Building Support

 

Mike MacCallam reports on a new supported living project, where the wishes and needs of young adults on the autism spectrum have been included at each step of the way.

“What are you going to do for our sons and daughters when they leave school, and need ongoing support into their adult lives?” This was the question posed directly by a group of parents to bath and North East Somerset Council, the commissioning authority of services for adults with learning difficulties, including those with an ASD in this area. Good question. Up to that point, many young people with an ASD were continuing to be ‘placed’ in registered care homes, often some distance away, and often with providers who were not specifically set up to support autistic people.

We have recognised the importance of planning ahead to meet future needs and, like many areas, have made a commitment to developing a range of local services. We want to offer people real choices about the way they are supported to live their lives as they move into adulthood, regardless of their level of learning disability, and to enable individuals to live as independently as possible. We know through our work that we have an increasing number of young adults with an ASD coming through each year, many of whom will need residential support in the future.

Three years ago, we took the decision to stop placing people away from the area and, instead, to start working in a unique partnership with families, together with our colleagues in local schools and children’s services, to plan and commission a new service that supports young adults with an ASD to live in their own homes, within their local community. The initial stages involved building confidence with the parents concerned that a supported living model, rather than a traditional registered care placement, can and will work. We worked with the Housing Options consultancy to go through this fully with the families concerned. We then ensured that the families were fully involved in the selection of the housing and support providers, through consultation over the tendering process and representation at the selection panels. The NAS was selected as ‘support provider’ and became a key partner from this point on. We have completed person-centred plans (PCPs) with each person, and ensured that the support plans are based on the outcomes from the PCP process. In addition, each person and their family has had a significant input into the design of his or her home, which has been specifically designed to meet the needs of autistic people, and reflect individual needs and wishes.

This project has been about a new and unique collaboration between the local authority, the education service and a group of individuals and their families, coming together as equals and working to the same agenda. We recognise that this is not just about this one project, but are signed up to continuing to develop similar models of support for future young autistic adults. As such, we have now begun planning with a second ‘cohort’ of families whose children will need a similar service.

In July, eight young adults, all under-25, moved into their own homes, each with their own individual support plan, to begin the next stage of their life journey. I feel privileged to have been invited to share in that with them in some small way.

Mike MacCallum is the Joint Commissioning Manager at the Integrated Learning Difficulties Service, Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Housing Options is a housing advisory service for people with learning disabilities, their families and their supporters.

Visit www.housingoptions.org.uk

Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D.

In our rushed and busy lives who has time to contemplate nature? We live in big urban centers, rush to work, rush home to do household chores and many of us even go to a second job in order to pay the bills and have some extra money.

A study, just published in Psychological Science, reported on a piece of research conducted at the University of Michigan. In the study, subjects were asked to study numbers which they had to remember and repeat backwards sometime later. They were then asked to participate in one of two activities. Some of the subjects walked through an arboretum while others walked through city streets. What were the results of the study?

You probably guessed that the students who walked through the arboretum performed better on the memory test than those who walked through city streets. In fact, in another experiment, even those who viewed pictures of nature versus pictures of urban centers performed better on memory tests. Why?

The explanation seems to go back to that early psychological writer, William James. He theorized that there are two types of attention, “involuntary attention,” and “directed attention.”

In directed attention, a lot of effort is put into doing a task such as memorizing numbers in the experiment. Involuntary attention is relaxed as exemplified by the walk in the arboretum. The participants rated the experience as very pleasant as opposed to those who walked through city streets.

Read Article in Full:   http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=30722&cn=117

 

For an autistic worker, the hardest part of a job is often the easiest for everyone else: Joking with co-workers, sharing desserts on a special day, instinctively treating your boss with respect.

Being socially correct is grueling. And for some autistic adults, an impossible task.

This is an issue more companies in New Jersey will have to start dealing with, autism advocates are saying, as there will soon be a surge in autistic adults in the work force.

A state-commissioned report due out this month is starting to tackle the problem. It’s an issue that presents more challenges as unemployment reaches historic heights and as public interest and dollars still remain fixed on autistic children.

“A lot of public awareness has been around children with severe challenges,” said Leslie Long, public policy director for Autism New Jersey. “You have to now look at John who’s now 20. Putting him on a brochure for funding isn’t going to work anymore. He has a right to work and wants to work. How do you help him?”

