TA Tips - Tips for Securing a Teachers Assistant For Your Autistic Student

This article is an updated repost of a previous comment made on this site in 2006 which also previously appeared in an Autism Society New Brunswick newsletter.

Since these tips were originally drafted ASNB has been successful in encouraging the provincial government to train teacher aides and resource teachers at the UNB-CEL Autism Intervention Training program. Premier Shawn Graham and Education Minister Kelly Lamrock have commited to training 100 TA's and resource teachers per year for 4 years at UNB-CEL AIT. One year's class has graduated and another should be starting soon. The training for these positions roughly reflects the training offered to Autism Support Workers and Clinical Supervisors who provide intervention in the pre-school agencies.

Notwithstanding the above commitment competition to have UNB-CEL autism trained TA's working with your child could be stiff. If your child is moving into the school system you may want a trained TA to continue the progress achieved in the pre-school years. If your autistic child is already in the school system and you believe he/she would benefit from the help of an autism trained TA these tips might also help. No matter where you are in New Brunswick from Saint John, and Moncton to Fredericton, Bathurst Miramichi or Edmundston do not hestitate to email me at AutismRealityNB@gmail.com if you have a question.

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I am a lawyer and an active member of autism organizations in New Brunswick. Mostly I am the father of two boys one of whom is profoundly autistic. Like everyone else, I am continually fighting for a trained Teacher's Assistant to work with my autistic son; preferably one who has received the Autism Support Worker training course from UNB CEL. Many parents are fighting just to get a TA period. I offer these tips primarily for those who might need some guidance or who are just starting out. This is offered as parental advice and general information and is not offered as legal advice. For those seeking help in obtaining a TA I suggest the following and stress that you should seek assistance from other parents. I did. They were a big help in getting a TA for my son.

1. Document your child’s condition and school requirements. If your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder make sure that the school has a copy of the diagnosis. This may seem obvious but in some cases the school and district have been able to point out that they were unaware of any actual diagnosis of autism disorder.

2. Medical, Psychological or Therapeutic Assessments – If you think your child needs a Teacher's Assistant to learn in the school environment you should ask any pediatrician, psychologist, occupational therapist, speech language therapist or behavioural interventionist who is working with your child if they agree and would provide a written recommendation for a TA and present their recommendations to the school.

3. Be a Parent Advocate – Most parents know their autistic child better than most professionals. Do not be afraid to speak up – politely – but without fear - to express your view of what your child requires.

4. Autism Advocates – If you know an autism advocate or fellow parent of an autistic child who would be willing to attend a meeting with the school you should bring them along. They can provide you with moral support and confirmation of your experiences as a parent in describing what your child requires.

5. Safety – For many autistic children a TA is a must for safety reasons alone and this must be stressed if it is true for your child. An autistic child may not appreciate the many dangers posed by school, playground and nearby streets.

6. Individual Learning Method – If your child requires an individual based learning method using Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) techniques, or other individual based instructions, emphasize this with the school. For ABA in particular there is a great deal of professional literature about the need for one to one instruction for autistic children.

7. IEP or SEP – If the school or district refuse a TA for your child do not sign off on the IEP/SEP for your child unless you agree with that decision. Or if you do sign put a note beside your signature stating that you still require a TA for your child. Otherwise the school and district will argue that you agreed that a TA was not necessary.

8. Appeal – If a TA is denied for your child be ready to appeal right away under the Education Act. The School should have informational pamphlets available and forms explaining the appeal process to you. You might also want to consider hiring a lawyer to work with you on the appeal process.

Conclusion – Preparation, pressure and persistence are all required to obtain and keep a TA for your autistic child. It is a long tough fight and it is one that almost all of us have to go through to one extent or another. Do not overreact emotionally or unduly antagonize school officials. You need their help and most want to help. Getting overheated gives an excuse to the few who do not want to help to refuse what you are looking for. Stay calm and persist.

Harold Doherty

autism

Medicare for Autism Now! Rally April 19th Oakville

"Medicare for Autism Now!" Rally

Saturday, April 19th, 2008

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Iroquois Ridge Community Center,

1051 Glenashton Drive,

Oakville, Ontario, L6H 6Z4

Why should you attend?

* Despite a decade of lobbying, collaborating and litigating – autism treatment is still excluded from our universal health care system. Canadian families from BC to Newfoundland and everywhere in between are still bankrupting themselves in order to provide treatment for their disabled children.

* The current and limited patchwork of funding and services provided through the provinces’ social services ministries could evaporate tomorrow with a change of government, or the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen. No legislation or mandate exists within these social services ministries to deliver health care or to protect and enshrine our children’s medically necessary treatment.

* In 30 years of "advocacy", the only two initiatives which have achieved ANY success in obtaining treatment funding in any province has been litigation, and more recently, focused political action. Both were brought by volunteer parent groups.

* Autism is an epidemic of staggering proportions, it now afflicts one in every 150 children in North America, one in every 94 boys. Autism has become an election issue in the U.S. - Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain have all articulated extremely progressive positions. In 2006, the U.S. federal government unanimously passed the "Combating Autism Act" which allocated $945 million into research and treatment. The U.S. federal government recognizes their responsibility to intervene by acting to avoid a major health and social crisis.

* It is time for our federal government to recognize their responsibility to act! This is not a left or right issue – it’s a right or wrong issue!

* Today, all over Canada, parents of children with autism and growing numbers of fair-minded, but outraged Canadian voters expect our federal government to act. We are letting those who govern and those who wish to govern know they will be held accountable, regardless of party affiliation, at the ballot box in the next federal election.

Who should attend?

You – and every fair-minded Canadian you know!

In Canada, children with autism and their families suffer from political indifference. It will take the sustained energy and dedication of EVERY CANADIAN who desires a just society to correct this injustice. For our children’s sake, and the sake of future generations, we urge you to attend this rally. Please bring friends, family, kids, anyone and everyone you know who is appalled by the gross injustice done to our children every day by the governments of Canada and its provinces.

Come and find out how you can make your vote actually count!

Featured speakers will include:

Jean Lewis – Vancouver parent, B.C. Co-ordinator for "Medicare for Autism Now!" initiative

Harold Doherty – Fredericton parent, Maritime Co-ordinator for "Medicare for Autism Now!" initiative

David Marley – Vancouver supporter/advisor, B.C. Co-ordinator for "Medicare for Autism Now!" initiative

Stefan Marinoiu – Toronto parent, "Medicare for Autism Now!" supporter

Deborah Coyne – Toronto parent, "Medicare for Autism Now!" supporter

Please RSVP a.s.a.p. to: Jennifer O’Brien

Email: jobrien116@cogeco.ca

For more information regarding "Medicare for Autism Now!" – check out:

www.medicareforautismnow.blogspot.com


autism

World Autism Awareness Day Has Come and Gone - Now What?

