Janis Sharp will talk about her son Gary McKinnon’s ongoing extradition case.

07 October 2009 05:00 AM

The mother of Scottish computer hacker Gary McKinnon will address the Conservative Party conference on Wednesday about her son’s fight against extradition to the Unites States.

In a debate entitled ‘British Justice: Working for disabled people? Discussing the Gary McKinnon case and beyond’, Janis Sharp will be amongst the speakers.

Mr McKinnon, 43, who was born in Glasgow but lives in north London, suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. He is wanted for trial in the US on charges of hacking into the country’s military networks.

He was arrested in 2002 after American prosecutors accused him of hacking into computer systems of the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Defence and Nasa, as well as sabotaging vital American military systems after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

They say his actions caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage. Mr McKinnon says that his motivation for his unauthorised use of sensitive networks was to find information on UFOs held by the US government, and his supporters have said it was just an obsession that went too far.

Read in Full: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/128429-mother-of-scots-computer-hacker-to-speak-at-tory-conference/

   

Lincoln and his depressions

His unremitting despair and constant failure steeled his character.

by John McManamy

The year is 1860. In a makeshift meeting hall, the Illinois delegation to the approaching Republican Convention is meeting to consider which of their own to back as a favorite son for the Presidential nomination. There is no clear-cut favorite. Moreover, it’s widely acknowledged the choice will be an empty gesture. The nomination is virtually a done deal. William Seward of New York, the party’s leading light, has nearly all the delegates he needs for a first ballot victory.

But then something completely unexpected happens. Abraham Lincoln is introduced. A distant relation enters carrying two split log rails. From them hangs a banner:

Abraham Lincoln
The Rail Candidate

The crowd goes wild. The hall shakes so much that the canvass roof flies off the building. The image of a humble rail-splitter is all this group of delegates needs to give Lincoln its enthusiastic backing. The dynamics of the nomination has completely changed. Illinois’ freshly-minted favorite son is on his way to becoming a serious contender.

The meeting breaks up the next day. In the nearly empty hall, a man sits alone, elbows bent, hands pressed to his face. He confides to someone who approaches him, “I’m not feeling too well.” The man is Abraham Lincoln. He is battling a crushing depression.

More…

Copyright 2009 John McManamy

Free online depression screening effective in connecting at risk people with treatment resources

Screening for Mental Health, Inc., the leading U.S. nonprofit provider of online and in-person mental health screening programs, today released results from a follow-up study of participants in the 2008 National Depression Screening Day® (NDSD) online program.

The study found that over half of participants sought depression treatment in the three months following their initial screening. NDSD, the nation’s oldest voluntary, community-based screening program for depression and related disorders, provides individuals with the opportunity to complete a validated screening questionnaire, receive educational information about depression, and obtain a recommendation and referral for further evaluation if warranted.

“The results of this study are very encouraging as they reinforce the effectiveness of anonymous, web-based screening programs in connecting individuals at risk for depression with treatment resources,” said Douglas G. Jacobs, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and founder of Screening for Mental Health, Inc. “Early detection of mental health disorders such as depression greatly increases the chances that an individual will receive the appropriate treatment and experience a better quality of life.”

The study was conducted by Robert Aseltine, PhD, Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Community Health and Director of the Institute for Public Health Research at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr Aseltine surveyed 322 participants who completed the depression screening tool online between October and December of 2008 and sought to evaluate the success of online screenings in leading individuals into treatment. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, nearly two thirds of people suffering from depression do not seek help, but the NDSD survey suggests that confidential online screenings, which are highly accessible and nonthreatening to users, may help to improve these statistics.

Findings from the survey include:

• 55% of participants sought depression treatment within three months of screening.
• 31% of these had never previously been treated for depression.
• Of those seeking treatment, 52% received both counseling and medication, 28% received medication only, and 13% received counseling only.
• Over one third of participants with a likelihood of depression said that medication had helped “a lot.”
• 55% of those who initially scored “Very Likely for Depression”-the highest possible score range in the NDSD screening-were no longer in that range at follow up.
• 46% of those who initially scored “Likely for Depression” were in the “Unlikely for Depression” range at follow up.

In recognition of National Depression Screening Day on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 community organizations, primary care providers, colleges and military installations throughout the nation will offer free, anonymous mental health screenings to educate members of the public on the symptoms of depression and the appropriate course of action to take. Individuals will have the opportunity to complete a brief questionnaire, and speak with a health care professional regarding their personal situations. In addition to the in-person events, members of the public can also take the screening online at http://www.MentalHealthScreening.org.

“The goal of NDSD is to reach that portion of the population with depression who are not seeking help,” said Jacobs. “We have found these questionnaires and screenings to be a critical first step in educating individuals on how to seek help themselves or help loved ones who may be struggling with depression by recognizing certain behaviors.“ 

 

A lot of people ask me how I manage to keep a job when I have Asperger syndrome. So I’m doing a series this week on the topic, because it’s true that most people with Asperger’s are not doing well at work. The work place rewards social skills, and people with Asperger’s have a social skill disorder.

