Sensory Intregration

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-popular-autism-treatment-lacks-scientific.html

This is pretty interesting and and alarming!

Autism poem

http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/welcome-to-holland.html

this is amazing:)

such a beautiful tribute from a other of a special needs child about having a child with a disability.

Im sorry

I have totally been neglecting you the last few months :(

This is because i am at the moment interning in the US and also doing reserach and doing a disertation,..ahh excuses excuses!

So i promise to try and be more regular for my admit-ably small band of followers in the hopes that i may get a bit more out there for the siblings!:)

At the mo, what is really exciting is i am in America for the presidental election. Now i dont know if any of you guys follow politics but i relised a few years back that if you want something to happen for autism politians are the people you need to bug.

As much as you might hate them not believe in them..if you can find someone with a bit of compassion and morality (they do exist) they can get stuff done.

Which is why organisations and groups such as the wonderful organization Autism Speaks are really eagerly following this election, hopeing that children and families will get the recognition and the support that they deserve.

Myself, im an Obama girl (be it an irish one)

So the debate is sometime i hope to be posting on this blog and hopefully informing people about the political consideration and approach towards autism in the US..fingers crossed!

Interesting

Interesting Article in Time Mag,..of course im staying neutrel in this debate wink!


http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/13/great-science-frauds/#andrew-wakefield

Please if you are worried about this subject remember to be careful about your sources..always!

Aba Training

This is such a good trainig videos for parents and practioners

http://www.simplestepsautism.com/learn-from-the-experts/

Simple steps - does excatly what it says on the tin:)

Light it Bluuueeee

Happy Autism Awareness Day everyone!

http://www.lightitupblue.org/Markslist/home.do

This is such an amazing campaignJ I hope everyone was wearing their blue todayJ I’m actually a little disappointed I didn’t make more of an effort!! Next year it will be blue nails, blue lights, blue cupcakes hell I will even paint the walls ..wont my other half be happy with me;)

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2980249261769&id=1128056009#!/events/393143690696309/

And this face book page is so lovely it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy insideJ And a little teary:0

I always get really emotional on days like this. I suppose it’s obvious that i would when there is such a focus on something that is so personal and emotive to me. Also I love love how important this day has become world wide – so positive for raising autism awareness.

Ad for those who are looking for a few basic facts about autism, the National Autistic Societies web is always a fantastic resource

http://www.autism.org.uk/en-GB/About-autism/Autism-and-Asperger-syndrome-an-introduction/What-is-autism.aspx

New Diagnostic Criteria

Hey all

Check this out

http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/morning/autism-diagnosis-tightening-the-criteria-20120123
This is an interesting discussion on the new revisions to be made to the diagnostic criteria.
Although im still finding it all a little bit vague and also worrying that people with classice autism may be affected.

My bro:)

At the moment I am currently undergoing an internship in the US for the purposes of my career. I have been away from my family 6 weeks; it’s the longest time it’s ever been with seeing my Mam, Dad and brother. Me and my parents are skping almost every day which is so helpful. But my brother lives in a residential house the net town over so I skpe him once a week!

Our conversations are normally pretty standard. My bro tells me about his week, shows me what new DVD he has purchased or is watching, asks me have I bought him any presents yet (i haven’t!) and gives me his weekly updated list of what pressies I should deliver when I return home for a holiday in the springJ

Then I normally lose my brother to the camera. My bro absolutely loves his reflection and the tiny skpe camera which allows you to see yourself is just too much for him to bear, so normally the rest of the conversation is my bro eyes himself, making fish faces et :)

So this message is an ode to my bro, who i love much and miss terribly. With all the upheavals and confusions of moving to another country it’s nice to have someone in your life who reminds you of the littler pleasures- the excitement of seeing your sibling after a week (even through a computer screen), the yummiest of chocolate and the never-ending fun of making fish faces in the mirror!

This one is for the parents!

Tony Humphreys psychologist has recently published an article whereby he draws a link between parents not giving their children enough affection and autism. Actually my blood is boiling just writing that sentence!

The theory of the “refrigerator Mother”, a psychoanalytic theory – was one of the first explanations for autism. This was the theory that these children were enclosed within their own world because their Mothers did not give them the love that they craved, therefore they became autistic. This was a theory that caused so much pain and upset to Mothers of children with autism who hadn’t enough to deal with considering their children had just been diagnosed with a lifelong disability that had no known cure.

This theory has long long long been disputed, because like much of psychoanalysis it is based solely on theory and not fact (excuse my dig at psychoanalysis but i am a trainee behaviour analyst lol). So this psychologist has decided to revisit this “theory” and it is no surprise that apparently he has a few books to sell (a little controversy always helps)

So since this psychologist has decided to base his report on theory i thought i would blog about some facts.

Fact number 1 – The theory of the Refrigerator Mother has been scientifically disregarded

Fact number 2 – Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder. Developmental in that it develops in the brain and can take a few years to fully develop.

Fact number 3 – Although the full cause has yet to be determined, autism is recognised to be caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. The environmental factors have yet to be determined.  However you only need to observe the studies of twins to see the obvious genetic link.

Fact number 4 – Experts assert the recent rise of autism to be the widening of the definition of autistic spectrum disorders and not anything else (and i was just recently at a meeting with an international expert of autism who asserted to this fact)

So Tony Humphreys is getting his information from the fact that people who are engineers, computer scientists, scientist in  general are the most likely to have children diagnosed with an ASD. And this people just obviously don’t give as much love... so they have children with autism,..what tripe. Yes – this group of people have been recognised to be linked with children with autism. However, this has been linked to the genetic factor of autism. People diagnosed with an ASD are generally more likely to go into the engineering, scientific industry due to the fact that they evidently excel in these fields. Therefore, they- due to the genetic nature of autism are more like to have children on the spectrum- FACT.

And on a personal note, i am obviously a sibling of a brother with autism and my Mother is one of the most loving affectionate people on the planet. I work within the field of autism with families and it still continually amazes me how far the Mothers i see on a regular basis will go for their children- they will literally move the world for their child. So Tony Humphreys, I’m sure that you came into this field to help people so maybe you could do the decent thing and use you role to research relevant evidence about autism and concentrate on helping families instead of selling your books.

Sibs:)

http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/family-issues/siblings.html

I love this article about siblings and autism. I think it gives a great summary of the major stresses that a sibling of an individual with autism goes through. The obviously has been more a research focus on the impact of autism on parents, however thankfully in recent years are research targeting siblings are starting to emerge and become more and more common. It was even the subject of my own dissertation a few years ago.

I think a focus on siblings is so important after all we stand to be the longest relationship in our sibling’s life so it is an incredibly important relationship. Often siblings can take on a parental role from a very young age due to this. Myself, - me and my brother have a excellent relationship, but it has not always been perfect. This was especially during my teens when i felt quite self conscious about having a sibling who was different. Now i love my brother quirky personality and i really do not give a crap about people staring when we are out... says a lot more about them then usJ

New autism research

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16740758

Some new research which may indicate children being identified as having an ASD from the age of six months! Early intervention is soo important so this is really fantastic news. Hopefully this research will display more positive results!

This is quite cool

http://storyful.com/stories/1000017532

I think this is great. A nine year old boy with an ASD raising awareness and grilling candidates about their special need proposals during the run up to the US elections. Some of the replies are incredibly patronising but once you can get past that its great!

And such a good idea,..what better way to give people with ASD a voice!