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Archive for January 18th, 2011

First Published Sunday, 19 April 2009

By Psych Central News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on April 18, 2009

Christian Hageseth, a 68-year-old Colorado physician, was sentenced on Friday to nine months in jail for prescribing an antidepressant medication over the Internet to a Stanford University student. The student later committed suicide.


Hageseth had faced up to a year in jail after pleading no contest in February to a single felony count of practicing medicine without a license.


San Mateo County prosecutors in California said the case was one of the first dealing with “telemedicine,” in which doctors give advice and prescribe drugs via the phone or the Internet, sometimes to patients in states where they don’t have a medical license.


San Mateo County Superior Court Judge James Ellis said he would allow Hageseth to serve his sentence in Colorado as he recovers from heart surgery. Judge Ellis also ordered him to pay $4,200 to the California medical board, which investigated the case.


In June 2005, Hageseth prescribed John McKay, 19, a generic form of the drug Prozac through a pharmacy website. McKay was a Stanford University freshman at the time and filled out a questionnaire when he requested the drug. Hageseth never did a consultation with McKay, prosecutors claimed.


McKay committed suicide at his mother’s home in California, by carbon monoxide poisoning shortly thereafter. Coroner’s reports determined the prescribed drug did not contribute as a cause of death, according to Wagstaffe.


A year later, San Mateo County prosecutors charged Hageseth with one count of practicing medicine without a license.


“Telemedicine is now dead,” Hageseth’s lawyer, Carelton Briggs, told the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday. “No doctor in his or her right mind would now pursue telemedicine unless licensed in all 50 states.”


Briggs argued that the federal government should regulate the practice of medicine over the Internet, based on the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.


But Wagstaffe said Hageseth broke California law by prescribing the drug without conducting an examination of McKay to assess his needs.


“California should be able to protect its own citizens from this type of conduct,” Wagstaffe said.


Hageseth surrendered his Colorado medical license in August 2005, shortly after McKay’s death, and has no intention of practicing medicine again, Briggs said.


Source: Wire reports




First Published Sunday, 19 April 2009


Suicide

Article Date: 19 Apr 2009


There are many factors which can increase the risk of suicide – including being male, previous self-harm, psychiatric and/or drug/alcohol disorders, upbringing, exposure to suicide in the media, and smoking. Among employed people, doctors (particularly women), vets, nurses, dentists and farmers are all at increased risk – because they have easy access to drugs or poisons which can be used for suicide. In a Seminar in this week’s edition of The Lancet, Professor Keith Hawton, Centre for Suicide Research, University of Oxford, UK, and Professor Kees van Heeringen, Unit for Suicide Research, University Hospital, Gent, Belgium, discuss these trends.


An estimated one million people die from suicide each year, equating to one every 40 seconds – but suspected under-reporting in many countries means this is probably a big under-estimate. Suicide accounts for 1.5% of deaths worldwide and is the tenth leading cause of death. Within Europe, rates are generally higher in northern countries than in southern countries. An effect of latitude on suicide rates was found in Japan, suggesting an influence of the daily amounts of sunshine on suicide. However, countries at about the same latitude, such as the UK and Hungary, can have substantially different rates of suicide. Suicide is a major concern in former Soviet states. More than 30% of suicides worldwide happen in China, where 3.6% of all deaths are by suicide. In developed countries, the male-to-female ratio for suicide is between two and four to one, and this seems to be increasing. Asian countries typically show much lower male-to-female ratios, but these might also be increasing; although in China more women than men die by suicide.


Suicide rates are highest in elderly people in most countries, but in the past 50 years rates have risen in young people, particularly men. Suicide rates peak in Spring, especially among men. People born in spring or early summer, particularly women, are at increased risk of suicide. European Americans have higher suicide rates than Hispanic or African Americans, though this gap is narrowing due to increased suicides in young black people. Indigenous populations, eg, Aboriginies in Australia and Native Americans, have higher suicide rates, possibly due to cultural/societal marginalisation and higher levels of alcohol abuse.


Suicide rates are, not surprisingly, higher in unemployed than employed people – in part, high rates are associated with mental illness, which is also associated with unemployment. Among people in employment, some occupational groups are at increased risk of suicide. Medical practitioners have a high risk in most countries, but female doctors are generally most at risk. Nurses also have a high risk. In both these professional groups, access to poisons seems to be an important factor in determining the high rates. Among doctors, anaesthetists are particularly at risk, with anaesthetic drugs being used in many suicide deaths. Several other high-risk occupational groups (eg, dentists, pharmacists, veterinary surgeons, and farmers) also have easy access to means for suicide.


In general, men tend to choose more violent means for suicide (eg, hanging or shooting) and women less violent methods (eg, self-poisoning). Different populations use differing suicide methods, eg, women in South Asia commonly set fire to themselves to commit suicide. Access to specific methods might be the factor that leads to translation of suicidal thoughts into action. In the USA, firearms are used in most suicides, with risk of their use being highest where guns are kept in households. In rural areas of many developing countries, ingestion of pesticides is the main method of suicide, reflecting toxicity, easy availability, and poor storage. As many as 30% of global suicide deaths may involve ingestion of pesticides.


Mental health problems are a major factor in suicide. Some 90% of people who take their own life are believed to have some kind of psychiatric disorder. Depression increases the risk of suicide by 15 to 20 times, and about 4% of people with depression die by suicide. Clinical predictors of suicide in depressed people include previous self-harm, hopelessness, and suicidal tendencies. Around 10-15% of patients with bi-polar disorder die by suicide, with risk at its highest during the early part of the illness. Some 5% of people with schizophrenia also die by suicide. Alcohol misuse, anorexia nervosa, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and body dismorphic disorder all increase suicide risk – wit the last example partly explaining why risk increases in women after breast enlargement surgery.


Physical health also plays its part, but with some strange findings. Surprisingly, while people with higher-body mass index are at increased risk of depression, they have a lower risk of suicide (15% decrease in suicide risk for each 5 kg / m2 increase in body-mass index). The reasons for this are unknown. Cancer, particularly of the head and neck, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and a range of other conditions also increase suicide risk.