New Jersey’s progressive special-education laws mean the state offers great education for autistic children until they reach age 21. But after that, funding drops and many autistic adults today sit at home with little to do, Long said.

Graduating autistic students often don’t find jobs on their own, said Jane Wilkie, adult services director of the Midland School, a special-education school in Somerset County.

“If we weren’t able to put them in jobs they were going home not to do anything,” Wilkie said.

One in 94 children in New Jersey is diagnosed with autism, compared with one in 150 children in the nation, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are no reliable statistics for the number of autistic adults in New Jersey because many have been misdiagnosed, Long said. The state recently launched an online registry for autistic adults, but the numbers so far are sketchy. Unemployment nationwide for disabled adults in general hovers at about 70 percent, Long said.

The hallmark characteristic of autism is poor social communication, and individuals can vary widely in abilities and functioning, including some who cannot speak, but also people with Asperger’s syndrome who have college degrees and often higher-than-average IQs, said Sandra Harris, founder and director of Rutgers University’s Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center for the Disabled.

“The overwhelming majority of people on the autism spectrum can do some kind of work,” she said.

Aside from communication barriers, challenges that can cripple autistic workers include sensory sensitivity, to fluorescent lights, for example, and getting clear directions on what needs to be done, said Ari Ne’eman, a 21-year-old with autism who grew up in East Brunswick, and founded The Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

Social pleasantries should be eliminated as criteria for hiring and a good job evaluation, Ne’eman said.

Depending on whether the person is low- or high-functioning, an autistic adult can excel at tasks involving categorization, such as box-sorting in a warehouse, or software engineering, he said.

In one compelling story of the upside of hiring an autistic person, a man working at a dry cleaning company didn’t use tickets with numbers on clothing because he’d memorized the numbers, said Wilkie, of the Midland School.

But an autistic worker’s poor social skills can get them fired, said Nancy Perry, the Berkeley, Calif.-based author of “Adults on the Autism Spectrum Leave the Nest: Achieving Supported Independence,” published last year.

In the case of people with Asperger’s syndrome, individuals often with above-average IQs, the main reason they lose jobs is for offending their boss, Perry said.

“The favorite word of an Asperger’s is “Actually “¦’ ” she said. “They’re always correcting people.”

In 2007, the State Legislature commissioned the New Jersey Adults with Autism Task Force within the Department of Human Services to study better ways to care for autistic adults’ needs for housing, jobs and long-term care. Recommendations for the employment section of the report include creating public-awareness ads to educate the public and employers about autism; compiling a roster of companies willing to hire autistic adults; and requiring schools to give job training to autistic children and young adults, said Long, a member of the task force.

But “right now the economy is the biggest problem. All people are struggling to find work, and we face that, too,” said Roni Kantor, a state Department of Human Service’s employee who helps coordinate employment services for disabled people.

Three years ago, the parent of an autistic man brainstormed with Rutgers’ Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center for the Disabled to create Men with Mops, a company that hires part-time autistic workers exclusively. The company now has about 80 customers and is manned by 23 autistic men with mostly severe disabilities and pays them minimum wage to mop floors and mow lawns. Each worker is accompanied by a job coach at all times, said company co-director Christopher Manente.

But Long, the policy director, said the Men with Mops model has been around for people of other disabilities since the 1980s. Replicating its business plan isn’t the answer. New Jersey needs to think bigger, to make room for autistic people in mainstream jobs in growing industries, she said.

“Who’s installing the solar panels?” Long asked.

