Oct 1 2009 by Darren Devine, Western Mail
THE number of children with a rare condition that can leave them mute outside the home has rocketed by more than 800% over the past 30 years, a speech therapist said yesterday.
Maggie Johnson says the numbers of children with “selective mutism†has exploded due, in part, to social changes like more women working full-time.
Ms Johnson also maintains other factors, including early pressure on pre-school children to speak, are playing a part.
She estimates the number of children with the condition has risen from around 0.8 in 1,000 30 years ago to one in 150 now – by more than eight times.
Ms Johnson, who will speak at an Early Years (Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin) conference in Llandrindod Wells today, said with the right help almost all the children can overcome the condition.
In the past it was termed “elective mutismâ€, because it was believed the children chose not to talk.
On this basis professionals like teachers often worked from the misguided belief that the pupils were just stubborn and wilful.
Now it is accepted the condition stems from anxiety and therapies revolve round nurturing confidence in situations where the children feel unable to talk – typically in school.
Ms Johnson, who has around 30 years’ experience in the field and is co-author of the Selective Mutism Resource Manual, said: “Both parents usually work now and that’s how it’s got to be.
“There maybe more than one person involved in child care – mum might look after the kids on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a regular childminder on a Thursday and then nursery on Fridays.
“I think it’s about there being a lot of change in children’s lives – it’s not the same thing every day.”
The therapist, a mother-of-one, added: “There are a lot of factors here and children are going into pre-school and being tested and measured up and having to pass certain targets.
“That is just as stressful. I’m not saying it’s wrong because we want children to reach higher standards.
“I’m saying it’s unfortunate because at the same time as the teachers are more stressed and trying to get the children to do more verbally they’re already coming in a bit more anxious.
“Those two things together are creating a situation where there’s a lot more pressure to talk before children are ready.”
Alice Sluckin, chair of the Selective Mutism Information & Research Association (Smira), dismissed the idea that there has been a big rise in the numbers of children with the condition.
She said that as with conditions like autism, there are simply greater levels of awareness now, creating the impression the problem is more common.
The 90-year-old retired senior psychiatrist and social worker said that although many children overcome their difficulties, for some traces remain into adulthood.
Mrs Sluckin, who in the 1960s pioneered the kind of confidence-building therapies that remain common practice today, said: “A large number of them do become better as they grow older, but quite a few nevertheless remain fearful and have difficulty speaking in public and asserting themselves.
“I wouldn’t like to say it’s a life-long condition, but some traces may remain.”
Last year the Western Mail reported on how the parents of selectively mute Erin Gruffydd brought her condition to the attention of the National Assembly.
Now 10 Erin, from Aberystwyth, still only speaks to certain teachers and pupils at Llanfarian Primary School.
Her mother Meleri MacDonald, 37, believes her daughter’s condition has already proved life-limiting – she is unable to participate in school plays and concerts despite being a keen singer.
Mrs MacDonald, a translator, said: “I don’t think it’s something she’ll just be cured of or that will disappear. I hope she’ll be able to find strategies and ways to cope with it.”
Depression and Anxiety Special Report
What Happens When Stress Doesn’t Go Away
Can constant stress literally cause a mood disorder? Possibly. Of course, not everyone with depression or anxiety has experienced a very stressful event — such as the death of a loved one, moving to a new town, or losing a job. And not everyone who is under stress develops depression or anxiety. But stressful events may induce changes in brain chemistry that predispose you to depression and anxiety.
Usually, we think of stress as a bad thing. But at its most basic level, stress is helpful. When your mind senses a dangerous situation — such as an animal about to attack — it triggers your body to react with the “fight or flight” response, which helps you do one of those two things.
The hypothalamus brain region signals your adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, mostly epinephrine (adrenaline) and cortisol. Epinephrine increases your pulse and breathing rate, sending more blood and oxygen to your muscles and brain to give you a jolt of energy. It also contracts your pupils and helps you focus your vision. Cortisol (“the stress hormone”) boosts glucose levels in the bloodstream and maximizes the brain’s use of the sugar as well as slows down nonessential functions like those of the digestive and reproductive systems, so that your energy can be directed to the emergency at hand.