Other factors that can increase suicide risk include physical and sexual abuse throughout childhood, population-wide events such as natural disasters and deaths of celebrities. Suicide rates rose by 17%* following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997, with the increase being more pronounced in women in her age group. War decreases suicide risk, perhaps due to the social cohesion it can create in communities. People bereaved by suicide are themselves at increased risk, and clusters of suicides can happen in communities or through internet contact. The authors add: “A substantial body of evidence indicates that certain types of media reporting and portrayal of suicidal behaviour can influence suicide and self-harm in the general population.”


Post-mortems of suicide deaths have shown changes to the central neurotransmission functions, for example to the serotonin (mood-improving hormone) system. Low cholesterol concentrations are associated with increased suicide risk, but the risk is higher when low cholesterol has been achieved through diet rather than statins. The authors speculate this could be because people who diet are more at risk of mental health problems, but say there is little evidence to back this. Family history of suicide at least doubles the risk of suicide for girls and women. Suicide occurs in tandem more in identical twins compared with non-identical twins. While evidence is limited, high levels of lifetime aggression are associated with a high risk of suicide, while impulsivity also increases the risk. Suicide rates rise throughout teenage years, especially in boys, and family ‘transmission’ of suicide risk occurs, especially on the maternal side.


Prevention of suicide is a difficult concept due to high number of factors involved, but strategies can target high risk groups or aim to reduce the risk to the population as a whole. Each person with depression should be screened for suicide risk by specifically asking about suicidal thoughts and plans. The authors say: “In cases of high or imminent suicide risk, immediate action is needed, including vigilance and supervision of patients, perhaps through hospitalisation, removal of potential methods of suicide, and initiation of vigorous treatment of associated psychiatric disorder.” They also discuss a recent meta-analysis of randomised trials which suggested that the risk of death and suicide in people with mood disorders was reduced by 60% in those taking lithium.


Removal of means used for suicide is important in management of individuals, and modification of general access to dangerous means can also be effective in suicide prevention at the population level. The authors say: “One striking example of the effect of availability of a common means of suicide was the large reduction in suicides following the change of the UK gas supply from toxic coal gas, the most common method used for suicide during the early 1960s, to non-toxic North Sea gas.” Introduction of safety barriers on bridges and increased gun control can also decrease the risk of suicide, as can safer storage of pesticides and poisons, especially in rural areas of developing nations. School programmes to improve mental wellbeing, and more stringent control of media reporting of suicide could also have a preventive effect.


The authors conclude: “Future research must focus on the development and assessment of empirically based suicide-prevention and treatment protocols. The challenges of preventing suicide in developing countries need particular attention, because most research comes from developed countries, but most deaths by suicides happen in developing countries.


“Suicide”
Prof Keith Hawton DSc, Prof Kees van Heeringen PhD
The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9672, Pages 1372 – 1381, 18 April 2009


Source
The Lancet


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146507.php



First Published Sunday, 19 April 2009


Stop The Hate

Hello,

I’m writing to ask you to sign our
petition<http://www.ipetitio ns.com/petition/ AttwoodHenault/>,
calling on Dr. Tony Attwood and Dr. Isabelle Hénault, two respected experts
in the world of Autism, to disassociate themselves from hate groups
promoting stereotypes and libels that seek to encourage discrimination
against Autistic people in family law and relationships. We in the
disability community have long suffered from many forms of discrimination,
stereotyping and discrimination. Historically, one of the most pervasive
forms of this type of discrimination has come from those who use stereotypes
and psuedo-science to try and deprive us of one of the most common ways of
expressing membership in the human community – the right to have a family,
to marry and to raise children on an equal basis with any other citizen. The
eugenics movement is one of the most well known examples of this dangerous
and unethical means of discriminating against people with disabilities, as
is the related idea that disabled people are inherently unfit as spouses or
parents. In the name of these kinds of stereotypes, people with disabilities
have been deprived of parental rights and discriminated against in divorce
and child custody cases for generations. In the Autistic community, we face
opponents who seek to propogate these same forms of hatred, often claiming
to do so either for our own good or wrapped in the guise of the same types
of false science that justified the involuntary sterilization of hundreds of
thousands of individuals worldwide who were deemed unfit to raise children.

For the last decade, groups like Families of Adults Afflicted with
Asperger’s Syndrome (FAAAS) have been promoting the idea that prolonged
family contact with Autistic adults in romantic or family relationships is
harmful to “normal” people. Amongst other methods, they have done this by
promoting “Cassandra Affective Deprivation Disorder,” a term invented by
British psychologist Maxine Aston. Cassandra Affective Deprivation Disorder,
a condition developed by Aston and which serves as the basis for much of her
marketing and income, is claimed by Aston to be a depressive disorder caused
by romantic involvement with an Autistic person. CADD is based entirely upon
pseudoscience, personal grudges, and stereotypes rather than any form of
accurate research or evidence. CADD has never been recognised by any
psychological association and is not supported by any peer-reviewed
scientific research. Aston and others involved with such groups have
purported to diagnose clients with CADD, despite having no legitimate
authority for doing so. In CADD support groups, clients are encouraged to
“vent” about the failures of their partners and to characterise Autistics in
general as unsuitable for family life.

Attwood and Hénault have, despite respected professional activities and
scholarships in other contexts, consistently appeared and promoted
Cassandra-related events and organizations. Over the past decade, both
Attwood and Hénault have been regular presenters at events sponsored by
FAAAS, which actively promotes the Cassandra concept. Attwood and Hénault
are closely associated with FAAAS through their membership in the FAAAS
Professional Advisory Panel. The founder of FAAAS, Karen Rodman, has
publicly described Autistics as randomly violent and has suggested that
Autistic children ought to be excluded from public schools. Through its
activities, FAAAS has sought to influence social workers and family law
courts to make biased decisions removing custody of children from Autistic
parents and discriminating against Autistic adults in other family law
contexts, as detailed in a paper by FAAAS member Sheila Jennings Linehan,
who also has levied this libel against other neurological disability groups.
Several articles by ASPIA, a group in Australia with the same goals and
objectives as FAAAS, founder Carol Grigg appear prominently on the FAAAS
website, and the content of Grigg’s articles clearly shows that she also
promotes the false accusation that autistic people and others with
disabilities are likely to abuse their family members. She explicitly makes
this claim in an article entitled Asperger’s Syndrome in Adults: Potential
for Abuse?

