 
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 2, 2010Â
Historically, researchers have used common tools to ensure that standardized tests are unbiased. Now, a new study suggests the tools used to check tests of “general mental ability†for bias are themselves flawed.
Indiana University researchers believe this finding challenges reliance on such exams to make objective decisions for employment or academic admissions even in the face of well-documented gaps between mean scores of white and minority populations.
The study, published in the July issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology, investigated an amalgam of scores representing a vast sample of commonly used tests, including civil service or other pre-employment exams and university entrance exams.
“Test bias†means that two people with different ethnicity or gender, for example, who have the same test score are predicted to have different “scores†on the outcome (e.g., job performance); thus a biased test might benefit certain groups over others.
Decades of earlier research consistently found no evidence of test bias against ethnic minorities, but the current study challenges this established belief.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/08/02/some-standardized-employment-tests-may-be-biased/16295.html
 
July 30th, 2010 by Yen Yen
Born on a blue day: inside the extraordinary mind of an autistic savant: a memoir
 Daniel Tammet
 Call no: 616.858 TAM – [HEA]
 Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 2006
This memoir brings us deeply into the life of an autistic savant. If you have seen ‘Rainman’ starring Dustin Hoffman, the term autistic savant should not be unfamiliar. Even after having seen the film, there is still so much that is unexplained and misunderstood. (If you are unclear about the definition, Tammet described it as the presence of impairments affecting social interaction, communication and imagination).
Through “Born on a blue dayâ€, 25-year old Tammet shares his experiences and life accounts since he was a baby. Tammet might possess incredible cerebral ability but human interaction is a difficult process. Some of his extraordinary capabilities include memorizing the numbers of ‘pi’ and learning a new language in a week. The social interaction impairment is evident when Tammet does not indulge in playtime with his younger brother even when they were toddlers. The extent of their sibling interaction is as such: “I had no strong feelings towards my brother and we lived parallel lives.â€
Read in Full:Â http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/highbrowseonline/whos-reading-what/yen-yen-has-read-born-on-a-blue-day/
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July 30th, 2010 by Yen Yen
Born on a blue day: inside the extraordinary mind of an autistic savant: a memoir
 Daniel Tammet
 Call no: 616.858 TAM – [HEA]
 Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 2006
This memoir brings us deeply into the life of an autistic savant. If you have seen ‘Rainman’ starring Dustin Hoffman, the term autistic savant should not be unfamiliar. Even after having seen the film, there is still so much that is unexplained and misunderstood. (If you are unclear about the definition, Tammet described it as the presence of impairments affecting social interaction, communication and imagination).
Through “Born on a blue dayâ€, 25-year old Tammet shares his experiences and life accounts since he was a baby. Tammet might possess incredible cerebral ability but human interaction is a difficult process. Some of his extraordinary capabilities include memorizing the numbers of ‘pi’ and learning a new language in a week. The social interaction impairment is evident when Tammet does not indulge in playtime with his younger brother even when they were toddlers. The extent of their sibling interaction is as such: “I had no strong feelings towards my brother and we lived parallel lives.â€
Read in Full:Â http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/highbrowseonline/whos-reading-what/yen-yen-has-read-born-on-a-blue-day/
By Han Wei Chou | Posted: 02 August 2010 1235 hrs
SINGAPORE: “Ocean Heaven” is action superstar Jet Li’s first film without a single fight scene.
Indeed, the only thing Li’s character Sam Wong does battle with in this film is liver cancer.
Set against the backdrop of a marine park, Li plays Wong, a terminally ill father who desperately tries to find a place where his 22-year-old autistic son David (Wen Zhang) will be taken care of after he succumbs to the disease.
While working as a handyman at the marine park, Wang teaches Dafu basic skills like cooking and riding the bus in preparation for a life without him.
“Ocean Heaven” is actually more of a ‘statement’ than ‘entertainment’. Wong’s fruitless journey to several special needs schools hoping for a place for his son highlighted the plight of the autistic in China and tries to shed light on the welfare situation in the country.
Li told the media he worked on this film pro bono because he was impressed by how it raised awareness about autism, even though the film’s entire production budget did not even amount to his usual acting fees.
However, being more a ‘statement’ also means that “Ocean Heaven” is not very fun to watch.
The film’s storyline is very bland. The 102-minute film just droned along, engineering situations to exhibit the challenges faced by the autistic, while leaving the truly emotional moments right at the end.
The storyline could do with some tweaking but the acting is really not bad.
Li turns in a reasonable performance as a man struggling to forge a future for his son and acted well in some scenes, such as one where he reluctantly turns down an admirer because he did not want to burden her with his autistic sun.
Read in Full:Â http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/reviews/view/1072807/1/.html
Related Article
Hong Kong: Ocean Heaven – Li Hopes Autism Film Alternative To Blockbusters
By Han Wei Chou | Posted: 02 August 2010 1235 hrs
SINGAPORE: “Ocean Heaven” is action superstar Jet Li’s first film without a single fight scene.
Indeed, the only thing Li’s character Sam Wong does battle with in this film is liver cancer.
