


Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on May 23, 2012
For all except the very fortunate few, life is full of ups and downs. In a new study, Spanish researchers found that learning to cope with the down times is integral to life satisfaction.
Individuals respond to adverse situations in a variety of ways. Some never recover from a traumatic event, such as the loss of a spouse or child, while a majority slog through the dark hours of intense negative emotions (anxiety, depression) and eventually move on with their life, gradually adapting to a new status quo.
However, a third group is made up of individuals whose adversities have made them grow personally and whose life takes on new meaning, making them feel stronger than before.
Researchers at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona surveyed 254 students to determine their level of satisfaction with life.
The investigators also looked to find connections between an individual’s resilience and their capacity of emotional recovery – the ability to control one’s emotions – and a component of emotional intelligence.
Investigators discovered that the 20 percent of students who were more resilient were also more satisfied with their lives. This group also believed they have control over their emotions and their state of mind.
As such, researchers posit that an individual’s capability to bounce back from stress and adversity, their resilience, has a positive prediction effect on the level of satisfaction with one’s life.
The good news is that resiliency is not an innate characteristic, rather a skill that can be developed and improved.
Read in Full:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/05/24/life-satisfaction-linked-to-resiliency/39186.html

This guest article from YourTango was written by Kim Olver.Â
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We will go to the doctor for a physical checkup, but how many of us engage in a mental health checkup? The goals of my process, InsideOut Empowerment, provide us with ten things we can do to improve our well-being and increase our happiness.
1. Assess the strength of your needs while learning to obtain the proper amounts for happiness. We all have five basic human needs — connection, freedom, significance, survival and enjoyment. While we share that in common, the strength of our needs vary. So for example, one person may be high in connection and enjoyment, while another person might be high in significance and freedom. The key to happiness is to engage in behavior that brings you the precise amount of each need you want. Having too little leaves you feeling deprived and having too much can leave you feeling over-saturated.
2. Understand and take responsibility for your choices. You have choices in every situation. You may not have any “good†choices or choices you like, but there are choices nonetheless. You are doing whatever you’re doing because you chose it, not because someone forced you. You may be doing it to keep your job, please a loved one or to save your life … but you are choosing it. When you let go of the victim mentality and embrace the choice aspect of all you do, you will feel empowered.
3. Make the connection between your behavior and your progress or lack thereof. We often look to outside “causes†for our success — or lack thereof — and forget to look at what we, ourselves, are doing or not doing to move us toward our goals. When you begin to take charge of your own outcomes instead of giving that power to others, you will feel much happier.
4. Understand the power of your perception and how to change it. We often make up stories about people and events in our lives that have nothing to do with the facts of the situation. They are simply our interpretation. Your interpretation can cause you great unnecessary turmoil. If your perception isn’t serving you, change it! Make up a better, happier, more generous story.
5. Find the balance in all things. Everything that happens to you has equal positive and negative qualities; a ying and a yang, pros and cons. The problem is our perception again. We tend to label things as good or bad, positive or negative, painful or pleasurable. The truth is, both sides are always present. It just depends on where you place your focus. Seeing both sides equally will improve your mental health.
6. Distinguish and choose between what feels good right now and what will feel even better later. We often engage in a battle of what we want right now versus what we really want. As a general rule, those who can delay gratification achieve greater satisfaction than those who always indulge themselves in the moment. But there is another option. See #7.
7. Expanding either/or thinking to a both/and approach. In our Western culture, we often tell ourselves that we must choose between two options. But I say, “Why not have both?†Now, I do realize sometimes there really is a dilemma and a person must choose, but those times occur less frequently than you think if you begin to ask yourself, “How can I have/do/be both?â€
8. Uncover your self-sabotage, while learning to minimize its hold on you. We all have some negative thoughts about ourselves that were installed in our psyche before we were old enough to distinguish fact from fiction. The fact that these negative thoughts most often came from those you trusted made it even harder to dispute. However, if you want to succeed at your goals, then you must bring your self-sabotage out from the dark of the subconscious to the light of day where you can examine its veracity. If you determine it simply isn’t true (and it usually isn’t), then you can let it go. Don’t attempt to “do battle†with the ideas, as this gives them more importance than they deserve.
Read in Full:

For most of us, it’s tricky enough to remember what we were doing this time last week, let alone on some random day years ago. But for a blind 20-year-old man referred to by researchers as HK, every day of his life since the age of about eleven is recorded in his memory in detail. HK has a rare condition known as hyperthymesia and his is only the second case ever documented in the scientific literature (the first, a woman known as AJ, was reported in 2006; pdf).
Brandon Ally and his team have completed comprehensive tests with HK and they’ve scanned his brain and compared its structure with 30 age-matched controls. They found that HK has normal intelligence, that he performs normally on standard desktop tests of short and long-term recall, and that he has normal verbal learning skills. It’s specifically his autobiographical memory that’s phenomenal.
The researchers assessed HK’s autobiographical memory by choosing four dates from each year of his life since his first memory (that was from 1993 when he was aged three and half), making 80 dates in total. For each of these dates, they gathered at least three facts from HK’s family, medical records and the historical records for his neighbourhood in Nashville. HK was then interviewed about each of these 80 dates – for example, he was asked “Can you tell me what happened during your day on January 2nd, 2001”. His answers, often detailed, were transcribed and fact-checked.
HK’s recollection of days from his life between the ages of 9 and 12 grew dramatically more accurate and detailed, reaching nearly 90 per cent accuracy for memories at age 11, rising to near perfect accuracy thereafter. For some dates, HK was quizzed again at a second session – the consistency of his answers was 100 per cent.
What’s it like to have hyperthymesia? HK told the researchers that his autobiographical memories are rich in sensory and emotional details and feel just as vivid regardless of whether they’re from years ago or from yesterday. Ninety per cent of the time he experiences these memories in the first-person, compared with rates of approximately 66 per cent in the general population. HK said autobiographical memories frequently enter his consciousness, triggered by sights, sounds and emotions. Most days he wakes up thinking about what he’s done on that day in previous years. Bad memories come to mind just as often as positive ones, but he is able to choose to focus more on the positive.
Read More …

Earlier this year, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and the Autism Society of America issued a joint statement discussing the proposed changes. Concerns arose from suggestions that not all those currently diagnosed would retain a diagnosis once the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual was released.
Now that the final public comment period has opened, you can comment on the proposed changes that will combine several diagnoses into one unified autism spectrum category. We view community involvement and representation as a vital part of developing meaningful criteria that reflect our needs. The deadline for submissions is June 15 leaving little time to delay.
To comment, you must register then navigate to the ASD draft criteria page to submit. Here are our suggestions when you consider what to include in your public comment:
- *APA should revise the requirement in the ASD draft criteria’s social communication domain (A) that an individual meet 3 of 3 listed criteria. This sets an overly restrictive standard and will likely lead to greater challenges in accessing diagnosis for adults, racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls and other under-represented groups. Independent analysis of the draft criteria have confirmed the overly restrictive nature of this requirement. APA should revise this requirement to require only 2 of 3 criteria to be met, either shifting this requirement across the lifespan or introducing the greater flexibility specifically for adults in recognition of the greater difficulties in identification which exist for the Autistic adult community.
- * APA should clearly communicate that individuals should be assessed for diagnosis without regards to any mitigating measures, such as learned behavior or other adaptive coping mechanisms, they may have developed to help navigate the world. This is consistent with the way in which the Americans with Disabilities Act is interpreted according to the recent ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which worked to ensure that people with less visible disabilities could retain coverage under the ADA. APA should consider revising part (C) of the draft criteria to reflect this. Currently, (C) acknowledges that characteristics of ASD may not be noticeable until later in life due to greater social demands in adolescence, but does not yet take note of the fact that many Autistic adults utilize adaptive coping mechanisms which may make it more difficult for them to access diagnosis, even as we are still substantially impacted by being on the autism spectrum and would benefit from the services, self-understanding and accommodations diagnosis provides.
- * APA should consider linking the diagnosis of Social Communication Disorder under ASD, helping to address both concerns that individuals on the autism spectrum may be inappropriately placed within the SCD diagnosis and the benefits of greater linkages of diagnoses in research and practice. There are multiple structures which could accomplish this goal, ranging from classifying SCD as a type of ASD-Not Otherwise Specified to describing SCD as a sub-type of ASD utilizing a similar structure to that which has been applied within the ADHD diagnosis.
- * APA should proceed with the development of a unified, single ASD diagnosis, reflecting the reality that the application of the various ASD diagnosis (Autistic Disorder, PDD-NOS and Asperger’s) is inconsistent and often utilized as a means of denying access to appropriate services. However, in doing so, APA should act with caution to ensure that all individuals covered under the DSM-IV diagnoses will retain coverage in the revised unified diagnosis.
- * APA should consider incorporating motor and movement issues within domain (B) in recognition of the growing body of research which finds these issues as common across ASD.
- * APA should clarify and expand upon its use of examples, while making clear that such lists of examples are non-exhaustive and that an individual not possessing the examples APA utilizes should not disqualify them from access to diagnosis. APA should consider providing examples specific to adults and adolescents, to better acknowledge that the characteristics of ASD differ across the lifespan. APA should also consider providing more specific examples on varying presentations for women and girls and racial and ethnic minorities.
Autism advocate Ari Ne’eman, Barack Obama’s appointee to the National Council on DisAbility, spoke to the Bloomfield community April 26, 2012.
Obama’s appointee to the National Council on DisAbility, Ari Ne’eman spoke to the Bloomfield community about what it means to be “different†in an America built on equality and “justice for all.â€
When autism advocate Ari Ne’eman, Barack Obama’s appointee to the National Council on DisAbility, recently spoke in Essex County, the discussion was not about autism, per se, but about civil rights.
Specifically, Ne’eman discussed how the role of the disabled person relates to history and human rights, and what it means to be “different†in an America built on the tenents of equality and “justice for all.â€Â
“Nobody should have to pretend to be something that they’re not, as a means of being included in their own society,†he said in an one-hour speech at Bloomfield High School last month. “We are taught at a very young age that to be ‘different’ is to be ‘wrong.’ [For those who are different] that’s a horrendous way of living.â€
Ne’eman, who is himself autistic, addressed a range of issues facing disabled Americans, specifically those with autism. The definition of ‘normalcy,’ he said, largely determines a school district’s attitude toward classroom inclusion, as well as host of other issues from social acceptance to employability.
Ne’eman spoke movingly about his own experiences as an autistic child, where he faced isolation and segregation from his non-afflicted peers and was forced to leave his neighborhood school and attend a faraway “special school.â€Â There, scrubbing dishes and mopping floors was seen as appropriate life training for the students.
Today Ne’eman, in addition to being Obama’s appointee, is the president and co-founder of the national Autistic Self-Advocacy Network. He maintains that the ultimate goal of autism advocacy efforts is inclusion, not just in schools but in the larger world, and that anything less is a violation of human and civil rights.
Still, the challenge and complexity of inclusion becomes evident when one considers the wide range of autism diagnoses. Children with the mildest form of autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, often attend regular schools and later, can live without discrimination within “mainstream†society. But inclusion may be nearly impossible for those with severe autism, who are sometimes non-verbal and lacking the most basic forms of self-reliance. Even children who engage in disruptive outbursts and repetitive motions can be seen as unlikely candidates for inclusion in the eyes of many educators.
For this reason, treatment of autism has historically focused on helping patients acquire traits that allow them to fit more neatly into the existing social order. Citing one renowned researcher, Dr. Ivar Lovaas, Ne’eman noted that rendering autistic patients “indistinguishable from their peers†– in other words, able to mimic ‘normalcy’– was widely seen as “success†in the field of autism treatment.Â
In describing Lovaas’ methods, his own website states, “half the children with autism who received his intensive treatment become indistinguishable from other children on tests of cognitive and social skills by the time they completed first grade.â€
“I don’t know many people whose goal, when they wake up in the morning, is to be indistinguishable from their peers,†noted Ne’eman wryly in his speech. “Lovaas’ studies weren’t measuring independent living skills or academic skills like science or math, they were measuring indistinguishability from peers. Is that meaningful?â€
Designing treatment methods based on conformity to an opposing ideal automatically defines the starting point, “acting autistic,” as “wrong,” Ne’eman said.
Read in Full:
Apr
25

