Helping your child with autism build age-appropriate interests

Most typical children have a built-in motivation to find a social group and fit in. To do this successfully, they watch their peers and imitate their behavior. If the kids around them disdain Curious George and are now into Harry Potter, they will follow suit. Clothes chosen by Mom are replaced with cool clothes approved by peers. A typical 16-year-old would no more watch Thomas the Tank Engine than fly to the moon not necessarily because he doesn t LIKE Thomas, but because he would be scorned by his friends. Support Autism Research Click Here to Purchase an It s AWEtism! T-Shirt: This need to fit comes with great benefits and great challenges. A teen s desire to fit in can lead to successful socialization, and a good understanding of what it means to be an adult in our society. On the other hand, of course, it can lead to truancy, drugs, unsafe sex, and a whole raft of other issues . While some young people with autism really do share the need to fit in, however, most don t. The moti
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Scientists link 60 genes to autism risk

Researchers have found dozens of new genes that may play a role in causing autism, according to two studies published Wednesday in the medical journal Nature. Get The Autism Answer on Paperback FREE CLICK HERE Scientists identified 60 genes with a greater than 90% chance of increasing a child s autism risk. Previous research has yielded only 11 genes that had been confirmed with this level of certainty. Though other studies have shown the importance of genetics in the development of autism, experts say these new studies zero in on the exact nature of the genetic mutations that cause the disorder. The researchers say these genes appear to be clustering around three sets of key biological functions. The first set focuses on the development of synapses in the brain, which are responsible for all kinds of communication between nerves. The second set is responsible for the creation of genetic instructions, and the third is responsible for DNA packaging within cells. Each of these functions
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Something You Never Realized About Guardians Of The Galaxy. This Is Epic.

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Heartwarming Friendship Of A 5-Year-Old Girl With Autism And Her Therapy Cat

Remember when we wrote about Iris Grace, the incredibly talented 5-year-old girl with autism who paints beautiful pictures? It turns out that she has a behind-the-scenes helper who’s also worthy of praise – that’s Thula, her therapeutic cat. Thula, who is almost 1 year old, is a Maine Coon. This breed is known as the intelligent and gentle giant of the cat world and though she’s still small and young, Thula does not disappoint. Her gentle and compassionate character is especially important for Iris, a young girl growing up with autism; “Thula has lowered [Iris'] daily anxieties in life and keeps Iris calm,” Iris’ mother, Arabella Carter-Johnson, told Bored Panda, “but equally has the effect of encouraging her to be more social. She will talk more to Thula, saying little phrases like ‘sit cat.’” Carter-Johnson, had almost given up on the search for a therapeutic animal companion for her daughter. When Iris happened to connect with a Siberian cat that her family wo
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Eating lunch late leads to obesity, says study

Going in for a late lunch might actually make it harder for you to shed the pounds, according to researchers. Researchers from Brigham and Women s Hospital, Boston and the University of Murcia studied 420 overweight people who followed a 20-week weight-loss treatment programme in Spain. Half of the group ate lunch their biggest meal of the day before 3 p.m., while half ate later. Those who ate before 3 p.m. lost 30 percent more weight than those who dined later, the International Journal of Obesity reports. Senior author Frank Scheer, from Brigham said: This is the first large-scale prospective study to demonstrate that the timing of meals predicts weight-loss effectiveness. Our results indicate that late eaters displayed a slower weight-loss rate and lost significantly less weight than early eaters. The team divided the participants into two groups: early eaters and late eaters. Early eaters ate lunch any time before 3 p.m. and late eaters, after 3 p.m. During the meal, 40 percent of
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Sun Exposure May Help Prevent Obesity and Diabetes

