Jan
22
 
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on May 14, 2010
A new study confirms an observation that has been noted for millennia – that a simple conversation with mother will calm the nerves of preteen girls.
Researchers discovered the phone call triggers the release of a powerful stress-quelling hormone.
Leslie Seltzer, a University of Wisconsin-Madison biological anthropologist, tested a group of seven- to 12-year-old girls with an impromptu speech and series of math problems in front of a panel of strangers, sending their hearts racing and levels of cortisol – a hormone associated with stress – soaring.
“Facing a challenge like that, being evaluated, raises stress levels for a lot of people,†says Seth Pollak, psychology professor and director of UW-Madison’s Child Emotion Lab.
Once stressed, one third of the girls were comforted in person by their mothers – specifically with hugs, an arm around the shoulders and the like. One third were left to watch an emotionally neutral 75-minute video. The rest were handed a telephone. It was mom on the line, and the effect was dramatic.
“The children who got to interact with their mothers had virtually the same hormonal response, whether they interacted in person or over the phone,†Seltzer says.
The girls’ levels of oxytocin, often called the “love hormone†and strongly associated with emotional bonding, rose significantly and the stress-marking cortisol washed away.
“It was understood that oxytocin release in the context of social bonding usually required physical contact,†Seltzer says. “But it’s clear from these results that a mother’s voice can have the same effect as a hug, even if they’re not standing there.â€
And the reprieve from stress or anxiety is a lasting one.
“It stays well beyond that stressful task,†Pollak says. “By the time the children go home, they’re still enjoying the benefits of this relief and their cortisol levels are still low.â€
The findings – which were published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B – square with a “tend and befriend†theory explaining how stress regulation may differ between males and females.
Confronted with a threat, males may be more likely to choose between fight and flight. A female with offspring in tow or slowed by pregnancy, however, may have to make different choices.
“You might not be able to run with a child or defend yourself without endangering both of you,†Seltzer said.
Instead, Seltzer explained, it might make more sense for a female to create or use a social bond to deal with a stressor – either through touch or soothing vocal communication.
“Apparently this hormone, oxytocin, reduces stress in females after both types of contact, and in doing so may strengthen bonds between individuals,†she said.
Read in Full:Â http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/05/14/mothers-voice-calms-stress/13825.html
 
ScienceDaily (May 13, 2010) — Children with epilepsy often face multiple challenges — not only seizures but learning, cognitive and school difficulties, side effects from medication, and, not surprisingly, social stigma from their peers.
It’s no wonder parents say their children with epilepsy have a substantially worse quality of life than their other, healthy children. But ask a child with epilepsy about his or her life, and the answer? Not so bad.
Reporting in the current online edition of the journal Value in Health, lead study author Dr. Christine Bower Baca, a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar and a clinical instructor in the UCLA Department of Neurology, and her colleagues found that children with epilepsy say their quality of life is comparable to that of their healthy siblings.
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological condition that can negatively impact physical, social and psychological function. The burden of epilepsy is large. Overall, approximately 3 million people in the United States have epilepsy, and for half of this population, the disorder first occurred during childhood.
Approximately 45,000 children under the age of 15 develop epilepsy each year. There are many causes of epilepsy in children, including problems with brain development before birth, lack of oxygen during or following birth, head injuries, tumors, prolonged seizures with fevers, genetics, or infections in the brain.
In the study, researchers assessed 143 children with epilepsy, matching each to a healthy, non-epileptic sibling as a control, and to their parents or guardians. The assessment was done by conducting personal interviews eight to nine years after a child’s initial diagnosis, using the Child Health Questionnaire, a generic and well-established measure with both child and parent versions. The average age of the children with epilepsy when interviewed was 12.
The researchers found that parents’ ratings of their children’s quality of life were significantly lower for their children with epilepsy on 10 of 12 scales measuring such things as behavior, general health, self-esteem and physical function. In contrast, children with epilepsy rated their own quality of life on a par with their siblings.
Why such a difference? One possible explanation, Baca said, is known as the “disability paradox,” the idea that having a chronic disease or a disability does not necessarily mean that a person is unsatisfied with his or her life, despite what others may think.
“In this regard, parental perception of their epileptic child may be distorted because of their perception that they have a child that is ‘sick,'” Baca said. “Such a distortion could lead to an underestimate of the child’s quality of life.”
Also, the concerns of a child with epilepsy may differ from those of a parent.
