


Archive for January 22nd, 2011
 
Article Date: 09 Dec 2010 – 4:00 PST
With the holiday season in full swing, many people find themselves battling a form of the “holiday blues.” According to Ronald M. Podell, M.D., a Los Angeles based, board certified psychiatrist who served over 20 years as a clinical faculty member at UCLA, a host of factors produce this well-known phenomenon.
What are the underlying causes, symptoms, and valid treatment options for this syndrome? According to Dr. Podell, who authored the book Contagious Emotions Staying Well When Your Loved One Is Depressed, there are two different kinds of holiday blues. The first affects those who are alone. These individuals have no nearby relatives or are estranged from their families. They may be new to a community or their friends may lead extremely busy lives or are visiting relatives for the holiday. Internally, they feel isolated and abandoned. The holidays blues hits them hard as they feel singled out and terribly alone. They often wonder if they are unlikeable or emotionally disturbed. The second form, Podell states, “comes from forced reunions with family during the holidays. Such ambivalent reunions often relive the same dysfunctional family relationships that have been operating for decades.”
“When we are young,” Podell explains, “the emotions of traumatic experiences are coded by the brain into neuro-chemical messages and stored in memory nodes. They become a permanent part of the brain–an example of the plasticity of brain function the brain’s ability to be permanently changed by experience. When something happens that awakens that trauma, whether it is actual or merely symbolic, the memory node is stimulated and the neuro-chemical messages are released.” A person then re-experiences the same emotions that came from the childhood trauma–and the blues set in. The feelings are those of a hurt child and were likely experienced with the same family he now finds himself visiting as an adult.
Read in Full:Â http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/210777.php
 
Cash Still Tight Around the Holidays? A 3 Step Solution
The unemployment rate edged up to 9.8% in November of 2011. Millions of Americans are still without jobs and many more have been living with some form of pay cut. Many are still facing a harsh financial reality and it can be challenging to stomach. Not being able to afford the gifts we used to buy or the trips we used to take may trigger feelings of shame and guilt, especially if we have kids.
During the course of history, it’s been the case that recessions come and go. While the government tells us that the recession is over, many are still feeling it quite acutely and need to tighten belts, so to speak, and often times change spending habits, not fulfilling the material desires quite so much. During this time it is a mental health practice to give ourselves permission to scale back, understanding the reality of the situation, not just for you, but for millions of people. Although this “past” recession may be hitting us on a personal level, it’s important to understand that we are not alone, that many others are in the same boat.
Read in Full:Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=41328&cn=117
 
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ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2010) — Children exposed to Jalan Sesama, an Indonesian version of the children’s television show Sesame Street, had improved educational skills and healthy development, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Over a 14-week period, the children who had the greatest exposure to Jalan Sesama improved significantly in literacy, mathematics, early cognitive skills, safety knowledge and social awareness, compared to those with no or low exposure to the program. The study is available online in advance of publication in the International Journal of Behavioral Development.
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“I was amazed with how much television young children in Indonesia watch,” said Dina L.G. Borzekowski, EdD, the study’s lead author and associate professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of Health, Behavior and Society. She continued, “Mostly the shows children were seeing were of adult nature or dubbed episodes of Sponge Bob Squarepants and Scooby-Doo. In contrast, Jalan Sesama was created in Indonesia for Indonesian children. With this study, we present evidence that when a culturally and age-appropriate show is offered, it can change the lives of preschoolers. Our data show that 4, 5, and 6 year olds learned important and healthy messages.”
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Jalan Sesama is produced by the Sesame Workshop with funding from the United States Agency for International Development. The program uses live action, puppetry (traditional and new), and animation to deliver relevant lessons on literacy, mathematics, safety, culture, environment and other subjects. Among the special MuppetsTM made for this specific show are Jabrik, a problem-solving and creative white rhino and Tantan, an environmentally-conscious orangutan.
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Article Date: 09 Dec 2010 – 3:00 PST
A group of researchers from the Universities of Bari and Rome in Italy studied the reading and writing abilities of 33 Italian dyslexic children, comparing their performance with that of children with normal reading ability. Italian is an “orthographically transparent” language, meaning that letters tend to correspond to the same sounds, whereas many letters in the English alphabet change their sound from word to word (like the “c” in car and city). However, the new study showed that even in Italian, in which it is relatively straightforward to convert sounds into letters, children still have difficulties in spelling. Y
Younger children with dyslexia generally performed worse than proficient readers; however, the older ones showed a more selective impairment when spelling words, suggesting that knowledge of vocabulary may be more important in spelling than previously thought.
 