Dear Readers,
We are in the throes of moving to the US(East Coast) for an initial 8 week timeframe(work and leisure), with the strong possibility of long-term extensions. Due to preparations, the next post will likely be mid-May.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Take Care,
Julie
xx

Dear Friends:
This week, the media reported that over $1 billion has been spent over the course of the last decade on autism research funding. During a time of constant budget cuts and increasing fiscal pressures on government, this is an astonishing sum. What have we purchased for this investment? How successful has the autism research agenda been in making the American dream a reality for Autistic people and our families? Has our society discussed the ethical, legal and social consequences of how autism research findings may be used? We think these questions are worth asking, and with your help, we think it is past time to get more people involved in the discussion.
Last December, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network joined with the Harvard Law Project on Disability and the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology and Bioethics to hold a symposium on the Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) of Autism Research. Supported by a grant from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, the ASAN ELSI Symposium served as the launching point for a robust conversation about changing the way our society approaches autism research. From our partnership with federal research funders to get self-advocates on grant review panels to growing attention to ethical issues on topics like prenatal testing, self-determination in service-provision and more, the need to introduce values into our national autism research dialogue remains stronger than ever.
Over the course of the month of April, we will be releasing captioned videos of December’s ELSI Symposium. The first is already available on our YouTube channel. You can help us get the word out by watching it alone or with your friends and colleagues, sharing it on facebook and twitter, and starting to talk about these things in your own community. The time has come for our voices to be heard.
Nothing About Us, Without Us!
Ari Ne’eman
President
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
PO Box 66122 | Washington, DC 20035 US
Apr
3