Source:   http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-14/1253240107101820.xml&coll=1

HEADLINES

“Susan Lister guilty of assault, deprivation of liberty”:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,26025434-952,00.html?from=public_rss

“Nashville school bus sex-abuse case drags on”:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090907/NEWS03/909070342/1022/NEWS05/Nashville+school+bus+sex-abuse+case+drags+on

“Why did our Alex die of a broken leg?”:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/2616009/A-man-from-Wishaw-dies-following-treatment-for-a-broken-leg.html

“Anger over disabled son’s care”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/8235804.stm

“Indian woman fights for ‘rape’ baby”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8222689.stm

“Who will take care of mother and child? SC leaves it to HC”:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/who-will-take-care-of-mother-and-child-sc-leaves-it-to-hc/509134/

India “Children suffer from govt, parents’ apathy”:

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/special-children-suffer-from-govt-parents-apathy/516472/

“36 children dead from swine flu – 24 had disabilities –CDC confirms”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-21398-Birmingham-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2009m9d4-36-Children-dead-from-swine-flu-24-had-disabilities–CDC-confirms

“NAS submits response to Adult Autism Strategy consultation”:

http://www.autism.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=253&a=20446

Mark Lever(NAS Chief Executive) “Autism in the UK today”:

http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/28096

“Care & Support Reform”:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/careandsupportreform/final-piece-jigsaw

“Councils force vulnerable into bankruptcy”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8238032.stm

“Gary McKinnon Updates: Verdict on extradition to be announced this week”:

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

“£100k bill thanks to arsonist tenant”:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2057024_100k_bill_thanks_to_arsonist_tenant

“Asda apologise after refusing to aid blind customer”:

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/09/06/asda-apologise-after-refusing-to-aid-blind-customer-78057-21652029/

“Talking signs assist Metro users”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8242304.stm

“Police batter blind woman’s door in error”:

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/Police-batter-blind-woman39s-door.5628897.jp

“Blind man takes waterfall plunge”:

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1389437?UserKey=

“Join Us On September 21 NYLN Teleconference on Disability & Media”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/fwd_join_us_on_september_21_nyln_teleconference_on_disabili.htm

“Autism Support Network”:

http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/

“Autism Support Network launches enhanced features, adds thousands of new members”:

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS101361+16-Sep-2009+PRN20090916

RESEARCH & HEALTH

“Study by Flinders University detects signs of autism in first weeks”:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26068823-23289,00.html

“Researchers identify critical gene for brain development, MR”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163077.php

“Genetic variations may underlie multiple psychiatric conditions”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163234.php

“Advancement made in automatic autism screen increases accuracy to 91% scheduled for release this month”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163186.php

“From the White House: President’s Health Reform Plan/Disability Leadership Meet With White House Staff on Health Reform”:

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

“Socially aware computers may help autistic”:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Socially-aware-computers-may-help.5635504.jp

“Helping hard-to-reach families to manage their children’s continence problems”:

http://zikkir.com/health/131?wscr=1024×768

“Living on the edge of chaos; implications for autism and psychosis”:

http://the-mouse-trap.blogspot.com/2009/09/living-on-edge-of-chaos-implications.html

“UMDNJ – University Behavioral HealthCare Provider to comment during National Suicide Prevention Week (Sept. 6-12)”:

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

“Childhood bullying linked to later psychiatric problems”:

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

“PTSD: Ground Zero-scale trauma can spur psychological growth”:

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

“Epilepsy & Sleep Disturbance”:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WDT-49HMSTM-3&_user=10&_origUdi=B7RM6-4VSC3GK-G&_fmt=high&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F2003&_rdoc=1&_orig=article&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=043e035f4d670900e09beb0af52d54ef

“Dental Management of special needs patients who have Epilepsy”:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B7RM6-4VSC3GK-G&_user=10&_origUdi=B6WWW-4M04JF9-1&_fmt=high&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2009&_rdoc=1&_orig=article&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=22c79cd3cda4b242720f3bcbd5bcd8f8

“Epilepsy & Behavior: The psychosocial impact of epilepsy in childhood”:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WDT-4W68F0R-1&_user=10&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2009&_alid=1014826335&_rdoc=59&_fmt=high&_orig=mlkt&_cdi=6775&_sort=v&_st=17&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=2307&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=79dc972f8c24aca45b4d53ae0c8ae7ef

“Epilepsy & behavior: The psychosocial impact of epilepsy in older people”:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WDT-4W329CW-1&_user=10&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2009&_alid=1014826335&_rdoc=58&_fmt=high&_orig=mlkt&_cdi=6775&_sort=v&_st=17&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=2307&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=33045286e4bd027d507f598b0788e75c

“Epilepsy: Finding comfort in ultra-running”:

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

“Abstract: Interactions Between Herbal Medicines & Prescribed Drugs”:

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

Wall Street Journal “What’s really in supplements?”:

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

“Brain model may be possible within 10 years”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/brain_model_may_be_possible_within_10_years.htm

“Spotlight on Borderline Personality Disorder”:

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

“Abstract: Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Co-Morbidity between Depression, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Social Phobia: A Twin Study”:

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

“Abstract+: Development of Mental Health First Aid Guidelines For Panic Attacks”:

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

“In future, science could erase traumatic memories”:

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

“What makes us happy? Joshua Wolf Shenk on Happiness”:

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

“Melon derived antioxidant relieves stress”:

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

“Barrow scientist awarded $400,000 grant to study cell associated with Intuition and Autism”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163712.php

“BPS Research Digest: The Special Issue Spotter”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/bps_research_digest_the_special_issue_spotter_1.htm

“Rehab to boot out PC addiction”:

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

“Virtual Hospital”:

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

EDUCATION

“High school ridicule can hurt/Bullied pupil, 16, hanged himself day before collecting GCSE results”:

http://aspie-editorial.blog-city.com/high_school_ridicule_can_hurtbullied_pupil_16_hanged_hims.htm

Hong Kong “Parents turn up school heat for children”:

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=87109&sid=25199688&con_type=1&d_str=20090831&fc=1

“Mother seeks more autism support … MSPs have heard concerns that children with autism are often excluded from school and fall behind because their behaviour is taken for insubordination.”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8258399.stm

“Pressure on councils over funding for autism units”:

http://www.heraldscotland.com/pressure-on-councils-over-funding-for-autism-units-1.917501#

“Special needs units may be opened”:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8248538.stm

“Special school pupils’ poignant plea”:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED11%20Sep%202009%2021%3A20%3A58%3A173

“Northwold: School aproved despite objections”:

http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/Northwold-School-approved-despite-objections.5638019.jp

“Rarely cover: SEN schools may break law”:

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6022075&navcode=94

Dubai “Pearson Education and Edexcel lend their support to the Dubai Autism Centre”:

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090916115626

“Stimulus money beefs up special ed programs”:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6607246.html

“Local support group gears up for the new school year”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-18125-Charlotte-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2009m9d6-Local-support-groups-gear-up-for-the-new-school-year

“SSD to host multi-agency Autism-Asperger-PDD resource fair October 6, 2009”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-19050-St-Louis-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2009m9d6-SSD-to-host-multiagency-AutismAspergerPDD-resource-fair-October-6-2009

“Four things to double-check on written IEPs”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-22250-Autism–Education~y2009m9d7-Dont-forget-to-doublecheck-these-four-things-on-written-IEPs

“Service dog and autistic boy start new school together”:

http://www.ksdk.com/news/health/story.aspx?storyid=185130

“Autism – Special Education meet children’s needs? Take this POLL”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-21398-Birmingham-Autism–Parenting-Examiner~y2009m9d6-Autism-Special-education-meet-childrens-needs-Take-this-POLL

“Chocolate offered to relieve exam stress/Chocolate may be key to good exam results”:

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

“Appropriate Responses document(Resources)”

http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6022901

“School celebrates the Caribbean way”:

http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/4626285.School_celebrates_the_Caribbean_way/?ref=rss

EMPLOYMENT

“AGM of the British Association for Supported Employment is held in the Northwest”:

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

“Abercrombie & Fitch – lacking in a few people skills”:

http://www.bitterwallet.com/abercrombie-fitch-lacking-in-a-few-people-skills/17982

“Fear of job loss may be worse than loss itself”:

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

“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

“Why autistics don’t like Autism Speaks”:

http://www.examiner.com/x-21742-Long-Island-Autism-Examiner~y2009m9d7-Why-autistic-people-dont-like-Autism-Speaks

India “Discrimination in God’s Nation … Chinu, an autistic 10-year-old boy may not have the gift of speech but is wise beyond his years. He wrote a letter saying: “Is it fair that people without moral values and conscience can enter Puri Jagannath temple, but people without limbs cannot?” This appeal moved eminent social activists, including Mrs Mrinalini Padhi and Ms Sruti Mohapatra to initiate a campaign for the access of wheelchairs in the temple.”:

