatment of autism last week. The effectiveness of ABA has been demonstrated through years of research in both the university and home/school settings. Pennsylvania was Continue reading
Start looking for a series of billboards popping up across the country in an effort to promote acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities. The campaign is sponsored by Best Buddies, a national non-profit organization that fosters one-on-one friendships between those with and without disabilities. Best Buddies has programs in all 50 states and on six continents. Founded in 1989 Continue reading
Yesterday, pharmaceutical giant, Roche, announced a partnership with Seaside Therapeutics to speed up the development medications for use in the treatment of autism. Click below to read more about the collaboration:
New Alliance for Developing Autism Medication
For those of you in the Erie area, Joseph Barber, M.D., a pediatrician and pediatric neurologist in Erie, PA, will be presenting the second seminar in his series on autism, titled “Medication Continue reading
I’d like to highlight two reports that I found highly relevant to the autism community.
First, a study published by Dr. Antonio Hardan of the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital found that an anti-oxidant supplement, N-Acetylcysteine, might be an effective therapy for some symptoms of autism. Researchers found that this anti-oxidant lowered irritability in children with autism as well as reducing their repetitive behaviors. These behaviors included throwing, Continue reading