I will never have great social skills, but I make them better by ensuring that I’m in my best social environment for work. For most people with Asperger’s, inadequate social skills are exacerbated by sensory integration disorder, which is a tendency to be overwhelmed by outside stimuli. This frequently overwhelmed feeling makes one unable to concentrate on social skills.

Here are the ways I compensate for sensory integration disorder so that I can focus on having social skills that will make people want to work with me.

Read in Full:  http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/09/30/asperger-syndrome-in-the-office-how-i-deal-with-sensory-integration-dysfunction/

 

Thursday, October 1, 2009

A 14-year-old Regina native, now living in Ontario, is earning recognition for his efforts in dispelling myths about autism, a general term for neurological disorders that can impair development.

Lewis Schofield is a Grade 9 student in Peterborough, where Trent University is honouring him with a Community Leader Award for Youth.

Schofield is often online, using blogs, artwork, videos and podcasts, providing information about his health issues including Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. He also participates in a Family Autism Forum on Yahoo.

“I was just doing what I always do,” Schofield said in an interview with CBC News. “I always do my best. It’s just how I was raised.”

“He was very surprised and very shocked that he had been nominated, never mind had actually won this honour,” Elyse Bruce, Schofield’s mother, told CBC news.

She said her son’s interest in technology led to him sharing his experiences, helping to educate people about the realities of autism.

“I just want them to know the facts instead of all this gibberish,” Schofield added.

In addition to living with Asperger’s Syndrome, Schofield was recently diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a life threatening neuromuscular disorder, for which there is no cure. MG, as it is known, is a rare and complex form of muscular dystrophy.

“I want to give other people hope through knowledge,” Schofield said about his efforts to educate people.

Schofield will be honoured by Trent at a ceremony on campus on Oct. 26.

Source:   http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/10/01/sk-schofield-autism-youth-leadership.html

Pat LaDouceur, Ph.D.

A dance teacher told me once that she could see a couple’s entire relationship on the dance floor. When someone’s toes got stepped on (and they did – we were all beginners) – she could see how how some people blamed their partner, while others apologized and let it go. Some stopped the lessons before they got to be good at it, while others had fun learning and adjusting to how their partners moved.

“Every Relationship is a Dance”

Every relationship is a dance. In the beginning, it can be easy to move to the music with your partner. But over time, things change. Maybe it’s a simple misunderstanding, and one of you feels hurt. Perhaps the change comes from something that you’ve been hoping for — a child, or a promotion. Or it could come from a major challenge, like an illness or a job loss. Wherever it comes from, something happens, and the music changes. You and your partner step on each others toes. Changes, enjoyable and difficult, are a part of life and of every couple’s relationship. But how you handle them makes the difference between a relationship that comes apart…or grows stronger.

Sue Johnson, in her book “Hold Me Tight,” says that humans are wired to need emotional connection. Love, she argues, is “the continual search for a basic, secure connection with someone else.” Soldiers, she points out, are sent into war with a buddy. Research shows that cancer patients who join a support group have better survival rates. People in happy marriages are more resistant to illness and are more healthyoverall than people in distressed relationships.

Fight or Flight in Relationships

Humans seem to be wired for connection, and we react quickly and deeply to the threat of its loss. Loss of connection with someone we love sends an alarm straight to the amygdala, the so-called “fear center” of our brain. Our “fight or flight” response kicks into gear before we are aware of what really happened. Johnson explains that arguments are really protests against this loss, whether it is real or perceived. Whether we get angry (fight) or shut down (flight), she argues, underneath we are really scared.

When things aren’t going so well, it helps to take a few minutes to understand what’s going on. When you feel angry, are you also sad, lonely, or scared? When you feel like leaving the room, is it the only way you can find to calm things down?

Dance Steps that Build Connection

Here are some steps – some rituals of connection — that will help you get through those difficult moments:

1. 1.  Be honest. Take a moment to sort through your feelings. Let your partner know something about how you feel and what you need.
2. 2.  Respond. Recognize that it’s often hard to be honest about feelings. When your partner reaches out, take a moment to understand and respond to your partner’s mood.
3. 3.  Touch. Holding hands, hugging, and kissing build connection. A hand on your partner’s arm feels comforting. Sitting on the sofa talking or reading can help you relax together. Take time — often — to make physical contact.
4. 4.  Build rituals of connection into your daily life. Spend time with each other before you part in the morning, when you come together again in the evening, and before you go to sleep. Find time to share your day with each other, every day. Plan a weekly date, or a quarterly vacation.

Life is full of challenges, changes in the music, which can take a toll on your relationship. But by being responsive to your partner, by learning steps that build connection, you can create a new dance.

As I work with couples in my practice, I still think about what my dance teacher said, years ago, about relationships. Those lessons from the dance floor have helped me understand how relationships work.