HEADLINES
“Boy died waiting for ambulance … An autistic boy choked to death on a sweet while an ambulance failed to find his house on its computer system.â€:
http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/uk-news/2012/03/01/boy-died-waiting-for-ambulance/
“Boy banished to box shows heartbreaking reality of how autistic children are treatedâ€:
http://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/133841/boy_banished_to_box_shows
“Rail guard degraded disabled manâ€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rail-guard-degraded-disabled-man-032311236.html
“Should parents stop their very disabled children from growing up?â€:
“Disabled woman sues Easyjet after being ordered off plane because she was a ‘safety riskâ€:
“Canada doesn’t want this autistic boyâ€:
“Obama agrees to talks on extradition law after Gary McKinnon case is raisedâ€:
“Police award £30,000 damages to autistic teenagerâ€:
http://www.channel4.com/news/autistic-teenager-awarded-30-000-damages-from-police
“Met Police subjected teenager to degrading treatment, judge rulesâ€:
NAS “Sign our petition to improve police trainingâ€:
“Pirate flag banned from couple’s back garden by councilâ€:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17224631
“Father fights to keep fence for autistic daughterâ€:
http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/245715/81/Father-fights-to-keep-fence-for-autistic-daughter
Ireland “President Higgins calling for improvement in the care of autistic peopleâ€:
http://topnews.net.nz/content/221427-president-higgins-calling-improvement-care-autistic-patients
Gary McKinnon Updates “Hacker ‘no longer a suicide risk … But the psychologist’s latest assessment, ordered by the Home Office, was formed despite him being denied any access to Mr McKinnon since his original assessment for the Briton’s legal team three years ago, it added.â€:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/hacker-no-longer-suicide-risk-192040280.html
NAS “Media response: Gary McKinnon extraditionâ€:
“Autistic kids aren’t ‘throwaways’ in Pennsylvaniaâ€:
http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2012/03/autistic_kids_arent_throwaways.html
“2012 National Symposium on Neurodiversity at Syracuse University: Call for Proposalsâ€:
“World Autism Awareness Dayâ€:
http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/world-autism-awareness-day.htm
“Call for Applicants: ACI Summer Institute on Systems Changeâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/13/call-for-applicants-aci-summer-institute-on-systems-change/
“ASAN: Remarks on the Murder of George Hodginsâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/16/asan-remarks-on-the-murder-of-george-hodgins/
“Take Action: Help Us Mourn Murders of Disabled Peopleâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/19/take-action-help-us-mourn-murders-of-disabled-people/
“ASAN: George, Trayvon and Your Local Vigil – March 30thâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/27/asan-george-trayvon-and-your-local-vigil-march-30th/
“Today We Honor Disabled Lives Lost to Domestic Violenceâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/30/today-we-honor-disabled-lives-lost-to-domestic-violence/
“NAS: Act together to implement the Autism Act 2009 … The Autism Act 2009 was a landmark piece of legislation. It was the first ever disability-specific law and led to the production of two important documents: the adult autism strategy for England, and statutory guidance for local authorities and the NHS. â€:
NAS “Temporary suspension of some online services 16-20 Aprilâ€:
Northern Ireland “Seminar in Belfast to focus on autistic girlsâ€:
“Obituary: Professor Jim Mansellâ€:
http://www.autism.org.uk/news-and-events/news-from-the-nas/obituary-professor-jim-mansell.aspx
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HEALTH & RESEARCH
“Autism more common than previously thought: CDC report shows 1 in 54 boys identifiedâ€:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120329142630.htm
“1 in every 54 boy children are now considered to be autistic in U.S.â€:
“Autism linked to superior information processing skillsâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/28/autism-linked-to-superior-information-processing-skills/
“Autistic kids often bulliedâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/28/autistic-kids-often-bullied/
NAS “Autistic children to get quality standard … Research has found that over 70 per cent of children with autism also experience mental health issues, so it is vital that Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are able to fully meet the needs of children with autism.â€:
“CiteULike: Savant skills in autism: psychometric approaches and parental reportsâ€:
http://www.citeulike.org/group/12599/article/4312093
“CiteULike: Can Asperger syndrome be distinguished from autism? An anatomic likelihood meta-analysis of MRI studiesâ€:
http://www.citeulike.org/user/haralanovsvet/article/10462768
“CitULike: Fragile-X syndrome and fragile X associated with tremor/ataxia syndrome: two faces of FMR1â€:
http://www.citeulike.org/user/facarlisle/article/10462299
“CiteULike: The structure of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: diagnostic and phenotype implicationsâ€:
http://www.citeulike.org/user/Neurobio/article/4624089
“New Scientist: Should we rewrite the autism rule book?â€:
Rett Syndrome “Doctors reverse rare autism disorder in mice that robs girls of their speech and movementâ€:
“Abstract: Psychotherapeutic approaches to non-suicidal self-injury in adolescentsâ€:
http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/14/abstract
“Abstract: Non-suicidal self-injury, youth, and the Internet: What mental health professionals need to knowâ€:
http://www.capmh.com/content/6/1/13/abstract
“Spanking, genes interact to influence antisocial behaviorâ€:
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=144821&cn=28
“Got Tics? Environmental adjustments can helpâ€:
“Bipolar Disorder & Creativity/Schizophrenia & Creativityâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/28/bipolar-disorder-creativityschizophrenia-creativity/
“Williams Syndrome: Overly-friendly, intense personality due to brain differenceâ€:
“OCD: Sudden onset OCD in children/Personifying OCD – Effective recovery toolâ€:
“Latest Depression Articles: Call for new drug treatments for depression and schizophrenia, Umass fails student with depression, Depression highest for those living alone, How does ECT work?, & More …â€:
“Latest Anxiety Articles: 9 tools to help kids cope creatively with sress, Anxiety boosts sense of smell, Overcoming being anxious about being anxious, Public changing rooms and body anxietiesâ€:
“Rainforest remedy could replace the dentist’s needleâ€:
http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/rainforest-remedy-could-replace-dentists-needle.htm
“Relationship Articles: How is your love defined?, Love after death, Highly sensitive partner?, 10 tips to mend a broken heart, Want a better relationship??, Are your partner’s social skills embarrassing? & More …â€:
“Virtual Hospitalâ€:
http://www.uihealthcare.com/vh/
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EDUCATION
“Halstead: Mother’s fight for special needs school placeâ€:
“New autism film resource for teachersâ€:
“Deer Park teacher disciplines autistic student with spray bottleâ€:
“Children’s Minister gives evidence about SEN reformâ€:
“MP to examine education needsâ€:
http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/mp_to_examine_education_needs_1_1238177
“India: Making our skies inclusiveâ€:
http://www.thehindu.com/arts/magazine/article2931621.ece
“Springfield residents divided as board says ‘no’ to charter schoolâ€:
http://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2012/02/25/springfield_sun/news/doc4f46addb065fe197866756.txt
“Some kids cut off from bus service … A group of parents is upset that Lake County Schools will no longer provide transportation for their special needs children to a charter school in Orlando.â€:
http://www.dailycommercial.com/News/LakeCounty/022512specialbuses
“Caring school’s top gongâ€:
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Caring-school-s-gong/story-15316953-detail/story.html
“Washington Township school district: autism program at Grenloch to become full-dayâ€:
http://www.nj.com/washington-township-times/index.ssf/2012/03/washington_township_school_dis_1.html
“Autistic kids to lose SNAsâ€:
http://corkindependent.com/stories/item/8039/2012-11/%27It%27s-not-right%27
“Autistic Leeds boy, 8, plans series of fundraisersâ€:
“Manju Banerjee: Why I moved to a College that teaches only students with disabilitiesâ€:
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EMPLOYMENT
“Call for Resumes: Freddie Mac Summer Internshipsâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/13/call-for-resumes-freddie-mac-summer-internships/
“Remploy closures to hit 1,700 jobsâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2012/03/07/remploy-closures-to-hit-1700-jobs/
“NAS: The undiscovered workforce – working locally to improve employment rates … The National Autistic Society (NAS) is joining with MPs to increase the employment rates among people with autism in our latest campaign, The undiscovered workforce.â€:
“Youth Contract should make provisions for young autistic peopleâ€:
“Disability organisation’s proposed pay cuts ‘unacceptable’, says Unisonâ€:
“Nua creates 80 jobsâ€:
http://www.herald.ie/news/nua-creates-80-jobs-3036806.html
“Volunteering for special needs organizations good fit for twinsâ€:
http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20120319/NEWS01/203190301/Volunteering-special-needs-organizations-good-fit-twins?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage
Asperger Informatik AG “Professionelles Webdesign und Software Testing in Zurichâ€:
http://www.asperger-informatik.ch/
“Creative Support Ltdâ€:
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.â€:
Luxury Quality Scented Candles “Humbolt Candles – Autism & Disability Employment Companyâ€:
http://www.humboldtcandles.com/index.html
“Auties.orgâ€:
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.
“Prospectsâ€:
http://www.autism.org.uk/our-services/employment-support/prospects-for-job-seekers.aspx
“AutismJobsâ€:
Linking job seekers with vacancies in work related to autism, Aspergers and ASDs
http://www.autismjobs.org/?section=00010009
“Employment within the NASâ€:
“For further employment information, please viewâ€:
https://www.aspie-editorial.com/employment-on-the-autism-spectrum/
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GENERAL/HUMAN INTEREST
“Queen’s photographer, from Highgate, to launch autism serviceâ€:
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/queen_s_photographer_from_highgate_to_launch_autism_service_1_1224035
Gawker “The Tech Industry & Aspergers(Note: Use of the term ‘afflicted’ may rightly offend many)â€:
http://gawker.com/5885196/the-tech-industrys-asperger-problem-affliction-or-insult
“I’m so proud of my boys: Mother talks of her life bringing up two autistic boysâ€:
“Farm life has Charlotte on the right pathâ€:
http://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/farm-life-has-charlotte-on-the-right-path-1-4346673
“Magical Paws get magical resultsâ€:
http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3483222
“Katie Price faces backlash over son Harvey’s new haircutâ€:
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EASTER

