Autism
Here you will find links to Autism related sites that will enhance the information that you will find here.
Autism Research Institute
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Dr. Bernard Rimland's unassuming storefront office houses the world-renowned Autism Research Institute, which has improved the lives of thousands of children with autism - bringing relief, hope, and even recovery to families worldwide.
Established in 1967, the San Diego-based nonprofit ARI is world headquarters for research and information on autism and related disorders, and the epicenter of a rapidly growing movement that holds that autism can be treated effectively through intensive behavior modification and a variety of individualized biomedical treatments.
Dr. Rimland's 1964 book, "Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior," was responsible for challenging and changing the long-held belief that autism was an emotional disorder caused by poor mothering. Autism is now recognized as a biomedical disorder. Rimland has devoted himself tirelessly to conducting and disseminating the results of research on methods of diagnosing and treating the full spectrum of autism. These treatment modalities, once considered radical, are now gaining wide acceptance as the news spreads about formerly autistic children who have been reclassified as normal.
Dr. Rimland's determination was spawned by his own son's diagnosis of autism, at age two, in 1958. After this discovery, and convinced by his research, Rimland fought hard in the 1960's to advance the cause of early behavioral intervention (commonly known as ABA). While most mainstream professionals rejected it, today - four decades later - they fully accept its value. Now Rimland and his colleagues (who believe that drugs too often cause more harm than good) are pioneering the use of laboratory tests to identify problems in children's metabolism which can be corrected through the use of diets, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other safe and natural substances normally present in the body.
By 1995, the beginning of what is now widely recognized as an epidemic of autism was evident. Recent studies show an 800% increase in cases since 1985. ARI was in the forefront of calling attention to the coming epidemic. Today ARI maintains the world's largest databank of autistic individuals with over 37,000 detailed case histories of autistic children from 60 countries, and is a major source of information on the epidemic and its potential causes.
Together with Sidney Baker, M.D. and Jon Pangborn, Ph.D., Rimland developed the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) project to train physicians and other healthcare professionals how to implement advanced DAN! approaches to the diagnosis and successful treatment of autism. There are now several hundred DAN! physicians worldwide and thousands of children - many of them the sons and daughters of DAN! physicians -- who are no longer diagnosed as autistic and have been mainstreamed into their school systems.
In addition to ARI's tracking, funding, monitoring and implementation of research into the causes and treatments of autism, ARI is engaged in other projects which include:
Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) Think-Tanks and Conferences: DAN! brings together physicians and scientists from around the world to develop advanced methods of diagnosis and treatment. Recommendations based on the DAN! Manual (Biomedical Assessment Options for Children with Autism and Related Problems) have attracted international attention. Follow-up DAN! Conferences and practitioner trainings are held twice a year. "Mini-DAN!" Conferences are offered periodically. Additional information about DAN! can be found at www.danconference.com.
Autism Research Review International (ARRI): This quarterly newsletter provides up-to-date information about developments in the world of autism. The latest autism findings are gleaned from a computer search of the 25,000 scientific and medical articles published every week.
New information emerges daily about autism and its surrounding issues. ARI works diligently to apply the new research findings toward developing methods of helping autistic children and their families now.
ARI provides free and low-cost information to parents, professionals and the media by mail and on its website: www.AutismResearchInstitute.com. A publication list of available books, tapes, videos and articles is available at the ARI website and by mail.
The Autism Research institute is a 501 (C)(3) and is supported by donations from concerned people and organizations. ARI is located at 4182 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116. For more information phone (619) 281-7165, fax (619) 563-6840 or visit www.AutismResearchInstitute.com.
www.abaresources.com
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If you have logged onto this site, it is probably as a result of your experience with or interest in an ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) program for your child, or a child you are working with. This site is devoted to providing ABA resource materials to children involved in an ABA program. Although ABA programs are used primarily for autistic children, ABA is a successful intervention for the "neurotypical" and the special needs population, provided through the public and private sectors.