Source:   http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=31245&cn=289

Article Date: 01 Oct 2009 – 5:00 PDT

The brain is a complex system made of billions of neurons and thousands of connections that relate to every human feeling, including one of the strongest emotions, fear. Most neurological fear studies have been rooted in fear-conditioning experiments. Now, University of Missouri researchers have started using computational models of the brain, making it easier to study the brain’s connections. Guoshi Li, an electrical and computer engineering doctoral student, has discovered new evidence on how the brain reacts to fear, including important findings that could help victims of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Computational models make it much easier to study the brain because they can effectively integrate different types of information related to a problem into a computational framework and analyze possible neural mechanisms from a systems perspective. We simulate activity and test a variety of “what if” scenarios without having to use human subjects in a rapid and inexpensive way,” Li said.

From previous experiments, scientists have found that fear can subside when overcome with fear extinction memory, but it is not permanently lost. Fear extinction is a process in which a conditioned response to a stimulant that produces fear gradually diminishes over time as subjects, such as rats in auditory fear experiments, learn to disassociate a response from a stimulus. One theory has concluded that fear extinction memory deletes fear memory, and another concluded that fear memory is not lost, but is inhibited by extinction memory as fear can recover with the passage of time after extinction.

Read in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165875.php

Abstract: PTSD is associated with an excess of inflammatory immune activities

Gill JM, Saligan L, Woods S, Page G.

National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Nursing Research, Bethesda, Maryland; University of Akron, School of Nursing, Akron, Ohio; Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

PURPOSE. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with inflammatory-related medical conditions. This review examines studies of immune function in individuals with PTSD to determine if excessive inflammation is associated with PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS. Current studies suggest an excess of inflammatory actions of the immune system in individuals with chronic PTSD. High levels of inflammatory cytokines have also been linked to PTSD vulnerability in traumatized individuals. There is also evidence that excessive inflammation is in part due to insufficient regulation by cortisol.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. An excess of inflammatory immune activity may contribute to health declines in individuals with PTSD, and treating PTSD symptoms may reduce these risks.

Source… © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Iraq veterans developing PTSD at twice the expected rate

Barry List – INFORMS

The Veterans’ Administration should expect a high volume of Iraq veterans seeking treatment of post traumatic stress disorder, with researchers anticipating that the rate among armed forces will be as high as 35%, according to the Management Insights feature in the current issue of Management Science, the flagship journal of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS®).

The tempo of deployment cycles in the Iraq War is higher than for any war since World War II, Michael P. Atkinson of the Naval Postgraduate School and Adam Guetz and Lawrence M. Wein of Stanford University write, and military survey data suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among service members.

To assure ample mental health resources to care for returning troops, the authors argue that it is important for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to forecast the timing and number of new PTSD cases over the coming years, which is complicated by the fact that many cases have delayed onset.

The authors combine a dynamic mathematical operations research model with deployment data and PTSD data from the Iraq War, and estimate that the PTSD rate among Iraq War veterans will be approximately 35%, which is roughly double the rate from the raw survey data. This doubling is due to the time lag between the PTSD-generating event and the onset of symptoms and to the fact that many surveyed troops will do subsequent deployments.

Consequently, the authors write, the VA system, which is already experiencing significant delays for PTSD treatment provision, urgently needs to ramp up its mental health resource capacity.

Atkinson MP, Guetz A, Wein LM. A Dynamic Model for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among U.S. Troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Management Serv. 2009 Sept;55(9):1454-1468   [Abstract ()]

Abstract: Low cerebrospinal fluid neuropeptide y concentrations in PTSD

Sah R, Ekhator NN, Strawn JR, Sallee FR, Baker DG, Horn PS, Geracioti TD Jr.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, California; Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California

Background: Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a peptide neurotransmitter that regulates stress and anxiety, has been proposed to be a stress resilience factor in humans. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related anxiety disorder. We hypothesized that central nervous system NPY is dysregulated in PTSD and sought to redress the absence of central NPY data in the disorder.

Methods: We determined morning NPY concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 10 male subjects with chronic combat-related PTSD and from 13 healthy men. Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity was measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

Results: As compared with the normal comparison subjects, PTSD patients had significantly lower concentrations of CSF neuropeptide Y (mean CSF NPY was 360.0 ± 17.7 pg/mL in control subjects but only 233.6 ± 28.7 pg/mL in PTSD patients [p = .0008]). Adjustments for age and body mass index (BMI) still revealed a highly significant reduction in CSF NPY in the PTSD group (p = .003).

Conclusions: Men with combat-related PTSD have low CSF concentrations of the putative resiliency hormone NPY, possibly related to the disorder or to extreme stress exposure per se.