Though Autistic adults now face discrimination in family law settings, all
credible research on the topic states that Autistic people are far more
vulnerable to being abused than the general population and have no natural
predisposition towards abusive behaviour. By promoting a libel that places
Autistic people at a disadvantage in family law contexts, FAAAS, ASPIA and
other promoters of CADD have decreased opportunities for Autistic people to
seek protection against abuse. Due to the presumption of fault promoted by
these groups, Autistic adults are at risk of being discriminated against if
they attempt to terminate abusive marriages and other relationships.
Furthermore, these libels threaten the rights of Autistic people and all
people with disabilities to fully participate in society by marrying, having
children and enjoying the right to be judged on the basis of ones actions
not by ones medical diagnosis.

We’re asking you, regardless of your background or interest in Autism or
cross-disability issues, to join us in signing this petition to help secure
the rights of all people to be treated equally under the law. Our petition
can be found at: http://www.ipetitio ns.com/petition/ AttwoodHenault/ and if
you are interested in e-mailing directly tony@tonyattwood. com.au is the
e-mail address for Dr. Attwood and ihenault@internet. uqam.ca is the e-mail
address for Dr. Hénault. Thank you for your support. Together, we can
mobilize our community and stop discrimination wherever it rears its ugly
head.

As always, Nothing About Us, Without Us!

Regards,
Ari Ne’eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.autistic advocacy. org
732.763.5530


First Published Tuesday, 21 April 2009

Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio State University chapter of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network will
be holding its first meeting on Thursday, April 30 at 5:45pm at the campus
Barnes & Noble/Long’s Cafe. We will meet in the coffee shop area on the
first floor. OSU students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome
to attend!


The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN) is a non-profit organization run
by and for autistic people. ASAN’s supporters include autistic adults and
youth, those with other distinct neurological types, and neurotypical family
members, professionals, educators, and friends. ASAN provides support and
services to individuals on the autism spectrum. ASAN also works to change
public perception and to combat misinformation by educating communities
about persons on the autism spectrum. Our activities include public policy
advocacy, community engagement to encourage inclusion and respect for
neurodiversity, quality of life oriented research, and the development of
autistic cultural activities and other opportunities for autistic people.


During our first OSU-ASAN meeting, we will devise a plan of action for the
remainder of this school year and for the beginning of next year. Some
talking points include: obtaining official approval from Student Activities,
starting a campus-wide conversation on neurodiversity and autistic
representation, advertising our organization, and considering possible
campus events. Additionally, we hope that this meeting (and future events)
will help connect advocates for neurological diversity with one another.


Please contact asan.ohiostate@ gmail.com with any questions.


Directions: Barnes & Noble/Long’s is located at 1598 N. High Street,
Columbus, OH 43201 at the campus gateway. Paid parking is available in the
parking garage at a rate of $1 per hour. Metered street parking is also
available. B&N is also accessible from the following bus routes: #2, #8,
#18, #31, #54, #84.



Ari Ne’eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.autistic advocacy. org
732.763.5530




1. Carol and Eli Surber left…

Monday, 4 May 2009 2:49 am :: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID

I am the parent of a young man, born with Downs syndrome. He attended the early childhood program at the Ohio State University where he was diagnosed with Autism before age three. He developed severe catatonia at age sixteen, and was at the OSU neuropsychiatric hospital under the care of Dr Brendan Carroll for 15 years. The autism stole his speech and he only says a few words. He has many OCD and autistic traits ruling his life. I kept journals from his birth and after 22 years of writing, I published the un-edited journals into a book and published Feb 2008. The book gives all pre-symptoms before the diagnosis of Autism and catatonia. Also listed are the treatments, medications and psychiatric reports. My hopes from the published journals are to help other parents, and students interested in the fields of autistic catatonia. I plan to attend one of the meetings soon. Thanks, Carol Surber



First Published Tuesday, 21 April 2009


The Government has developed an exciting new resource to help schools support children with autism better. The Autism Inclusion Development Programme (IDP) is a series of modules available online and on DVD to help education staff to understand autism and work better with children on the autism spectrum.


It is really accessible, practical and interactive, with lots of viewpoints from people on the spectrum, professionals and parents, as well as links to other useful resources. The work was led by the autism and education team at the University of Birmingham, and the NAS has been involved throughout its development. It builds on the NAS make school make sense campaign recommendation to have a teacher pack in every school.


There are two separate resources, one for early years settings such as nurseries and another for primary and secondary schools. They are available online now and will be formally launched later in the year. Local authorities will promote them to local schools with support from the National Strategies, who help Government to support schools and local education authorities.


Access the Autism Inclusion Development Programmes


EYFS Inclusion Development Programme (IDP): supporting children on the
autism spectrum: www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies/node/168117


Primary and Secondary Inclusion Development Programme (IDP): supporting pupils on the autism spectrum
www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies/node/165037


IDP content on the National Strategies area of the Standards site:
www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/nationalstrategies/idp


Source:   http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1010&a=19086



First Published Tuesday, 21 April 2009



Alex Goodenough, who has Asperger’s syndrome, with his mother, Jan, after winning a place at Cambridge University. Photograph: Graham Turner/Guardian


Haroon Siddique


The Guardian, Monday 20th April 2009


A teenager who was refused a place at his local school because he has Asperger’s syndrome has won a conditional offer to study engineering at Cambridge.


Alex Goodenough, 17, taught himself at home from textbooks after Hertfordshire and Essex high school and science college (H&E) rejected his application to study there.


A special educational needs and disability tribunal ordered the school to apologise to Alex for treating him less favourably “for a reason related to his disability”.


According to the National Autistic Society, children with Asperger’s syndrome face “huge battles to get the education support that should be theirs by right, often at considerable emotional and financial expense”.


More tribunal cases concern autism, of which Asperger’s is a type, than any other type of special educational need.