Science has happy news for us all. A new research conducted by the team at the Telethon Kids Institute has found how exposure to sunshine may aid in slowing down the development of obesity and diabetes. Our findings are important as they suggest that casual skin exposure to sunlight, together with plenty of exercise and a healthy diet, may help prevent the development of obesity in children, said Dr Shelley Gorman, Research Fellow, Telethon Kids Institute. The team of experts carried out experiments on overfed mice by exposing them to UV light. It was seen that the weight gain process in these mice had slowed down and there were fewer signs associated with diabetes including abnormal glucose levels or insulin resistance. The study was published in the journal Diabetes and explained how nitric oxide is the key element that plays a vital role in this scientific process. According to the team, when skin is exposed to sunlight, it releases nitric oxide. When topical application of nitric
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Halloween Tips for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Halloween is an exciting holiday for kids, but it may offer certain challenges for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Members of the Autism Parent Advisory Board of the Boone Fetter Clinic at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Autism Treatment Network site partnered with Kathryn Smith, RN, DrPH, nurse care manager in the Boone Fetter Clinic, to provide tips every parent and caregiver can use during the Halloween season. Get The Autism Answer on Paperback FREE CLICK HERE Preparation and planning can help you stay stress-free. Whether this is your child’s first Halloween or not, here are some ideas to help you and your child enjoy the holiday. Before Halloween: Tips for Kids with ASD Create a visual story of what Halloween may be like for your child, with some pictures or drawings. This will help your child prepare for the day’s activities. Try on costumes before Halloween. If the costume is uncomfortable or doesn’t fit right, it may cause unnecessary distress and ruin
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Kelsey’s Cinderella Experience

This blog is gathered from greatergood.com I am the mother of a beautiful 10 year old daughter with autism who is now a pageant queen. We have posted her stories on this website previously and I wanted to share an update. Kelsey competed in her first pageant this past weekend. We were nervous because she had no previous pageant experience but wanted to try. To my knowledge, she was the only special needs contestant at the pageant. Her dance teacher and her daughter volunteered to be her mentors/pageant coaches and they showed Kelsey important things like walking on stage, smiling and being self-confident. They are terrific human beings who care about my daughter. Get The Autism Answer on Paperback FREE CLICK HERE I tried to prepare Kelsey for the reality that most girls who participate in pageants do not win a crown and a title. I explained to Kelsey as we were driving to the pageant that the most fun part of the evening was getting to walk on that stage with all of the other girls a
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A Letter to ‘Five Guys’ for Showing Kindness to my Son with Autism

This guest post was written by Erin Polk which you could find on http://themighty.com/. You can also keep up with Erin on https://www.facebook.com/kreedsworld. An excerpt of Erin s blog is below If you live in our community and catch a sight of us in public, you will see a young man hopping through the store, a cool looking device sitting in the shopping cart and a woman telling “hoppy” to come along. Some people stare. Some people smile. Some people are pretending not to stare. It’s OK, really. He’s happy and I’m happy and that’s all the matters. We generally go through the stores without conversation with anyone else and that’s just fine with me. We do tend to live in just the space between us, where I understand him and he understands me. Except there is one place in the community where Kreed’s hopping, dimple grin and sounds are a welcome sight, and people greet him with cheers and shout his name and immediately start his order — often times before I even ope
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How Music Gave My Grandson A Place in the World

 This is a post by Cheryl Hanson, grandmother to 15-year-old electronic music producer and performer John Hanson, who has Asperger Syndrome.  John Hanson, my grandson, aka Subterr Anean, is a 15-year-old electronic music producer/performer.  He was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome when he was five-years-old. John still has difficulty tying his shoes. School lessons are very difficult, especially math; even simple addition, though he has had years of tutoring. He also has non verbal Tourettes Syndrome and trouble with ADHD. But when John takes the stage, he is in complete control. He draws the crowd in and delivers a high energy performance. The passion he has for what what he does is clear. John has absolute pitch and perfect pitch. He can tell you what key a cricket chirps in and what key the shopping cart wheels make. Noise has always been an issue for John. Without his headphones, he finds it very difficult to maintain any composure in a public space. Growing up was difficult fo
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This Is What I’ve Learned From Working With Kids With Autism

This one looks at me like I build the moon.
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13 Things I’d Tell Myself Looking Back At Our Autism Diagnosis