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=268491

“Autistic boy becomes internet hit”:

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

“Newcastle University: Ageing & Autism”:

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

“Aaron’s pride as he ditches his L Plates”:

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

“Navy helps families with special needs children”:

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/870312.html

“Parc settles into its new centre”:

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/4625480.Where_the_whizzy_and_the_vulnerable_can_be_themselves/?ref=rss

“Four of mother’s five children have special educational needs”:

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/boltonnews/4582390.Four_of_mother_s_five_children_have_special_educational_needs/?ref=rss

“A mother talks about her son’s struggles with Asperger’s”:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/09/07/a-mother-talks-about-her-son-s-struggles-with-asperger-s-91466-24622160/

“Autism and Anorexia: What’s the relationship?”:

http://www.scientificblogging.com/laura_collins/autism_and_anorexia_what%E2%80%99s_relationship

“Heart-breaking day for friends forced to demolish their treehouse”:

http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/video/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=Video&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=Video&itemid=NOED10%20Sep%202009%2015%3A19%3A33%3A627

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Samira Al Saad Omar
Office of Vice President of Islamic Development Bank
P.O. Box 9525
Jeddah
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Jeddah Autism Centre
Al-Falsalya Woman Welfare Society
PO Box 1001
Post Code 21433
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

“Saudi Arabian Facts, Information & History”:

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

“Map of Saudi Arabia”:

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/maps/map_country_saudiarabia.html

“Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia – Entry Requirements, Saudi Arabia News, & More”:

http://www.saudiembassy.net/

“Saudi Arabia Information Page – Overview of the Cities of Saudi Arabia, with Photographs”:

http://www.saudinf.com/main/a8.htm

“Sacred Destinations Travel Guide – Articles and Photographs of sacred Saudi Arabia sites, including Al-Masjid al-Haram, the Floating Mosque of Jeddah, and the Nabatean Tombs of Madain Sahreha.”:

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/saudi-arabia/sacred-sites.htm

“World Travel Guide – Top Saudi attractions, including Mecca, the Mountain of Light, the Plain of Arafat, and the House of Abdullah Bin Abdul Muttalib”:

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/244/top_things_to_see_and_do/Middle-East/Saudi-Arabia.html

“Arabian Wildlife – Turtle-watching, diving, caving, fossil-hunting and more”:

http://www.arabianwildlife.com/archive/vol2.2/sau.htm

“Tour Saudi Arabia – Photographs of the faces and places of Saudi”:

http://www.toursaudiarabia.com/photos/index.html

“Saudi Times – News and current events in Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations”:

http://sauditimes.com/

ADD/ADHD

“ADHD tied to Reward and Motivation Center in Brain”:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/09/08/adhd-tied-to-reward-and-motivation-center-in-brain/8260.html

Press conference at the 22nd Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Sept. 15, 2009, Istanbul, Turkey

“The role of genetic factors in adult ADHD”:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/econ-tro090809.php

“Treating ADHD without drugs”:

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/health/health_wtnh_treating_adhd_without_drugs_200909101455

“Students with ADHD benefit from meditation”:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164114.php

“Identifying brain differences in people with ADHD(Includes Audio)”:

http://www.wbur.org/news/npr/112752252

“Study: Brains in ADHD kids mature later(Includes Audio)”:

http://www.wbur.org/news/npr/16227385

“Learning to thrive with Attention Deficit Disorder(Includes Audio)”:

http://www.wbur.org/news/npr/94727139

“New documentary – A.D.D. And Loving It?!”:

http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20090915/CP05/309159880/-1/SECHELT/actor-comedian-patrick-mckenna-filmmaker-rick-green-explore-add-in&template=cpart

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

“They’ve done it! Twelve marathons in thirteen days”:

http://www.thamenews.net/readmore.asp?Content_ID=4713

“Beach day, surfing planned in Belmar for autistic children”:

http://www.app.com/article/20090907/NEWS/909070331/1004/NEWS01

“Waves of joy”:

http://www.app.com/article/20090913/NEWS/909130374/1004/NEWS01/Waves+of+joy+for+the+autistic

http://www.app.com/article/20090913/NEWS/90914015/1004/NEWS01/Surfers++autistic+children+paddle+out+together+at+Beach+Bash+in+Belmar