Your body is well equipped to deal with acute stress, like the animal attack mentioned above. When the stressful event is over, your body’s systems should return to normal. But in today’s world we usually face psychological threats, such as marital discord, financial troubles, or the death of a loved one, which are more chronic and prolonged than immediate physical dangers.
Our bodies exhibit the same stress response, but when there’s no end to the stressful situation, we remain in crisis mode. Our bodies aren’t equipped to deal with these prolonged, elevated levels of stress hormones, and a host of health problems can result. Depression and anxiety are common, as is an increased risk of digestive disorders, heart disease, obesity, and insomnia.
Are You Susceptible? The way that stress can increase the risk of mood disorders isn’t completely understood, but it does seem logical that the stress hormone cortisol plays a role. People with depression and anxiety often have high levels of cortisol. In addition, individuals with Cushing’s disease (in which the adrenal gland produces too much cortisol) often develop depression or anxiety. And users of corticosteroids, a type of therapy for inflammatory disorders that contains an active ingredient similar to cortisol, are at risk for mood disorders.
Genetics most likely plays a role as well, and the current evidence suggests that certain events may trigger more episodes of depression in genetically susceptible people. A study from The American Journal of Psychiatry of 2,164 female twins found that those who had a high genetic risk of depression, meaning that their twin had a history of major depression, were at 2.4 times greater risk for experiencing depression after a significantly stressful event than those with a low genetic risk (whose twin had no history of major depression).
- Four traumatic events — death of a close relative, assault, serious marital problems, or divorce or breakup — increased the risk of a depressive episode by almost 6% in the low-risk group, while the risk increased to 14% in those genetically predisposed. Research has also found that people with a family history — but no personal history — of depression have higher cortisol levels than people with no family or personal history of depression, suggesting that they are more genetically vulnerable to mood disorders.
Last, chronically elevated stress levels can make you less likely to eat well, sleep, exercise, and have positive interactions with family and friends; of course, deficiencies in these areas can increase your stress level, creating a vicious circle.
Posted in Depression and Anxiety on September 30, 2009
 
September 29, 4:51 PM
Elizabeth Brown
Seclusion is an abuse of power. The threat and the use of time out rooms with special needs kids is an ineffective method that puts the child at risk for psychological and physical harm. A report on Seclusions and Restraints in May of 2009, released by the Federal Government Accountability Office (GAO),  found that with more special needs kids being identified and mainstreamed, an increase of abuses and allegations from parents, advocates, and attorneys have been reported. Thousands of disturbing incidents were examined by GAO. Although reporting is required in a number of states, comprehensive organization of particular incidents were difficult to access.
Families Against Restraint and Seclusion includes Connecticut on the list of schools that allegedly overused or unnecessarily used seclusions and restraints. Two of the schools out of the eight are Chamberlain Elementary in New Britain (unreasonable force, unlawful restraints, physical and emotional abuse) and River Street School in Hartford (multiple restraints of a 6-year old with autism).
More recently, as reported in the Hartford Courant, Claudina Cruz, a West Hartford mother, filed a lawsuit against the West Hartford Board of Education due to an injury her child sustained in 2007 while enrolled at Braeburn Elementary School. Ms. Cruz’s son was described as a special needs child with ADHD. The child was being disciplined by a paraprofessional and was pushed into what was referred to as a “closet†or time out room reserved for the special needs kids attending the school. His foot was caught underneath the door, and his toe was damaged. Aside from the permanent physical scars, the emotional scars are more insidious. (see video below)
Braeburn Elementary is a small K-5 school situated in an affluent, white collar neighborhood. 37 of these kids are special needs and sent from their respective neighborhood schools. Braeburn offers kids a strong behavioral modification program in the Learning Center.  Although the program is an inclusive program, meaning the kids spend most of their day mainstreamed (97% spend over 79% of time with disabled kids), the time out room is used to keep challenging behaviors under control. Arguing with staff, an outburst, or kicking a chair or a desk can mean a trip to the time out room. The door is not locked, but only when a student is compliant and quiet, and he/she is ready to emerge, will the supervisor or teacher grant permission. There are no pictures, books, windows or soothing music.