The schoolboy said he used the school’s refusal as motivation and achieved As in three maths subjects and some physics modules. Now he is at another school, studying for the practical physics exam, which he could not take while learning from home and is a condition of his offer from Trinity college, Cambridge.


He said: “Maybe my story at least shows people that even if institutions put this bar up and won’t help you and give you an environment where you can be comfortable, at least with enough work and luck you can still do well.” Jan Goodenough, Alex’s mother, said: “If somebody causes damage to another human being in terms of injury or damaging their career there’s compensation, but for special educational needs people there’s nothing. It took an enormous amount of time and effort. The only reason I did it was I knew it was so wrong and I wanted justice.”


Alex completed his first year of A-levels a year early at another school where his mother, now an educational consultant, was teaching at the time. But after she left the school she contacted H&E in June 2007 to enrol Alex there because the specialist science college was walking distance from their home in Bishop’s Stortford.


Over several months she had contact with five different school officials.


H&E initially rejected the application on the basis that Goodenough could not guarantee Alex’s “regular attendance”, a result of his condition.


While the tribunal panel accepted that there were “misunderstandings” between Goodenough and the school initially, it found that H&E refused to send her an application form and on three separate occasions incorrectly told her the sixth form was full, which “may have been intended to discourage Ms Goodenough”. It said Alex’s education was “probably adversely affected”.


Alex said he was denied social interaction through studying at home.


“If I am at school I have got people around me, if I am not allowed to attend I don’t have that connection,” he said.


Goodenough said: “When he was sitting at home after being rejected he went through a really bad time. It almost amounted to agoraphobia because he was missing out on social contact.”


The school, closed for Easter, was unavailable for comment, but has written a letter of apology to Alex.


• This article was amended on Monday 20 April 2009 to remove the phrase “suffered from Asperger’s” as the Guardian stylebook discourages the uses of such phrases in stories about disability.


Source:   http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/20/aspergers-school-rejection-cambridge



First Published Tuesday, 21 April 2009


Genius locus


Apr 16th 2009
From The Economist print edition


There is strong evidence for a link between genius and autism. In the first of three articles about the brain this week, we ask how that link works, and whether “neurotypicals” can benefit from the knowledge


Ronald Grant Archive

THAT genius is unusual goes without saying. But is it so unusual that it requires the brains of those that possess it to be unusual in others ways, too? A link between artistic genius on the one hand and schizophrenia and manic-depression on the other, is widely debated. However another link, between savant syndrome and autism, is well established. It is, for example, the subject of films such as “Rain Man”, illustrated above.


A study published this week by Patricia Howlin of King’s College, London, reinforces this point. It suggests that as many as 30% of autistic people have some sort of savant-like capability in areas such as calculation or music. Moreover, it is widely acknowledged that some of the symptoms associated with autism, including poor communication skills and an obsession with detail, are also exhibited by many creative types, particularly in the fields of science, engineering, music, drawing and painting. Indeed, there is now a cottage industry in re-interpreting the lives of geniuses in the context of suggestions that they might belong, or have belonged, on the “autistic spectrum”, as the range of syndromes that include autistic symptoms is now dubbed.


So what is the link? And can an understanding of it be used to release flashes of genius in those whose brains are, in the delightfully condescending term used by researchers in the area, “neurotypical”? Those were the questions addressed by papers (one of them Dr Howlin’s) published this week in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. The society, Britain’s premier scientific club and the oldest scientific body in the world, produces such transactions from time to time, to allow investigators in particular fields to chew over the state of the art. The latest edition is the outcome of a conference held jointly with the British Academy (a similar, though younger, organisation for the humanities and social sciences) last September.


A spectrum of belief


A standard diagnosis of autism requires three things to be present in an individual. Two of these three, impairments in social interaction and in communication with other people, are the results of autists lacking empathy or, in technical jargon, a “theory of mind”. In other words they cannot, as even fairly young neurotypicals can, put themselves in the position of another being and ask themselves what that other is thinking. The third criterion, however, is that a person has what are known as restrictive and repetitive behaviours and interests, or RRBI, in the jargon.


Until recently, the feeling among many researchers was that the first two features were crucial to someone becoming a savant. The idea was that mental resources which would have been used for interaction and communication could be redeployed to develop expertise in some arbitrary task. Now, though, that consensus is shifting. Several of the volume’s authors argue that it is the third feature, RRBI, that permits people to become savants.


Francesca Happé of King’s College, London, is one of them. As she observes, obsessional interests and repetitive behaviours would allow someone to practice, albeit inadvertently, whichever skill they were obsessed by. Malcolm Gladwell, in a book called “Outliers” which collated research done on outstanding people, suggested that anyone could become an expert in anything by practising for 10,000 hours. It would not be hard for an autistic individual to clock up that level of practice for the sort of skills, such as mathematical puzzles, that many neurotypicals would rapidly give up on.


Many, but not all. Dr Happé has drawn on a study of almost 13,000 individual twins to show that childhood talent in fields such as music and art is often associated with RRBIs, even in those who are not diagnosed as classically autistic. She speculates that the abilities of savants in areas that neurotypicals tend to find pointless or boring may result from an ability to see differences where a neurotypical would see only similarities. As she puts it, “the child with autism who would happily spend hours spinning coins, or watching drops of water fall from his fingers, might be considered a connoisseur, seeing minute differences between events that others regard as pure repetition.”


Simon Baron-Cohen, a doyen of the field who works at Cambridge University, draws similar conclusions. He suggests the secret of becoming a savant is “hyper-systematising and hyper-attention to detail”. But he adds sensory hypersensitivity to the list. His team have shown one example of this using what is known as the Freiburg visual acuity and contrast test, which asks people to identify the gap in a letter “c” presented in four different orientations. Those on the autistic spectrum do significantly better at this than do neurotypicals. That might help explain Dr Happé’s observations about coins and raindrops.


