‘Chords for Kids’ lets kids with autism experience a live classical concert
Daily Herald
At most classical music concerts, audiences are expected to be reverentially silent and still – a near impossibility for autistic kids who frequently have sensory issues and can’t fully control their speech or movement.
But noisemakers and wigglers are more than welcome at “Chords for Kids,” a free concert for families with autistic or special needs children. It’s performed by the North Central College student ensemble Concert Winds at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville.
“It was a just a group of friends with an idea,” said concert planner and “Chords for Kids” co-founder Susan Maynes of St. Charles.
After learning about a combined classical and operatic concert for autistic children staged in Salt Lake City by Utah Symphony-Utah Opera (which started annual autism concerts back in 2003), Maynes was inspired to try and do something similar locally.
“It was very much a fledgling, grass-roots movement,” said Jamie Walden-Mather of St. Charles, who is also an adjunct professor at North Central College. “This was a niche that really needed to be filled.”
via Daily Herald | ‘Chords for Kids’ lets kids with autism experience a live classical concert.
Posted on March 9, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: Autism, children with Autism, music
A possible early glimpse of autism’s impact on older siblings
EurekAlert!
Researchers looking at families with an autistic child say they don’t yet know whether the impacts are the result of having an autistic child in the family or if they might be part of a broader genetic predisposition.
A new study suggests a trend toward developing hyperactivity among typically developing elementary-school-aged siblings of autistic preschoolers and supports the notion that mothers of young, autistic children experience more depression and stress than mothers with typically developing children.
While the impact on older siblings was not statistically significant, the trend may indicate the presence of symptoms associated with broader observable autism characteristics seen in previous studies, says Laura Lee McIntyre, a professor and director of the University of Oregon’s school psychology program.The study was published in the March issue of the journal Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.
Previous research projects have netted mixed findings, but many suggest that families dealing with autism — especially brothers and sisters of an autistic child — also experience symptoms similar to autism: widespread abnormalities of social interactions, communication and behavior.
via A possible early glimpse of autism’s impact on older siblings.
Posted on March 9, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism, Caregiving | Tags: Autism, children with Autism, families, mothers, siblings
NBC’s ‘Parenthood’ brings real-life autism to TV
Washington Times
Stimeyland blogger Jean Winegardner writes about a character with Asperger’s syndrome in this Washington Times post:
As a parent of a child with autism, I have watched with interest several television programs that have featured autistic characters. NBC’s new hour-long drama “Parenthood” is the newest of these programs, and one that holds a great deal of promise.
I am interested in autistic characters on television for the same reasons many other minority groups are interested in seeing people representative of them on television. It educates, it normalizes and it includes. I’ve been disappointed in the past by autistic portrayals on TV, notably Mary McDonnell’s doctor with Asperger’s on “Grey’s Anatomy,” because the characters just didn’t ring true and seemed to perpetuate stereotypes.
I’ve been seeing commercials for “Parenthood” for a long time, but just learned last week that one of the characters, Max, is a child with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. This is intriguing because I can’t think of any instances in which a child has played a person with autism. I was further compelled to watch after learning that “Parenthood” producer Jason Katims has a 13-year-old son with Asperger’s, which means the situations surrounding Max come from a place of experience.
via NBC’s ‘Parenthood’ Brings Real-Life Autism to TV | Washington Times Communities.
Posted on March 8, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: Asperger's, Autism, TV
Scientists look to help children with autism find a voice
CNN
When Ryan Wallace got a diagnosis of autism at age 2, his parents never thought they’d hear him speak.
“He used to make noises. When he wanted something he would just point,” says Ryan’s father, Gerald David Wallace. “Or he would scream.”
Therapists say that’s not unusual for someone with Ryan’s condition. According to doctors, many children with autism have difficulty understanding information from the outside world.
“The brain’s ability to process information comes in from the eyes, ears and other senses during infancy,” says Dr. Mark Wallace, an expert on sensory processing who directs the Vanderbilt Brain Institute who is not related to Ryan.”If that [ability] is compromised during the early developmental period, you will never be able to really gain full function in these systems.”
via Scientists look to help children with autism find a voice – CNN.com.
Posted on March 8, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: Autism, children with Autism
Autism programs focus on early intervention
Toledo Blade
Lily Lyons was reading books while still in her crib, but speech continues to mostly elude the 3 1/2-year-old Toledo girl.Although Lily didn’t speak a word before enrolling in Mercy Children’s Hospital’s intensive preschool for autistic children in April, she now talks some – and uses a specialized picture book to communicate with her family. Her twin brother, Luke, who also is autistic and attends the same preschool, has advanced from speaking a few words to talking in complete sentences.
