Top tips for happy holidays with autism
Dec. 23 2013
The holiday season can be stressful, especially for children with autism. Changing routines, bright lights, unfamiliar noises and unfamiliar foods can all contribute to added pressure on a child and immediate family. Most of the stress can be lessened with careful planning in advance. Here are autism daily newscast’s top tips for avoiding undue stress over the Christmas period this year. Children with autism like routine, and they like to see what’s coming. In our home we have a wall chart which in which we draw pictures and stick stickers in corresponding to which day it’s going to happen.
Can Autism Be An Asset?
Dec. 20, 2014
Happy update: Boy with autism can keep ‘therapy chickens’
Dec. 19, 2014
It’s official: The family of a toddler with autism who has blossomed thanks to his interaction with chickens will get to keep the birds. The City Council of DeBary, Fla., unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday evening that allows the parents of 3-year-old J.J. Hart to raise the three hens in their backyard as a reasonable accommodation under the Federal and Florida Fair Housing Acts. The resolution notes that “the chickens are primarily utilized for the purpose of enhancing the child’s life.”
Antidepressants taken in pregnancy don’t cause autism
Dec. 18, 2014
Women who take a common type of antidepressant during pregnancy are not more likely to have a child with autism, according to a new study from Denmark. But children did have a higher than usual risk when their mothers took the drugs – known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – for depression or anxiety before becoming pregnant.
Transforming Philanthropy: Giving Back with Friends on Facebook
Dec. 16, 2014
With a community of over one billion people on Facebook, it is now possible for every local cause to become a global one — and for every global cause to turn into a personal movement. We already know that Facebook is a place for people to connect with family, friends, and cause-focused organizations and in the last few years, we have seen many nonprofits use our platform to drive awareness, raise funds, and enable supporters to make a bigger impact than ever before.
These 8 Inspiring People Will Change The Way You think About Autism and Asperger’s
Dec. 12, 2014
In 2009, a shy, 47-year-old Scottish woman touched the world with her breathtaking rendition of Les Misérables’ “I Dreamed A Dream” on Britain’s Got Talent. After the performance, Susan Boyle catapulted into a singing sensation, selling more than 14 million records worldwide. But despite her meteoric rise over the past few years, Boyle has, more recently, been coming to terms with a more private matter. Last week, she revealed to The Observer that she was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome by a Scottish specialist about a year ago — a revelation that she calls “a relief.”
3-Year-Old Florida Boy With Autism Denied Right To Keep His Pet Chickens
Dec. 09, 2014
They may just be chickens, but they mean a whole lot to 3-year-old J.J. The DeBary, Florida preschooler has autism, and his pediatrician recommended that his family adopt a pet to help. Research suggests that having a pet can help kids with autism to increase positive social interactions. However, according to The Daily News, J.J.’s family dog was unappealing to him. So, his mom, Ashleigh Hart, turned to chickens. And they worked. “He’s talking more. He still has speech problems but he’s talking much better. It’s great exercise for him,” his mother told the Daily News.
Susan Boyle says Asperger’s diagnosis was a relief
Dec. 8, 2013
Singer Susan Boyle says she has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. Boyle told The Observer newspaper that she saw a specialist a year ago, and “it is a relief” to have the right label for her condition. Boyle had learning difficulties as a child, which she was told were the result of brain damage from oxygen deprivation at birth. In the interview published Sunday she said: “I have always known that I have had an unfair label put upon me.”
Malls Now Offer ‘Quiet’ Santa Visits For Kids With Autism
Dec. 2, 2013
Meeting Santa Claus at a shopping mall can be horribly hectic. There are large crowds, long lines, and holiday music blaring from speakers. It’s a recipe for madness — and for children with autism, it’s especially unbearable. So, malls across Canada are now offering special ‘quiet’ Santa visits for kids with autism, CTV News reports. A few malls in the U.S. are also offering similar programs, according to 13News Now.