Insight, too, is given by autists themselves. Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. She also writes about her experience of being autistic. As she describes in the volume, one of the differences she perceives between her experience and that of most neurotypicals is that she thinks in images. She says her mind is like an internet search engine that searches for photographs. To form concepts, she sorts these pictures into categories. She does not, however, claim that all autistic people think like this. To the contrary, she describes two other sorts: pattern thinkers who excel at maths and music, and verbal specialists who are good at talking and writing, but lack visual skills. The latter might not qualify as autistic under a traditional diagnosis, but slip into the broader autistic spectrum.


The question of how the autistic brain differs physically from that of neurotypicals was addressed by Manuel Casanova of the University of Louisville, in Kentucky. Dr Casanova has spent many years dissecting both. His conclusion is that the main difference is in the structure of the small columns of nerve cells that are packed together to form the cerebral cortex. The cortical columns of those on the autistic spectrum are narrower than those of neurotypicals, and their cells are organised differently.


The upshot of these differences is that the columns in an autistic brain seem to be more connected than normal with their close neighbours, and less connected with their distant ones. Though it is an interpretative stretch, that pattern of connection might reduce a person’s ability to generalise (since disparate data are less easily integrated) and increase his ability to concentrate (by drawing together similar inputs).


Rain and sunshine


Given such anatomical differences, then, what hope is there for the neurotypical who would like to be a savant? Some, possibly. There are examples of people suddenly developing extraordinary skills in painting and music in adult life as a result of brain damage caused by accidents or strokes. That, perhaps, is too high a price to pay. But Allan Snyder of the University of Sydney has been able to induce what looks like a temporary version of this phenomenon using magnetism.


Dr Snyder argues that savant skills are latent in everyone, but that access to them is inhibited in non-savants by other neurological processes. He is able to remove this inhibition using a technique called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.


Applying a magnetic field to part of the brain disrupts the electrical activity of the nerve cells for a few seconds. Applying such a field repeatedly can have effects that last for an hour or so. The technique has been approved for the treatment of depression, and is being tested against several other conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and migraines. Dr Snyder, however, has found that stimulating an area called the left anterior temporal lobe improves people’s ability to draw things like animals and faces from memory. It helps them, too, with other tasks savants do famously well—proofreading, for example, and estimating the number of objects in a large group, such as a pile of match sticks. It also reduces “false” memories (savants tend to remember things literally, rather than constructing a mnemonic narrative and remembering that).


There are, however, examples of people who seem very neurotypical indeed achieving savant-like skills through sheer diligence. Probably the most famous is that of London taxi drivers, who must master the Knowledge—ie, the location of 25,000 streets, and the quickest ways between them—to qualify for a licence.


The expert here is Eleanor Maguire of University College, London, who famously showed a few years ago that the shape of the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in long-term learning, changes in London cabbies. Dr Maguire and her team have now turned their attention to how cabbies learn the Knowledge.


The prodigious geographical knowledge of the average cabbie is, indeed, savant-like. But Dr Maguire recently found that it comes at a cost. Cabbies, on average, are worse than random control subjects and—horror—also worse than bus drivers, at memory tests such as word-pairing. Surprisingly, that is also true of their general spatial memory. Nothing comes for nothing, it seems, and genius has its price.


Savant syndrome, then, is a case where the politically correct euphemism “differently abled” has real meaning. The conclusion that should be drawn, perhaps, is not that neurotypicals should attempt to ape savants, but that savants—even those who are not geniuses—should be welcomed for what they are, and found a more honoured place in society.


Source:  http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714



First Published Wednesday, 22 April 2009


Raul

Psychologist claims dogs reduce stress quicker than drugs


by Alec Young
News Staff


Monday, April 20th, 2009


There is a growing body of evi­dence that suggests man’s best friend also helps mental health. That’s according to Dr Stanley Coren, a researcher in the UBC department of psychology, who has just completed a study on dog ownership and depression.


His latest work is part of a se­ries of studies that conclude that individuals experience reduced stress levels when in the pres­ence of their pet.
When a subject suffering from depression or stress is with their dog, they experience immediate physiological changes, including slower heartbeat, muscle relax­ation and more regular breath­ing patterns.


What’s more extraordinary is that the beneficial effect is ex­tremely rapid, especially when compared to medication. While antidepressants can require sev­eral weeks to become effective, having a friendly dog nearby can counter stress within thirty sec­onds to a minute.


“We can show that the pres­ence of the dog is actually more stress reducing than having a family member around,” Dr Co­ren said. He believes this could possibly be because a dog’s affec­tion is almost unconditional. A dog will not criticize in the same way a family member might.


Dog ownership also has a ben­efit for the elderly, who are more prone to clinical depression and require more frequent medical attention. Elderly people with a dog’s companionship are only one quarter as likely to develop clinical depression.


Anecdotal evidence about the health benefits of dog ownership has existed for years. Sigmund Freud claimed that having a chow chow in his office helped calm visiting children. In the 1950s, psychologists began to note posi­tive change in autistic children’s behavior when they were with a dog. Now, says Coren, “we’re find­ing just how powerful these effects really are. We’re actually taking physiological measures, looking at the chemistry of the blood, find­ing that this is not just a placebo effect. These are real physiological effects and you can effectively see the stress drain away.”


Another study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania found that men who had suf­fered their first heart attack were much more likely to be alive years later if they owned a dog. Researchers there con­cluded that the stress reduc­tion offered by the pet helped reduce the effects of coronary disease.


The stress-reduction benefit is not breed specific. According to Dr Coren, when it comes to pet-specific therapy a docile Lab­rador retriever is just as effective as an energetic terrier. As long as the animal is familiar and friendly, it will have a positive effect.


Unfortunately for cat lovers, the health benefits of pet owner­ship are most closely associated with dogs.


“Cats tend to be more aloof,” Dr Coren said. “They’re better than nothing, better than [own­ing] a bowl of fish, but [the ben­efit] seems to be associated with the level of interaction.”


So are Canadian doctors likely to start prescribing dog owner­ship as a form of therapy in the future? Dr Coren says this is a possibility, especially since there is a cost-benefit ratio to be con­sidered. “If you can eliminate even two visits to a doctor or psychologist over the course of a year, that [saves] $200 or $300,” Coren said.


Dr Coren said that the UK is the only country where dogs, usu­ally papillons, are “prescribed” as companions for health rea­sons. However, the UK National Health Service website offers no information on this practice.