Such progress helps show that intensive early intervention is critical for those with autism, a developmental disability that can affect communication and behavior in varying degrees.
Lily and Luke were diagnosed shortly after turning 2 and were enrolled in Mercy’s Clinic Home Intensive Program in hopes of improving their education.
via toledoblade.com — The Blade ~ Toledo Ohio.
Posted on March 8, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: Autism, children with Autism, Ohio
National Autism Association applauds Congress for passing legislation to end restraint and seclusion in school
PR Newswire
NIXA, Mo., March 4 – Today the National Autism Association celebrated the passing of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act, on Wednesday and those responsible for spearheading the bill. Congressman George Miller (D-CA) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) introduced the federal legislation as a much-anticipated solution to the issues of unregulated restraint and seclusion in schools.
The bill, which passed 262-153, sets guidelines that allow physical restraint or locked seclusion only when there is imminent danger of injury. It bans restraint that restricts airflow, mechanical restraints such as strapping children to chairs or duct-taping body parts, mandates notification to parents, and prohibits behavior-controlling medications that aren’t prescribed by doctors.
Posted on March 5, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: Autism, National Autism Association, school
Golfer Ernie Els to be honored for his autism work
Jacksonville.com
Ernie Els’ son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism four years ago at the age of 3. Since then, the three-time major champion has been a tireless supporter of research and treatment of autism. In April, he will be honored by the Golf Writers Association of America with its Charlie Bartlett Award.
The award, named for the first secretary of the GWAA, is given each year to a professional golfer for his or her unselfish contributions to the betterment of society. Els will receive the award April 7 at the GWAA annual banquet in Augusta, Ga.
Els and his wife, Liezl, founded the Els Autism Foundation in 2009 and are now in the process of a $30 million capital campaign for the Els Center For Excellence. The center will offer education and therapy for autistic children and conduct research.
via Golf notebook: Ernie Els to be honored for his autism work | Jacksonville.com.
Posted on March 5, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: Autism, celebrities, Florida
Dementia Caregiving: Don’t take things personally!
cohealth blog
In this post from the CoHealth Blog, the blogger introduces Principle Number 9 of caring for someone with dementia. It deals with one of the hardest aspects of dementia caregiving – difficult behavior. Don’t take it personally; often that language or behavior is the dementia, not the person you’ve known and loved. Read on.
Principles of Behavior Management with Dementia – Don’t Take it Personally
It is easy to misunderstand or misinterpret the actions of someone with dementia, to wonder why he is saying hurtful things, or to feel offended when his interpersonal behavior and communications are so uncharacteristic for him. Whether in a residential setting or a nursing home, the effects of dementia can produce unpredictable and often offensive emotions, behaviors, and attitudes. Regardless of how long we may have known, loved, and cared for someone, there will be occasions when a coarse, crude comment, a striking out with a clenched fist, or a distasteful act like spitting is directed at the caregiver.
Posted on March 3, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Alzheimer's, Caregiving, Dementia | Tags: caregiver stress, Caregiving, family caregiving
Parents of the disabled want a say
Autism Parents Club
The mother of an autistic adult featured in this Salt Lake Tribune Article says she knows her son best. She and other parents of adult disabled children want their voices heard when decisions are being made about where their children should live.
Parents of the disabled want a say
In one group home, Philip Paulsen was left unattended and was seriously burned in a cooking accident. While playing with water — a habit when he’s anxious — the severely autistic adult caused $5,000 in damage to a supervised apartment. He was evicted for assaulting a caregiver.
As his mother, 73-year-old Mary Paulsen rounds the corner to old age, she feels the “security, consistency and supervision” her son needs can only be found at the state-run Utah Developmental Center in American Fork.
But with a movement to keep the disabled out of institutions underway for decades, Paulsen and other parents feel shut out of decisions about where their loved ones will live. They’re now asking lawmakers to endorse legislation that would make it easier for parents to institutionalize their mentally disabled children.
via Parents of the disabled want a say – Autism Parents Club.
Posted on March 2, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism, Caregiving | Tags: adults with autism, Autism, family caregiving, housing
Emergency help for dementia sufferers
The Weston Mercury
Paramedics in southwestern England are getting new information on identifying and dealing with patients with dementia.
Ambulance paramedics are changing the way they work to help those suffering from dementia.
Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) is working with the Department of Health to provide better care for people with the memory loss condition.
The partnership has led to a new strategy to help paramedics diagnose and treat sufferers.
via The Weston Mercury – Emergency help for dementia sufferers.
Posted on March 1, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Alzheimer's, Dementia | Tags: Alzheimer's, Dementia, first responders
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