Eight Things You Ought to Know About Autism (but Might Not)
April 28, 2014
How much do you really know about autism? Probably not as much as you think. To mark National Autism Awareness month, here are eight things you may not be aware of — yet. 1. Not all forms of autism are equal. The appropriate name for this condition is “autism spectrum disorders” (ASD). As the name implies, it encompasses a wide range of conditions, from high-functioning individuals with Asperger syndrome to people who require constant one-to-one care, with many stops in between.
How Bobby Smith learned to talk at 9, and other autism success stories April 29, 2014
Bobby Smith’s mother, like all parents, looked forward to the day when her baby could use words to tell her what was wrong. What hurts? Why are you sad? By the time Bobby turned 7, Cheri Smith was still wondering if that day would ever come. Her son had been diagnosed on the moderate-to-severe end of the autism spectrum as a toddler. He had ways of conveying his needs — he’d give Smith or her husband the remote control if he wanted to watch TV, or hand his mom her purse if he wanted to go out — but there were so many things he couldn’t communicate.
The Family Dog Can Help Kids With Autism
April 16, 2014
Children with autism may find the “unconditional” love of the family dog a real help, a small new study finds. Researchers at the University of Missouri interviewed 70 parents of children with autism. The investigators found that nearly two-thirds owned dogs, and that 94 percent of those parents said their children formed a bond with their four-legged friend.
14 Amazing Women With Autism
April 15, 2014
With April being Autism Awareness Month we wanted to highlight some amazing women with autism who have accomplished some incredible things. According to the Autism Society, “Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a ‘spectrum disorder’ that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism…”
A Dad’s Story: How Arthur Fleischmann Copes With His Daughter’s Autism
April 15, 2014
Carly Fleischmann has autism so severe she’s unable to speak. When she was diagnosed at age 2, doctors predicted she would never intellectually develop beyond the level of a small child. Though she learned basic skills, Carly screamed, never stopped moving, had destructive tendencies and once ran away before her parents found her four blocks away, naked, at her favorite park.
How to Be a Friend to Someone With Autism
April 9, 2014
When people meet Andrew Phillips, they cast him off as anxious. Maybe irritable, and certainly disconnected. Then there are the people who know him well. The people who say he’s funny, sweet and very smart. “Those are two completely different kids,” says his mom, Leslie Phillips, of the two descriptions. That’s because Andrew, 14, has autistic disorder, the most severe of the autism spectrum disorders – which also include Asperger’s syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. “He struggles with communicating with people in a meaningful way, so to be a friend to Andrew, you have to take the time to get to know him and be around him.”
Families of autistic kids sue Disney parks over policy on lines
April 8, 2014
Families with autistic children have sued Walt Disney Co, alleging the company does not provide adequate access to theme park visitors with autism who have difficulty waiting in long lines for rides. In October 2013, Disney parks stopped offering autistic visitors a “guest assistance card” that let them and their families bypass lines, according to a lawsuit filed April 3 in federal court in California. Instead, the company offered a “disability access service” card to allow them to obtain scheduled return times for park attractions.