Source…

© 2009 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cognitive changes linked to PTSD in war veterans

Soldiers who have intense or traumatic combat experiences exhibit evidence of cognitive changes

JAMA

In a study of whether neuropsychological changes occur following deployment to war zones, post-traumatic stress disorder appeared to be associated with attention deficits in soldiers one year after returning from Iraq, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. In addition, intense combat experiences were associated with faster reaction times regardless of how recently a soldier was deployed.

Previous research has suggested that as soldiers face prolonged stressful and life-threatening situations, changes in their brains direct their cognitive (thinking, learning and memory) resources toward survival, according to background information in the article. For instance, they may respond to dangerous events more quickly while losing the ability to pay attention, learn and remember events not related to combat. “However, it remains unknown whether deployment-related neuropsychological changes persist over time, are associated with stress-related factors (e.g., combat intensity, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms and depressive reactions) or are better accounted for by demographic and contextual variables,” the authors write.

Brian P. Marx, PhD, of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues studied 268 male and female regular active-duty soldiers who served between 2003 and 2006. All the soldiers were given neuropsychological tests measuring response time, attention and memory before and after deployment. A group of 164 was assessed both immediately and one year following their return, whereas a second group of 104 returned more recently and were assessed before deployment and then a median (midpoint) of 122 days after returning. The assessments also documented demographic and military information, risk factors for neuropsychological disorders and combat intensity and emotional distress.

“Greater PTSD symptoms were associated with poorer attention in soldiers tested at one-year follow-up but not in recently returned soldiers,” the authors write. “Greater combat intensity was associated with enhanced reaction time, irrespective of time since return.” Neither depression nor risk-related variables such as alcohol use and head injury were associated with changes in neuropsychological functioning.

“Recent findings reveal notably high rates of poor mental health outcomes among U.S. service members upon return from Iraq deployment,” the authors write. “Our findings additionally highlight the neuropsychological consequences of chronic PTSD symptoms. Although neuropsychological changes were not profound and, for reaction time, can be construed as desirable in the short term, their significance lies in the demonstration that psychiatric symptoms often reflect more extensive biological changes, including those affecting brain functioning.“

“A growing literature demonstrates the significant impact of prolonged and repetitive stress on health factors (e.g., immune functioning, cardiovascular disease and other systemic medical illnesses) that can be traced to the biological stress response. Thus, subtle cognitive changes (positive or negative) associated with combat exposure or PTSD may represent a warning sign relevant to long-term health,” they add.

This work was supported by U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Veterans Affairs Clinical Sciences Research and Development awards. This work was also supported in part by resources provided by the South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center and U.S. Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine.

Marx BP, Brailey K, Proctor SP, et al. Association of Time Since Deployment, Combat Intensity, and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms With Neuropsychological Outcomes Following Iraq War Deployment. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009;66(9):996-1004 [Abstract]

Doctor eyes link between PTSD, alcoholism

McClatchy-Tribune Information Services — A Yale University physician is attending the Military Health Research Forum in Kansas City, Mo., this week to present her work helping veterans who suffer from both post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism.

More…

Copyright (c) 2009, New Haven Register, Conn.

‘Brain profiling’ may predict post trauma suicidality

Breakthrough predictive tool used to detect at-risk combat soldiers

George Hunka

According to a recent Washington Post report, approximately 20% of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are psychologically damaged. Among them are a substantial number with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the high rate of suicide among PTSD sufferers has become unacceptable to Army commanders and the soldiers’ families.

Thanks to new research from Tel Aviv University published in the August issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, however, doctors may now be able to forecast a soldier’s chances of falling prey to PTSD, with the chance of intervening to prevent military-related suicides.

Prof Talma Hendler of TAU’s Department of Psychology and Psychiatry and the founding director of the Tel Aviv Functional Brain Center and colleagues have developed a new predictive tool for detecting at-risk soldiers. The tool will permit clinicians to diagnose and treat these soldiers immediately before the stressors of combat lead to chronic psychological problems. Studying a group of 50 Israeli soldiers — trained medics who experienced extreme stress in live combat zones — Prof Hendler and her graduate student Roee Admon in collaboration with Col. Dr Gad Lubin from the Israel Defense Forces were able to predict which soldiers would develop significant increases in stress symptoms such as mood decline, intrusive thoughts, and sleep disturbance.

Prof Hendler’s research shows functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be used to forecast which soldiers might be vulnerable to stress psychopathology in the future. The non-invasive imaging method records the brain activity of military personnel before they enter active duty. Using this baseline as a reference, the researchers can predict which soldier is more prone to exhibit after exposure combat-related stress symptoms — symptoms that can trigger PTSD or major depression.

The TAU researchers measured the levels of “stress symptoms” twice: first when the soldiers were drafted, then again a year-and-a-half later, during their active duty in combat units. The soldiers were also asked a series of questions evaluating their experience in the army. With this data, researchers developed predictive brain measurements for whether or not a soldier would develop stress.

Having such an early biological marker, says Prof Hendler, means that diagnosis and treatment can begin immediately following exposure to situational trauma. It is the first fMRI-based study to measure brain activation under stress over a long period of time with respect to prior to stress.

