Parents create custom jobs for adult kids with autism
Sept. 28, 2013
Lori Ireland and a handful of other parents in Chapel Hill, N.C., had a simple dream: They wanted their teenage children to be able to have jobs someday. Sitting around with nothing productive to do would be unsatisfying and frustrating for their kids, not to mention expensive. But they also knew the dismal truth: It’s tough for someone with autism to get a job.
Researchers Help Teachers Facing Spike in Student Autism Rate
Sept. 27, 2013
In March, the Center for Disease Control reported sharp increases in the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)—especially for 14-17 year-olds, whose rate has more than doubled over the last 5 years. As the new school year gets underway, scientists at UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) and the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) have released a multimedia manual that provides strategies for secondary school teachers whose classrooms now include students with ASD.
Daryl Hannah Reveals Autism Diagnosis That She’s Tried to Hide Her Whole Life
Sept. 26, 2013
Here’s some surprising news coming out of Hollywood today: Daryl Hannah revealed she was diagnosed with autism as a child. She also had struggles with “debilitating shyness” as a result of the disorder. Kind of unexpected, right? Known for her iconic roles in Kill Bill: Volume 1 & 2, Splash, Blade Runner, and Wall Street, she said that she’s been able to stay under the radar when it comes to her diagnosis and quietly manage her symptoms.
Boy spreads peace with 1,000 origami cranes
Sept.24, 2013
With only one wish, some would ask for health. Others would want money or love. A local 11-year-old boy wished to share peace and determination with his classmates. Ben Johnson, a sixth-grader at Sinking Springs Elementary School in the Central York School District, folded more than 1,000 origami paper cranes from May until August with the goal of passing them out to his classmates, faculty and school board members.
More colleges provide options for kids with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder
Sept. 16, 2013
As he sits in class at Eastern Michigan University, a flood of images streams from Tony Saylor’s vibrant, creative mind down through his pen and onto paper. Often, his doodling features the 9-year-old character Viper Girl who battles monsters with her pet fox Logan. Saylor, 22, has even self-published three books of their adventures.
Horse-tech and iPad helps young autistic boy reach out
Sept. 12, 2013
A combination of equine therapy and an iPad has helped a seven-year-old autistic boy share his feeling and talk to his friends. Previously, young Luke had primarily expressed only requests to his parents (eg, ‘I want a drink’), but this past year he was given a 1-pound iPad, introduced to a 1000-pound horse and a special program called Strides. During a concentrated eight-week Strides program, Luke used the iPad to have his first two-way conversation, share his feelings and tell his new friends about how he lost his tooth.
Watching their success can help teens with autism master important life skills
Sept. 6, 2013
Like all special education instructors, Cami Burton aims to help her students with autism and developmental disabilities master real-life skills that will allow them to become more independent. But traditional teaching methods often fail to give these students the practice and reinforcement they need to embed the important skills that can enhance their long-term life outcomes.