Source:   http://www.ubyssey.ca/?p=8064



First Published Thursday, 23 April 2009


A story of a child’s struggles with Downs syndrome, autistic catatonia, bipolar disorder and PTSD


The pre symptoms before confirmed medical diagnosis are detailed along with medication trials and side effects. Robbed of speech by age three, he was unable to express his problems. Actual documents from psychiatric tests and letters written to find help for him are included. The many hilarious and some dangerous public adventures Eli takes us on gives humor to the book.


The private journals of Eli covers twenty-two years of his life struggles with Downs syndrome, autistic catatonia, bipolar affective disorder and PTSD. I wrote each night  in a notebook as a release. Unknowing these private thoughts would be published in a book, I wrote whatever I felt at the time. Some things not so nice, but all true.


This is not a typical,”I am the parent of a disabled child book” I give insight of my personnel thoughts of my child, my view of the world concerning how others view him, and the multitude of legalities parenting such a child. Humorous stories, dangerous situations and detailed accounts of each disorder.


Eli is one of several known in the world to have the combined diagnosis, making it difficult to treat. His medical condition was featured as a graduating thesis for an Ohio State University student. His final medication cocktail takes nearly two years to complete.


He functions each day, legally high as a kite, but no longer goes into the world of catatonia for months, instead it is only for minutes. He sleeps through the night and works seven hours a day/5 days per week. He no longer has hallucinations nor dangerous actions.


To Read Reviews/Purchase A Copy:


http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/its-ok-eli/975681



 

Rome

HEADLINES

“Disabled girl found dead in bag with moth balls”:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30368639/


“Pair charged over death … Two teenagers have been charged with manslaughter in relation to a fire which killed an autistic 12-year-old boy in Keighley last Saturday night.”:

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Pair-charged-over-death.5157259.jp


“Asperger’s man viciously assaulted … A man with Asperger Syndrome was left with a fractured arm after a vicious and unprovoked assault in Rochdale.”:

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/community-news/22932/aspergers-victim-viciously-assaulted


“Autistic/AS youngsters escape unhurt as wheels fall off bus”:

http://www.awares.org/pkgs/news/news.asp?showItemID=964&board=&bbcode=&profileCode=&section=


“Complaint filed against RNC after autistic teen jailed”:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/04/21/autistic-jail.html


“Hyndburn charity worker admits stealing £24,300 from vulnerable adults”:

http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/news/4308082.Hyndburn_charity_worker_admits_stealing___24_300/


“Missing Qld boy rides bike to Sydney”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/missing_qld_boy_rides_bike_to_sydney.htm


“Minister promises answers on autistic Sutton boy’s deportation”:

http://www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news/4275397.Minister_promises_answers_on_autistic_boy_s_deportation/


“Australia travel panic boy splits British family”:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2385155.ece


“Doctors are failing to spot Asperger’s in girls”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/12/autism-aspergers-girls


VIDEO Mentor Required “Disabled mother’s plea for help”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7988769.stm


“Petition: Tell Dr Tony Attwood to End the Hate: Autistic People Deserve Equality in Family Law & Relationships”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/petition__tell_dr_tony_attwood_to_end_the_hate_autistic_pe.htm


“Help enlist your community to end myths & promote autism acceptance”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/fwd_help_enlist_your_community_to_end_myths__promote_autis.htm


“Successful ASAN-Southwest Ohio Advocacy on Alarmist Autism Rhetoric”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/fwd__successful_asansouthwest_ohio_advocacy_on_alarmist_au.htm


“New ASAN Chapter at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/new_asan_chapter_at_ohio_state_university_in_columbus_oh.htm


“ASAN quoted in NYTimes Blog”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/asan_quoted_in_nytimes_blog.htm


“Hawking to make full recovery”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8010058.stm


“Cerebral palsy man barred from pub because bouncer mistook disability for drunkenness then asked for medical card”:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1169948/Cerebral-palsy-man-barred-pub-bouncer-mistook-disability-drunkenness-asked-medical-card..html

A Touch of Alyricism: Very Sad News

http://alyric.blogspot.com/2009/04/very-sad-news.html

“For those who leave us for awhile, have only gone away.  Out of this restless careworn world into a brighter day …”

RESEARCH


“Study: Melatonin can treat sleep problems of autistic children”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/study__melatonin_can_treat_sleep_problems_of_autistic_child.htm


“CBT can alleviate nonepileptic seizures”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/cbt_can_alleviate_nonepileptic_seizures.htm


“Anorexia linked to autistic thinking”:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227054.900-anorexia-linked-to-autistic-thinking.html


“Learning disability genes found”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/apr/20/learning-disability-gene-study


“Teaching autistic kids to read facial expressions”:

http://www.newsday.com/news/health/la-he-autism13-2009apr13,0,4715119.story


“Many autistic people do have savant-like skills”:

http://www.thelondonnews.net/story/489952


“UK Mental Health Action Week: 12 – 18 April”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/uk_mental_health_action_week__12__18_april.htm


“Poor workplace climate linked to depression/Job promotion & mental health”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/poor_workplace_climate_linked_to_depressionjob_promotion__.htm


“Physical illness & depression”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146665.php


“Mind gym helps people live with schizophrenia”:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227044.600-mind-gym-helps-people-live-with-schizophrenia.html


“Feeling stressed? Call pooch over”:

http://www.ubyssey.ca/?p=8064


Anxiety “Expert Q & A – Is my fear of e-mail normal?”:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/expert.q.a/04/07/anxiety.panic.email.raison/index.html

EDUCATION


“Georgia family blames 11-year-old boy’s suicide on severe bullying”:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517470,00.html


“Asperger’s student rejected by school”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/20/aspergers-school-rejection-cambridge


“Teaching children with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD)”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/apr/07/schools-children-disability


“Teachers in Scotland issued with new autism advice”:

http://www.timeplan.com/news/articles/Teachers+in+Scotland+issued+with+new+autism+advice-19124305.aspx


“News reader shares autism battle”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7998645.stm


“Schoolboy devastated after fault with computer”:

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/lifestyle/law-advice/consumer-problems/2009/04/19/schoolboy-devastated-after-fault-with-computer-78057-21289763/

EMPLOYMENT


“How one autistic young man runs a business”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/how_one_autistic_young_man_runs_a_business.htm


“2 Daily Carers with Autism Experience who can move to Italy V1027 London Bridge, then Italy”:

http://www.gumtree.com/london/40/36752240.html


“The experiences of two young men with learning disabilities”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/apr/15/young-people-learning-disabilities


“Autelligent Laboratories

We believe all people have a contribution to make and deserve an opportunity to be productive.