“Enchanted Learning Easter & Spring Craftsâ€:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/easter/


“Kaboose Easter Crafts for Kidsâ€:
http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/easter/


“Activity Village Easter Crafts for Kidsâ€:
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/easter_crafts.htm

“Family Fun Website: Kids’ Easter Craftsâ€:
http://familyfun.go.com/easter/easter-crafts/

“Easter Around the Worldâ€:
http://www.easterbunnys.net/easteraroundtheworld.htmh

“Best Ever Easter Recipesâ€:
http://uktv.co.uk/food/homepage/sid/515

“Easter Recipes for Childrenâ€:
http://uktv.co.uk/food/homepage/sid/8210


“Easter Recipesâ€:
http://homecooking.about.com/od/easter/Easter_Recipes.htm

“The 2012 Easter Egg Taste Testâ€:
http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/2012-easter-egg-taste-test-230000022.html

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NEW YORK

Flag of the State of New York
Autism Society Western New York Chapter
19 Limestone Dr, Suite 1
Buffalo, New York 14221-7091
(716) 633-2275
info@autismwny.org

Times Square, NYC
Autism Society Nassau/Suffolk County Chapter
PO BOX 7472
Wantagh, New York 11793
(516) 404-2306
nypaac@yahoo.com

Blue Hour:Â New York evening view from the Empire State Building
Autism Society Manhattan Chapter
370 East 76th St, #C1208
New York, New York 10021-2558
(212) 628-0669
gdzucker@aol.com

New York State Capitol Building, Albany
Autism Society
Hudson Valley
58 Jones Quarry Road
Woodstock, New York 12498
(845) 331-2626
hvalleyautism@aol.com

New York City Subway Train, Queens
Autism Society Fulton/Montgomery County Chapter
43 Harrison St
Gloversville, New York 12078-4708
(518) 773-2014
info@autism-society.org

Flatiron Building
Autism Society Central New York Chapter
PMB 252
4465 East Genesee St
Dewitt, New York 13214-2242
(315) 447-4466
cnyasa@yahoo.com

New York City
Autism Society Brooklyn Chapter
225 Ave S
Brooklyn, New York 11223-2745
(718) 336-9533
terryasbm@aol.com

NYC Buildings
Autism Society Bronx Chapter
3424 Kossuth Ave, Room 15A11
Bronx, New York 10467
(718) 519-4797
ny-bronx@autismsocietyofamerica.org

Central Park, NYC

Bow Bridge, Central Park
Autism Society Albany Chapter
101 State St
Schenectady, New York 12305
(518) 355-2191
info@albanyautism.org


Statue of Liberty
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Liberty
Community Resources
Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association
AHA Association is a New York organization providing support and information for families, individuals and professionals affected by Asperger’s Syndrome, high functioning autism and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany (CARD Albany) is a university-affiliated resource center that brings research and practice together in community settings. CARD Albany provides evidence-based training and support to families and professionals, and through ongoing research, contributes knowledge to the field of autism spectrum disorders.Â

Thomas Wolfe’s Neighbourhood
American author Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938) lived at No. 5 1933-1935, wrote Of Time and the River here • biographical sketch • Wolfe’s Asheville, NC childhood home • Anglo-American poet W.H Auden lived at No. 1 Montague Terrace c. 1939-40 • Brooklyn Heights Historic District, National Register of Historic Places #66000524, 1966
The Center for Disability Rights, Inc. (CDR), is a not-for-profit, community-based advocacy and service organization for people with all types of disabilities.

Macy’s, NYC(World’s largest store)
Learning Disabilities Association of New York
LDA of NYC currently operates three main programs: the Learning Disabilities Helpline, Latino Outreach Program and Adult Support Group.

Coney Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island

Neon Sign, Coney Island
Los Niños Services is an award-winning, multilingual agency serving the developmental needs of young children and their families. We specialize in home- and community-based evaluations and services, parent/child groups, service coordination and training for early childhood professionals. Staff is comprised of experienced bilingual clinicians who pride themselves in being of great service to others. We serve all children and families in Westchester and New York City from all communities.

Yankee Stadium
NY State Putting People First- NY State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

New York Yankees
Parent to Parent of New York State
Parent to Parent of New York State is a place where families of individuals with special needs and the professionals who serve them can meet and share information.

Long Island City
NY State Department of Education
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The Advocacy Center- Partners in Policymaking
The Advocacy Center builds the capacity of individuals with disabilities and their families to advocate for themselves, realize their personal goals, and make positive changes in their lives and communities. The Advocacy Center values diversity, individuality, choice, innovation and quality.