The time out room at Braeburn Elementary School is similar to seclusion methods used in private and public school settings across the state and nationwide. (see video below)
Seclusion as defined by the Connecticut General Statutes 46a-150 is “The confinement of a person in a room, whether alone or with supervision by provider or assistant, in a manner that prevents person from leaving that room.†Seclusion of a child with special needs (or one that is being evaluated but is not identified yet) should only be used in an emergency situation defined as a child who is putting himself or others in imminent danger. If it’s in the child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) the frequency, the duration, and the space need to be included.
The child should not be in seclusion longer than an hour (unless permission has been granted for an extension from Principal or designee). Parents should be encouraged to visit the school and view the space. Parents are entitled to information regarding incident, even on the day it happens. Parents have the right to prohibit the seclusion of their child and insist that the child always be within eyesight of peers, and more than one staff member to ensure accountability.
Paradoxically, seclusion can be prohibited if the child suffers from psychological issues that could be aggravated by being secluded.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) a nonprofit agency of parents, advocates and attorneys, have asked Congress to stop all uses of seclusions and aversive interventions in schools. A report released a report in March of 2009 Unsafe in the Schoolhouse: Abuse of Children with Disabilities examined 145 cases of children subjected to aversive interventions. Not surprising 68% were kids identified as Autism/Aspergers. 27% were kids with ADD/ADHD. The remaining categories were described as Emotionally Disturbed, Developmentally Delayed and other. Parents that had agreed to time out rooms as part of the IEP did not believe isolation would be used for issues such as work compliance and refusal to stay in seat, but for emergency situations only.
Read Article in Full(Includes Video – 10:04):Â http://www.examiner.com/x-20605-Hartford-Public-Schools-Examiner~y2009m9d29-Seclusion-and-aversive-methods-are-harmful-to-special-needs-kids
By Sara Parker
Producer, Adults with Autism
‘Meeting my father was a shock’
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On first meeting, there is little evidence of the internal struggle Chris Goodchild faces daily as someone living with Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism.
“I don’t have the ability to put onto my face the distress that I feel,” says Chris, one of an estimated 500,000 people in the UK with autism spectrum disorder.
“Often we want to scream and shout, but most of us do so internally. The way we cope is to withdraw.”
Autism is a developmental condition characterised by problems in social communication with a lack of empathy towards others.
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 We can get bombarded with stimulation and information and can become easily confused and overwhelmed  Chris Goodchild
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People with the condition often engage in ritualistic and obsessive compulsive behaviours, as well as a very different way of thinking from the normal – that is neuro-typical – brain.
“The autistic brain is wired completely differently,” said Chris.
“We experience life with great intensity and have a very poor filtering system.
“We can get bombarded with stimulation and information and can become easily confused and overwhelmed.”
Autism was first identified in 1943 by child psychiatrist Leo Kanner in a group of boy patients.
A year later another Austrian psychiatrist Hans Asperger recognised a similar condition in children with special talents and high IQ.
This early understanding of autism meant that until recently, it was thought to be a childhood disorder.
Many adults went undiagnosed or were misdiagnosed with mental health problems, including severe illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Long struggle
Now 43, Chris was diagnosed with Asperger’s only 18 months ago.
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I had to adapt to what other people thought was normal, to survive Chris Goodchild
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For years he struggled with depression and anxiety as he tried to conceal his autistic traits behind a façade of learnt, socially-acceptable behaviour.
“I hid my unusualness, those feelings of being bad, mad, crazy, deranged,” he said.
“I had to adapt to what other people thought was normal, to survive.”
Adopted at six weeks old, he describes a ‘hunger to be loved and a fear of rejection’.
But he would recoil from being touched or hugged, as well as alarming those around him with strange mannerisms and self-comforting behaviour such as rocking.
At school, he was isolated and unable to concentrate because he found the environment noisy and confusing.
Neither his adoptive parents nor his teachers realised what was wrong and at 15, he left with no qualifications and started on a downward spiral of depression, ending up in a psychiatric hospital for a year on anti-psychotic medication.