“Looking at the part of the brain called the amygdala, we were able to predict how many stress symptoms of PTSD an individual soldier would develop,” says Prof Hendler. She notes that other brain activity was modified by the stress giving indications of the appropriate intensity and approach of treatment after the stress and trauma set in. Prof Hendler is currently planning a larger study in this direction.

While Prof Hendler doesn’t believe that the fMRI should be used prejudicially to weed soldiers from certain units, she says that it does give specialists a new set of clues as to how to treat soldiers early and effectively, decreasing the rates of military suicide. This field of science is applied in a growing specialty known as “personalized medicine.”

“This tool can help provide tailored therapy to the afflicted and at a very early stage could identify the extreme cases that might otherwise go unnoticed,” says Prof Hendler.

Admon R, Lubin G, Stern O, et al. Human vulnerability to stress depends on amygdala’s predisposition and hippocampal plasticity Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Aug 18;106(33):14120-5 [Abstract]

 
HEADLINES

“Police ignored tormented mother and daughter”:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090918/tuk-cops-ignored-tormented-mum-and-daugh-45dbed5.html

“Police and social services under fire over failure to protect mother who killed herself and disabled daughter”:

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“Trial set for father charged in son’s slaying”:

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2009/09/30/100109_3a_Allen_Grabe_folo.html

“Medical Mistake: Teen dies from medication error, Seattle Children’s Hospital admits mistake”:

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-092809-medication,0,5440437.story?track=rss

“Family ‘abandoned’ before tragedy”:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Lack+resources+autistic+murder+suicide+friend/2047622/story.html

“Death leaves workers rattled”:

http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/09/29/11180751-sun.html

“Authorities: 7-year-old autistic girl brutally raped”:

http://www.hbindependent.com/articles/2009/09/21/top_stories/hbi-autistic082709.txt

“Sexual assault suspect pleads not guilty”:

http://www.hbindependent.com/articles/2009/09/21/top_stories/hbi-flores091709.txt

“Trial opens in alleged sex abuse of autistic boy”:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/trial-opens-in-alleged-sex-abuse-of-autistic-boy-1.1465946

“Beaten, robbed, a victim of hate”:

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“Eagan woman charged with stealing $300,000 from vulnerable adult”:

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“Autistic man languishing in prison”:

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“Poetic autism film divides campaigners”:

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“Britain’s Erin Brockovich cleared of misconduct charge and vows to continue fighting”:

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“Dr. Leon Eisenberg, Pioneer in Autism Studies, dies at 87”:

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RESEARCH & HEALTH

“NYTimes: Dr. Leon Eisenberger, Pioneer in Autism Studies, Dies at 87”:

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http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090927/LIFE/909270306

“Latest Studies: Managing Depression in Pregnancy, Valdoxan, US Suicide Trends & Online Screening Interventions & More”:

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

“Latest Stress & Anxiety Studies: Adolescent Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Emotional Eating, Social Anxiety Disorder, Naturopathy & More”:

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

“Special Report: What Happens when Stress Doesn’t Go Away?”:

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

“Dealing with Stress and Anxiety? Take a walk in the park”:

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

“Avoidant Personality Disorder and Social Phobia”:

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

“Treatment center helps people unplug from the computer”:

http://www.modbee.com/business/story/875977.html

The Brain Book “Why women cry more than men, why horror films are scary, and why pain is all in the mind …”:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1216768/Why-women-men-horror-films-scary-pain-really-mind-.html

“Virtual Hospital”:

http://www.uihealthcare.com/vh/

EDUCATION

“Seclusion and Aversive methods are harmful to Special Needs kids”:

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

“Striking a student is never acceptable/Abuse, neglect claims not reported at 2 Miami schools”:

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

“An all-inclusive education”:

http://www.educationbusinessuk.net/content/view/1213/3/

“Bullied boy given stop sign”:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26080747-952,00.html

“Hailey’s Comets: The pupils heading Down Under for the race of a lifetime”:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1216438/Haileys-Comets-The-pupils-heading-Down-Under-race-lifetime.html?ITO=1490

“Special needs system shake-up to improve support of pupils”:

http://u.tv/News/Special-needs-system-shake-up-to-improve-support-of-pupils/4d96027f-5039-4d9b-985d-ebf935ade4a4

“Curriculum – A 21st-century approach to teaching autistic students”:

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/news-by-subject/curriculum/?i=60490%3b_hbguid=53bd422e-6390-4fb6-9377-f7373100cee1

India “Using technology for special learning”:

http://www.thehindu.com/2009/09/21/stories/2009092151190200.htm

“Classroom Behavior: Why being good is so hard”:

http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/1756045/classroom_behavior_why_being_good_is_so_hard/

“Plans to move pupils at school facing axe”:

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news2/Plans-to-move-pupils-at.5664961.jp