History has been made. The first World Autism Awareness Day has come and gone. CNN, to their credit, featured many more faces of autism, albeit briefly. CNN, to its discredit, returned to its fixation with "atypical" autistic person Amanda Baggs and her neurodiversity, "WE don't want a cure", ideology. But there is no denying that people around the world had their awareness of autism raised to one extent or another. Visits to autism blogs like this one doubled or more on April 2, 2008. OK, we have more autism awareness, now what?

For this father of a 12 year old boy with Autistic Disorder with profound developmental delays the fight will continue to help improve his situation in life and hopefully that of some other autistic children and adults here in New Brunswick and possibly elswewhere in Canada by fighting for government funded ABA intervention for autistic children wherever they live in Canada, continuing to fight for Teacher Aides and Resource Teachers trained at the University of New Brunswick Autism Intervention Training program and fighting for improvement in adult autistic residential care and treatment.

If you are an autistic adult, or parent or family member of an autistic child or severely autistic adult you probably already know what you are fighting for, you probably know what has to be done to help yourself or the autistic loved one in your life.

If you are the parent of a newly diagnosed autistic child though you will want to consult your local professionals with autism expertise. If you do you will most likely be told that there are a number of autism interventions but that there is one above all that has been studied and stood the test of time and been proven effective in helping autistic children - Applied Behavior Analysis:


“ABA is the application of a scientifically-based approach to teaching and behaviour management. Its greatest goal is to teach children the skills that will allow them to be as self-supporting as anyone else in society, to be able to make choices for their own lives.


Dr. Mickey Keenan, University of Ulster, School of Psychology


ABA has more research support than any other treatment or therapy for this population. It incorporates proven strategies such as shaping, prompting, and positive reinforcement. Numerous task forces around the country have endorsed ABA as the preferred therapy for children with autism. There are hundreds of objective research studies that have shown ABA to be an effective method for teaching language, social, and independence skills, and for reducing problem behaviors. There are few, if any, research studies examining sensory integration, floor time, music therapy, and special diets.


Alan Harchik, Ph.D., BCBA, the May Institute


The effectiveness of ABA-based intervention in ASDs has been well documented through 5 decades of research by using single-subject methodology21,25,27,28 and in controlled studies of comprehensive early intensive behavioral intervention programs in university and community settings.29–40 Children who receive early intensive behavioral treatment have been shown to make substantial, sustained gains in IQ, language, academic performance, and adaptive behavior as well as some measures of social behavior, and their outcomes have been significantly better than those of children in control groups.31–40

American Academy of Pediatrics, Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, October 29, 2007

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Alex Plank with Aspergers Does Not Want To Be Cured But He Does Not Speak for My Son with Autistic Disorder

The major media is again featuring a high functioning person with Aspergers who claims that autistics don't want to be cured. In the Chicago Tribune.com Alex Plank offers the anti-cure ideology promoted by Jim Sinclair, Michelle Dawson and Amanda Baggs, all very high functioning persons with pervasive developmental disorders which are often casually referred to as autism spectrum disorders. Mr. Plank according to the article " has a girlfriend and is interested in computers, writing and acting." So why should Mr. Plank want to be cured? I am not sure how or why Mr. Plank, or family members, sought and obtained his pervasive developmental disorder diagnosis. Given his own self description it is hard to see why he was even diagnosed in the first place but he certainly is not qualified to make the statements about autistics not wanting to be cured.

Mr. Plank according to the Tribune article:

1. Is a college student and founder of a Web Community.
2. He has a girlfriend and is interested in computers, writing and acting.
3. Had friends and had no problem with eye contact or socialization.

Given the above description I can understand why Mr. Plank would not want to be cured although I am not sure what he could be cured of since it sounds like he is an ordinary functioning individual.

What Mr. Plank is not is a person with Autistic Disorder with profound developmental delays like my son. Unlike Mr. Plank my son does have problems with language and has cognitive challenges. He can not function in the world without 24/7 supervision. Occasionally he bites himself and he has put his hands through windows and smashed holes in walls. He does not understand all the dangers of everyday life like automobile traffic and he will not be able, like the fortune blessed Mr. Plank, to live an independent life with girlfriends, college and computers.

Mr. Plank though is offended that parents like me talk about the harsh realities faced by our severely autistic children because it makes him uncomfortable as an "autistic". He is also offended that parents seek treatment and cure for their own children which, given Mr. Plank's good fortune are almost assuredly more severely disabled than he. Mr. Plank, by his own self description, does not face the severe challenges that are faced by many autistic people with actual Autistic Disorder. He should be thankful for his blessings and quit posing as a spokesperson for all "autistics".

Mr. Plank, Michelle Dawson, Amanda Baggs, Jim Sinclair and other very high functioning persons at the upper end of the "autism spectrum" should be thankful for their blessings and stop attacking parents trying to help their own children. No one wants to cure you Alex, stop trying to keep my son and other persons with Autistic Disorder down so that you can feel better about the "autistic" label you have embraced.

autism

Deborah Coyne - Time Overdue To Put Autism On The National Agenda

Deborah Coyne has joined the Medicare for Autism Now team and will be one of the speakers when the team visits Oakville, Ontario on April 19, 2008 as part of a national initiative that will include speakers from BC to Toronto to New Brunswick. (AutismRealityNB will also be there).

Deborah has spent her life engaged in public policy work. She is a lawyer, university professor, constitutional activist, public servant, writer, small businessperson and the mother of two children, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. She has often been at the centre of the great public debates of our times -she became a leading figure actively engaged in the constitutional debates that unfolded involving the Meech Lake Accord and the referendum on the Charlottetown Accord. She is currently a policy analyst with an international consulting practice.

Deborah has also started a blog site Canadians Without Borders On the future of our great country, the challenges we face and what lies beyond the horizon . Yesterday was World Autism Awareness Day and Deborah wasted no time weighing in on the subject of Canada's need for a national autism strategy in Time overdue to put autism on the national agenda Medicare for the twenty-first century. I encourage everyone to add Deborah's blog to their blogrolls or blog links. Deborah's blog will be a source of well informed, quality, legal and policy perspectives on a number of important issues including a National Autism Strategy to ensure the proper effective treatment and education of all autistic Canadians - wherever they live in Canada.