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 Hadrian’s Wall – 7-9 August, 2009”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=2088

“Trek Jordan 2009 – 10-14 September”:

http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1833

“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

“Jimmy’s hometown gig for Wirral Autistic Society”:

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/4582036.Jimmy_s_hometown_gig_for_Wirral_Autistic_Society/

John Lubbock “Music in the Abbey: Dorchester Abbey”:

http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/leisure/4590431.Music_in_the_Abbey___Dorchester_Abbey/

“Ladyhawke touring the States”:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10596968

“How we met: Ladyhawke & Sarah Larnach”:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-ladyhawke–sarah-larnach-1785260.html

“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

“The Society of Artists for Autism”:

http://artistsforautism.ca/aboutautism/autismandart/index.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 on Film

Four short films, entitled Autism in the Frame, were written, filmed, directed and edited by young people on the autism spectrum from the NAS Thanet branch and produced in conjunction with Ramsgate-based Medb Films. The films consider both the positive and negative aspects of living with autism, using either re-enactments of true stories, day-in-the-life documentaries or fictional representations. To watch them online, visit http://www.autismintheframe.co.uk/

“Bad boy is on his best behaviour for Rain Man”:

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/theatre/Bad-boy-is-on-his.5619594.jp

“Rain Man: Theatre Royal, Bath”:

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/entertainment/Rain-Man-Theatre-Royal-Bath/article-1292710-detail/article.html

“Actors for Autism”:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/

BOOKS

“Mother of fourteen offers opportunity of a lifetime”:

http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=57754

“Lunch with the FT: Nick Hornby”:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/cb8506f6-9e60-11de-b0aa-00144feabdc0.html

“Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism”

Author: Temple Grandin

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/0307275655

“The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger’s”

Author: Temple Grandin

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/1932565728

“Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger’s”

Author: John Elder Robison

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/0307395987

“Demystifying the Autistic Experience: A Humanistic Introduction for Parents, Caregivers and Educators”

Author: William Stillman

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/1843107260

“The Soul of Autism: Looking Beyond Labels to Unveil Spiritual Secrets of the Heart Savants”

Author: William Stillman

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/1601630050

“Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant”

Author: Daniel Tammet

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/B0018SY6KI

“Embracing the Wide Sky: A Tour Across the Horizons of the Mind”

Author: Daniel Tammet

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/1416569693

“When My Worries Get Too Big! A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety”

Author: Kari Dunn Buron

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/1931282927

“Just Give Him The Whale!: 20 Ways to Use Fascinations, Areas of Expertise, and Strengths to Support Autistic Students”

Authors: Paula Kluth and Patrick Schwarz

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/1557669600

“Jelly Pirates”

Author: Joshua Thompson

Joshua wrote Jelly Pirates when he was six. The story was inspired by the Smuckers Jelly packets that sat on the table in the Kaffee Haus, a local restaurant in Wooster, Ohio.

http://www.lulu.com/content/4899404

http://astore.amazon.com/weilosdiepr03-20/detail/B002AD08WU

MOVIE

Alice in Wonderland

WorldWide Release Dates: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/releaseinfo

Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hetMTyBCnd0

Synopsis: Director and subject matter make for a perfect marriage in Tim Burton’s version of the Lewis Carroll classic. ALICE IN WONDERLAND stars frequent Burton collaborator Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, DEFIANCE’s Mia Wasikowska as Alice, and Anne Hathaway as the White Queen.

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/10009599-alice_in_wonderland/

“Toy Story 3 Trailer”

Release dates:

June 18, 2010 (US, CAN)
June 24, 2010 (EU)
July 23, 2010 (AUS)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roADdYWAv4A&feature=channel

VIDEO GAME

Scribblenauts (Nintendo DS) Rated E 10+

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Warner-Bros-Interactive-Scribblenauts-Nintendo/dp/B0028N6ON4/ref=pd_nr_vg_h__21?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