About Us
My son began a home-based ABA program soon after an official diagnosis was given at the age of 4 ½ years. Although the estimated costs of implementing the home-based ABA program was high (approximately $54 000/year), I refused to allow this to be a barrier to providing a proven effective treatment for my son. However, cost saving strategies would be implemented where possible.
As a mother of an autistic child, and also as a practicing physical therapist involved in teaching and research, understanding my son's program became a primary goal. I was determined to develop the tools on my own to learn more about his home-based ABA program, and save costs where possible. This also provided me the ability to steer my son's program where I felt his deficits were greatest, and at the same time, build on his strengths.
Having the experience of creating and searching for ABA resource materials to implement his program, and recognizing that materials, if available, were costly and limited, it became obvious that a specific site was needed to provide parents the opportunity to obtain ABA resource materials at an affordable cost, and where possible at no charge to the parents. As materials were made for my son's program, an audio training module was developed to teach my son the ability to recognize sounds, non-verbal language cues, and improve attending skills. Research on this method of training is positive. Please visit http://www.autismoregon.com/links.html for additional information.
Eric's success with his home-based ABA program has been more than positive. Within a week of beginning his home-based program, he began to ask questions and demonstrated improved eye contact. He is now able to engage in conversations at a functional level. He continues to gain academic and social skills.
This site offer free and affordable materials specific to a home or school based ABA program. An innovative audio-training module is available through this site, which is the first available to the general public. Please feel free to navigate this site and download free resource materials. Check out the message board for a place where you can get used materials, learn about upcoming conferences/courses, and find therapists.
www.abcteach.com
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We are proud to announce that abcteach has received the Learning ® Magazine 2007 Teachers' Choice SM Award. Our membership site was evaluated by teachers across the United States on the basis of quality, instructional value, ease of use, and innovation. We are honored to receive this award.
Autism Society of America
ASA chapters are your best source of information and support.
Most chapters are volunteer-led by parents, care providers, and other professionals. ASA has chapters in nearly every state reaching out to individuals with autism and their families with information, support, and encouragement.
Autism Speaks
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In 2004, our grandson was diagnosed with autism. Helpless, we watched him slip away into the cruel embrace of this disorder. There seemed to be nothing we could do. But that heartbreaking moment was the beginning of what has become a very public and heartfelt mission. We launched Autism Speaks in February 2005 to help find a cure for autism by raising the funds that will facilitate and quicken the pace of research, to raise public awareness of autism, and to give hope to all those who suffer from this disorder.
Few disorders are as devastating to a child and his or her family. Instead of Little League games and sleepovers, most people with autism will face lifelong supervision and care, exhausting a family's financial and emotional resources. The nation's fastest-growing serious developmental disorder, autism now affects 1 in 166 children in the United States, up more than tenfold from just a decade ago. There are almost 1.5 million cases of autism in this country alone, with 3 children being diagnosed per hour. Yet, despite these alarming statistics, autism remains severely underfunded. We are working hard to change that.
Autism Speaks was born out of a single family's experience—our family—but its goal is to give a voice to an entire community, to every family dealing with the hardships of autism. The journey that began a year ago in a doctor's waiting room is now a march. In fact, at the end of our first year, we joined forces with the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), creating the largest single organization devoted to autism in the nation. (Click here for a history of NAAR). The pace is quickening, and, God willing, we won't stop until we have conquered autism—one child, one voice at a time.
Sincerely,
Suzanne and Bob Wright
Co-founders, Autism Speaks
Safe Minds
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The Coalition for SafeMinds (Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders) is a private nonprofit organization founded to investigate and raise awareness of the risks to infants and children of exposure to mercury from medical products, including thimerosal in vaccines. Safe Minds supports research on the potential harmful effects of mercury and thimerosal.