It is now beyond debate that the most effective type of autism treatment is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) – something which involves intensive one-on-one assistance to parents and their ASD child at the earliest possible age. ABA is an enormously valuable and justifiable investment in a huge and growing number of young persons who have a great deal to contribute to society and who need not be a heavy burden on the health care system as they grow older.

Provinces do try to meet the needs of ASD children, but in a haphazard ad hoc way generally through social services mainly for respite and support, not medical treatment. And much depends on the uneven ability of parents to access the necessary funding and services available. Only Alberta has complied with a court order requiring the province to fully fund the appropriate medical treatment for autism - ABA intervention - through the health care system.

Effective autism treatment of course impacts both health care and education. We need not only the investment in people to provide the services through the health care system – ABA specialists, speech therapists, child psychologists etc – but also the investment in the people needed to provide the services in the education system, notably one-on-one teachers’ assistants.

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon World Autism Awareness Day Comments

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised the courage of children with autism and their families on the historic first World Autism Awareness Day as reported on AP:

"Let us pay tribute to the courage of children with autism and their families, as they strive every day to confront the disability with a powerful combination of determination, creativity and hope. Let us empower them and respond to their needs today, so as to make our societies more accessible, enabling and empowering for all our children tomorrow."

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Autistic Self Injury - Study Confirms Self Injurious Tendencies of Children with Autism Disorders

In Injury propensity among children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinical Psychologist and blogger Nestor L. Lopez-Duran Ph.D., host of Translating Autism, reviews a study which , in Nestor's words, "provides some compelling evidence indicating a higher risk of injury in children with autism as compared to typically developing children. "

The study - McDermott, S., Zhou, L., Mann, J. (2008). Injury Treatment among Children with Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(4), 626-633. DOI 10.1007/s10803-007-0426-9 provides information which confirms what many parents already know - children with autism are more likely to be injured than typically developing children. Generally children with autism disorder are 21% more likely to be injured than their typical peers. Two specific injuries that jump out by their magnitude - children with ASD's are 760% more likely to suffer a poisoning injury and 762% more likely to suffer from a self inflicted injury than their neurotypical peers.

I am no fan of the thinking of those who assert that autism disorder is not in fact a disorder; that it is just a natural variation that should be embraced, but any condition which results in such serious levels of self injury is obviously a disorder. Period.

Interestingly, despite the extreme rhetoric of the "autism is beautiful" crowd which tries to smear parents seeking to cure their autistic children by insinuating that such "curebie" parents are responsible for atrocities like the murder of Katie McCarron the study provides no assistance to their argument - children with ASDs are not more likely to be injured by peers or adults.

As a parent controlling and minimizing self injurious behaviors is one of the several reasons why I use and seek ABA intervention for my profoundly autistic son. His reality includes self aggression. The Michelle Dawsons and Amanda Baggs can ignore that reality. As his father I can not and this study is a perfect indicator of why I can not.

Many thanks, again, to Nestor L. Lopez-Duran for highlighting and explaining this study.

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Run the Dream Celebrates World Autism Awareness Day

RUN THE DREAM LAUNCHES "THEIR STORIES" INITIATIVE

IN CELEBRATION OF UNITED NATIONS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

Internet-enabled video interviews with parents, family members, caregivers, and persons with an Autism Spectrum Disorder will be recorded and made available for the public on the Run the Dream website.

April 2, 2008 is the first annual United Nations (UN) World Autism Awareness Day, fulfilling the UN resolution which encourages all member states to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society. In support of this resolution, Run the Dream is launching Their Stories, web-based video interviews with the persons most affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who can best describe what it means.

Run the Dream invites parents, family members, caregivers, and persons with ASD to share their stories, via a video interview which can be recorded on the Run the Dream web site, http://www.runthedream.ca/stories.html#stories, starting immediately, and viewed on the same web site starting on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day. Stories will be recorded and shared with the public on the Run the Dream website until the run is completed at the end of November this year. Run the Dream will continue to share these stories by then compiling the videos from each province and presenting them to the respective Premier, and likewise will present all videos from across Canada to the Prime Minister. The Their Stories initiative is the very first of its kind in Canada using an automated web-based structured interview process, and based on our research, is a global first as well. This innovation is possible through the generous sponsorship of Minavox ( www.minavox.com) and the use of their ground-breaking Canadian-developed technology, Savisys.

In the few days since Jonathan Howard started his run, stories from across Canada have flooded Run the Dream's e-mail inboxes, "Jonathan Howard, created the concept of Run the Dream and started a cross-Canada run in support of ASD on March 25. Even though we're only in the beginning days of this journey we've already received touching stories and offers of support from a large number of Canadians who want to tell their story, and who want to help in making Run the Dream a success. In our view these stories are worthy of sharing with every Canadian. We're delighted that Minavox is making their software and service available to Run the Dream for this purpose," says Bill Robertson, Chairman of Run the Dream's organizing committee.

Working with Autism Society Canada (ASC) http://www.autismsocietycanada.ca/Run the Dream wants to ensure all voices are heard. Those people who do not have access to a computer or a webcam can share their stories using any PC with a webcam, including those of ASC's community partners, through the Their Storiesweb portal. "ASC represents a very large collective voice of the autism community in Canada; we applaud this opportunity to tell Their Stories", says Kathleen A. Provost, CFRE- Executive Director, Autism Society Canada.


This innovation is possible through the generous sponsorship of Minavox (www.miavox.com ) and the use of their ground-breaking Canadian-developed technology Savisys. "Minavox is proud to be associated with Run the Dream and Autism Society Canada, and to be able to provide its services to let Their Stories be heard." said Todd Nowensky, Managing Director and Vice-President of Business Development for Minavox Inc. Added Geoff Kushnir, Managing Director and Vice-President of Technology: "In our view this is one of the best illustrations of what is being described as the new era of the internet, Web 2.0."



Jonathan Howard, 24, McMaster University alumnus, and accomplished athlete developed the Run the Dream campaign to help raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with ASD and their families. Run the Dream is an eight month solo run across Canada, starting in St. John's, NL on March 25 and finishing in Victoria, BC on or about November 21. The run will cover approximately 9000km, crossing 10 provinces and more than 650 communities across the country. The campaign is targeted to raise $2.5 million to benefit children affected by ASD and their families. Jonathan appreciates the groundswell of support that has already formed behind his effort and would particularly like to acknowledge the contributions of the sponsors (listed below) of Run the Dream.