Set against the backdrop of a marine park, Li plays Wong, a terminally ill father who desperately tries to find a place where his 22-year-old autistic son David (Wen Zhang) will be taken care of after he succumbs to the disease.
While working as a handyman at the marine park, Wang teaches Dafu basic skills like cooking and riding the bus in preparation for a life without him.
“Ocean Heaven” is actually more of a ‘statement’ than ‘entertainment’. Wong’s fruitless journey to several special needs schools hoping for a place for his son highlighted the plight of the autistic in China and tries to shed light on the welfare situation in the country.
Li told the media he worked on this film pro bono because he was impressed by how it raised awareness about autism, even though the film’s entire production budget did not even amount to his usual acting fees.
However, being more a ‘statement’ also means that “Ocean Heaven” is not very fun to watch.
The film’s storyline is very bland. The 102-minute film just droned along, engineering situations to exhibit the challenges faced by the autistic, while leaving the truly emotional moments right at the end.
The storyline could do with some tweaking but the acting is really not bad.
Li turns in a reasonable performance as a man struggling to forge a future for his son and acted well in some scenes, such as one where he reluctantly turns down an admirer because he did not want to burden her with his autistic sun.
Read in Full:Â http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/reviews/view/1072807/1/.html
Related Article
Hong Kong: Ocean Heaven – Li Hopes Autism Film Alternative To Blockbusters
 
July 30, 5:02 PM
SF Autism & Parenting ExaminerLaura Shumaker
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A trio of autism advocates are bringing their shared personal and professional
experiences to audiences interested in learning how autism effects females to
SAN FRANCISCO. Celebrating Females with Autism Spectrum Disorders introduces, Exhaling Beauty: an Evening Celebrating Females on the Autism Spectrum. It’s a new and innovative educational and advocacy program bringing females with autism together in a relaxed setting over wine and cheese, art, music and relaxed presentations.
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The celebrations will begin in San Francisco and continue to Connecticut as it makes its way around
other cities within and then beyond the US. Sponsors include Jessica Kingsley Publishing, Autism Spectrum Quarterly of Starfish Press, and Spectrum Training Systems Inc.
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The mission of Celebrating Females with ASD is to support, encourage and inspire women and girls on the autism spectrum through community awareness programs, publications, presentations and community networking. The group is the shared vision of Liane Holliday Willey, Shana Nichols and Rudy Simone, a trio of best-selling authors and motivational speakers in the field of autism research, advocacy and education.
“Research reports males are four times more likely to have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than females,”says Holliday Willey, “but most in the field debate these reports contending females are better able to hide their autism, less likely to be identified as having an ASD, and typically misdiagnosed with other bio-neurological and psychological disorders.”
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“Females with autism do not present with obvious differences when compared to males with autism,” says Holliday Willey, ” This reality most often leads to a disenfranchised life of chaos, employment and relationship struggles, and depression. It is a reality we need to change.â€
Applications are now being accepted to become a Sponsor or Exhibiting Artist. Please contact Liane Holliday Willey at 616.446.6614 or aspienews@yahoo.com. The event is to be held on Sept 18, 2010 from 6-10pm at The Hotel Monaco, in San Francisco, CA.
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About the presenters:
Holliday Willey is an individual with Asperger syndrome who holds a doctorate in
psycholinguistics who specializes in language and communication strategies for people with autism. She has been featured in the USA Today, Psychology Today, the New York Times, ABC online, the Infinite Mind, NPR, and dozens of other media outlets.
Rudy Simone is an individual with Asperger syndrome trained in counseling and holistic mental health, who specializes in the areas of employment, relationships and female Aspergers. Simone has been seen in such publications as the NY Times and London Daily Mail.
Shana Nichols, PhD is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and lecturer who specializes in female ASD. She is a sought-after speaker internationally and has been featured on ABC News Nightline, Psychology Today, Interactive Autism Network, and Express UK. All three presenters are internationally popular speakers with best selling books to their credit.
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TO LEARN MORE, Contact:
Liane Holliday Willey (616-446-1808) aspienews@yahoo.com, www.aspie.com
Rudy Simone (phone) rudy@help4aspergers.com, www.help4aspergers.com
Shana Nichols (631-923-0923) drshananichols@gmail.com, www.shananicholsphd.com
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Source:Â
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July 30, 5:02 PMSF Autism & Parenting ExaminerLaura Shumaker
A trio of autism advocates are bringing their shared personal and professional
experiences to audiences interested in learning how autism effects females to
SAN FRANCISCO. Celebrating Females with Autism Spectrum
Disorders introduces, Exhaling Beauty: an Evening Celebrating Females on the Autism Spectrum. It’s a new and innovative educational and advocacy program bringing females with autism together
in a relaxed setting over wine and cheese, art, music and relaxed presentations.
The celebrations will begin in San Francisco and continue to Connecticut as it makes its way around
other cities within and then beyond the US. Sponsors include Jessica Kingsley Publishing, Autism Spectrum Quarterly of Starfish Press, and Spectrum Training Systems Inc.