Surfing, Long Island
Advocates for Children of New York
Advocates for Children of New York, Inc., works in partnership with New York City’s most impoverished and vulnerable families to secure quality and equal public education services. AFC works on behalf of children from infancy to age 21 who are at greatest risk for school-based discrimination and/or academic failure. AFC provides a full range of services: free individual case advocacy, technical assistance and training for parents, students and professionals about children’s educational entitlements and due process rights in New York City.

Montauk Point Lighthouse -Â situated at the eastern tip of Long Island in Montauk Point State Park.
Self-Advocacy Association of New York State
The Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, Inc. (SANYS), is a not-for profit, grassroots organization run by and for people with developmental disabilities. Our goal is to help create a person-centered and person-directed system of supports. To further this goal, the SANYS executive board supports self-advocates and self-advocacy groups regionally and statewide, encouraging them to speak for themselves individually and collectively.

New York Apple Store, 5th Avenue
Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities

New York Cinema
Sensory Friendly Film Events
AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the “Sensory Friendly Films” program. Read More>>

Broadway
From the Archives New York Magazine “The New Wave of Autism Rights Activistsâ€:
http://nymag.com/news/features/47225/

New York Street
“New York Daily Photoâ€:
http://newyorkdailyphoto.blogspot.co.uk/

New York University
“New York Guideâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/new-york-new-york/

Downtown New York
“New York Factsâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/new-york-facts/

The view from Top of the Rock on Rockefeller Plaza is a must see when visiting New York.
“New York Mapâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/united-states/new-york-map/

The Plaza Hotel
“New York Photosâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/new-york-photos-traveler/

New York Apartments
“New York Quizâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/new-york-quiz/
“New York Restaurantsâ€:
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/city-guides/new-york-restaurants/

Clinton St Baking Company
“Clinton St Baking Company & Restaurantâ€:
http://clintonstreetbaking.com/

“Clinton St Baking Company Cookbookâ€:
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ADD/ADHD
“For College students with ADHD, Self-Help book has both style, substanceâ€:
“Diagnosis of ADHD on the riseâ€:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/243118.php
“Town Hall Theatre ‘Distracted’ actors take on ADHDâ€:
“Fetal exposure to cellphone radiation tied to ADHD-like symptoms in miceâ€:
ADHDâ€:
http://lifewithadhd.com/adhd-research/adhd-%E2%80%93-attention-deficit-hyperactive-disorder.php
“Inattentive ADHD: Three Action Points for parentsâ€:
http://lifewithadhd.com/adhd-drugs/inattentive-adhd-three-action-points-for-parents.php
“ADHD and peer pressureâ€:
http://lifewithadhd.com/adhd-in-the-classroom/adhdand-peer-pressure.php
“Behind the Scenes look at ADHD treatmentâ€:
“CiteULike: Neuronal correlates of ADHD in adults with evidence for compensation strategies – a functional MRI study with a Go/No-Go paradigmâ€:
http://www.citeulike.org/user/mariapage/article/8031248
“Mixed blessings on ADHD drugâ€:
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/25498/Mixed_Blessings_on_ADHD_Drug/
“Helping children thrive with LD/ADHDâ€:
http://my.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-moment-youth/201204/helping-children-thrive-ldadhd
“Connecting the dots between snoring, attention deficit, and hyperactivityâ€:
ADRES “Adverse Drug Reaction Electronic System(Adverse Drug Reactions Website)â€- 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.orgâ€:
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.
“ADDISS†The National Attention Deficit Disorder Information and Support Service…
http://www.addiss.co.uk/index.html
“ADDAâ€:
“hi2u ADHD Pagesâ€:
“CHADDâ€:
http://www.chadd.org/am/CustomPages/home/CHADD_Home.htm?CFID=2282059&CFTOKEN=38105335&jsessionid=f2303343221169802693562
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MUSIC
“James Durbin is a STAR …
James Durbin, the former ‘American Idol’ contestant and resident rocker, has been confirmed as the spokesperson for the be a STAR Alliance, which is an anti-bullying initiative that was founded by the Creative Coalition and the WWE. Over 50 national organizations are a part of the alliance. Stamping out the pervasive bullying epidemic is of particular personal significance to Durbin, who was bullied since he suffered from a combination of Asperger’s Syndrome and Tourette’s syndrome.â€:
http://loudwire.com/james-durbin-is-a-star/
“Music4ASDâ€:
http://www.autism.org.uk/directory/resources/7923.aspx
“The AutisMusic Projectâ€:
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ART
“Eric Jianiâ€:
http://www.eric-jiani-artist.com/index.html
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. Find information and ordering details at www.icdl.com
“Artisancam: an award winning interactive website that gives an insight into the lives of contemporary visual artists(aimed at school-aged children, parents/teachers)â€:
“ARTROOM ………where under 17s can make and display art onlineâ€:
http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artroom/index.php
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MOVIES/ENTERTAINMENT
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is a ploddingly earnest tearjerkerâ€:
“Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre explores Asperger’s syndromeâ€:
“Actors for Autismâ€:
http://www.actorsforautism.com/
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BOOKS
Reading Club “Navigating Love and Autismâ€:
Jennifer Cook O’Toole “Celebrating Aspergers is celebrating Aspies. Always. In all ways … As the “Aspie Mommy†married to an “Aspie Hubbie†and Chief Operating Officer of our three Asperkids, EVERY day is a symphony of conscious choices, expenses and obligations that are my privilege to oblige. To us, supporting and celebrating neurodiversity isn’t a rally cry or Facebook cause. Celebrating Aspergers is celebrating Aspies. Always. In all ways.â€:
http://www.jkp.com/blog/2012/03/article-jennifer-cook-otoole-world-autism-day/
“Josh Muggleton’s Top Tips for people on the Autism Spectrumâ€:
“One man chronicles living with Asperger’sâ€:
“Picoult is a masterful interpreter of controversyâ€:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Picoult+masterful+interpreter+controversy/6209421/story.html
“Books offer suggestions for helping children copeâ€:
http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/15/health/books-offer-suggestions-for-helping-children-cope/
Dancing with Max “Taking life ‘to the Max’: Emily Colson talks about the joys and trials of raising an autistic childâ€:
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/mar/15/taking-life-to-the-max-emily-colson-talks-about/
 “Different … Not Lessâ€
Temple Grandin
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Different-Not-Less-Achievement-Successful/dp/1935274600
http://www.boomerangbooks.com.au/Different-Not-Less/Temple-Grandin/book_9781935274605.htm
 “Raising Martians – from Crash-landing to Leaving Home: How to Help a Child with Asperger Syndrome or High-functioning Autismâ€
Joshua Muggleton
Foreword by Tony Attwood
http://www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849050029
 “An Exceptional Children’s Guide to Touch: Teaching Social and Physical Boundaries to Kidsâ€
Hunter Manasco
Illustrated by Katharine Manasco
http://jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849058711
“Asperkids: An Insider’s Guide to Loving, Understanding, and Teaching Children with Asperger Syndromeâ€
Jennifer Cook O’Toole
Foreword by Liane Holliday Willey
http://jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849059022
 “Autism and Flexischoolingâ€
Clare Lawrence
Foreword by Luke Beardon
http://jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849052795
 “Active Support: Enabling and Empowering People with Intellectual Disabilitiesâ€
Jim Mansell and Julie Beadle-Brown
http://jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849051118
 “Teaching Your Child with Love and Skill: A Guide for Parents and Other Educators of Children with Autism, Including Moderate to Severe Autismâ€:
Joyce Show
http://jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849058766
 “Parenting Girls on the Autism Spectrum: Overcoming the Challenges and Celebrating the Giftsâ€
Eileen Riley-Hall
Foreword by Shana Nichols
http://jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781849058933
Wishing all a Safe & Happy Easter!
Take Care,
Julie
xx