For most of his adult life, Chris has found it difficult to hold down a job or maintain close relationships.
He has a young son whom he sees regularly, but found it impossible to live with the mother because of the stress of intimacy and his obsessive need for an ordered life of rigid routines.
Shared traits
When he was 20, he traced his natural father and was shocked to discover he shared what he later recognised, were autistic traits.
“Seeing him was like seeing Asperger’s unleashed,” said Chris.
“The man looked like Rasputin with long unwashed hair, dressed only in a pair of underpants with a sheet round him and cobwebs on the sheet.
“He had no desire to wash at all and was a hoarder with things piled up around him.
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Without a diagnosis, I would have killed myself Chris Goodchild
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“In many ways I saw myself without my façade or cloak of normality and it drove me further underground to be nothing like him at all.”
There is evidence from research, particularly with twins, that autism can be inherited.
On-going studies also indicate that hormones in the womb such as testosterone can influence development and MRI scans have revealed differences not only in brain structure, including increased numbers of nerve cells, but also in the way the brain works.
There are so many factors involved in autism that diagnosis is often difficult and needs lengthy clinical assessments and observation.
Chris only realised a few years ago that he might be autistic after meeting a boy with autism at his son’s birthday party.
Finally a diagnosis
After years of misdiagnosis with mental health problems, he had given up on the NHS and he turned instead to the National Autistic Society for help.
“I’d reached a point where I didn’t want to live any longer,” he said.
“I was depressed and self-harming because I couldn’t cope with this cloud of unknowing.
“Without a diagnosis, I would have killed myself.”
For Chris, diagnosis has been self-affirming.
“Having Asperger’s Syndrome is a gifted way of seeing the world,” he said.
“It can be a painful gift but I now have a framework to manage myself and the realisation that those parts of me, which I hid away, are not mad or bad.”
Adult autism is now high on the government’s agenda and a report is due for publication before the end of the year with the promise of a national strategy to improve the lives and opportunities for those living with something which Chris describes as “not a label or illness but a way of being ”
‘Adults with Autism’ will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 29 September at 2100 hours, repeated on Wednesday 30 September at 1630 hours.
By Matt Sandy
Last updated at 1:22 AM on 27th September 2009
It is the latest craze to give daredevil participants a huge adrenaline rush – racing space-age tricycle ‘pods’ at high speed.
Now, a group of teenagers is preparing to travel to the other side of the world to become the first Britons to take part in a special 24-hour race.
The event in Australia would be challenging enough for anyone – but it is even more remarkable for the 15 and 16-year-olds because they have special needs, with conditions such as Asperger’s syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Â
Teachers at Hailey Hall School in Hertfordshire believe the trip will be a life-changing experience for the pupils, many of whom have never travelled abroad before.
But they need to raise £20,000 to pay for flights and insurance – and are appealing to generous Mail on Sunday readers for help.
The team, called Hailey’s Comet ,will take it in turns to race their one-man ‘pod’, complete with lights and a speedometer, at speeds of up to 37mph around a Tarmac track for 24 hours starting at 1.30pm on a Saturday.
The team of eight – plus two reserves and four school staff – will compete against dozens of other schools from around the world in the RACV Energy Breakthrough race in Maryborough, Victoria, in November.Â
Teacher Trish Turner, 43, who is organising the trip, said: ‘When we told the boys they simply put their heads in their hands as they could not believe it. We are very proud to be the first British team going out there.
Read Article in Full:Â http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1216438/Haileys-Comets-The-pupils-heading-Down-Under-race-lifetime.html?ITO=1490
 
Ed Balls to announce new measures providing more help for disabled children and those with special educational needs
Ed Balls, the schools secretary, will today announce new measures to provide better support for disabled children and pupils with special educational needs.
The proposals will aim to make the process of assessing a child’s needs easier and more independent, responding to complaints from parents that getting extra help for their children is often a difficult and protracted battle.
The government will look at taking assessment of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) out of the hands of local authorities, which, according to parents’ groups, consider the cost of a child’s education when assessing their needs.