Life Skills “Kitchen facility to help autistic students”:

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/4649670.Kitchen_facility_to_help_students_with_autism/?ref=rss

“Parents’ fears over home education plans”:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/default/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED16%20Sep%202009%2018%3A25%3A33%3A010

“Cluster, inclusion or homeschooling: Education for children with special needs”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-23757-Broward-County-Special-Needs-Parents-Examiner~y2009m9d21-Cluster-Inclusion-or-Homeschooling-Educaton-for-children-with-special-needs

“Should homeschoolers get the swine flu vaccine?”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-22926-Phoenix-Homeschooling-Examiner~y2009m9d17-Flu-Vaccine

“Continuing education opportunities for homeschoolers include some great freebies”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-22926-Phoenix-Homeschooling-Examiner~y2009m9d18-Continuing-education-opportunities-for-homeschoolers-include-some-great-freebies

EMPLOYMENT

“Thorkil Sonne: Recruit Autistics”:

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/17-10/ff_smartlist_sonne

“Job Place and Ticket To Work Program”:

http://baytownsun.com/story/47499

“Men with Mops employ autistic adults”:

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

“The right person for the job”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/sep/16/public-service-initiatives-disadvantaged-groups

“New Americans with Disbilities Act Rules mean big changes for employers(Requires free registration)”:

http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?article_id=86648&lk=1

“Tenders for the Provision of Specialist Short Break Services for Children and Young People with Severe Challenging Behaviour and Learning Disabilities/Autism in the City of Southampton”:

http://www.cypnow.co.uk/Tenders/Article/73649/tenders-provision-specialist-short-break-services-children-young-people-severe-challenging-behaviour-learning-disabilities-autism-city-southampton/

“Creative Support Ltd”:

http://www.creativesupport.co.uk/

“Autelligent Laboratories

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

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

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

http://www.autlabs.com/

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

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

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

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

http://www.auties.org/

“Prospects”:

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

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

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

“Current job vacancies within the NAS”:

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

For further employment information, please view”:

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

GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST

Chris Goodchild “Meeting my father was a shock”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8274357.stm

Kenneth Hall “A World of Difference”:

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

“From lost to found”:

http://theworldlink.com/articles/2009/09/26/news/doc4abdb55e68d95214928316.txt

“We live in denial if we turn a blind eye to autistics”:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/22/focus/4757593&sec=focus

“I’ve got Asperger syndrome – and I’m 47-years-old”:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1214645/Ive-got-Asperger-syndrome–Im-47-years-old.html

“Diagnosis difficulties: Leyton mother speaks out”:

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

“Housing Options: Building Support”:

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

“Group looks to offer lifelong care”:

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090916/NEWS01/909170310/1055/NEWS/Group%20looks%20to%20offer%20lifelong%20care

“How these guys helped my autistic child learn to talk”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-18125-Charlotte-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2009m9d21-How-these-guys-helped-my-autistic-child-learn-to-talk

“A safe haven for children with Asperger’s syndrome”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/sep/15/support-children-aspergers-syndrome

“Radio 2 DJ Ken Bruce opens his heart about raising autistic son”:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/showbiz-news/2009/09/07/radio-2-dj-ken-bruce-opens-his-heart-about-raising-son-with-autism-86908-21653987/

“A match made in heaven for Jon”:

http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/news/match-heaven-Jon/article-1370517-detail/article.html

“Bricks from James May’s Lego house to be salvaged”:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/09/24/bricks-from-james-may-s-lego-house-to-be-salvaged-115875-21698034/

Assistance Dogs “Organizations that can help”:

http://www.courant.com/business/custom/consumer/hc-servicedogslist0920.artsep20,0,5744462.story

“The Novelty Warehouse: Sensory Toy Shop”:

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

“LEGO® NAS charity calendar – on sale now”

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1673&a=20504

TURKEY

Turkish Flag by Night 

“Todev”

http://www.todev.org/

Istanbul – Birds in Flight 

TOHUM Türkiye Otizm Erken Tani ve Egitim Vakfi
Inönü Cad
Devres Han 96/3
Gümüssuyu/Taksim/Istanbul
TURKEY
Tel: (+90) (212) 244 7500
Fax:(+90) (212) 244 7504
Website: http://www.tohumotizm.org.tr/tohum/
e-mail: nurhayat.guven@tohumotizm.org.tr

The Ortakoy Mosque, Istanbul 

Türkiye Otistiklere Destek ve Egitim Vakfi (TODEV)
Erenköy Istasyon Cad. no 54
Kat 2, Daire 8
Erenk̦y Р81070 Istanbul
TURKEY
tel: +90 (0)216 363 8372/357 2623
fax: +90 (0)216 348 4432

Leander’s Tower: This is a small and attractive tower built on an islet at the entrance to the Bosphorus. It is one of the symbols of Istanbul. Used in the past as a watchtower and a lighthouse, it has been preserved in its 19th Century appearance.