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 9, 2010Â
Meditation using the Zen technique has been found beneficial for many health conditions. One application of Zen is for the relief of pain, as practitioners report a reduced sensitivity to pain.
However, according to new research from the Université de Montréal, people who practice meditation — meditators — actually do feel pain but they simply don’t dwell on it as much.
These findings, published in the month’s issue of Pain, may have implications for chronic pain sufferers, such as those with arthritis, back pain or cancer.
“Our previous research found that Zen meditators have lower pain sensitivity. The aim of the current study was to determine how they are achieving this,†said senior author Pierre Rainville, Ph.D., researcher at the Université de Montréal.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/12/09/meditation-relieves-pain-by-mostly-ignoring-it/21668.html
 
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 9, 2010
Researchers and parents have recognized that if a child is experiencing trouble with reading, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, are often also present.
New research may give clues to why these complex childhood disorders often appear together.
In the new report, researchers suggest that the disorders have common genetic influences. This linkage may also lead to a slow processing speed when reading; that is, the brain takes longer to make sense of the information it receives.
The researchers looked at 457 pairs of twins from the Colorado Learning Disabilities Research Center (CLDRC) twin study, an ongoing study of the causes of reading disabilities, ADHD, and related disorders.
Erik Willcutt, Ph.D., and colleagues compared groups of participants with and without RD and ADHD, using a variety of tests to measure general cognitive ability, processing speed, reading and language skills, and then analyed results from pairs of twins within those groups to determine the genetic causes of any correlations.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/12/09/genetic-link-between-reading-disability-and-adhd/21666.html
Jan
22
 