The government recognised parents’ desire for clearer, more transparent assessments, said Balls. “I am keen that we look at greater communication between local authorities and parents on how we can make the process less stressful and whether an assessment process which is more independent can improve parental confidence,” he said.
A recent government-commissioned review of SEN services, conducted by Brian Lamb, recommended improving information for parents and highlighted major concerns about the system of “statementing” children with SEN.
In a letter to Balls, Lamb wrote: “Too many [parents] reported that the system was not on their side and said they had to ‘fight’ or ‘do battle’ with the system to get what they needed for their child.”
New pilots would give parents greater confidence in the system by introducing greater independence and more advice, said Lamb. “Accurate and transparent assessment is a crucial part of promoting parental confidence in the SEN system and ensuring children get the right support to achieve and thrive,” he said.
With children with SEN eight times as likely to be excluded from school, the proposals will also crack down on schools that exclude high numbers of students with SEN.
New statutory guidance will push behaviour and attendance partnerships (groups of secondary schools in one area that have come together to challenge poor behaviour and attendance) with high levels of exclusions of children with SEN to address the problem quickly.
Balls said: “The new behaviour guidance will make tackling exclusions of SEN pupils a priority. I expect behaviour partnerships to work hard to address the specific needs of pupils, and draw on the support of partners to tackle behaviour issues early.”
Lamb welcomed the move to counteract what he called the “worrying level of disproportionate exclusions” of children with SEN.
The new measures will also attempt to ensure there are enough teachers to meet the needs of pupils with severe learning difficulties. Benet Middleton, director of communications and public affairs at the National Autistic Society said: “So many tell us it’s a constant battle to get their child assessed and the right support in place for them in the right school.
“They find it confusing, intimidating and stressful and tell us they want a system that’s transparent and independent. All too often their child’s behaviour is put down to naughtiness or poor parenting rather than recognising that it arises as a result of a disability.”
 
Job Place helps find work for differently abled
By Cierra Putman
The Baytown Sun Published September 26, 2009 Music plays quietly as a 21-year-old Jacob Peterson diligently completes his job shredding paper for a Highlands company. But, unlike other young men his age, he doesn’t flirt with his female coworkers or crack jokes; He just comes in and does his job.
Jacob has Autism, but despite the obstacles associated with his disability, he is still considered one of the hardest workers at Glove Guard. With the help of The Job Place, the Dee Ellis Foundation’s program dedicated to helping the disabled in Baytown find work, Jacob and his employer both work in harmony.
“Shredding paper is not a job you or I might be real interested in,†Shelia Vermillion, owner of Glove Guard said, “ but Jacob, when he hits the door at our office, we all know to get out of the hallway, because he’s eager to come to work.
“When he walks on the premises, his mentality is at work,†she said. “For an employer that’s a dream.â€
For two hours, three times a week, the young man comes to work to shred sometimes case sensitive documents that any other employee may be tempted to read or look over.
“With some of it, there’s privacy issues,†Vermillion said. “So it worked out perfectly, because Jacob doesn’t care what the information is. He just does the job.â€
Jacob’s attention to detail and quiet demeanor make him an exemplary employee but Vermillion knows that a lot of employers would never realize what a good worker he is because of preconceived notions about the disabled.
Some employers are afraid to hire a disabled employee; because they think the disabled cannot learn or be trained to work.
“Because of misconception, discrimination and lack of education, employers are missing the boat,†Program Director for The Job Place Charles Kelly said. “It is a proven fact that in studies done by the state of Texas, federal government and Department of Labor, disabled people make better employees than non-disabled people.â€
That’s where The Job Place comes in. The organization helps match its disabled clients – anyone with a disability except the blind or completely deaf – with a company and a position. After making the match, it then goes in and helps its clients transition into the workforce and teaches employers and managers about the new employees disability and how they learn.
On top of acquiring an employee who wants to and can work, many businesses also receive tax write offs for hiring a disabled employee.