This guest post is from April Shaw. You can find her original post on The Mighty here. Recently a friend of mine asked me to lunch to get some advice about concerns regarding a family member’s child — concerns that this child may be showing signs of autism. I gave this person as much advice as I could and went about my day. I left that lunch contemplating what would I tell myself, if I could go back four years to shortly after my son was diagnosed. I thought long and hard, and one of the first things I would tell myself is “DO NOT cut your hair! You will not look like Posh Spice! Don’t do it!” The second thing I’d probably say is, “Step away from the pie! You’re just going to gain a bunch of weight, which as you approach 40, will be incredibly hard to get off. And the constant pie eating isn’t going to make you feel any better anyway. Put the fork down. Now, before the lightning strikes the clock tower, and I have to get back in my DeLorean and travel back to 2014, I
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Sensory Overload Film Wins Prestigious Design Award

A film that began as a senior thesis by two Ringling College students has been featured in the New York Times and just won the grand prize in the 2014 Adobe Design Achievement Awards. Marisabel Fernandez and Alexander Bernard’s film is titled “Listen,” and it combines video with animation to portray how a non-verbal child with autism and sensory sensitivities experiences the world. The talented students also won the editing and post production categories. The 2014 Adobe Design Achievement Awards received 4,400 submissions from 70 countries around the world. The duo took home $5,000 in prize money along with other gifts.
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Broccoli-Sprout Extract Shows Promise for Easing Autism Symptoms

In a small placebo-controlled trial, sulforaphane supplements eased autism symptoms in nearly half of those treated  Results of a small clinical trial suggest that a supplement derived from broccoli sprouts can ease the core symptoms of autism in some people with the disorder. The chemical – sulforaphane – is best known from studies suggesting that it helps prevent certain cancers. The report appears online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study involved 40 boys and young men, ages 13 to 27, with moderate to severe autism. Of these, 29 were randomly selected to receive the supplement (50 to 150 µmol depending on weight). The others received a look-alike placebo, or “dummy” capsule. Neither the researchers nor the participants and their families knew who received the actual treatment until after the trial concluded. Before starting the trial, the participants’ parents and physicians filled out three standard behavioral assessments that measure sen
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A Message Of Hope

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Boy with Autism Becomes Honorary Police Officer

Alexander Sanchez has dreamed of becoming a police officer for most of his short life. The 4-year-old has been dressing as a police officer on a regular basis for 2 years, according to his aunt Ana Villegas. He was also diagnosed with autism at age 2. Villegas says dressing up makes Xander feel safe. His aunt takes care of him during the day while his mother is at work. Recently Xander got a wonderful surprise. He was invited to the San Diego Police Department station near his home. He then surprised the officers waiting to greet him when he showed up in full uniform and riding his miniature police motorcycle. His aunt says the visit left a real imprint on Xander. She says he even took home his own note pad and has been writing a lot of tickets. Watch a video of Xander greeting the officers below.
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Salon Supports Autism-Friendly Haircuts for Kids with Autism

As part of West Palm Beach Television News video series titled “Autism: Connecting the Pieces” they highlight the challenges individuals with autism can have when it comes to haircuts. The video features 12-year-old Spenser Schwartz, a boy with autism, getting a haircut at Snip-its, a hair salon for kids where the stylists are specially trained to meet the needs of children with autism. In 2009, Snip-its partnered with Autism Speaks to create a haircutting training guide to provide information to help prepare families for the haircutting experience, as well as information for stylists about autism and what they can do to make the process more successful. You can learn more about the guide here. In addition, we created a video that shows the haircutting process that you can watch below. You can also visit our Resource Guide to find local salons in your area that provide haircuts to individuals with autism and other disabilities.
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We Didn’t Listen… And That Has Made All The Difference

This guest post is from Melinda, who blogs at Dancing with Autism. You can read her original post on her blog here: http://dancingwithautism.com/2014/09/25/wedidntlisten/. We heard it at every turn: “She’ll be fine” “What are you so worried about?” “My friend’s kid didn’t talk till he was 4.″ “She seems normal to me.” “You’re being paranoid.” “Don’t worry, just give her time.” But I knew. I knew Lila was different. She was our first child and I still felt it was fairly evident from a very early age. Something wasn’t right…. she had terrible colic from the beginning, and would scream for hours and hours on end, she had GI issues, and sleep problems as well. The closer she got to 12 months old, the more evident it became. Lack of eye contact, lack of response to our voices – I honestly thought she was deaf. She was never a fan of people other than Bill and me, and she was a mess if we strayed from our normal routine. Along this journey we were acc
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NEVER GIVE UP! DON’T LET YOU’RE DISABILITIES GET THE BEST OF YOU!