HEADLINES
“100.000 elderly and disabled adults feared to have been abusedâ€:
“What needs to be done to end disability discrimination?â€:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11857490
“Disability equality forty years onâ€:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11860472
“Government announces changes to DLAâ€:
Open Your Mind “Watch a sneak-peak of the new Young Campaigners filmâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/open_your_mind__watch_a_sneakpeak_of_the_new_young_campaig.htm
“NI: Autism services to be reformedâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/ni_autism_services_to_be_reformed.htm
“Suicide problem among the young, research findsâ€:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11858490
“Kindergarten fined over runawayâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/australia_kindergarten_fined_over_runaway.htm
“IDF recruits autistic volunteersâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/idf_recruits_autistic_volunteers.htm
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HEALTH & RESEARCH
“Autism, mental health and power of relationships the work of Dr. Dan Edmundsâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/autism_mental_health_and_power_of_relationship__dr_dan_e.htm
“Aspergers children could lose diagnostic identityâ€:
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/11/children_with_aspergers_could.html
“Brain scan ‘best thing so far’ for diagnosing autismâ€:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40470527/ns/health-mental_health/
“The new Mito-Autism studyâ€:
http://www.science20.com/countering_psychology_woo_and_science_asds/new_mitoautism_study_jama
“Hidden Disability Series: Bipolar Disorder and Autismâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/hidden_disabilities_series_bipolar_disorder_and_autism.htm
“12-fold increase of suicide risk in people with Bipolar, Schizophreniaâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/12fold_increase_of_suicide_risk_in_people_with_bipolar_sch.htm
“A new method for classifying depression in relation to response to treatmentâ€:
“Keeping calm in an anxious ageâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/keeping_calm_in_an_anxious_age.htm
Australia “False hope on ‘revolutionary’ mental illness diagnostic techniqueâ€:
Specific Language Impairment “The common childhood disorders that have been left out in the coldâ€:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/dec/01/sli-autism-childhood-developmental-disorders
“Epilepsy: Women need specific treatment, experts sayâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/epilepsy_women_need_specific_treatment_experts_say.htm
“Eating Disorders more prevalent in kids under twelveâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/eating_dosirders_more_prevalent_in_kids_under_twelve.htm
“Channelling experiences of Anorexia, UKâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/channeling_experiences_of_anorexia_uk.htm
“Let’s Learn: Trichotillomania (Part 1)â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/lets_learn_trichotillomania_part_1_impulse_control_disor.htm
“Drug prevents Post-Traumatic Stress Syndromeâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/drug_prevents_posttraumatic_stress_syndrome.htm
“Sleep deprivation eliminates fear generalization: New way to treat PTSD?â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/sleep_deprivation_eliminates_fear_generalization_new_way_to.htm
Sleep: The teenager who sleeps for 10 daysâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/sleep_the_teenager_who_sleeps_for_10_days.htm
“Addictions and co-occurring disorders, the high rate of relapseâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/addictions_and_cooccurring_disorders_the_high_rate_of_rela.htm
“BPS Research Digest: The Special Issue Spotter[1]â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bps_research_digest_the_special_issue_spotter_22.htm
“BPS Research Digest: The Special Issue Spotter[2]â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bps_research_digest_the_special_issue_spotter_23.htm
“Archives of General Psychiatry: Study Highlights for Decemberâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/archives_of_general_psychiatry_study_highlights_for_decembe.htm
“Combined consumption of caffeine and glucose improves the efficiency of brain activityâ€:
“Self Esteem: Why It Mattersâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/self_esteem__why_it_matters.htm
“How to spot a Narcissistâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/how_to_spot_a_narcissist.htm
“John Lennon: Psychodrama of a Gifted Childâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/john_lennon_psychodrama_of_a_gifted_child.htm
Social Networks “Flaming drives online social networksâ€:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19821-flaming-drives-online-social-networks.html
“Relationships: Strategies For Communication & Maintenance, The Neurology Of Love & Marriage, Innovation In The Bedroom, Difficult Emotions & More …â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/relationships_strategies_for_communication__maintenance_t.htm
“Virtual Hospitalâ€:
http://www.uihealthcare.com/vh/
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EDUCATION
“Teacher tenure under attack from mother of autistic child voted out of class survivor-styleâ€:
“Boy with genetic disorder ‘in limbo’ and out of schoolâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/boy_with_genetic_disorder_in_limbo_and_out_of_school.htm
“Paying for Superman: A South Pasadena mom explains why she moved her kids to private school.â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/education_paying_for_superman_a_south_pasadena_mom_explain.htm
“State Report cites deficiency in autism trainingâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/state_report_cites_deficiency_in_autism_training.htm
“Collier district hearing: Family continues fighting to get autistic child’s dog in classroomâ€:
“New nonprofit school for autistic children opens in Burr Ridge, ILâ€:
“Students inspire teacherâ€:
http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/550135/Students-inspire-teacher.html?nav=5021
“Local autistic student shadows Deputy Mayor of Ealingâ€:
“Planning for the future: Helping your autistic child achieveâ€:
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EMPLOYMENT
“Specialist Disability Employment Support – a call for evidence – DWPâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/specialist_disability_employment_support__a_call_for_eviden.htm
“NAS: Government announces changes to DLAâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/nas_government_anounces_changes_to_dla.htm
“Antidote for workplace distress may be confronting prejudiceâ€:
“Performance expectations subject to gender biasâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/performance_expectations_subject_to_gender_bias.htm
“Creative Support Ltdâ€:
http://www.creativesupport.co.uk/Â
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“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.â€:
Luxury Quality Scented Candles “Humbolt Candles – Autism & Disability Employment Companyâ€:
http://www.humboldtcandles.com/index.html
“Auties.orgâ€:
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.
“Prospectsâ€:
http://www.autism.org.uk/our-services/employment-support/prospects-for-job-seekers.aspx
“AutismJobsâ€:
Linking job seekers with vacancies in work related to autism, Aspergers and ASDs
http://www.autismjobs.org/?section=00010009
“Employment within the NASâ€:
For further employment information, please viewâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/employment_on_the_autism_spectrum.htm
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GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST
“Paul Dirac & Henry Cavendish: How autism leads to geniusâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/paul_dirac__henry_cavendish__how_autism_leads_to_genius.htm
“Imagine a world where Aspergers was the normâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/imagine_a_world_where_aspergers_was_the_norm.htm
“Dora Raymaker: On living with autism: I am comfortable with who I amâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/dora_raymaker_on_living_with_autism_i_am_comfortable_with_.htm
“Giving hope to special needs children in Ethiopiaâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/giving_hope_to_special_needs_children_in_ethiopia.htm
“Pokemon enthusiasts show off strategy, logic in tournament”:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/pokemon_enthusiasts_show_off_strategy_logic_in_tournament.htm
“Quick and simple activities for autistic childrenâ€:
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CHRISTMAS