Offical Website

http://games.kidswb.com/scribblenauts/

Scribblenauts is an emergent puzzle action video game in development by 5th Cell for the Nintendo DS published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game was released September 15, 2009 in North America and will be released in late September 2009 in Australia and October 2009 in the United Kingdom. It is the third Nintendo DS video game made by 5th Cell, the first two being Drawn to Life and Lock’s Quest. The objective of Scribblenauts, as implied by its catchphrase “Write Anything, Solve Everything”, is to complete puzzles to collect “Starites”, helped by the player’s ability to summon objects out of a database of tens of thousands by writing an object’s name on the touchscreen. The game is considered by its developers to help promote emergent gameplay by challenging the player to solve its puzzles within certain limitations or through multiple unique solutions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scribblenauts

“The Beatles Rock Band Reviewed”

http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/85/the-beatles-rock-band-5c2185.html

TECH

“The Sci-Fi Future of Surgery”(Includes Video & Gallery)

Advances in robotics are pushing the limits of what surgeons can achieve, whether in the form of worm-inspired capsules to crawl through your gut, or systems swallowed in pieces that assemble themselves inside the body.”:

http://www.newscientist.com/gallery/dn17700sci-fi-surgery-medical-robots

SCIENCE IN SOCIETY

“Brain Science To Help Teachers Get Into Kids’ Heads”

Neuroscience is set to bring fresh insight to teaching …

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20327265.800-brain-science-to-help-teachers-get-into-kids-heads.html

Take Care,

Julie

 

 

Join National Youth Leadership Network (NYLN) on Monday, September 21, 2009
at 8:00PM Eastern to discuss Independent Media 2.0. Using blogs, video and
free social media tools (podcasting, twitter, facebook) to revolutionize
and remix a powerful disability rights message.

Register for this one-time only teleconference @
http://www.nyln. org/news/ hello-world/

Speakers will include: Moya Bailey, Quirky Black Girls founder; Anita
Cameron, ADAPT media maker; Cripchick, feminist blogger; Ari Ne’eman and
Melanie Yergeau, organizers with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

We look forward to you joining NYLN on September 21st!

Betsy Valnes
Executive Director
National Youth Leadership Network
PO Box 5908
Bethesda, MD 20824
1-866-480-6565
bvalnes@tie. net
http://www.nyln. org
—
Ari Ne’eman
President
The Autistic Self Advocacy Network
http://www.autistic advocacy. org
info@autisticadvoca cy.org
732.763.5530

———— ——— ——— ——— ———
Take a look at our innovative new Public Service Announcement produced with
the Dan Marino Foundation at http://www.nomyths. org

If you like what we do, help support the Autistic Self Advocacy Network by
making a donation at:
https://www. change.org/ donation/ create?charity_ id=211198

BioMed Central

A dietary ingredient derived from a melon rich in antioxidant superoxide dismutase enzymes has been shown to relieve stress. In a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial, published in BioMed Central’s open access Nutrition Journal, researchers found that the supplement decreased the signs and symptoms of perceived stress and fatigue in healthy volunteers.

Marie-Anne Milesi from Seppic, France, worked with a team of researchers to evaluate its anti-stress effects in 70 volunteers. She said, “Several studies have shown that there is a link between psychological stress and intracellular oxidative stress. We wanted to test whether augmenting the body’s ability to deal with oxidative species might help a person’s ability to resist burnout. The 35 people in our study who received capsules containing superoxide dismutase showed improvement in several signs and symptoms of perceived stress and fatigue.“

The researchers found a strong placebo effect in the volunteers who received inactive starch capsules, as can be expected when studying subjective feelings like stress. However, the improvements seen in the supplement group were significantly greater, especially after 28 days. According to Milesi, “The placebo effect was only present during the first 7 days of supplementation and not beyond. It will be interesting to confirm these effects and better understand the action of antioxidants on stress in further studies with a larger number of volunteers and a longer duration.“

Competing interests: This research was supported by Seppic (Air Liquide Group), Paris, France and Bionov, Avignon, France, respectively the marketers and manufacturers of Extramel^®. The consultation and manuscript preparation were also funded by Seppic and Bionov.

Milesi MA, Lacan D, Brosse H, et al. Effect of an oral supplementation with a proprietary melon juice concentrate (Extramel) on stress and fatigue in healthy people: a pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial Nutr J. 2009; 8:40 doi:10.1186/1475-2891-8-40 [Abstract | Full text ()]

Caution:
Some Over-The-Counter (OTC) supplements may interact with prescription medications or be affected by them. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal or OTC supplement while on medication.