“A lot of people think that when they give handicap people a job they’re just doing it as a public service and that’s not true,†Anna Donato, President and CEO of The Job Place said. “We never place someone in a job that they can’t do as well as anybody else, but sometimes they can do it better.â€
The group also helps find employment for anyone who is part of, or eligible for, the Ticket to Work program. The program allows Social Security disability beneficiaries work without losing their medical coverage.
Even though Jacob was not matched with Glove Guard through The Job Place – Vermillion talked to Jacob’s mother Judy about hiring him at church – it still helped with their transition.
“They totally equipped us so it wasn’t a big ordeal,†Vermillion said. “Had we tried it on our own, just between myself, Judy and Jacob, I’m not sure that we would have had as good of results at the beginning.
“He’s pretty self sufficient,†Judy Peterson said, “it was just nice knowing there was someone there. It was nice having them doing it instead of me, because I wanted Jacob to work with other people.â€
Kelly says the group receives between 200 to 300 referrals a year and helps find jobs for 50 to 60 percent of their clients. Even with their success, a lot of local families still do not know about the program or are afraid to push their disabled relatives into the job market.
“As far as the job place,†Judy Peterson said, “I wish more people knew about it and would think that just because their child has a disability doesn’t mean they can’t do something well. If they give The Job Place an opportunity they might find something they can do.â€
For more information about The Job Place or the Ticket to Work Program, visit the following Web sites http://www.dee-ellis.org/ and http://www.yourtickettowork.com/
Source: Â http://baytownsun.com/story/47499
 
By Drake Bennett
Most occupations require people skills. But for some, a preternatural capacity for concentration and near-total recall matter more. Those jobs, entrepreneur Thorkil Sonne says, could use a little autism.
Sonne reached this conclusion six years ago, after his youngest son was diagnosed with the mysterious developmental disorder. “At first I was in agony and despair,” he recalls. “Then came the thought of what happens when he grows up.”
In Sonne’s native Denmark, as elsewhere, autistics are typically considered unemployable. But Sonne worked in IT, a field more suited to people with autism and related conditions like Asperger’s syndrome. “As a general view, they have excellent memory and strong attention to detail. They are persistent and good at following structures and routines,” he says. In other words, they’re born software engineers.
Read Article in Full:Â http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/17-10/ff_smartlist_sonne
Jan
22
 
When difficulties at school led to Kenneth Hall’s eventual diagnosis with Asperger syndrome, writes Joy Orpen, his mother little expected to receive the self-same diagnosis
Sunday September 27 2009
A dynamic Belfast woman’s life has been transformed thanks to the tribulations, the joys and the insights she experienced rearing a son with Asperger syndrome.
Kenneth Hall, 20, is a charming, reflective and immensely bright young man who has struggled to come to terms with life. His painful unease is the result of this often misunderstood condition. “People associate Asperger syndrome with both autism and giftedness, which they find intriguing. In reality, it is a wide-ranging condition,” says Kenneth’s mother, Brenda.
As a boy, Kenneth caused many headaches. “He had no notion of conforming, or of doing anything that was asked of him at home or at school,” recalls Brenda. She cites Kenneth’s dogged refusal to write. When a pencil was put in his hand, he simply let it fall to the ground. Referring to that time, softly spoken Kenneth says: “I think I wasn’t bothered by any sense of authority. As far as conforming is concerned, I am a bit like an atheist who knows about God but doesn’t believe in Him. I got into a lot of trouble because I didn’t see the point of rules.”
He tried his mother’s patience in other ways too. He disliked most foods but would eat Red Leicester cheese as long as it was grated in a particular way. He hated the noise of vacuum cleaners, liquidisers and loud chatter. He didn’t like playgrounds or being in groups. And he didn’t like school.
Kenneth suspects his aversion to formal education was caused by boredom and his low tolerance of rules that, to him, seemed meaningless.
“At five he had read The Chronicles of Narnia and he was obsessed with books,” says Brenda.
She tried to get her gentle son to integrate, but to no avail. “He struck me as solitary, but happy with his own company,” she says.
When Kenneth went to primary school there were endless problems around his ‘poor’ behaviour. Brenda resisted having him assessed as she didn’t want her son labelled. So she moved him to a Rudolf Steiner school where individuality was valued, and he did seem happier.