“Children and parents may draw on different values and perspectives to evaluate quality of life and may not be aware of these different perspectives,” Baca said.
Recognizing both perspectives is important in assessing outcomes in research studies, Baca noted, particularly in clinical trials evaluating anti-epileptic medications, and also in trials measuring outcomes after epilepsy surgery. Additionally, quality-of-life evaluations are an essential part of developing clinical disease-management programs that provide comprehensive treatment and education for children with epilepsy and families. Lastly, Baca said, understanding these potentially different, yet valuable, perspectives is important for developing appropriate support services targeted for children as they make the transition into adulthood.
Other authors on the study included Dr. Barbara G. Vickrey, Ron D. Hays and Stefanie D. Vassar, all of UCLA, and Anne T. Berg of Northern Illinois University. The authors report no conflict of interest.
Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program.
Journal Reference:
- Christine Bower Baca, Barbara G. Vickrey, Ron D. Hays, Stefanie D. Vassar, Anne T. Berg. Differences in Child versus Parent Reports of the Child’s Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy and Healthy Siblings. Value in Health, 2010; DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4733.2010.00732.x
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100513162751.htm
Â
ScienceDaily (May 13, 2010) — Children with epilepsy often face multiple challenges — not only seizures but learning, cognitive and school difficulties, side effects from medication, and, not surprisingly, social stigma from their peers.
It’s no wonder parents say their children with epilepsy have a substantially worse quality of life than their other, healthy children. But ask a child with epilepsy about his or her life, and the answer? Not so bad.
Reporting in the current online edition of the journal Value in Health, lead study author Dr. Christine Bower Baca, a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar and a clinical instructor in the UCLA Department of Neurology, and her colleagues found that children with epilepsy say their quality of life is comparable to that of their healthy siblings.
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological condition that can negatively impact physical, social and psychological function. The burden of epilepsy is large. Overall, approximately 3 million people in the United States have epilepsy, and for half of this population, the disorder first occurred during childhood.
Approximately 45,000 children under the age of 15 develop epilepsy each year. There are many causes of epilepsy in children, including problems with brain development before birth, lack of oxygen during or following birth, head injuries, tumors, prolonged seizures with fevers, genetics, or infections in the brain.
In the study, researchers assessed 143 children with epilepsy, matching each to a healthy, non-epileptic sibling as a control, and to their parents or guardians. The assessment was done by conducting personal interviews eight to nine years after a child’s initial diagnosis, using the Child Health Questionnaire, a generic and well-established measure with both child and parent versions. The average age of the children with epilepsy when interviewed was 12.
The researchers found that parents’ ratings of their children’s quality of life were significantly lower for their children with epilepsy on 10 of 12 scales measuring such things as behavior, general health, self-esteem and physical function. In contrast, children with epilepsy rated their own quality of life on a par with their siblings.
Why such a difference? One possible explanation, Baca said, is known as the “disability paradox,” the idea that having a chronic disease or a disability does not necessarily mean that a person is unsatisfied with his or her life, despite what others may think.
“In this regard, parental perception of their epileptic child may be distorted because of their perception that they have a child that is ‘sick,'” Baca said. “Such a distortion could lead to an underestimate of the child’s quality of life.”
Also, the concerns of a child with epilepsy may differ from those of a parent.
“Children and parents may draw on different values and perspectives to evaluate quality of life and may not be aware of these different perspectives,” Baca said.
Recognizing both perspectives is important in assessing outcomes in research studies, Baca noted, particularly in clinical trials evaluating anti-epileptic medications, and also in trials measuring outcomes after epilepsy surgery. Additionally, quality-of-life evaluations are an essential part of developing clinical disease-management programs that provide comprehensive treatment and education for children with epilepsy and families. Lastly, Baca said, understanding these potentially different, yet valuable, perspectives is important for developing appropriate support services targeted for children as they make the transition into adulthood.
Other authors on the study included Dr. Barbara G. Vickrey, Ron D. Hays and Stefanie D. Vassar, all of UCLA, and Anne T. Berg of Northern Illinois University. The authors report no conflict of interest.
Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program.
Journal Reference:
- Christine Bower Baca, Barbara G. Vickrey, Ron D. Hays, Stefanie D. Vassar, Anne T. Berg. Differences in Child versus Parent Reports of the Child’s Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy and Healthy Siblings. Value in Health, 2010; DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4733.2010.00732.x
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100513162751.htm
 
Thursday, 13 May 2010 06:05 UK
Some learning disability patients in long-stay disability hospitals have been waiting up to 15 years to be resettled, a new report has said.