“Survival Hints For Making It Through The Holiday Season/Christmas & ASDâ€:
“NAS: Talk about Christmas … Children and young people with autism and their families offer advice on coping with Christmas.â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/nas_talk_about_christmas.htm
“Have Yourself a Mindful, Merry Christmasâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/have_yourself_a_mindful_merry_christmas.htm
“Introvert’s Guide to Holiday Merrimentâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/introverts_guide_to_holiday_merriment.htm
“Managing Holiday Stress, Alone For The Holidays, Families In Recoveryâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/managing_holiday_stress_alone_for_the_holidays_families_in.htm
“ Quick Tips To Avoid A Meltdownâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/7_quick_tips_to_avoid_a_meltdown.htm

Children’s Christmas Arts, Crafts & Activity Sites
“Kaboose 2010â€:
http://holidays.kaboose.com/christmas/index.html
“Enchanted Learning: Christmas Craftsâ€:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/
“Activity Villageâ€:
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/christmas_crafts.htm
Art & Craft Supplies “Yellow Moonâ€:
 
Christmas Recipes
http://recipes.kaboose.com/holidays/christmas-recipes/christmas-recipes.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/christmas-recipes
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Holidays-and-Events/Christmas/Top.aspx
http://www.momswhothink.com/christmas/the-best-christmas-cookie-recipes-ever.html

“Christmas Around the Worldâ€:
http://www.soon.org.uk/country/christmas.htm
“Koala’s Christmas Pages – Includes Stories, Crafts & Activities, Games, Cooking, Traditions & Free Card Linksâ€:
http://www.thekoala.com/christmas.htm
“Christmas by Aussie Educatorâ€:
http://www.aussieeducator.org.au/specialpages/christmas.html
“Win a One-Off LEGO Buzz Lightyear & Help the NAS!â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/win_a_oneoff_lego_buzz_lightyear__help_the_nas.htm

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COLORADO

“Autism Society of Boulder Countyâ€
PO Box 270300
Louisville CO 80027-5004
(Boulder County)
(720) 272-8231 (Main Phone)
Julie Darrow
Fax: (866) 826-3995
E-Mail address: co-bouldercounty@autismsocietyofamerica.org

 Maroon Bells, Aspen, Colorado: Maroon Lake (9,580′) provides one of the most memorable scenes in the Rockies. The lake occupies a basin that was sculpted by Ice-Age glaciers and later dammed by landslide and rockfall debris from the steep slopes above the valley floor. The Maroon Bells is a mountain in the Elk Mountains that consists of two peaks, South Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak, separated by about a third of a mile. The mountain is on the border between Pitkin County and Gunnison County, Colorado, United States, about 12 miles southwest of Aspen. Both peaks are counted as fourteeners.
“Autism Society Colorado Chapterâ€
550 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Suite 100
Lakewood CO 80226
(Jefferson County)
(720) 214-0794 (Main Phone)
(800) 265-6273 (Toll Free in State)
Fax: (720) 274-2744
E-Mail address: contact@autismcolorado.org
http://www.autismcolorado.org/