In time, his teacher noticed that, though rarely cooperative, Kenneth rallied when something challenging occured. So, Brenda was again encouraged to have him assessed. The results confirmed that while Kenneth had Asperger Syndrome (AS), a condition characterised by “extreme social difficulties”, he was also a very gifted child. He got a B in GCSE maths when he was 10.
“I’d never heard of AS before Kenneth was diagnosed,” remarks Brenda.
However, it was also acknowledged that Kenneth had been so traumatised by his early educational experiences that he needed some time out, and consequently, his school attendance was reduced to one day a week.
The local education board appointed a home tutor for him, and with the tutor Kenneth began writing by hand at last. It was then suggested he write a book about his experiences.
Brenda thought at best he would produce a few pages stapled together. However, in 2001, Asperger Syndrome, the Universe and Everything by 10-year-old Kenneth Hall was published. In it, he says: “It was very tough when I didn’t understand what was different about me. I got blamed for lots of things and people were very unfair. This happens a lot to AS kids.”
Around this time Brenda, who was searching for ways to help her son, began learning about applied behaviour analysis (ABA). One of its methods meant that every time Kenneth completed a task he was awarded tokens. These could be saved up and redeemed for prizes such as comics, outings or computer games. It was all to do with modifying his behaviour and helping him fit in.
Kenneth found value in this approach. “I think that was the first time I was being told what I was doing right instead of what I was doing wrong,” he recalls. Nonetheless, Kenneth grew increasingly unhappy, so it was decided to send him to a school in Somerset, catering for boys with AS.
“It was the hardest decision I have ever made,” says Brenda. But, for Kenneth, it was a good move. “For once I was with people quite like me and for the first time I felt I fitted in,” he explains.
His days there were well structured. “Asperger people need a lot of routine,” he says. He explains that the school wasn’t overly concerned with academic achievements — the main focus was on social development and on learning lifeskills.
Today, Kenneth is back in Belfast, and living independently.
Thanks to him, his mother has also been on a voyage of discovery, and one of the most surprising revelations is that she too has AS. And the fact that it has a genetic component makes sense to her — her life was a strain until recently.
Read Article in Full:Â http://www.independent.ie/health/a-world-of-difference-1897854.html
 
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 6 million adults in the United States alone (National Institute of Mental Health). There is a lot of stigma around the label bipolar disorder, but what is it exactly? Is it a psychological issue or a physiological issue or both? The latest research tells us it is a genetic and chemical disorder. Prior to it being called bipolar disorder it was called manic-depressive disorder and before that it was called cyclothymic personality disorder. But what’s in a label? Â
Many professionals liken bipolar disorder to diabetes. If someone with diabetes is low on blood sugar they may certainly be experienced as having psychological issues. In the same vein, some make the argument that a person may be perfectly psychologically healthy, but if they have bipolar disorder they are prone to experiencing manic and depressive episodes when the chemicals get imbalanced.
Does having bipolar disorder make you crazy? Sometimes I feel like the uneducated stigma out there supported by the insurance companies endorses this view. I’ve seen people who fall into depressive episodes and then at times seem to get very excited for a while. However, throughout these times they were able to manage life without medications and without major problems. It’s the people who end up in the hospital who we hear more about that hence the stigma for bipolar disorder.
Read Article in Full:Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=31181&cn=4
Spotlight on a Live Journal
We recently came across a live journal that has some material we wanted to share with you. The journal is written by a student mental health nurse (Darryl Cunningham) who is also a photographer, writer and cartoonist.  The entries focus on a variety of topics and include different photos and posts.
The sections that we are especially excited to see are some very nicely written and drawn comic strips from an upcoming book on mental health issues including Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, self-harm and general mental illness.
You can find the main journal page here.
The Bipolar Disorder comic strip is here.
The Schizophrenia comic strip is here.
The Self-Harm comic strip is here.
The “People with Mental Illness Enhance our Lives” strip is here.
We love to see creative approaches like this to addressing and reducing the stigma of mental illness. Â Definitely worth your time to check these out.
Updated: Sep 24th 2009
Source: Â http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=31176&cn=4