According to a NI Assembly Public Accounts Committee report, this is despite being assessed as fit to leave and keen to move into the community.
It found that 250 patients were still in hospitals, many of whom were keen to be resettled.
The report examined Muckamore Abbey, Longstone and Lakeview hospitals.
The current target by the Department of Health for resettlement is 2013.
On Thursday, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said helping people with learning disabilities live independent lives in the community “remains a top priority for his department”.
In 2007, the BBC revealed that some patients were being kept in Muckamore Abbey 10 years after their treatment had been completed.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Paul Maskey, chairperson of the committee, said: “As long ago as 1995, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety decided that all long-stay patients with learning disabilities who were cared for in hospital should be offered a better life through resettlement in the community.
“The department’s initial target was to resettle all such patients by 2002.
“However, 15 years after the adoption of the resettlement policy, 250 long-stay patients, many of whom are keen to be resettled and have been assessed as fit, remain hospitalised, and the current target for resettlement is 2013. This is totally unacceptable.”
The committee also found that the majority of those resettled into the community were relocated to nursing homes and residential accommodation.
The committee considered that “moving from one institution to another like this did not provide opportunities for integration within the community”.
The report called on the department to “clearly demonstrate how future placements enhance the life of the patient and encourage integration”.
Commenting on the report, the health minister said his department “will contribute fully to addressing all the recommendations”.
Mr McGimpsey said that “the process of resettlement is a complex one”.
“Many patients have severe learning disabilities and require constant care and attention.
“For others it is essential that they are placed in a community setting which offers them support, security and companionship.”
Source:Â http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8678246.stm
Â
Thursday, 13 May 2010 06:05 UK
Some learning disability patients in long-stay disability hospitals have been waiting up to 15 years to be resettled, a new report has said.
According to a NI Assembly Public Accounts Committee report, this is despite being assessed as fit to leave and keen to move into the community.
It found that 250 patients were still in hospitals, many of whom were keen to be resettled.
The report examined Muckamore Abbey, Longstone and Lakeview hospitals.
The current target by the Department of Health for resettlement is 2013.
On Thursday, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said helping people with learning disabilities live independent lives in the community “remains a top priority for his department”.
In 2007, the BBC revealed that some patients were being kept in Muckamore Abbey 10 years after their treatment had been completed.
Speaking at the launch of the report, Paul Maskey, chairperson of the committee, said: “As long ago as 1995, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety decided that all long-stay patients with learning disabilities who were cared for in hospital should be offered a better life through resettlement in the community.
“The department’s initial target was to resettle all such patients by 2002.
“However, 15 years after the adoption of the resettlement policy, 250 long-stay patients, many of whom are keen to be resettled and have been assessed as fit, remain hospitalised, and the current target for resettlement is 2013. This is totally unacceptable.”
The committee also found that the majority of those resettled into the community were relocated to nursing homes and residential accommodation.
The committee considered that “moving from one institution to another like this did not provide opportunities for integration within the community”.
The report called on the department to “clearly demonstrate how future placements enhance the life of the patient and encourage integration”.
Commenting on the report, the health minister said his department “will contribute fully to addressing all the recommendations”.
Mr McGimpsey said that “the process of resettlement is a complex one”.
“Many patients have severe learning disabilities and require constant care and attention.
“For others it is essential that they are placed in a community setting which offers them support, security and companionship.”
Source:Â http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8678246.stm
 
By Andrew Levy
Created 12:33 PM on 10th May 2010
Ever since his daughter was born with cerebral palsy, Martin Brooks has wished there were an easy way to communicate with her.
For years he and his wife have struggled to understand Mia’s needs by getting her to look at objects or picture cards.
But after buying an iPhone last year, Mr Brooks had an epiphany. Remembering Apple’s adverts that there are ‘apps for everything’, he decided to put the claim to the test.
And when he discovered there was nothing that suited his five-year-old daughter’s specific need, he designed his own app – software for the phone that allows users to perform a specific task.
The result is iComm, which allows Mia, who cannot walk, talk or control her movements, to point out pictures of food, toys, activities and other day-to-day themes on the iPhone screen using her eyes.
Importantly, Mr Brooks and his wife Sarah Phelan, both 42, can upload their own photos so that the system can be easily customised to Mia’s needs and their daughter can feature in the images to aid familiarity.