With your caring and excellent help, we are creating jobs for the 40 million people worldwide who are diagnosed with Autism and Asperger Syndrome. Today less than one in five of us are currently employed. We are motivated and competent and we deserve equal employment. Help make this a reality.

Autelligent Laboratories is dedicated to creating a space where autistic software engineers can more than contribute, we can excel.”:

http://www.autlabs.com/


Luxury Quality Scented Candles “Humbolt Candles – Autism & Disability Employment Company”:

http://www.humboldtcandles.com/index.html


“Auties.org”:
Individuality, Diversity, Equality, Achievement

Auties..org is an Aspie & Autie friendly site for all people on the Autistic Spectrum who are ready to dare reach out to occupation and employment, open the doors to the community and market their abilities directly to the public and for those interested in supporting these pioneers.

http://www.auties.org/


“Prospects”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=473&a=2348


“AutismJobs”:
Linking job seekers with vacancies in work related to autism, Aspergers and ASDs

http://www.autismjobs.org/?section=00010009


“Current job vacancies within the NAS”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=170


Recently Updated For further employment information, please view”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/employment_on_the_autism_spectrum.htm

GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST


The Economist “The link between autism and extraordinary ability”:

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714


“Robison, Page talk about life with Asperger’s”:

http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2009/4/20/robison-page-talk-about-life-aspergers/


“Singing star John surprises Ipswich mum”:

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/content/eveningstar/news/story.aspx?brand=ESTOnline&category=EditorsChoice&tBrand=ESTOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=IPED08%20Apr%202009%2013%3A13%3A39%3A293


“Carol Vorderman touched by Worthing family’s story”:

http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/worthing/Carol-Vorderman-39touched39-by-Worthing.5158682.jp


“AS and struggling to cope with more complex social demands”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/apr/12/girls-aspergers-autism-symptoms


“Parents of autistic children hope for more understanding”:

http://www.themonitor.com/news/understanding_25382___article.html/autistic_children.html


“Can children with Down’s Syndrome be independent?”:

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article6086474.ece


“Neville on cerebral palsy”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7988219.stm


“The voices that help improve care”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7953410.stm


“Top 20 Fun Sites for Autistic Kids”:

http://autismretort.blogspot.com/2009/04/top-20-fun-sites-for-kids-with-autism.html

Gondolier

ITALY

Leaning Tower of Pisa

“Autismo Italia”
http://www.autismoitalia..org/

Trevi Fountain

“NAS – Italian”:

http://www.autism.org.uk/languages/italian

Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

“Photo Gallery: Italy”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/gallery/italy_colosseum-at-night.html

Tuscany Landscape

“Rome Quiz”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/places-of-a-lifetime/rome-quiz.html

Pienza, Italy

“Best of Rome”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/places-of-a-lifetime/rome-best-of.html

Portofino

“Photo Gallery: Rome”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/photos/rome-gallery-1.html

Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast

Autismo Italia
Via Spartaco, 30
20135 Milano
ITALY
tel: +39 (0)2 5410 7499
fax: +39 (0)2 5410 4154
e-mail: info@autismoitalia.org

Website: http://www.autismoitalia.org


Associatione Parenti E Amici Psicottici E Autistici
c/o Scuola “Amerigo Vespucci”
Via Bolognese 238
I-50139 Firenze
ITALY
tel: 39-2-89-500-928


Associatione Parenti Ed Amici Dei Malati Di Autismo
c/o P.A.M.A.P.I.
Scuola “Amerigo Vespucci”
Via Bolognese 238
1-50139 Firenze
ITALY
tel: 39-55-400-594


Associazione Italiana Per La Ricerca Sulla Psicosi E L’Autismo
Via des Mascherino 90
I-00193 Roma
ITALY
tel: 39-6-628-0728


Associazione Nationale Genitori Soggetti Autistici
Via Rota 75
1-80067 Sorreno (NA)
ITALY
tel: 39 51 63 43 367


Associazione Per La Ricerrca Italiana Sulla Sindrome di Down,
L’Autismo E Il Danno Cerebrale
C/o ANFFAS
Via Rasi, 14
I-Bologna
ITALY
tel: 39 51 24 95 72


Autismo E Psicosi
Via C. Bazzi, 68
1-20142 Milano
ITALY
tel: 39-2-846-3406, 843-3773


Centro Supermentale per lo studi dell’autismo
tel: 06/ 65 00 00 63
e-mail: autismo@tin.it
(Dott. Flavia Caretto)

ADD/ADHD


“6 questions to ask yourself about adult ADHD Symptoms”:

http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20252859,00.html


“Dealing with ADHD while away at college”:

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/04/20/dealing-with-adhd-while-away-at-college/


“People often experience both Tourette and ADHD combined”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146339.php


“Man turns life around after ADHD diagnosis at age 55”:

http://www.canada.com/Health/turns+life+around+after+ADHD+diagnosis/1491208/story.html


ADRES “Adverse Drug Reaction Electronic System(Adverse Drug Reactions Website)”- This website provides patients, doctors, and other medical professionals with a comprehensive examination of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), side effects, and other safety information for both prescription and over-the-counter medications.. Our goal is to allow users of our website make informed decisions when taking (patients) or prescribing (doctors) drugs. We are providing unmatched information and analysis tools.

http://www.adverse-drug-reaction.net/


“adders.org”
Our objective is to promote awareness to AD/HD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and to provide information and as much free practical help as we can to those affected by the condition, both adults and children, their families in the UK and around the World via this website.