Bear Lake
“Autism Society Larimer County Chapterâ€
921 Province Road
Fort Collins CO 80525
(Larimer County)
(970) 377-9640 (Main Phone)
Phyllis Zimmerman
E-Mail address:

Colorado Balloon Classic
“Colleges for Students with Asperger’s: The Very Friendly Onesâ€:

 Colorado River from Desert View, Grand Canyon
“The Benefits of Asperger Syndromeâ€:
http://www.yourlittleprofessor.com/benefits.html

 Evening Lights on Southwest Colorado Butte
“Temple Grandin, diagnosed HFA, American Doctor of Animal Science and Professor at Colorado State Universityâ€:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Grandin

 One of the “Fourteeners”, Mt. Sneffels is in the San Juan Range between Ouray and Telluride in southwestern Colorado.
“Colorado Guideâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/colorado-guide/?source=A-to-Z

Squirrel in Downtown Denver. The Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) is about 18 to 28 inches long from nose to tip of tail and is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America.Â
“Colorado Factsâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/colorado-facts/

 Christmas Lights on the City and County Building of Denver, Colorado. City and County Building of Denver, part of the Civic Center Historic District, is across the park from the Colorado State Capitol Building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
“Colorado Mapâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/colorado-map/

 Night falls over Denver, Colorado’s Capital
“Photo Gallery: Boulder, Coloradoâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/boulder-colorado-photos-traveler/

A Denver Sunrise
“Colorado Official State Vacation Guideâ€:

 Wings Over The Rockies Air And Space Museum ( www.wingsmuseum.org/ )
B-17G “Aluminum Overcast” in Denver
“Colorado’s Best Restaurantsâ€:
http://www.opentable.com/best-denver-colorado-restaurants?li=275&topic=Best+Overall

Skyscraper Walk, Downtown Denver

Architecture: Custom cedar home in snowy Colorado(More Lindal Cedar Homes in Colorado)

 Snow sculptures – Rocky Mountain National Park

Arapahoe Basin is a renowned ski area for alpine skiing high in the Colorado Rockies. The A-Basin East Wall has a summit elevation of 13,050 feet (3977m), making it the highest skiable terrain in North America. Due to its high altitude (at tree line) and its mostly north to northeast face, the Basin remains open for skiing much longer than most Colorado resorts, and often starts earlier as well. Arapahoe Basin is known for a clientele of hardcore, yet relaxed folks that like simply to ski and avoid the glamour associated with resorts like Aspen, Colorado. It sometimes stays open until July, though recent management has opted to close the resort earlier despite complaints from locals.

Red Rocks Ampitheatre, Denver is a rock structure in Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado (west of Denver), where concerts are given in the open air amphitheatre. There is a large, tilted, disc-shaped rock behind the stage, a huge vertical rock angled outwards from stage right, several large boulders angled outwards from stage left and seating area for up to 9,450 people in between. The amphitheatre is owned and operated by the City and County of Denver, Colorado.

Oil & Gas – Active Wells & Pumps are found in Weld & Larimer Counties

 Bent’s Old Fort along the Arkansas River operated from 1833 to 1849. A wonderfully restored fort – well worth the stop.

Bent’s Old Fort

Bent’s Old Fort

Colorado Brown, Poudre River Basin

Colorado Summer, Glen Cove

 Bridal Veil Falls is the highest cascade waterfall in Colorado. This house used to be the Smuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant, which provided electricity to the town of Telluride. It is now a private residence.

Colorado Black Bear

Great Sand Dunes National Monument, containing the largest sand dunes of North America.
 