The couple can also use recordings of their voices to announce what has been selected on screen to complete the personal touch.
The software has been downloaded by more than 1,300 people since it was made available on Apple’s app store in March and Mr Brooks, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, has received messages from parents around the world saying how grateful they are at the freedom of expression it gives their children.
‘It has given her a voice for the first time and allowed us to understand her so much better,’ he said.
‘Mia is cognitively alert but unable to communicate and I was afraid that as she grew she was not going to be able to tell us what she wanted.
‘I had a very strong concept in my head. I wanted to create an iPhone app to take Mia’s eye-pointing to the next level.
‘Mia finds it engaging that she can see pictures of herself doing an activity which gives her a greater sense of choice and loves seeing pictures of her friends and family.
‘Also it’s given us a form of reciprocal communication. Now I can ask her what she has been doing and she can reply. It’s allowed Mia to become much more sociable.
‘Another great thing about the iPhone is that it’s portable, so we can use it when Mia is out and about.’
Mia developed her severe disability after she was deprived of oxygen at birth. Her mother acts as her full-time carer.
Although looking at picture cards and objects allowed her to articulate her needs, the process was slow, inaccurate and frustrating.
….. ‘The application can be used by anyone who wants to communicate but cannot verbalise what they want.’
A basic version of iComm, which also works on the iPad, is free to download from the Apple store. The full version, which is usually £15.99, is currently available for £1.79.
The Apple store contains hundreds of thousands of apps including remote controls for household appliances, GPS devices, live webcams and games.
More information on the iComm and iSpy Phonics can be found at www.miasapps.com
Read in Full:Â http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1276195/Father-creates-iPhone-app-gives-voice-severely-disabled-daughter.htmlÂ
Â
By Andrew Levy
Created 12:33 PM on 10th May 2010
Ever since his daughter was born with cerebral palsy, Martin Brooks has wished there were an easy way to communicate with her.
For years he and his wife have struggled to understand Mia’s needs by getting her to look at objects or picture cards.
But after buying an iPhone last year, Mr Brooks had an epiphany. Remembering Apple’s adverts that there are ‘apps for everything’, he decided to put the claim to the test.
And when he discovered there was nothing that suited his five-year-old daughter’s specific need, he designed his own app – software for the phone that allows users to perform a specific task.
The result is iComm, which allows Mia, who cannot walk, talk or control her movements, to point out pictures of food, toys, activities and other day-to-day themes on the iPhone screen using her eyes.
Importantly, Mr Brooks and his wife Sarah Phelan, both 42, can upload their own photos so that the system can be easily customised to Mia’s needs and their daughter can feature in the images to aid familiarity.
The couple can also use recordings of their voices to announce what has been selected on screen to complete the personal touch.
The software has been downloaded by more than 1,300 people since it was made available on Apple’s app store in March and Mr Brooks, of St Albans, Hertfordshire, has received messages from parents around the world saying how grateful they are at the freedom of expression it gives their children.
‘It has given her a voice for the first time and allowed us to understand her so much better,’ he said.
‘Mia is cognitively alert but unable to communicate and I was afraid that as she grew she was not going to be able to tell us what she wanted.
‘I had a very strong concept in my head. I wanted to create an iPhone app to take Mia’s eye-pointing to the next level.
‘Mia finds it engaging that she can see pictures of herself doing an activity which gives her a greater sense of choice and loves seeing pictures of her friends and family.
‘Also it’s given us a form of reciprocal communication. Now I can ask her what she has been doing and she can reply. It’s allowed Mia to become much more sociable.
‘Another great thing about the iPhone is that it’s portable, so we can use it when Mia is out and about.’
Mia developed her severe disability after she was deprived of oxygen at birth. Her mother acts as her full-time carer.
Although looking at picture cards and objects allowed her to articulate her needs, the process was slow, inaccurate and frustrating.
….. ‘The application can be used by anyone who wants to communicate but cannot verbalise what they want.’
A basic version of iComm, which also works on the iPad, is free to download from the Apple store. The full version, which is usually £15.99, is currently available for £1.79.
The Apple store contains hundreds of thousands of apps including remote controls for household appliances, GPS devices, live webcams and games.
More information on the iComm and iSpy Phonics can be found at www.miasapps.com
Read in Full:Â http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1276195/Father-creates-iPhone-app-gives-voice-severely-disabled-daughter.htmlÂ
 
A severely disabled piano virtuoso has made legal history after the country’s last remaining secret court was opened for the first time.