# # #


For more information on Run the Dream or to schedule an interview

with Jonathan Howard please contact

Alex Bittner at: alex.bittner@runthedream.ca, 888-507-5885 ext. 4.

For more information on Autism Society Canada please contact:

Lynn Andrews, Director of Communications:

lynn@autismsocietycanada.ca

For more information on Minavox please contact:

Ada Nowensky, VP of Marketing
anowensky@minavox.com


Run the Dream would like to thank their sponsors:

Telus – Official telecommunications sponsor for Run the Dream

Gatorade

Landmark Sport Group

Mariposa Cruises

Minavox

Evolution Rehabilitation and Personal Training Ltd

Whitewater Web Solutions

Brightworks

Spa Sensations

Lauren Canzius
General Manager, Media Relations & Communications
Run The Dream
lauren.canzius@runthedream.ca

autism

On World Autism Awareness Day Have Hope But Do Not Sugar Coat Autism Realities

History is being made today; the first World Autism Awareness Day as declared by the United Nations General Assembly. Qatar led the international effort to being about this result and that effort should not be overlooked or diminished. In North America and Europe there is a movement which has tried to romanticize and glorify "autism"and which actively attempts to suppress discussion of the harsher realities faced by many autistic people. Governments, particularly the Canadian government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, have been quick to point to the views of people in this movement as an indication of lack of agreement on what should be done to help persons with autism thus justifying the Harper's government refusal to take serious steps to address Canada's autism crisis.

Almost everything about autism is controversial in the extreme. Debates roar on over the causes of autism. Even Applied Behavior Analysis, ABA, a well documented, well researched autism intervention is criticized relentlessly, often by people who have had no experience with ABA. Some of these people know nothing more about ABA beyond the extremist rhetoric of anti-ABA activisits who themselves generally have no experience and little real knowledge of ABA. The ABA critics ignore the millions of parents, thousands of autism experts, hundreds of studies and numerous professional reviews by responsible expert agencies which have endorsed ABA for decades as the educational and health intervention of choice for autism, an intervention documented by years of study as effective at making real gains in intellect, behavior, communication and socialization skills for autistic children

Even the mention of the existence of severely autistic or low functioning autistic persons offends some people. Within the world of autism there is an ideological group sometimes self referenced as Neurodiversity, which perverts logic and common sense and asserts that Autism Disorder is not in fact a disorder, that somehow it is a good thing that some children develop the limited communication, social and intellectual and behavioral characteristics that lead to diagnoses of Autism Disorder. Mention the reality, the FACT, that some autistic people hurt themselves very seriously by self aggression or that they lack understanding of the world such that they require 24/7 supervision and care, in some cases for the duration of their lives and the Neurodiversity ideologues react with sarcasm, hostility and anger.

While they are quick to search history and speculate that every known genius in history was an "Aspie" or an "Autie" the Neurodiversity ideologues do not want parents of children diagnosed with actual Autism Disorder with profound developmental delays to talk about their children's existence and challenges; challenges not shared by the ND cult. Mere mention of 14-year-old Kristi Jansen the severely autistic young lady featured in one of the Vancouver Sun's excellent Faces of Autism series is enough to set off anger and hostility on autism discussion forums like Autism Speaks now dominated by Neurodiversity advocates.

Accepting autism should not mean the kind of autism acceptance which views autism as a joy. Autism is a disorder. The people diagnosed with Autism Disorder who have limited communication and social skills, serious behavioral challenges and in some cases intellectual deficits, should not be ignored in shame and denial. Their realities too must be accepted. There is no "joy" in knowing that your child, diagnosed with Autism Disorder and profound developmental delays, will never know a life of independence, that he will be cared for by strangers long after you are dead.

My son Conor, diagnosed 10 years ago with PDD-NOS, subsequently changed to Autism Disorder with profound developmental delays. lifts my spirits every day and makes my experience of life richer and more meaningful. Although I do not find joy in my son's Autism Disorder I take great joy and find great happiness in him. I accept him and the fact that he has an Autism Disorder but instead of surrendering to the seductive logic of the Neurodiversity movement, instead of embracing his autism as a "good thing" I try to help him overcome the deficits which mark his Autism Disorder. That to me is true autism awareness and true autism acceptance. That to me is being a responsible parent.

Today I will be aware of Autism and I will discuss it with many people in my daily life. I will be of service to my son and other persons with autism by speaking the truth about Autism Disorder. I will tell people there is hope for improvement by intensive early ABA intervention and the incredible explosion of autism research, the Autism Knowledge Revolution know taking place, but I will not sugar coat the realities of autism disorders to make others .... or me .... feel better.

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Faces of Autism on World Autism Awareness Day

I do not hide my contempt for CNN's coverage of autism issues. CNN's coverage is, at best light and fluffy feel good stuff with little influence in the discussion of autism issues by people trying to actually help the many children and adults with autism disorders. At worst CNN coverage misrepresents the nature of autism and autism interventions. But there is some good media coverage of autism available. For World Autism Awareness Day I personally recommend that anyone interested in getting a realistic picture of autism try reading the Vancouver Sun's outstanding six part series Faces of Autism by columnist Pete McMartin with photos by Glenn Baglo.

Faces of Autism provides gritty, coverage of persons with autism, their life prospects and the impact that autism has on many families. The photos by Glenn Baglo are an honest portrayal of autism, particularly those of autistic 14-year-old Kristi Jansen who swings from crying to laughing to screaming in a matter of seconds. Kristi lived at home at the time of the series publication in April 2007. "Her body, home and family members -- especially her mother -- bear the scars of her violent outbursts that have only been calmed through years of expensive therapy."

Glenn Baglo's pictures of Kristi are very moving and strike a realistic chord for me as the father of a severely autistic 12 year old. She is shown smiling, laughing, crying and screaming. But she is never presented as the only face of autism. Faces of Autism emphasizes the range of autism realities. It is respectful, responsible and well informed coverage of autism and well worthing reading on World Autism Awareness Day - or any day.

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Will World Autism Awareness Day Raise Autism Awareness or Create Autism Confusion?

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. Hopefully the UN declaration will have the effect of creating real awareness of Autism Disorder and the related Pervasive Developmental Disorders. The prospects of that happening are slim though. It is much more likely that more confusion about autism will be created by the large media organizations such as CNN that dominate world protrayal of autism.