Sixteen Stars Over Colorado Quilt
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ADD/ADHD
“Is Home School best for ADD/ADHD?â€:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/is-home-school-best-for-addadhd.html
“Is this a money-making opportunity for franchises, or a legitimate therapy?â€:
“Leadership programs provide life-skills for kids with ADHDâ€:
http://www.examiner.com/adhd-in-toronto/leadership-programs-provide-life-skills-for-kids-with-adhd
“ADHD and Depressionâ€:
http://www.natural-holistic-health.com/adhd-and-depression/
“Tips for New Teachers: ADHD students & the classroomâ€:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6082100/tips_for_new_teachers_adhd_students.html?cat=4
“Are you taking any of these dangerous drugs?â€:
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_6653.shtml
ADRES “Adverse Drug Reaction Electronic System(Adverse Drug Reactions Website)â€- 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/
Â
“adders.orgâ€:
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.
Â
“ADDISS†The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service…
http://www.addiss.co.uk/index.html
Â
“ADDAâ€:
Â
“hi2u ADHD Pagesâ€:
Â
“CHADDâ€:
http://www.chadd.org/am/CustomPages/home/CHADD_Home.htm?CFID=2282059&CFTOKEN=38105335&jsessionid=f2303343221169802693562
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SPORT
“Pioneer of martial arts autistic learning makes surprise discoveryâ€:
Gymnastics “Meet Nikki Gutman, age 10 “:
http://gymnasticscoaching.com/new/2010/12/gymnastics-for-autistic-kids/
“Trek Mount Kilimanjaro – 8-19 Oct 2010/2-13 Feb 2011/13-24 July 2011â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2200
Â
“Trek the Great Wall of China – 9-18 Oct 2010/8-16 October 2011â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2356
Â
“Trek to Everest Base Camp – 5-21 November 2010/25 March – 10 April 2011/4-20 Nov 2011â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2354
Â
“Trek to the Home of the Dalai Lama – 17-28 March 2011 and 15-26 Sept 2011â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2602
Â
“Trek the Inca Trail – 14-23 May 2011â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1863
Â
“Icelandic Lava Trek – 20-24 July 2011â€:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2611
Â
“Sky Diving – All Year Round”:
http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1726
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MUSIC
“Music4ASDâ€:
http://www.autism.org.uk/directory/resources/7923.aspx
“The AutisMusic Projectâ€:
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ART
“Rolando Davila: Autistic child exhibits ability in art, musicâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/rolando_davila_autistic_child_exhibits_ability_in_art_musi.htm
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
Â
“ARTROOM ………where under 17s can make and display art onlineâ€:
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artroom/index.php
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MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT
“AMC Lennox to screen films for autistic children Dec. 11â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/amc_lennox_to_screen_films_for_autistic_children_dec_11.htm
“Actors for Autismâ€:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/
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BOOKS
“Autism and Airline Travel: A new book for autistic children about flying called “What Can You Expect When You Fly?â€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/autism_and_airline_travel_a_new_book_for_autistic_children_.htm
“Fredericktown woman’s book details autistic son’s journeyâ€:
http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/fredericktown_womans_book_details_autistic_sons_journey.htm
“Autism and Lossâ€
Rachel Forrester-Jones and Sarah Broadhurst
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843104339
“Bereavement, Loss and Learning Disabilities: A Guide for Professionals and Carersâ€
Robin Grey
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849050203
“Supportive Parenting: Becoming an Advocate for your Child with Special Needsâ€
Jan Starr Campito
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108511
“Exploring Bullying with Adults with Autism and Asperger Syndrome: A Photocopiable Workbookâ€:
Anna Tickle and Bettina Stott
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849050357
“Autism, Discrimination and the Law: A Quick Guide for Parents, Educators and Employersâ€
James Graham
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843106272
“Get out, Explore, and Have Fun!: How families of Children with Autism or AspergerSyndrome Can Get the Most out of Community Activitiesâ€
Lisa Jo Rudy
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849058094
“The Girl Who Spoke with Picturesâ€
Eileen Miller
Foreword by Robert Nickel MD
Illustrated by Kim Miller
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108894
“Reaching and Teaching the Child with Autism Spectrum Disorderâ€
Using Learning Preferences and Strengths
Heather MacKenzie
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843106234
Gold Medal Winner “Autistic Planetâ€
Jennifer Elder
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108429
CD Rom “ISPEEK at Home: Over 1300 Visual Communication Imagesâ€
Janet Dixon
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843105107
CD Rom “ISPEEK at School: Over 1300 Visual Communication Imagesâ€
Janet Dixon
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843105114
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CINEMA