Kelly CM, Jorm AF, Kitchener BA.

ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia

Background: Panic attacks are common, and while they are not life-threatening events, they can lead to the development of panic disorder and agoraphobia. Appropriate help at the time that a panic attack occurs may decrease the fear associated with the attack and reduce the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. However, few people have the knowledge and skills required to assist. Simple first aid guidelines may help members of the public to offer help to people who experience panic attacks.

Methods: The Delphi method was used to reach consensus in a panel of experts. Experts included 50 professionals and 6 people who had experience of panic attacks and were active in mental health advocacy. Statements about how to assist someone who is having a panic attack were sourced through a systematic search of both professional and lay literature. These statements were rated for importance as first aid guidelines by the expert and consumer panels and guidelines were written using the items most consistently endorsed.

Results: Of 144 statements presented to the panels, 27 were accepted. These statements were used to develop the guidelines appended to this paper.

Conclusion: There are a number of actions which are considered to be useful for members of the public to do if they encounter someone who is having a panic attack. These guidelines will be useful in revision of curricula of mental health first aid programs. They can also be used by members of the public who want immediate information about how to assist someone who is experiencing panic attacks.

Source + Full text…
© 2009 Kelly et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract: Diversity of effective treatments of panic attacks: what do they have in common?

Diversity of effective treatments of panic attacks: what do they have in common?

Roth WT.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Palo Alto, California

Funded by:
National Institutes of Health; Grant Number: MH066953-01
Department of Veterans Affairs; Grant Number: ROT0042825

By comparing efficacious psychological therapies of different kinds, inferences about common effective treatment mechanisms can be made.

We selected six therapies for review on the basis of the diversity of their theoretical rationales and evidence for superior efficacy: psychoanalytic psychotherapy, hypercapnic breathing training, hypocapnic breathing training, reprocessing with and without eye-movement desensitization, muscle relaxation, and cognitive behavior therapy.

The likely common element of all these therapies is that they reduce the immediate expectancy of a panic attack, disrupting the vicious circle of fearing fear.

Modifying expectation is usually regarded as a placebo mechanism in psychotherapy, but may be a specific treatment mechanism for panic. The fact that this is seldom the rationale communicated to the patient creates a moral dilemma: Is it ethical for therapists to mislead patients to help them? Pragmatic justification of a successful practice is a way out of this dilemma.

Therapies should be evaluated that deal with expectations directly by promoting positive thinking or by fostering non-expectancy.

Source…

 

Regulators and Physicians Raise Alarms About Dangerous Ingredients in Many Herbal Remedies

By ANNA WILDE MATHEWS

When Dan Gerkey was trying to get into better shape a few years ago, he tried out a dietary supplement from a local store that promised to help build his strength. At first, the stuff worked. But after several weeks the police officer, who lives in Fraser, Mich., started feeling exhausted, and his wife noticed a yellowish tinge in his eyes.

More…

Copyright ©2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved

 

Article Date: 09 Sep 2009 – 3:00 PDT

Every 16 minutes, someone in the United States commits suicide, according to the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). Worldwide, there is a suicide every 40 seconds.

The AAS says that in 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available, 33,300 people in the U.S. completed suicide. Of these, 4,189 were between the ages of 15 and 24. For every completed suicide in this young population, there are an estimated 100 to 200 attempts.

Donna Amundson, L.C.S.W., manager of UMDNJ-University Behavioral HealthCare’s Traumatic Loss Coalitions (TLC) for Youth Program, will discuss issues surrounding suicide during Suicide Prevention Week, September 6-12.

The week wraps around “World Suicide Prevention Day,” which is Thursday, Sept. 10. The day represents a call for action and involvement by governments and organizations worldwide to contribute to suicide awareness and prevention. Its theme this year is “Suicide Prevention in Different Cultures” and will focus on raising awareness that suicide is a major preventable cause of premature death on a global level.

Risk factors for suicide include mental illness, substance abuse, previous suicide attempts, hopelessness, access to lethal means, recent loss, and, especially for adolescents and young adults, exposure to a peer’s suicide.

Read Article in Full:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/163344.php