The biggest obstacle to generating real autism awareness will be big business, the big business of maintaining ratings for a large news organization like CNN. To generate media attention CNN will provide feel good stories. CNN will, yet again, interview Amanda Baggs, a "voice of autism" largely created by past CNN promotion. Ms Baggs is a very intellligent and articulate person in her late 20's diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder as an adult. She was able to speak throughout her youth and adolescence, had friends and even attended Simon's Rock College for gifted young people. Ms Baggs was previously diagnosed with a variety of other disorders and, prior to meeting an autistic person, and subsequently obtaining her own autism diagnosis, she wrote elequently on topics like schizophrenia, TLE, elves and fairies.

Now, CNN hangs on her every typewritten word, as a true "voice of autism". Ms Baggs story bears no resemblance to that of my son who has very little oral communication ability or to the many autistic people I have met in 10 years of autism advocacy. I am not saying Ms Baggs is not autistic, she has a medical diagnosis, but her autism is the only one I have ever heard of where a person who can communicate orally thoughout her life becomes unable to communicate orally as an adult.

CNN will show other remarkable stories of autistic persons who, thought to be "retarded" ,have become able to communciate through typewriters, technology and Facilitated Communication. What they will probably not do is visit the autistic persons living in residential care facilities because they can not live on their own or visit those autistic people who can not, and, unlike Ms Baggs, never could communicate orally or by any other means. The middle aged lady in the New York residential care facility who could not tell the world that she was being abused by staff because she could not communicate at all, the children and adults who hurt themselves seriously.

CNN will probably not tell the world that the Facilitated Communication they help promote with their feel good stories has been discredited by serious responsibile agencies which have reviewed FC and found that the "communication" is often a reflection of the facilitator's thoughts not the autistic person. (When an autistic person uses technology without a facilitator it is properly described as Augmented Communication not Facilitated Communication). Nor will CNN be likely to mention the recent case in Michigan that saw false sex abuse charges dropped after a family had been ripped asunder and suffered as a result of communications, purportedly from their autistic daughter, which appeared to have been influenced by the "Facilitator."

Will CNN help bust autism myths and raise real autism awareness or will it simply continue to create new myths and create more confusion? We should have a better idea on April 3, 2008.

autism

Not Goin' Back CD Launch By Cathy Hutch

Last night I attended the Not Goin' Back CD Launch by Cathy Hutch at the Musiplex in Fredericton. Cathy has a tremendous voice and she gave it her all on every song, leading off with Not Goin' Back a song that she hopes will inspire people, even one person would be worth it, to make healthier life choices.

Above Cathy poses with BJ McKelvie before they both poured their hearts into I'm In Here the song for autism that is a hit on YouTube with 9,914 views as I type these words. And it is receiving play on radio stations around the world. In the bottom picture Autism Society New Brunswick vice president Lana Thompson helps out at the door.

Cathy also spoke about her personal connection to autism. She has a profoundly autistic adult daughter who is living in a residential care home in New Brunswick.

autism

8 Year Old Autistic Boy Charged for Biting Teacher

According to the Tifton Gazette an 8 year old non verbal autistic boy at Horizon Academy in Tifton, Georgia has been charged with assault after he bit his teacher. The teacher claims to have been walking by the student, engaged in regular teaching duties, when he reached up and bit her on top of her right arm. (This seems a little strange if the boy was seated how was he able to reach up and bite her on top of her arm while she walked by?).

I am amazed that an 8 year old non verbal autistic boy was charged with assault in this case. Many severely autistic children bite themselves and others. It is sometimes a part of their neurological disorder. The boy might well have been overwhelmed by his placement in a classroom with other students and might have needed instruction in a quieter less stimulating environment.

On the basis of the facts reported in the Tifton Gazette .... it would not appear they know all that much about autism in Tifton, Georgia.

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Run the Dream Autism Update March 29

VOCM in Newfoundland reports that Run the Dream runner Jonathan Howard, who is running across Canada for autism, stopped in Come By Chance Newfoundland yesterday, and is expected to attend church services in Clarendon Sunday morning, March 30.

autism

Autism and the Media - CNN's Shameful Non-Coverage of Severely Autistic People

CNN is continuing its shameful treatment of persons with severe Autism Disorder. If your only knowledge of autism was garnered from viewing CNN broadcasts or blogs you might think that autism is not a disorder, that every autistic person finds a way to communicate and that all autistic persons live happily ever after. You would not know that many persons with severe Autism Disorder, not Aspergers, not PDD-NOS, but Autism Disorder with profound developmental delays, require constant care and supervision. Some live their lives in residential and institutional care facilities. Some are assaulted in their residential facilities and lack the communication ability to express themselves to others. You would not know these things because CNN does not cover the "feel bad" autism stories, only the "feel good" autism stories.

CNN is a news organization and one would think that between interviews with Amanda Baggs they would find time to MENTION the fact that there are many seriously autistic persons who live desperate lives. They might, for example, cover the story of the middle aged autistic woman in a New York residential care facility who was physically abused and assaulted by attendants but lacked any means of telling anyone because she could not speak, write or type to tell what was happening to her. The situation came to light only after another attendant brought it to light and it was confirmed by video cameras in the facility. CNN might also tell the stories of autistic people who hurt themselves seriously by biting and head banging or those who simply wander off sometimes found safe and sound .... sometimes not.

CNN could tell you these stories but it won't because they are not "feel good" stories. Such stories are not as good for the ratings as the feel good stories. CNN would prefer to tell you, several times in fact, the story of Amanada Baggs an autistic persons diagnosed as an adult who types as a means of communication. CNN does not mention that Ms Baggs, before her autism diagnosis, and by her own voluminous internet writings, spoke to others, used speech to communicate, had friends, and attended Simon's Rock College for gifted young people. CNN does not give that full picture because it wouldn't make such a great feel good story. It makes for a much better story line to go along with the pretense that this person is non-verbal and communicates via technology.

At least CNN has started to feature autism stories other than Amanda Baggs of late. But once again it goes for the ratings oriented feel good stories. In Autistic poet gives rare glimpse into mystery illness CNN tells the tale of Tito Mukhopadhyay a non verbal Texas man previously thought to be retarded who can type and even write poetry. It is a genuinely heart warming story and I am happy for Mr. Mukhopadhyay and his family. And I do acknowledge that CNN does pay lip service to other more severe autism realities in this story ... with one line:

Whatever autism is, its symptoms range from a mild form to rendering individuals dependent on others for life.

Now if only CNN will actually do a feature on the lives of those autistic persons who CAN NOT communicate by keyboard or otherwise and who live their lives dependent on others. Maybe some day CNN will have an Anderson Cooper Katrina moment, cease with the "great job, Brownie" coverage of autism and show the world the harsh realities of life for those with serious Autism Disorder. Mr. Cooper has been part of the Amanda Baggs autism feel good spin so it probably won't come from him this time but maybe some younger journalist, a real journalist at CNN, will feel it is time to stop misleading the world about autism and show the whole range of autism realities. Real autism acceptance means accepting the harsher autism realities faced by many persons with Autism Disorder and their families.

