Are you the parent of a child who has autism? AutismSpeaks wants you to get involved, politically, to make this country a better place for your child (and for children like him or her). AutismSpeaks wants all public officials to recognize autism as an urgent public health crisis. Adding your voice can help. AutismSpeaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. The group is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and a cure for autism. They also want to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders. They advocate for the needs of individuals who have autism … Continue reading →

Scientists in Australia have developed a genetic test to predict autism spectrum disorder in children. This might sound like the “breakthrough” that some parents are looking for. Personally, I’ve heard so many different things that are said to be the cause of autism that I have grown jaded. Here is a quick round-up of a few of them. Let’s start with the most recent story. Scientists in Australia used United States data from more than 3,000 people who have autism in a recent study. The scientists identified 237 genetic markers and 146 genes and related cellular pathways. The scientists say … Continue reading →

This may not be a surprise to parents of children who have an autism spectrum disorder. A study has found that almost half of all teenagers who have autism are bullied at school. Researchers conclude that this indicates that schools are not doing enough to appropriately include teens with autism into general education classes. A study led by Paul R. Sterzing, the lead author from the University of California, Berkley, used records from a 2001 survey of 920 parents who had teenagers with an autism spectrum disorder. The researchers found that 46% of parents said that their autistic teenagers were … Continue reading →

A new study shows that older fathers are more likely to transmit new DNA variations to their children than younger fathers are. The researchers report that this means that older fathers have a higher risk of having children who have an autism spectrum disorder. There have been several different studies that result in data that indicates that older fathers have a higher chance of having children who have autism than fathers who are younger do. Previous to these studies, it was presumed that the age of the mother was the significant factor in determining the risk of having a child … Continue reading →

There is a pilot program in Utah that is intended to provide autism treatment to children who need it. It is supposed to be funded by a public-private partnership. The funds from private companies have not appeared. This is yet another problem with this particular program. Where will the funding come from? This is the question that parents of children who have autism want to know. There is a pilot program in Utah that is designed to help families afford the autism treatment that their children require. This sounds great, until you realize that this program is insufficient in a … Continue reading →

Utah is one of the states that does not require private health insurance companies to cover Applied Behavior Analysis treatment for autism. This is causing families to be unable to afford the care that their child requires. Utah’s pilot program for coverage of ABA is not helping this situation. Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, is a scientific approach for evaluating behavior. ABA is used as a form of treatment for autism. It teaches social, motor, and verbal behaviors, and it also teaches reasoning skills. It is especially helpful for children who have an autism spectrum disorder that are unable to … Continue reading →

A mother of a teenager who has autism has filed a lawsuit against Autism Speaks. The reason is because Autism Speaks rescinded on a job offer after she requested workplace accommodations that would allow her to care for her son. It seems strange that an autism awareness group would deny that that type of request. According to Disability Scoop Simone Greggs was offered a job as a walk events manager at Autism Speaks office in Washington D.C., in May of 2012. To get this job, she had to successfully complete five different interviews, a pre-employment background check, and a drug … Continue reading →

No one wants to get “that look” from the other parents in the room. It is the look that implies that you are a failure as a parent because your child is misbehaving. Parents of kids who have autism want less judgement, and more understanding. What others see as “acting up” could be nothing more than a coping mechanism, and there isn’t anything wrong with that. The other day, I opened up a bottle of tea, and found writing on the inside of the lid. It was one of those “6-Word Memoirs”. This one said: “I have Aspergers. What’s your … Continue reading →

There is a treatment for autism that is called Advanced Behavioral Analysis, or ABA. It can be expensive, especially if your health insurance policy doesn’t cover it. Not all states require insurers to provide this type of coverage. This is leading some families to move out of the state they currently live in, and into a state that does require ABA coverage. Applied Behavior Analysis, (ABA), is a scientific approach for evaluating behavior. It provides scientific information that helps guide behavioral therapy approaches. ABA is used as a form of treatment for autism. It teaches social, motor, and verbal behaviors, … Continue reading →

Parents of children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder tend to have many questions. It can be difficult to find resources that can give you the answers that you are looking for. There is a new Facebook group called Autism Answered. It might have what you need. Social media, at times, can be an excellent resource. You can get on Facebook and find news articles that your friends and family have posted on their pages. Sometimes, the news they post might be helpful to you, but, there will also be times when it is not. Today, when … Continue reading →