Autistic Children Families Association
Nadia Aga Skoka No. 26
81060 Goztepe, Istanbul
TURKEY

Colourful Grand Bazaar Market, Istanbul 

Ilgi Society for the Protection of Autistic Children
17 Sokak, No. 47/2
Bahcelievler
Ankara
TURKEY
tel: 90-312 221 0694
fax: 90-312 212 1996
(Mr. M. Hilmi Angin)

Spice Shop of Istanbul 

Otizme Sevgiyle Blinicli Hizmet
Moda Dr. Esat Isik
Caddesi 116
Kadikoy-Istanbul
TURKEY
tel: 90-216-418-0395
fax: 90-216-302-5899

Exotic Sweets 

Turkish Autistic Society
Saf Fet Rrona Sk. 7/3
Kizlitoprak, 81040
Istanbul
TURKEY

The Mausoleum of Ataturk(Turkey’s Founder, First President & Leader in Turkish War of Independence) in Ankara.

“Turkish Information, History & Facts”

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_turkey.html

Cappadocia www.great-adventures.com/destinations/turkey/cappadocia.html 

“Istanbul(Part of The Places of a Lifetime Series):

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

Architecture: Istanbul 

“WorldWise Quiz: Istanbul”:

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

Sunset on Eminonu, Istanbul.  Eminönü is a district of Istanbul in Turkey. This is the heart of the walled city of Constantine, the focus of a history of incredible richness. Eminönü covers the point on which the Byzantine capital was built. The Galata Bridge crosses the Golden Horn into Eminönü and the mouth of the Bosphorus opens into the Marmara Sea. Wiki

“Best of Istanbul”:

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

Making “Lavash” Bread in an Eastern Turkey Village, baked in an underground oven. Traditionally, it is the honour and the privilege of the eldest woman of the family (the grandmother, here) to make the bread, meaning that she is still in charge of her household.

“Istanbul: Daily Photo”:

http://www.istanbuldaily.blogspot.com/

Galata Tower was made by the Genovese when the Italians had started to gain more power in Constantinopolis, during the Byzantine Era. Later they started to govern trade. This tower was built by the Genovese around the year 1345.
Today it has a restaurant on the top of the tower providing a 360 degree wonderful view. 

Baglama – Turkish Folk Music Instrument 

ADD/ADHD

“Big drop in WA kids taking ADHD medication”:

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/6098847/big-drop-in-wa-kids-taking-adhd-medication/

“ADHD on the College Campus”:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/28/adhd-on-the-college-campus/8633.html

“ADHD drug abuse”:

http://www.centralillinoisnewscenter.com/news/local/61225732.html

“Phoenix ADHD Project offers vital lifeline”:

http://www.colerainetimes.co.uk/news/Phoenix-ADHD-Project-offers-39vital.5667473.jp

“Developmental Psychologists hold 2009 Annual Conference”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163880.php

“Alterations in brain dopamine pathway appears to be associated with certain symptoms of ADHD”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163864.php

“Results of Saskatchewan study on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”:

http://www.canada.com/health/Results+Saskatchewan+study+attention+deficit+hyperactivity+disorder+ADHD/2001632/story.html

“Why ADHD kids have trouble doing homework: No payoff”:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/09/why-adhd-kids-have-trouble-doing-homework-no-payoff/

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

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

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

http://www.adders.org/

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

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

“ADDA”:

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

“hi2u ADHD Pages”:

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

“CHADD”:

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

SPORT

“Three brothers under 10 run the Mini Great North Run for TreeHouse”:

http://www.24dash.com/news/Communities/2009-09-18-Three-brothers-under-10-run-the-Mini-Great-North-Run-for-TreeHouse

NAS “Virgin London Marathon 2010 – applications now open”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/nas_virgin_london_marathon_2010__applications_now_open.htm

“10-kilometre runs”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1816

“Trek the Great Wall of China – 9-18 October 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2356

“Trek to Everest Base Camp- 5-21 November 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2354

“Just Bike – Wessex and the Ridgeway – 3 October 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2389

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

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

“Cycle Cuba – 14-22 March 2010”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2357

“Sky Diving”:

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

MUSIC

“Sunnyvale woman from renowned family teaches classical Indian singing to students, young and old”:

http://www.mercurynews.com/my-town/ci_13342952?source=rss

“Singing star Scott James tells of X Factor panic attack … Despite his exit from the show, Scott has been chosen to sing a song currently being penned by an Australian songwriter, which will raise the profile of The Autistic Society.”:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2009/09/28/singing-star-scott-james-tells-of-x-factor-panic-attack-84229-24798903/

“Simon Cowell praises Stockton singer Scott James on the X Factor”:

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2009/09/21/simon-cowell-praises-stockton-singer-scott-james-on-the-x-factor-84229-24742513/