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Autism, Vaccines and A Shot in the Dark by Cornelia Read

I am not a member of either camp in the mercury /thimerosal/vaccines cause autism war . While I do not promote the vaccine autism theory I have never ruled vaccines, mercury or thimerosal as possible causes or contributing factors, along with other environmental factors, to the startling increases in autism. Nor do I subscribe to the easy assumptions promoted by the Neurodiversity faithful that the entirety of these increases is due to changing diagnostic definitions and criteria of autism, greater societal awareness and other social factors although I accept that these factors undoubtedly explain part of the increase.

The amazing research being conducted on the genetic bases of autism does not rule out environmental causes. Genetic conditions may create predispositions toward autism without being wholly explanatory of the development of autism. The fact that identical twins can have one autistic and one non-autistic twins suggests that external or environmental factors are also involved.

Nothing divides the autism world nearly as much as the mercury wars. Although I recognize the dangers posed by under vaccination of children and do not subscribe myself to the thimerosal causes autism theories I still try to keep an open mind and read new information as it emerges. Usually I try to read, to the best of my ability, and with the aid of professional interpretation, the new scientific literature on the subject. Most internet commentary is simply a rehash of fixed points of view and of questionable value no matter which camp it originates with but there are exceptions.

Writer Cornelia Read has written a blog comment called A Shot in the Dark at The Naked Truth about Literature and Life where she is one of the authors who "wrestle with the naked truth about literature and life". I recommend to anyone interested in autism who still has an open mind about the subject to read Ms Read's blog comment. It is well written and covers a lot of interesting ground, including the tobacco industry/cancer cover up, the "refrigerator moms theory of autism causation", the Simpsonwood conference, the rebuttal to the AAP provided by Dr. Michael Wagnitz father of an autistic child and a toxicologist, and the Polling case. Ms Read's comment is well written and thought provoking ....... if you are still open to thinking about this issue.

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Run the Dream - Jonathan Howard Runs Across Canada for Autism

INSPIRED YOUNG CANADIAN RUNS ACROSS CANADA FOR CHILDREN'S AUTISM CHARITIES

Jonathan Howard's Run The Dream Campaign is Targeted to Raise
$2.5 Million for Autism

On March 25, 2008, in St. John's NL, Jonathan Howard dipped his shoe into the Atlantic Ocean, signifying the beginning of an eight month solo run across Canada, finishing in Victoria, BC on or about November 21.

The run will cover approximately 9000km, crossing 10 provinces and more than 650 communities across the country. The campaign, with the inspirational name Run The Dream, is targeted to raise $2.5 million to benefit children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.

In partnership with Autism Society Canada, Jonathan is proud to dedicate his run to the cause and to children everywhere, "I want children to dream like anything's possible," says Jonathan. "This run is my way of telling children and their parents to never stop dreaming." Working together, Autism SocietyCanada and Run The Dream will raise awareness about ASDs. "Children, youth and adults with ASDs and their families from coast-to-coast will be watching and cheering Jonathan on as he Runs the Dream! " says Kathleen A. Provost, CFRE- Executive Director, Autism Society Canada.

Day one of the run included a visit to St. John's City Hall, Mile Zero of the Trans Canada Highway , a rally with students at Memorial University and an official launch with the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador at the Elaine Dobbin Centre. From St. John's, Jonathan will continue to crossNewfoundland toward the town of Holyrood.

"We the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, no strangers to chasing the dream, will be with Jonathan, in spirit, every step of the way," says Joyce Churchill President of Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador .

Coinciding with Jonathan's run is the first annual United Nations World Autism Awareness Day taking place on April 2. He will be near Gander NL into the 9th day of his run at that time.

Kicking off the campaign was a launch party on March 20 in Jonathan's home town, Mississauga, ON. Events and fundraising opportunities are scheduled throughout the eight-month campaign in cities across the county. You can log on to www.runthedream.ca for more information or to make a donation.

Jonathan Howard, 24, McMaster University alumnus, and accomplished athlete developed the Run The Dream campaign to help raise awareness of the challenges faced by children with ASD and their families. Jonathan appreciates the groundswell of support that has already formed behind his effort and would particularly like to acknowledge the contributions of the sponsors (listed below) of Run The Dream.

# # #

For more information or to schedule an interview with Jonathan Howard please contact Alex Bittner at: alex.bittner@runthedream.ca, 888-507-5885 ext. 4.

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Raun Kaufman Spews Offensive Unfounded Anti-ABA Rhetoric

I guess business can't be that good at the Autism Treatment Center of America. Raun Kaufman, the CEO of the ATCA has released an anti-ABA diatribe, Stop Trying to Turn Our Children Into Robots, that perpetuates falsehoods about ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, the most evidence supported intervention known to assist autistic children and youths. Mr. Kaufman repeats incorrect, unfounded stereotypes about ABA turning autistic children into robots. He goes completely off the deep end and insults parents, like me, who have seen ABA help our children by comparing ABA intervention for autistic children to dog training.

My message for Mr. Kaufman, as the father of a profoundly autistic boy who has received the benefits of ABA based intervention, is simple - you don't know what you are talking about Mr. Kaufman.

I have several blogs on this site where I reference my son waiting in anticipation for the arrival of his ABA therapist. Conor enjoys his ABA therapy and it has helped us communicate with him and vice versa. It has helped Conor, despite his severe deficits, learn a range of bathroom skills and safety skills. Conor has learned basic reading, printing and math skills .. by ABA instruction. And he enjoys it asking for his ABA therapists by name and long after they have moved on. I have numerous pictures of Conor on this blog site. He is a happy, fun kid to be with and he is far from being the "robot" or "dog" that Mr. Kaufman rudely insinuates.