My name is Noah Rhoades and i am 13 years old. I have Type 1 diabetes, Aspergers, dyspraxia, Sensory Issues, ADHD, and Anxiety/Panic Disorder. I have these disabilities but I don t like calling them disabilities because they may set us back but I believe that they don t disable us from living life to the fullest and enjoying our time on earth. I just want to share a story. One day I went to school and i was having a really bad day. I thought to myself This day is going to be absolutely TERRIBLE! i had the mile run that day in gym and i was just about to give up on my 3rd out of 4 laps (about 25 minutes in) when i had passed my class and everyone was finished I saw only 1 face that was annoyed (which was really upsetting) but then my class started cheering me on and it started with about maybe 3 people. But then the whole class one by one, two by two, started cheering me on. I felt so elated when i heard this because i knew at that moment that they weren t annoyed at me but had faith i
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Brotherly Love

I was 2 when I told my parents I wanted a little brother. Of course they tried to explain I might get a sister but, i was adamant that I d asked God for a brother and that s what i would get. My baby brother, Khalil was born when I was 3 years and 4 months old. He s the light of our lives. He didn t talk to anyone but me until he was 4 years old. He would shyly whisper to me when he wanted or needed something such as food or the bathroom. One day, after my parents had yet again not believed my stories that he could speak, he was sitting on the swings in our backyard singing the alphabet that I d been teaching him to himself. I rushed into to the kitchen and dragged my mother out so she could see. He wasn t given a formal diagnosis until he was 12 years old, when he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. At that time, my father was advised to permanently institutionalize him. Doctors said he d be a burden on our family otherwise. My brother is 27 now, he served 4 years in the Marine Cor
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“I’m Here” – An Animated Film

“I’m Here” is a short, animated film created by Peter H. Reynolds, a NY Times best-selling children’s author and illustrator. He created the film for SARRC (Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center). The story begins with a playground full of laughing, jumping children − and then we see a little boy playing by himself. Paired with a lovely musical score from Ruth Mendelson, this brief tale shows us that a small act of kindness and interest can make a great impact. Take a look at this touching film below.
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Do You Know The Early Signs Of Autism Spectrum Disorder? Learn Now!

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I Beat The Odds

My name is Louis Scarantino. I m 23 years old and I ve had Asperger s Syndrome since I was 2 years old. My family (especially my mother) always supported me throughout my life. I had troubles in school and everything else I did in my life and not a lot of people understood my struggles very well. I never gave up and always set high goals for myself. I went for therapy and got all the help I needed to be high functioned and to overcome a lot of my struggles. It led to many great things and amazing moments in my life. I went to an Elton John concert back in 2008 and unexpectedly got front row seats and an autograph. I graduated college cum laude with nothing but A s and B s while attending. On top of it all, I went to Las Vegas for the first time in my life in October 2013 to see an idol of mine who is country pop singer Shania Twain. Shania was bringing fans on stage during her Vegas show Still the One and I took it upon myself to get up from the 11th row and told her I was from PA and
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Study: Autism Therapy Produces Greatest Gains When Started Before Age 2

In a study with toddlers, intensive behavioral intervention helped all ages, but those who started before age 2 were most likely to make dramatic gains
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Helping your child with autism build age-appropriate interests

Most typical children have a built-in motivation to find a social group and fit in. To do this successfully, they watch their peers and imitate their behavior. If the kids around them disdain Curious George and are now into Harry Potter, they will follow suit. Clothes chosen by Mom are replaced with cool clothes approved by peers. A typical 16-year-old would no more watch Thomas the Tank Engine than fly to the moon not necessarily because he doesn t LIKE Thomas, but because he would be scorned by his friends. This need to fit comes with great benefits and great challenges. A teen s desire to fit in can lead to successful socialization, and a good understanding of what it means to be an adult in our society. On the other hand, of course, it can lead to truancy, drugs, unsafe sex, and a whole raft of other issues . While some young people with autism really do share the need to fit in, however, most don t. The motivating force that drives other people to behave in age appropriate ways (
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This Is Unbelievably Awesome! Miss Montana Is Talented, Confident, Charming, And On the Spectrum!