The Court of Protection, which controls the future of adults incapable of managing their own affairs, appointed the family of Derek Paravicini to look after his welfare and commercial future yesterday.
Mr Paravicini, 30, who is thought be the most advanced autistic musical savant in the country, is blind and suffers from a learning disability. Before yesterday’s court decision the Official Solicitor from the Ministry of Justice had been appointed to look after his affairs, rather than his divorced parents, Nicolas Paravicini and Mary Ann Parker Bowles, the former sister-in-law of the Duchess of Cornwall.
Through Mr Paravicini’s case, media organisations, including The Times, had challenged the secrecy of the Court of Protection. After the partial opening-up last year of the Family Court it was the sole remaining court where hearings were automatically secret. Since being set up in 2007, it has taken control of more than £2.3billion of assets.
Last November Mr Justice Hedley overruled objections from the Government that allowing the media to attend the court’s hearings would be a breach of Mr Paravicini’s right to privacy.
At yesterday’s hearing Mr Justice Hedley called Mr Paravicini a “man of remarkable accomplishment, a musical prodigyâ€. He said that details of Mr Paravicini’s life were already in the public domain and the “interests of the public and media are legitimately engagedâ€.
Giving evidence, the pianist’s father, a 72-year-old retired private banker, said: “Derek’s life is his music. He is very disabled. He expresses himself, fulfils himself through music.â€
Mr Justice Hedley paid tribute to the family’s commitment to Mr Paravicini’s welfare and said that their “independence in the teeth of the ambition of others†would work in their son’s interests. He said that they had already prevented him appearing at an event with political overtones and stopped him appearing on a well-known television show because of misgivings.
Appointing Mr Paravicini’s parents and sister, Elizabeth, 40, as “deputies†responsible for looking after the pianist’s affairs, Mr Justice Hedley said: “They have satisfied me that they were able to withstand the pressures that may come to develop Derek’s commercial career at a pace greater than is actually good for him.â€
Lawyers representing Mr Paravicini had opposed opening up of the Court of Protection, arguing that the media were interested in his private affairs, rather than matters genuinely in the public interest.
The Court of Protection was created under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to deal with the affairs of those who lack the capacity to make their own decisions. Officials from the Office of the Public Guardian are appointed if people do not have a living will or lasting power of attorney handing control of their assets over to family or friends.
Problems often arise, however, when someone without a living will becomes suddenly and unexpectedly mentally impaired. Relatives must then apply to the court and to the Office of the Public Guardian for it to be decided whether they are fit to run that person’s affairs.
In its first 18 months of operation the court received 3,000 complaints.
Source:Â http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article7125910.ece
Â
A severely disabled piano virtuoso has made legal history after the country’s last remaining secret court was opened for the first time.
The Court of Protection, which controls the future of adults incapable of managing their own affairs, appointed the family of Derek Paravicini to look after his welfare and commercial future yesterday.
Mr Paravicini, 30, who is thought be the most advanced autistic musical savant in the country, is blind and suffers from a learning disability. Before yesterday’s court decision the Official Solicitor from the Ministry of Justice had been appointed to look after his affairs, rather than his divorced parents, Nicolas Paravicini and Mary Ann Parker Bowles, the former sister-in-law of the Duchess of Cornwall.
Through Mr Paravicini’s case, media organisations, including The Times, had challenged the secrecy of the Court of Protection. After the partial opening-up last year of the Family Court it was the sole remaining court where hearings were automatically secret. Since being set up in 2007, it has taken control of more than £2.3billion of assets.
Last November Mr Justice Hedley overruled objections from the Government that allowing the media to attend the court’s hearings would be a breach of Mr Paravicini’s right to privacy.
At yesterday’s hearing Mr Justice Hedley called Mr Paravicini a “man of remarkable accomplishment, a musical prodigyâ€. He said that details of Mr Paravicini’s life were already in the public domain and the “interests of the public and media are legitimately engagedâ€.
Giving evidence, the pianist’s father, a 72-year-old retired private banker, said: “Derek’s life is his music. He is very disabled. He expresses himself, fulfils himself through music.â€
Mr Justice Hedley paid tribute to the family’s commitment to Mr Paravicini’s welfare and said that their “independence in the teeth of the ambition of others†would work in their son’s interests. He said that they had already prevented him appearing at an event with political overtones and stopped him appearing on a well-known television show because of misgivings.