What Mr. Kaufman does not say in his diatribe is what the American Academy of Pediatrics has confirmed, consistent with previous reports by the MADSEC Autism Task Force, state agencies in New York and California and the office of the US Surgeon General that:

The effectiveness of ABA-based intervention in
ASDs has been well documented through 5 decades of
research by using single-subject methodology21,25,27,28 and
in controlled studies of comprehensive early intensive
behavioral intervention programs in university and
community settings.29–40 Children who receive early intensive
behavioral treatment have been shown to make
substantial, sustained gains in IQ, language, academic
performance, and adaptive behavior as well as some
measures of social behavior, and their outcomes have
been significantly better than those of children in control
groups.31–40

The AAP report makes no mention of Mr. Kaufman's Son-Rise program. The MADSEC Report 1999-2000 did mention it though. After confirming the studies supporting the effectiveness of ABA intervention for autistic children the MADSEC Autism Task Force Report stated that:

According to Levy (1998), the Son-Rise Program does not guarantee results. The approach is
based upon “. . .becoming a student of the child’s world, observing, learning, assisting and
supporting the child’s flowering in a loving and non-judgmental environment” (Levy, 1998).
The Son-Rise Program does not seek to provide the child with information, or to teach the child to master predetermined skills. Instead, the program views the child’s current level of
performance as being the best that the child can do; if the child could do better, he would (eg, if the child could follow instructions, he would). The Son-Rise program emphasizes total
acceptance of the child, and encourages him to become a more motivated and participating
individual (Levy, 1998).

- MADSEC Autism Task Force Report p. 54

With respect to the scientific evidence, or lack thereof, in respect of the various autism interventions the MADSEC report stated in respect of Greenspan's Floor Time and Son-Rise:

• Without scientific evaluation of any kind:
Greenspan’s DIR/”Floor Time,” Son-Rise.

- MADSEC Autism Task Force Report p.6

And also:

Conclusions
There have been no studies of the Son-Rise Program’s effectiveness. Researchers should
consider investigation using research protocols. Professionals considering Son-Rise should
portray the method as without scientific evaluation of any kind,

- MADSEC Autism Task Force Report, p. 54

Mr. Kaufmann and the Autism Treatment Center of America would probably do better in promoting their product if they looked into the possibility of having independent, objective, studies conducted of their program and published in peer reviewed journals instead of perpetuating false stereotypes about ABA and insulting parents and family members who fight so hard to help their autistic children with ABA; demonstrated by decades of research as effective at helping autistic children learn and develop.

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Autism Society Canada Celebrates World Autism Awareness Day with Call to Action

Autism Society Canada Celebrates World Autism Awareness Day

with Call to Action

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire – March 25, 2008)


On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139 World Autism Awareness Day, by unanimous consent, encouraging UN Member States to take measures to raise world-wide awareness about autism and to promote early diagnosis, early intervention and necessary services for individuals with ASD and their families. The resolution designates April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day - a UN Day to be observed every year starting in 2008.


Autism Society Canada (ASC) joins other organizations around the world in welcoming this opportunity to celebrate the unique strengths of our Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community and to bring world attention to the critical and complex needs of individuals and families living with autism.


ASC’s President, Christine Dade applauds the UN for this important recognition and also pays tribute to our strong autism community in Canada… “…The ASD community in Canada includes thousands of diverse individuals with many unique abilities and talents - at Autism Society Canada we are very honoured to work with an Advisory Committee of Adults with ASDs from across the country who share their experience and advise our Board on adult needs and issues. We would also like to mark this special day by paying tribute to our provincial and territorial network of committed parents and family members living with autism who have developed truly exceptional skills, knowledge and perseverance while working to support their loved-ones in the face of so many barriers. Individuals with ASDs and their families are an inspiration to all Canadians”.


Incidence of autism is now as high as 1/150 with rates appearing to be increasing across the globe. Based on data collected from North America, Western Europe and Japan, it is conservatively estimated that 35 million people worldwide have autism. ASD usually presents lifelong challenges for those diagnosed, for their family members and for society as a whole. Over 200,000 Canadian children, youth and adults are affected by ASD and many have very complex needs. These figures do not account for the millions of parents, other family members, caregivers, employers, teachers, researchers, professionals, and others who are also deeply affected, emotionally, socially and financially by an alarming inequity in available treatment, services, and funding for ASD.


Autism Society Canada has been working for over thirty years to promote a comprehensive federal National Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategy – we feel national action and commitment on ASD is absolutely vital in order to bring equal access to targeted health and social services for all Canadians with ASDs. There are currently glaring gaps in the availability of fully funded treatment and services for children, youth and adults with ASD. The lifespan needs facing our community in Canada and around the globe are complex and the treatment, service and accommodation needs across the ASD spectrum are multi-faceted.


All of us in the ASD Community – persons with ASD, parents and other family members, health care professionals, educators and researchers are joining together to ensure that autism finds its rightful place in the health, education and social services systems – we envision a Canada that sets an example as world leader, with a progressive, comprehensive response to autism…a Canada where individuals with ASDs are enabled to reach their full potential.

On this landmark World Autism Awareness Day we call on our federal leaders to take up the UN’s global challenge to act quickly to ensure the rights of some of our most unique and vulnerable citizens.


Autism Society Canada is a nationally incorporated charity founded in 1976. ASC is a federation of Canada-wide provincial and territorial autism societies whose collective memberships represent a very large community of individuals affected by ASD and their families in Canada. ASC is committed to advocacy, public education, information and referral, and the support of its provincial and territorial autism societies.


For more information please contact:

Lynn Andrews, Director of Communications, Autism Society Canada: lynn@autismsocietycanada.ca

autism

Spring WILL Come and So Will A National Autism Strategy

This has been a tough winter but these flowers won't back down. They are fighting for spring and it will arrive. Those of us who are fighting for a National Autism Strategy can not back done either. We must continue to fight. If we do we will have a National Autism Strategy as surely as spring follows winter, even a tough winter. Even Stephen Harper and Tony Clement can not stop the arrival of a REAL National Autism Strategy.

Email, write, fax or call your Member of Parliament and let him/her know that you want a National Autism Strategy. Let them know that if they want your vote and family members who support a National Autism Strategy they will do what it takes to give Canadians a REAL National Autism Strategy.

autism

Autism and Tasers

Tasers can kill.

They do not always kill but they can kill. And they are painful. They are not used solely to protect police officers from serious threats. They are often used simply because a person is "non-compliant" with police officer commands. Lax standards for use of tasers has resulted in over use and placing of people at risk of serious pain and even death. Of particular concern for me, as the father of a 12 year old boy with Autism Disorder with profound developmental delays, is that tasers, in New Brunswick, as well as elsewhere, are used against persons with mental disorders including autism disorder.

Some people with autism disorders, including my son, have limited understanding of language. They can also become overwhelmed by overstimulation and excitement. All the ingredients necessary for a tasering if an autistic person is suffering from a meltdown in the presence of a police officer.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture in commenting on its periodic report of Portugal stated that Taser use constitutes a form of torture:

Portugal

Following its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Portugal ... The Committee was worried that the use of TaserX26 weapons, provoking extreme pain, constituted a form of torture, and that in certain cases it could also cause death, as shown by several reliable studies and by certain cases that had happened after practical use.