The mission of Celebrating Females with ASD is to support, encourage and inspire
women and girls on the autism spectrum through community awareness programs,
publications, presentations and community networking. The group is the shared vision of
Liane Holliday Willey, Shana Nichols and Rudy Simone, a trio of best-selling authors
and motivational speakers in the field of autism research, advocacy and education.
“Research reports males are four times more likely to have an autism spectrum disorder
(ASD) than females,”says Holliday Willey, “but most in the field debate these reports contending females are better able to hide their autism, less likely to be identified as having an ASD, and typically misdiagnosed with other bio-neurological and psychological disorders.”
“Females with autism do not present with obvious differences when compared to
males with autism,” says Holliday Willey, ” This reality most often leads to a disenfranchised life of chaos,
employment and relationship struggles, and depression. It is a reality we need to
change,â€
Applications are now being accepted to become a Sponsor or Exhibiting Artist. Please
contact Liane Holliday Willey at 616.446.6614 or aspienews@yahoo.com. The
event is to be held on Sept 18, 2010 from 6-10pm at The Hotel Monaco, in San
Francisco, CA.
About the presenters:
Holliday Willey is an individual with Asperger syndrome who holds a doctorate in
psycholinguistics who specializes in language and communication strategies for people
with autism. She has been featured in the USA Today, Psychology Today, the New York
Times, ABC online, the Infinite Mind, NPR, and dozens of other media outlets.
Rudy Simone is an individual with Asperger syndrome trained in counseling and holistic
mental health, who specializes in the areas of employment, relationships and female
Aspergers. Simone has been seen in such publications as the NY Times and London
Daily Mail.
Shana Nichols, PhD is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and lecturer who
specializes in female ASD. She is a sought-after speaker internationally and has been
featured on ABC News Nightline, Psychology Today, Interactive Autism Network, and
Express UK. All three presenters are internationally popular speakers with best selling
books to their credit.
TO LEARN MORE, Contact:
Liane Holliday Willey (616-446-1808) aspienews@yahoo.com, www.aspie.com
Rudy Simone (phone) rudy@help4aspergers.com, www.help4aspergers.com
Shana Nichols (631-923-0923) drshananichols@gmail.com, www.shananicholsphd.com
Debra Gruszecki, K Kaufmann and Mike Perrault • The Desert Sun • August 1, 2010Â
Do you believe in angels?
The Moore family does — so much so, they’ve called on the celestial beings to market Angels for Autism, a 2,000-square-foot retail store in Rio del Plaza in Cathedral City that holds potential to empower and inspire.
Founded by LaVeda and Dean Moore, parents of 9-year-old Evan, the store is a one-stop shopping zone to serve parents, teachers and therapists of special needs children — some 6,500 of whom live in the Coachella Valley.
It offers products in a “stare-free†environment for children with autism and special needs in the areas of sensory integration, socialization, life skills, fine motor skills and therapy.
What prompted the Moores to tap their personal savings to open the store in tough economic times?
“We were for the longest time frustrated that we couldn’t find all the products we needed in one place,” Moore said. “So, after all the somebody-shoulds, we decided we would.â€
Think sensory-friendly clothing by New York manufacturer, Soft; hand-crafted puzzles; wooden toys; resource materials; learning and therapy tools. The store also sells autism-empowerment T-shirts.
His personal favorite?
The shirt that says, “I heard Einstein was a late talker.â€
Read in Full:Â http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107310365
Debra Gruszecki, K Kaufmann and Mike Perrault • The Desert Sun • August 1, 2010Â
Do you believe in angels?
The Moore family does — so much so, they’ve called on the celestial beings to market Angels for Autism, a 2,000-square-foot retail store in Rio del Plaza in Cathedral City that holds potential to empower and inspire.
Founded by LaVeda and Dean Moore, parents of 9-year-old Evan, the store is a one-stop shopping zone to serve parents, teachers and therapists of special needs children — some 6,500 of whom live in the Coachella Valley.
It offers products in a “stare-free†environment for children with autism and special needs in the areas of sensory integration, socialization, life skills, fine motor skills and therapy.
What prompted the Moores to tap their personal savings to open the store in tough economic times?
“We were for the longest time frustrated that we couldn’t find all the products we needed in one place,” Moore said. “So, after all the somebody-shoulds, we decided we would.â€
Think sensory-friendly clothing by New York manufacturer, Soft; hand-crafted puzzles; wooden toys; resource materials; learning and therapy tools. The store also sells autism-empowerment T-shirts.
His personal favorite?
The shirt that says, “I heard Einstein was a late talker.â€
Read in Full:Â http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107310365
Eight women representing prominent mental diagnoses in the nineteenth century. Image via Wikipedia
By Sandy Gautam
I recently read ‘
Neurodiversity: discovering the extraordinary gifts of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and other brain differences‘ (you can read a mini review here) by Dr. Thomas Armstrong and came away impressed. In the book Dr Armstrong makes a strong case for viewing the traditional disabilities from a differences perspective and to focus on the different strengths and abilities of the neurodiverse people. A recurring theme of this blog has been that autism and schizophrenia/psychosis are opposites on a continuum model as proposed amongst others by Christopher Badcock and Beranard Crespi. Dr Armstrong touches on this model in his chapter on autism, though that not central to his thesis .