“X Factor’s Scott James wants a normal life … He told the Daily Mirror: “I want a normal lifestyle. I’d like to get my own home and a girlfriend.”:

http://entertainment.stv.tv/the-x-factor/news/124681-x-factors-scott-james-wants-a-normal-life/

“Stars shine for Autism Christmas Concert”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1972&a=19766

“The AutisMusic Project”:

http://www.autismusic.com/

ART

“Zoe’s World”:

http://www.zoes-world.co.uk/paintings.html

“Mayor urges high profile of disabled artists and performers in 2012”:

http://media-newswire.com/release_1100067.html

This year’s NAS Christmas Cards are now on sale. There’s a selection of cards, two of which are designed by our competition winners. For fans of Thomas and Friends, there’s also a festive Thomas card. For more information, visit http://www.autism.org.uk/christmascards

GLIMPSE – the talents of the autism community

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

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

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

MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT

 

“Autism in the Movies”:

http://teachersol.blogspot.com/2007/09/autism-in-movies.html

 

“Actors for Autism”:

http://www.actorsforautism.com/

BOOKS

Brenda O’Bannion’s Crowbaby and Dawfie “Telling Dawfie’s Story”

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

DVD”Living Along the Autism Spectrum – What Does It Mean to Have Autism or Asperger Syndrome?”

Daniel Gottlieb, Ph.D., Robert Naseef, Ph.D. And Stephen Shore, Ed.D.

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9729.htm

“The Integrated Self-Advocacy ISA™ Curriculum: A Program for Emerging Self-Advocates with Autism Spectrum and Other Conditions”

Author: Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D.; foreword by Stephen Shore, Ed.D.

http://www.asperger.net/bookstore_9028.htm

“Job Success for Persons with Developmental Disabilities”

Author: David B. Wiegan

Foreword by Ron Rush

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

“A Guide to Special Education Advocacy: What Parents, Clinicians and Advocates Need to Know”

Author: Matthew Cohen

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108931

“Challenges to the Human Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities”

Edited by Francis Owen and Dorothy Griffiths

Foreword by Orville Endicott

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843105909

“Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and the Law”

Author: Michael Mandelstam

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843106920

“An A-Z of Community Care Law”

Author: Michael Mandelstam

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781853025600

“What is Dyslexia? A Book Explaining Dyslexia for Kids and Adults to Use Together”

Author: Alan M. Hultquist

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108825

“An Introduction to Dyslexia for Parents and Professionals”

Author: Alan M. Hultquist

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108337

“Understanding How Asperger Children and Adolescents Think and Learn: Creating Manageable Environments for AS Students”

Author: Paula Jacobsen

http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781843108047

MOVIE

“Toy Story” 3D Theatrical Release

2.10.2009

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/toy_story/

VIDEO GAME

“Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box”EU (Nintendo DS) E10+

“Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box” US

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Professor-Layton-Pandoras-Box-Nintendo/dp/B002AU0HZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1253787790&sr=1-1

Release dates:

^JP November 29, 2007
^NA August 24, 2009
^EU September 25, 2009
^AUS September 24, 2009

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (レイトン教授と悪魔の箱, Reiton-kyōju to Akuma no Hako, literally “Professor Layton and the Devil’s Box“), known in Europe as Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box, is the second game in the Professor Layton series by Level-5. It was followed by a third game, Professor Layton and The Last Time Travel which so far has only been released in Japan. The game follows Professor Layton and Luke traveling cross country by train to solve the mystery behind a strange box that is said to kill anyone who opens it.

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is a puzzle game, with the player controlling the movements of the eponymous Professor Layton and his young assistant Luke through various areas of the game, including the Molentary Express, Dropstone, and many other areas, unlike its predecessor, which is confined to just one town. Along with completing many different types of puzzles, players must explore different areas, solve mysteries, and aid the Professor on his quest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor_Layton_and_Pandora’s_Box

Reviews:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/professor-layton-and-pandora-s-box-review

http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/5d/professor-layton-and-pandora-s-box-284a5d.html

“Nintendo slashes Wii prices – but not in Britain”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/sep/24/wii-price-cut-britain-misses-out?CMP=AFCYAH

“Mini Ninjas Review”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2009/sep/01/mini-ninjas-game-review

“E3 2009: Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues(1:430”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJRxsQntBI8

“LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 E3 2009 Trailer (1:00)”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrF_bToBKfw

SPACE

“Rare Meteorite Found by Fireball Observatory[Australia]”

Robotic cameras that spotted a bright meteor, or fireball, in the night sky have led scientists to an unusual rock that holds clues to the early solar system.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17806-rare-meteorite-found-by-fireball-observatory.html

ENVIRONMENT

“Better World: Global Green Heroes”

It is no secret that the environment is facing some major challenges. Yet despite all the gloom there are some corners of the world where things are changing for the better. Here are a few examples to prove that when communities, city officials and governments put their minds to it they can move environmental mountains.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327271.900-better-world-global-green-heroes.html

Take Care,

Julie