“Tron: Legacy†PG
Release Date: December 17, 2010.
Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9szn1QQfas

Synopsis: TRON: LEGACY is a 3D high-tech adventure set in a digital world that’s unlike anything ever captured on the big screen. Sam Flynn (GARRETT HEDLUND), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (JEFF BRIDGES), looks into his father’s disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin’s loyal confidant Quorra (OLIVIA WILDE), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10011582-TRON_legacy/

“The Touristâ€
Release Date: December 10, 2010.
Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XtbLezJtMg

Synopsis: Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance and danger in The Tourist. During an impromptu trip to Europe to mend a broken heart, Frank (Depp) unexpectedly finds himself in a flirtatious encounter with Elise (Angelina Jolie), an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path. Against the breathtaking backdrop of Paris and Venice, their whirlwind romance quickly evolves as they find themselves unwittingly thrust into a deadly game of cat and mouse.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tourist/

“Depp, Jolie bring old Hollywood glamour to “The Touristâ€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101206/ten-uk-thetourist-3334b85.html
“New Narnia 3D film gets Royal approvalâ€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20101130/tuk-new-narnia-3d-film-gets-royal-approv-45dbed5.html
“Social Network named best film by key groupâ€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101202/ten-uk-socialnetwork-90f61ed.html

TV Christmas 2010 “Doctor Who special ‘Jaws with a twistâ€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20101202/ten-dr-who-special-jaws-with-a-twist-5f8abb3.html
“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader – reviewâ€:
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 VIDEO GAMES

“Kingdom Hearts: Recoded (Nintendo DS) 12+
Release Date: January 14, 2011.

“Patapon 3†(PSP) 7+
Release Date: December 17, 2010.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-Patapon-3-PSP/dp/B003XIIW60/ref=pd_nr_vg_h__27?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

“House (Nintendo DS, PC CD)
Release Date: December 10, 2010.
“New gadget promises 3D without the headachesâ€:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19825-new-gadget-promises-3d-without-the-headaches.html
“10 exotic gifts for gamersâ€:
http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/blog/article/18962/10-exotic-gifts-for-gamers.html
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TECH
“Coolest Tech Products – Year In Review 2010â€
http://uk.yearinreview.yahoo.com/2010/uk_cooltechproducts#Coolest%20tech%20products
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ENVIRONMENT
Nat Geo “Top Ten Discoveries Of 2010â€
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SPACE
“Best Space Discoveries of 2010â€
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/12/101208-best-of-2010-space-discoveries-news/

Dear Readers ~ Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy 2011. Taking an indefinite break from the News in its current format as am undertaking some exciting new travel/education plans over the next 3 years. Will possibly provide a smaller scale News Roundup from Feb 1st (Tues – Fri), as time allows. Hope life is treating you well and that this Christmas remains as calm, peaceful and enjoyable as possible for you and yours.
Take Care,
Julie

Christmas Star, Boulder Colorado
 
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 8, 2010
While gender expectations in the workplace have shifted substantially in recent decades — with more women as CEOs, more men as nurses — gender neutrality on the job is far from a fait accompli.Â
A new study examines perceptions of people in high-powered jobs and finds that they’re likely to be judged more harshly for mistakes if they’re in a job that’s not normally associated with their gender.
“The reason I got interested is, there was so much talk about race and gender barriers being broken,†says Victoria Brescoll, psychologist at Yale University and first author of the study.
In the 2008 presidential election, a woman came close to getting a nomination, and an African-American man ended up president of the United States—a job formerly reserved for white men.
But just getting a job with high status isn’t enough, Brescoll says; you have to keep it. She suspected that people who have a job not normally associated with their gender would be under closer scrutiny and more likely to get in trouble for mistakes.
“Any mistakes that they make, even very minor ones, could be magnified and seen as even greater mistakes,†she says.
Brescoll and her colleagues, Erica Dawson and Eric Luis Uhlmann, came up with a list of high-status jobs that are normally held by one gender or the other. This was easy for men, but actually quite difficult for women; the one they came up with was the president of a woman’s college.
For this study, they compared that to a police chief, a traditionally male role. They pre-tested the jobs to make sure people perceived them as having similar status and also being associated with one gender or the other.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/12/08/performance-expectations-subject-to-gender-bias/21625.html
 