Appointing Mr Paravicini’s parents and sister, Elizabeth, 40, as “deputies†responsible for looking after the pianist’s affairs, Mr Justice Hedley said: “They have satisfied me that they were able to withstand the pressures that may come to develop Derek’s commercial career at a pace greater than is actually good for him.â€
Lawyers representing Mr Paravicini had opposed opening up of the Court of Protection, arguing that the media were interested in his private affairs, rather than matters genuinely in the public interest.
The Court of Protection was created under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to deal with the affairs of those who lack the capacity to make their own decisions. Officials from the Office of the Public Guardian are appointed if people do not have a living will or lasting power of attorney handing control of their assets over to family or friends.
Problems often arise, however, when someone without a living will becomes suddenly and unexpectedly mentally impaired. Relatives must then apply to the court and to the Office of the Public Guardian for it to be decided whether they are fit to run that person’s affairs.
In its first 18 months of operation the court received 3,000 complaints.
Source:Â http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article7125910.ece
 
NORTH ADAMS — A veteran special education teacher has penned a book she hopes will help teachers and students better understand children diagnosed with autism and autism spectrum disorders.
Sullivan Elementary School third-grade teacher Anna Saldo-Burke, who has worked with special education students inside and outside of the regular classroom for 27 years, said the book, “Green Mittens Covered Her Ears: A Look at Autism,” is based on her lifelong friendship with autistic Williamstown artist Jessica Park. Now in her 50s, Park is nationally known for her brightly-colored architectural renderings.
“At the beginning of each school year, I read a book about tolerance and not taking people at face value to my class to set the tone for the year,” Saldo-Burke said Wednesday during an interview at Sullivan. “But I’ve never had a book about this subject. Autism is on the rise, and children are having more and more exposure to children with the diagnosis.”
Autism is a developmental disability affecting verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction, that varies in intensity with each individual.
“What is different about autism is that it’s not visibly evident as other disabilities, such as needing to use a wheelchair. These children look ‘normal,’ so their abnormal behaviors and coping strategies are more evident,” she said. “We as a society must look beyond the obvious.
There are a whole realm of reasons behind the things these children do. Many of them will rock — not just for the sake of repetition, but because they need the motion to help calm them down.”
Many children with the diagnosis of autism or autism spectrum disorder often have sensory sensitivity issues, she said.
“Sometimes the child might look like they’re ignoring you, but in fact they’re not even hearing you,” Saldo-Burke said. “Other times they need stimulation to keep them focused. It’s very individualized. As a teacher, my goal is for all of my students to succeed. Sometimes that requires a teacher to look beyond the obvious and find that a disability can translate into success in another area.”
Saldo-Burke and her twin sister, Diane, first met Park as children. Over the years, they would interact with her at school — sharing classroom space in an art room and eventually becoming tutors and summer companions.
“When Jessica’s parents went to the shore for the summer, we would go with them as companions,” she said.
With the belief that Park’s disability wasn’t an excuse, the sisters pushed her to let go of some of her rituals, including covering her ears with her hands, rocking in doorways, avoiding saying her own name and compulsively sifting through “plastics” that she kept in a kitchen pot.
“People with disabilities have to adjust — they still have to do certain things that we have to do, but we have to help them,” she said. “Jessica had a positive reward system for doing certain things. We just added a negative point system for behaviors that needed to change. We were young and quite naive at the time. We didn’t know what we were doing was going to help Jessica in the way it did. We didn’t know what we were doing was desensitizing her — we had no sense of failure. It just made sense to us.”
Since then, Saldo-Burke has developed vocational and life skills programs for children with Downs syndrome and autism within the North Adams Public Schools, eventually taking an elementary school teaching position after laws changed and special education students were returned to the regular classrooms.
“I wrote this book for youth, but believe it has a wide appeal,” she said. “I think it will help many adults, including teaching students, who have very limited exposure to these types of students. I think its also very helpful for families who have just received a diagnosis.”
“Green Mittens Covered Her Ears: A Look At Autism” is available at Papyri Books in North Adams, Water Street Books in Williamstown, the Bookloft in Great Barrington, Book House in Albany, N.Y., and online at Amazon.com.
For more information, visit www.lookatautism.com.
To reach Jennifer Huberdeau,
e-mail jhuberdeau@thetranscript.com.