http://www.adders.org/


“ADDISS” The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service…

http://www.addiss.co.uk/index.html


“ADDA”:

http://www.add.org/index.html


“hi2u ADHD Pages”:

http://www..adhd..org.uk/


“CHADD”:

http://www.chadd.org/am/CustomPages/home/CHADD_Home.htm?CFID=2282059&CFTOKEN=38105335&jsessionid=f2303343221169802693562

SPORT


“Autistic runner is one of the guys – only faster”:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrybrewer/2009081776_brewer19.html


“Runners ready for the London Marathon”:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED20%20Apr%202009%2020%3A49%3A14%3A707


“Fans of Judo Squad”:

http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2009/04/19/fans-fall-for-judo-squad-79310-23416912/


“Trek the Inca Trail – 22-31 May, 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1863


“Trek Ben Nevis – 19-21 June, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1971


“Flora London Marathon 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1823


“It’s back! The London to Paris Bike Ride 2009 – 15-18 May”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1860


5-8 June, 2009 “Five Countries Bike Ride – England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1970


“Racecourse Bike Ride – 12 July, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2116


“Trek Hadrian’s Wall – 7-9 August, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2088


“Trek Jordan 2009 – 10-14 September”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1833


“Cycle India – 27 November – 6 December, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1832


“Sky Diving”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1726

MUSIC

“The Jazz of Matt Savage”:

http://www.savagerecords.com/

“The AutisMusic Project”:

http://www.autismusic.com/

ART


“Zoe Kakolyris exhibition launches in London”:

http://www.nas.org..uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2122&a=18908


Every Picture Tells a Story “Summer arts project for teenagers in London on the autism spectrum”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2122&a=19213


GLIMPSE – the talents of the autism community

They are painters, sculptors and photographers; poets and storytellers; musicians and creators of amazing video games. They are kids, teens and adults. Last year, a new online publication arose to celebrate the talents of autistic individuals and other developmental disabilities: GLIMPSE, offered by ICDL (The Interdisciplinary Council of Developmental and Learning Disorders). In late 2008, Volume 2 of GLIMPSE was released, and was expanded into a print book and notecards. The works are serious, humourous, deeply personal and illuminating. See it for yourself, share it with others, submit your own/your child’s work for inclusion in Volume 3, to release later this year. Find information and ordering details at www.icdl.com


“ARTROOM ………where under 17s can make and display art online”:

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artroom/index.php

MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT


“NAS endorsed by BBC’s Numberjacks”:

http://thirdsector.co.uk/News/login/898730/


“The Black Balloon floats to the top”:

http://www.onmilwaukee.com/movies/articles/theblackballoon.html


“The garage celebrates five years … Sophie Skyring, 16, a City College student from Marlpit, is one of the students who has been attending The Garage since it opened. I want to perform for a little while and then teach musical theatre to disabled children. My brother is autistic and there is nothing for him to do. While I was on the Arts Award, The Garage arranged for me to incorporate working with disabled children into it.”:

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=NOED11%20Apr%202009%2009%3A41%3A26%3A853


“Black Balloon in San Diego”:

http://www.sdcitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/the_windy_city_circa_1968/7974/


If You Could Say It In Words “Autism film to be screened in 3 Neb. Cities”:

http://www.kmeg14.com/global/story.asp?s=10178324


“Actors for Autism”:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/

BOOKS


“It’s OK Eli, by Carol Surber”:

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/18/book-its-ok-eli-by-carol-surber/


“2009 Cilip Libraries Change Lives Award Shortlist Announced”:


“Prescription for Success: Supporting Children with ASD in the Medical Environment”

Author: Jill Hudson, M.S., CCLS

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9966.htm


“Job Success for Persons with Developmental Disabilities”

Author: David B. Wiegan

Foreword by Ron Rush

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/9781843109228


“The Imprinted Brain”

Author: Christopher Badcock

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/9781849050234


“Children with Seizures: A Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Other Professionals”

Author: Martin L. Kutscher MD

Foreword by Gregory L. Holmes MD

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/9781843108238


“Building a Joyful Life with your Child who has Special Needs”

Authors: Nancy J. Whiteman and Linda Roan-Yager

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book.php/isbn/9781843108412

MOVIE

UP Movie Poster

UP(PG)

Up is an upcoming computer-animated 3-D film being produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It will be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, and is scheduled for release on May 29, 2009 in North America and October 16, 2009 in the United Kingdom.


Carl Fredricksen (Edward Asner) is a retired 78-year-old balloon salesman. When Carl was a child, he met and eventually married a girl named Ellie who grew up in a small midwestern town. Ellie always dreamed of visiting South America, but she died before she got a chance. Now, when developers threaten to move him into an assisted living home, Carl decides to fulfill his promise to Ellie. To accomplish this, he uses a huge number of balloons to make the house fly – but unwittingly takes a chubby eight-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell with him. The two opposites match up for thrilling adventures as they encounter wild terrain, unexpected foes, and all the terrifying creatures that wait in the Venezuelan jungle.

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/up/

VIDEO GAME

Pokemon Platinum Cover

“Pokemon Platinum (Nintendo DS) Rated Universal

http://www.video-game-shop.co.uk/info.asp?Pokemon-Platinum-Nintendo-DS-from-Nintendo,B001O1OBFY


“Educational Games”

http://www.video-game-shop.co.uk/Educational-Games.asp


Includes Video “Video Games For The Visually Impaired”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/1111-video_games_for_the_visually_impaired.htm


“More Wii Warriors Are Playing Hurt”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/health/21wii.html?_r=1&ref=health

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

Tweet With Your Brain, For A Change

“Millions of people use the social service Twitter everyday, but only Adam Wilson posts with his brain. Brain interfaces are only going to become more common and easier to use. It could benefit phone users and victims of paralysis.”

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2009/04/tweet-with-your-brain-for-a-ch.html


SPACE

Gliese 581 e
Lightest ExoPlanet Is Discovered

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8008683.stm


13 Things That Do Not Make Sense

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18524911.600-13-things-that-do-not-make-sense.html


Space Blob Baffles Astronomers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8007844.stm


Take Care,

Julie

Capri on the Horizon