 We trawl the world’s journals so you don’t have to:
Special section on fMRI (Perspectives on Psychological Science).
The Content and Context of Early Media Exposure (Infant and Child Development).
The psychology of political leadership (Political Psychology).
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Diagnosis and Intervention (Alcohol).
Space, Time and Number (Trends in Cognitive Sciences).
Clinical psychology special issue (Psychology Learning and Teaching).
Â
A pioneer of martial arts coaching for children with Asperger Syndrome and high functioning autism has recently discovered she, herself, has Asperger Syndrome.
Sandra Beale-Ellis, the National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) National Director of Operations and Lead Equality and Quality Manager, was clinically diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome after devoting a large commitment to understanding and coaching young people with the condition.
Sandra has led the way in designing an instructor training programme for NAKMAS, in conjunction with the National Autistic Society, to enable instructors and coaches within the martial arts to extend their scope to include students with Asperger Syndrome, high functioning autism and students with special needs in their martial arts classes.
Sandra is also 10 months into a Doctorate in Education specialising in issues impacting on the pedagogy of students with autism within sport and physical activity via Sheffield Hallam University.
Sandra’s knowledge and commitment has been supplemented by her own experience of Asperger Syndrome from her husband Joe Ellis, who has the condition himself. Joe is chair of NAKMAS and has been a keen advocate of Sandra’s pioneering efforts to include young people with Asperger Syndrome and high functioning autism into martial arts learning.
Sandra said: “I have taken a keen interest over the past ten years in understanding autistic spectrum conditions including Asperger Syndrome and applying that understanding to something I am passionate about – teaching martial arts. Studying Asperger Syndrome and seeing it first-hand with Joe resonated with me, so it was always in the back of my mind that I too perhaps had Asperger Syndrome and other colleagues in the autism field had suggested it as well.
“Even so, I couldn’t believe that I could be in a marriage where both of us had AS, but neither of us knew until now. We have been together nearly 21 years and the fact we are still together is a miracle.
“I still can’t quite believe I have this condition, and have had it my whole life. I was a loner at school, making friends with boys mainly as I didn’t have to compete with or understand them as much. I have a few real friends now and don’t make new friends easily.
Read in Full:Â http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=60995

Event is second-largest in the state, drawing 94 participants
Statesman Journal • December 6, 2010Â
The 2010 Pokémon City Championships at Borderlands Games on Sunday drew 94 participants of all ages to battle it out for bragging rights and prizes.
“It’s the second-largest tournament we’ve had in Oregon,” said Richard Walkoski, a premier tournament organizer for Pokémon USA Inc. who works in Salem and lives in Canby.
Only an event in Portland drew more participants this season, Walkoski said.
The crowd at Borderlands Games included 28-year-old Glennis Holcome of northeast Salem.
“It’s really strategic,” Holcome said of the trading card game competition.
Holcome, who has been playing for a few years, said his day at the tournament could have been going a little better.
“I have played two (rounds) so far and have lost both,” he said.
He looked through his “spread” deck during the lunch break and tried to strategize how to proceed through the next four rounds of competition.
“It (the spread deck) removes mine and my opponents cards from the game and causes a lot of damage,” Holcome said.
Linda ZumBrunnen of Corvallis got sucked into Pokémon when her 11-year-old son’s league needed an adult to play.
“They handed me a deck,” said 50-year-old ZumBrunnen.
After playing the initial game, she stuck with it to support her son.
“I was told the kids whose parents play do better,” she said.
She also said knowing the lingo helps her understand what her son is talking about when he enthusiastically tries to have a conversation about the game.
Other parents who were at the tournament said they value what Pokémon has done for their children’s development.
“(My son) learned to vocalize and communicate,” said Mandy Rogers, the Borderlands Games league gym leader.