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He Really Does Have a Voice! Nonverbal Isaac Finds Words with Hit Song from Aladdin

Eight-year-old Isaac has been a non-verbal child with autism but most recently his music teacher has discovered his gift of song. Isaac has shed new light to how he’s able to communicate with friends, family, and peers. With the discovery of his talent for singing, they knew and witnessed Isaac had more in him than they first believed. Watch as his music teacher, Kevin captures Issac singing Peabo Bryson’s Disney Duet, “A Whole New Word.” To his music teacher’s amazement, Isaac was able to sing Acapella and at the same key as the original song but with no music reference. SHARE Issac’s musical abilities to inspire families of children with autism. Music can be a form of communication!
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Socially-assistive robots help kids with autism learn by providing personalized prompts

Last month, a team of researchers from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering shared results from a pilot study on the effects of using humanoid robots to help children with autism practice imitation behavior in order to encourage their autonomy. Findings from the study, entitled Graded Cueing Feedback in Robot-Mediated Imitation Practice for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, has been presented at the 23rd IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Aug. 27. The pilot study was led by Maja Matarić, USC Viterbi Vice Dean for Research and the Chan Soon-Shiong Chair in Computer Science, Neuroscience and Pediatrics, whose research focuses on how robotics can help those with various special needs, including Alzheimer s patients and children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Her research team included doctoral student Jillian Greczek, postdoctoral researcher Amin Atrash, and undergraduate computer scienc
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This toy is incredible – and perfect for children on the spectrum!

Auti is a scientifically designed toy that encourages positive social behavior with children who have Autism. Reacting to positive behavior, such as gentle voices and kind treatment, Auti will oppositely shut down when hit or treated roughly. What a great invention, as “it is through play that we practice life!” SHARE with someone you know who’ll love making Auti their own!
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Medicaid: States Cannot ‘Delay Or Deny’ Autism Treatment

WASHINGTON, DC (September 29, 2014) The federal government has issued guidance to states emphasizing that they can neither delay nor deny medically necessary autism treatments, such as ABA, through their Medicaid programs for individuals up to age 21. The message was delivered in FAQs posted September 24 regarding the July 7 Informational Bulletin issued by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) concerning autism benefits states must provide through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) program. While no specific deadline is set forth in the FAQs, CMS believes states should complete this work expeditiously and should not delay or deny provision of medically necessary services. In addition to questions on timing, there was confusion among some states because the July Bulletin did not explicitly state that ABA, the most well-accepted and efficacious therapy for individuals with autism, was a required treatment.  In the FAQ’s, CMS made
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Unforgettable Homecoming for High School Senior with Autism

(September 29, 2014) Matthew Gorsuch, an 18-year-old from Brandon, South Dakota had a senior homecoming he ll never forget. When his name was announced as homecoming king, a roar of excitement came from his fellow classmates at Brandon Valley High School. Matthew was born with trisomy 10p syndrome, which causes autism and other challenges. His mom, Tamara Gorsuch, was overjoyed to hear the news. Gorsuch told the Argus Leader, It was a village taking care of my son last night. It was incredible. Matthew looked overwhelmed by all the excitement, but the close knit homecoming court helped him stay calm Fellow homecoming king nominee, Tyler Erck told Argus Leader, “I personally voted for Matthew, I think it s absolutely fantastic that he was part of the court, and even more so that he was voted king. Gorsuch was so appreciative of how Matthew was treated the entire night. It was just it was cool, I just feel so thankful that there s a group of kids that can love my son as much as I do.
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Must read this beautiful poem!

Must read this beautiful poem!
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10 Amazing Fruits That Can Make You Look Beautiful

1)  Papaya for glowing skin 2)  Banana for softer skin 3)  Apple natural doctor for skin 4)  Grapes for a smoother skin 5)  Mango for even toned skin 6)  Lemon remove skin blemishes 7)  Kiwi keeps the skin young 8)  Orange for skin tightening 9)  Raspberries for skin rejuvenation 10)  Prunes to shed kilos
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