| City | Location | Date & Time | RSVP |
| Sacramento, CA | Capitol Park | 3/30 at 5:30 PM | RSVP |
| Washington, DC | Farragut Square | 3/30 at 5:30 PM | RSVP |
| Rockledge, FL | McLarty Park | 3/30 at 6:30 PM | RSVP |
| Tampa Bay, FL | Walter Fuller Park | 3/30 at 6:00 PM | RSVP |
| Atlanta, GA | Shepherd Center | 3/30 at 3:00 PM | RSVP |
| Chicago, IL | Access Living | 3/30 at 6:00 PM | RSVP |
| Ocean, NJ | Wayside U.M. Church | 3/30 at 10:00 AM | RSVP |
| New York, NY | Union Square South | 3/30 at 7:00 PM | RSVP |
| Rochester, NY | Center for Disability Rights | 3/30 at 11:00 AM | RSVP |
| Syracuse, NY | Orange Grove at SU | 3/30 at 7:00 PM | RSVP |
| Peninsula, OH | Boston Store Visitor Ctr. | 3/30 at 7:00 PM | RSVP |
| Portland, OR | Pioneer Courthouse Square | 3/30 at 7:00 PM | RSVP |
| Philadelphia, PA | Independence Hall | 3/30 at 12:00 PM | RSVP |
| Dallas, TX | Flag Pole Hill Park | 3/30 at 6:00 PM | RSVP |
| Fort Worth, TX | Burnett Park | 3/30 at 5:30 PM | RSVP |
| Madison, WI | Bascom Hill | 3/30 at 7:00 PM | RSVP |
| Middleton, CT | Usdon Courtyard at Wesleyan | 3/31 at 6:00 PM | RSVP |
| Boston, MA | Boston Common | 3/31 at 7:00 PM | RSVP |
| Virtual | Online | 3/30 at 5:30 PM | RSVP |

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