Our mission is to end the health and personal devastations caused by the needless use of mercury in medicines. We utilize a multifaceted approach:
SafeMinds works aggressively to educate government agencies, legislators, manufacturers, and retailers to the scientific research regarding mercury in medicine and foster its removal from medical and health products;
SafeMinds encourages and engages others for more research to scientifically understand how mercury in these products causes harm and how effective treatments can be developed for those already exposed;
SafeMinds looks to serve as a clearinghouse for the gathering and dissemination of good and proper relevant scientific research, and to provide peer to peer review opportunities for those efforts;
SafeMinds promotes awareness campaigns to parents and clinicians to educate them about the issue; and
SafeMinds encourages open investigations into how mercury has persisted in routine medical products, such as vaccines, despite its known neurotoxicity.
To accomplish these goals, we serve proactively in the scientific, legal, and public awareness arenas, and in an educational capacity to regulatory and legislative bodies...
Sharon Link, Ph.D.
Autism spectrum disorders are now being diagnosed at a rate of 1/150 individuals a year. Already faced with the potential demand for major transformations, education systems, medical systems, social systems, and family systems must significantly modify their awareness and skills in working with individuals who have spectrum disorders.
- Autism
- High Functioning Autism
- Asperger Syndrome
- Pervasive Development Disorder
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
My training is in education and organizational leadership. I am a mother of a child with Asperger Syndrome. Having spent years of study and working as an educator, educational leader, advocate, and consultant, I provide advocacy and support for both parents and professionals seeking to better help and understand children with autistic spectrum disorders and adaptively change organizations to offset demands on these systems. My work is based on research that parents of children with spectrum disorders experience a much different experience raising their child than the typically developing child. I maintain a strong dedication to the theory that children with spectrum disorders are unique individuals who have their own specific personalities and learning styles. Through my research, I learned that parents of children with spectrum disorders experience phenomena unique to their parenting experience. I teach utilizing an informed approach of looking at the whole child operating within the context of the family system and organizational systems interacting with the individual. I work with people and various organizations locally, nationally, and internationally to bring conscious awareness to challenge, transform, and "lead others to understanding" in order to cope more effectively with the obstacles related to autistic spectrum disorders, leadership, and understanding. As a researcher, educator, trainer, and consultant I offer seminars that "inform to transform." To learn more visit: http://SharonLink.com
Long Island schools challenged by autism's growth
| john.hildebrand@newsday.com November 2, 2007 Explosive growth in the number of Long Island students diagnosed with autism and other neurological disorders is pitting parents who seek greater help for their children against school officials struggling to contain special-education costs.
Across the Island, the number of school-age youngsters classified as autistic has jumped nearly 50 percent during the past three years alone, to more than 3,000. Figures at state and national levels have increased more than threefold over 10 years, making autism the fastest-growing impairment among American youths.
Climbing autism rates are partly offset by the fact that many students who might once have been diagnosed as learning disabled or mentally retarded now are being identified as autistic instead. Experts attribute this to improved diagnoses, and to a broadening of the definition of autism itself. Long Island students classified as learning disabled, for example, have declined by 13.2 percent over the past three years while the number considered mentally retarded has dropped by nearly 10 percent.The shift in classifications has sent many school districts scrambling to find money, space and teachers to set up costly new programs. Students with autism require more intensive educational services than many students classified with other disabilities.
Many parents, for their part, voice frustration over continued shortages of programs appropriate for their autistic children.
"I've never come across a parent who didn't have to fight, whether it's in getting a diagnosis, or getting speech therapy," said Debora Harris, founder of the private ELIJA School in Levittown, which serves students severely impaired by autism.
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The National Autistic Society
The National Autistic Society exists to champion the rights and interests of all people with autism and to ensure that they and their families receive quality services appropriate to their needs. The website includes information about autism and Asperger syndrome, the NAS and its services and activities.
Visual Thinking Sensory Problems and Communication Difficulties
In this paper, I will describe my experiences with autism. The main areas I will cover are visual thinking, sensory problems, and difficulties with communication. After I describe my experiences, I will discuss the similarities and differences between myself and other people with an autism diagnosis. There is probably a continuum of autism subtypes that vary in the pattern of neurological abnormality and the severity of neurological problems.