(Bold highlighting added - HLD)

Young people with autism disorders have been tasered to calm them down. In November 2005 in Florida a 15 year old Autistic youth was tasered after he was already down on the ground, handcuffed, with his legs tied, with four police officers on his back. The boy , although 15 functions at the level of a 6 year old. He was 5' 8", and 225 pounds but at the point the boy was tasered it is difficult to see how he could have been an actual threat to the four attending police officers.

In a November 2007 incident in California a 15 year old Autistic youth was Tasered after being approached by police and running across a roadway causing two cars to swerve. He was then tasered and handcuffed for his safety. The boy's mother contends the boy would have complied with the police instructions if he had not felt threatened.

Autistic youths here in New Brunswick have also been subjected to Taser force by police. In Connecting the Dots New Brunswick Ombudsman and Child and Youth Advocate Bernard Richard examined the criminalization of youth with mental disabilities in New Brunswick. One of the examples he used was that of Nichlas ( a pseudonym) a youth with Aspergers:

It was very clear from an early age that Nicholas had difficulty with over-stimulation. He became quickly aggressive if too much was going on around him. He’s been known to react strongly to people talking to him and to thinking they were shouting when, in fact,they were not. He was also hypersensitive to tags on his clothes. He had a fixation about singing “O Canada” at any time of the day or night. He would memorize the phone book and license plate numbers, particularly of police cars and fire engines. He obsessed over details about machines and inventions and over certain words, like “Rubbermaid.” He was very bright in reading and writing. Specialists recommended a specific approach with Nicholas: having a predictable routine, having a quiet place to go to wind down when he felt too much stimulation (“graceful exits”), breaking up his day so he could get less stimulation and more control, and reviewing rules and expectations before moving on to a new activity, because he cannot deal well with sudden changes.

Nicholas ultimately ended up in a an FCS (Family and Community Services) group home. There he ended up being tasered, on two occasions, by police:

A series of placements in FCS group homes, at home with his parents, at the Child and
Adolescent Psychiatric Unit of the Moncton Hospital, and at NBYC (even frequent
moves within NBYC) began for Nicholas. Twice the police “tasered” him. (Police use a
taser gun to immobilize an individual. The gun releases two barbed fish hooks that shoot
thousands of volts into the body.)

Mr. Richard's report is careful to point out the challenges faced by staff in the group home. He also highlights the lack of adequate placements and help for autistic youths like Nicholas. As a result of his behavior and arrests Nicholas ended up in jail on different occasions where he was repeatedly sexually abused by a guard who later pled guilty and was sentence for those abuses.

In the United States recently there have been two more incidents of deaths of persons shortly after they were Tasered. On March 20, 2008, a 17 year old Charlotte, North Carolina youth died after being Tasered by police at the grocery store where he worked. In Florida on March 21, 2008, a 41-year-old man, who wandered through traffic and violently resisted arrest, died after officers stunned him with a Taser.

Police officers perform vitally necessary services in society and they often face dangerous conditions in performing those services. But that in no way justifies distortion by anyone, including police, about the dangers of Taser use. The false belief that Tasers are harmless or cannot kill has resulted in overuse of Tasers. They are NOT used just to protect police officers or the public. University students being Tasered in a library, a man being Tasered for refusing to sign a speeding ticket,and a visitor to Canada being Tasered and dying shortly thereafter.

Autistic people are sometimes challenged in understanding language and even where they do can sometimes become over reactive to excitement and stimulation. They are inherently vulnerable to being Tasered for "non-compliance". In New Brunswick "Nicholas", a youth with Aspergers, was Tasered on two occasions.

I do not want to see my profoundly autistic son, now 12 and growing, shot with a Taser at any point. I can fully understand any person with a family member shot with a Taser pursuing every legal recourse against the officers in question and public decision makers who could permit this to occur, elsewhere or here in New Brunswick; including pursuing complaints to the United Nations which has already indicated that Taser use is a form of torture.

autism

As Autistic Population Ages Are We Ready?

The increase in the numbers of people with autism disorders is heading toward a new and critical phase - adulthood. Like everyone, as they enter adulthood, the needs of people with autism will change. The 1990's witnessed startling increases in autism disorder diagnoses which are now estimated by the CDC to affect 1 in 150 people and 1 in 98 males. There are those who offer their opinions that the incredible increases in autism diagnoses are purely reflective of changing diagnostic definitions and societal awareness but other than the diagnostic definition changes there is little solid evidence on which to base their opinions.

A change in definitions of autism disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of he American in the early 90's, widely applied by the late 90's undoubtedly accounts for a significant part of that increase. It is possible also that increased awareness has contributed as well although that is not as clear. Awareness of many disorders and conditions has increased as a result of the rapidly changing technology of communication. Information is more easily and rapidly shared today then at any time in history. There is no obvious reason why greater awareness would increase autism diagnoses more than other neurological or behavioral disorders. In the meantime the boom in numbers of autistic persons is beginning to require that serious attention be paid to the needs for persons with autism in higher education, jobs and residential care for the more severely autistic.

Janet Zimmerman examines these issues in "As autistic children age, society faces challenges"on the Press-Enterprise, PE.com. The article mentions several ways in which college and job challenges are being addressed and speaks to the reality of residential care for severely autistic adults but provides little, other than a parents' hope, on how those serious residential challenges will be met:

"Brandon Woolsey is severely autistic and functions at a first-grade level. He needs one-on-one care, which is rare in the adult day care programs currently available, she said. He also wouldn't do well in a workshop setting because the noise and number of people would overwhelm him, Woolsey said.

But Brandon is good with his hands and does well outside, so Woolsey and her friend are hoping to start a ranch where Brandon and a few other autistic men could live and work in a structured environment tending a garden and horses.

"I said my son is always going to live with me, but the reality is he can't unless we outlive our kids," Woolsey said. "As he got older, I started thinking about what's fair to him as a young man. He deserves to be as independent as possible."

The highest functioning people with autism, with some personalized help, will be able to go to college, hold jobs and live independently.

Those with severe autism may need residential care, day programs and transportation -- all more costly to the system than children being cared for by their families."

Are we, as a society, ready to deal with the tremendous challenges facing us as our autistic population ages? In New Brunswick, unfortunately, we have not yet made a serious effort to meet those challenges.

autism