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Wisconsin boys with special needs experience scouting life
WSAW
Here’s a story about a Boy Scout troop in Wisconsin for boys with autism and other special needs. These boys have volunteered, they’ve bowled, they’ve even gone to camp.
April is Autism Awareness Month… and all month long we’ve been highlighting how the disorder is touching families in our area.
When a child is diagnosed with autism, some may focus on the things they won’t be able to do.
But one a Boy Scout Troop is opening up a world of possibilities to these boys.
“When they put on their uniform, their whole attitude changes big smiles they are happy they know what’s going to happen they are going to their meeting,” says Scout Master Dennis Dzwonkowski.
via Wausau Area Boys With Special Needs Experience Scouting Life.
Posted on April 30, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: activities, Boy Scouts, children with Autism
iPad gives voice to Autistic
ABC News
When the iPad was released earlier this month, reviewers were quick to tout its advantages for reading books, watching movies and browsing the Web. What they overlooked, though, was its potential to change the lives of people with autism.
via Proloquo2Go iPad Software Gives Voice to the Autistic – ABC News.
Posted on April 29, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism, Caregiving | Tags: Autism, iPad, technology
Finding your autistic child’s strengths and building them
Connecticut Post
Here’s a story from the Connecticut Post that shows how one family is bolstering their autistic child’s strengths and working on social skills.
It may have been a beautiful, sunny April morning, but for a moment everyone quieted around the Walkers’ kitchen table to hear Christopher Walker sing “Silent Night.”
“He loves music,” said his mother, Renee, smiling after cheering her 7-year-old son’s efforts.
Christopher also loves to dance; to play with his toys, including several Zu Zu Pets that he was loath to put down that morning; to read books; to spend time with his parents; and to look out the windows of his Fairfield home, perhaps to see what he might be missing.
Christopher is also autistic, as well as having been diagnosed with apraxia — a condition in which people know what they want to say, but their bodies won’t let them do it. For instance, Christopher’s rendition of the classic Christmas carol was a series of sounds, an approximation of words, rather than the words themselves.
Given these challenges, Brian and Renee Walker have worked to develop strategies to help their son better communicate and develop his natural talents.
via Living with autism – Connecticut Post.
Posted on April 29, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism, Caregiving | Tags: Autism, children with Autism
15 Lessons From the Clergy / Caregiver of an Elderly Parent
Duke University
Here’s a post from The Connection, the blog at the Clergy Health Initiative, which is a program intended to improve the health and well-being of the 1,600 United Methodist elders and local pastors serving churches in North Carolina. Partners of the initiative include Duke Divinity School and The Duke Endowment.
John M. Crowe: 15 Lessons From the Caregiver of an Elderly Parent
Our guest blogger, Dr. John M. Crowe, offers this advice to pastors who are caregivers for their own parents, recipients of care from their own family members, or counselors to congregants in the caregiving role. This advice comes from my own experience over the last year and a half plus being part of the agingcare.com online support group. 1. Before their health starts down a slippery slope, make sure you or a sibling has both Durable and Medical Powers of Attorney POA.
via The Connection: John M. Crowe: 15 Lessons From the Caregiver of an Elderly Parent.
Posted on April 28, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Alzheimer's, Caregiving, Dementia | Tags: Alzheimer's, Dementia, family caregiving
From Pennsylvania: Developing New Housing Options for Adults with Autism Will Foster New Opportunities
PR Newswire
Pennsylvanians with autism could have broader opportunities to participate in and contribute to their communities if more effort is made to create affordable housing tailored to their needs, a new state report finds.
The report on housing options for adults with autism spectrum disorder, issued today by the Department of Public Welfare’s Bureau of Autism Services, offers a first-ever comprehensive look at the housing challenges facing Pennsylvanians with autism.
Posted on April 27, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: adults with autism, Autism, housing
Little steps take autistic kids a long way on the tennis court
The Buffalo News
The gym was filled with volunteers and schoolchildren in constant movement. There was no time to waste in their weekly tennis lesson — there were backhands, forehands and volleys to practice.
In some ways, it looked like any other after-school program.
In other ways, it was vastly different.
The smiles on the faces, the eye contact, the hand-eye coordination, the communication between instructor and student — all are things that can be challenging to come by with this group.
For the past two years, Brian Dorval and Pam Almeter have been developing an adaptive tennis program for children with autism and teaching the game and its skills to children ages 5 to 17 at Summit Educational Resources in Getzville.
via Net gains: Little steps take autistic kids a long way on the tennis court : NeXt : The Buffalo News.
Posted on April 27, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: activities, children with Autism, sports
Many Alzheimer’s Patients Find Comfort in Books
NYTimes.com
Familiar music can engage those with Alzheimer’s when almost nothing else can, researchers have shown. Now it appears that books written for these patients may have a similar effect.
Researchers have found in a number of studies that reading can improve a patient’s quality of life. The meanings of written sentences can be understood by — and prompt cogent responses from — even those who have difficulty handling verbal exchanges.
via Many Alzheimer’s Patients Find Comfort in Books – The New Old Age Blog – NYTimes.com.
Posted on April 26, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Alzheimer's, Caregiving | Tags: Alzheimer's, books, Caregiving
Inclusion for children with Down syndrome in mainstream classrooms
Brighthub
Studies show children with Down Syndrome benefit from inclusion in the regular classroom. However, one of the risks of inclusion is that children will be placed in the mainstream classroom and without proper inclusion strategies to learn in that environment. Here are tips for successful inclusion.
via Inclusion for Children with Down Syndrome in the Mainstream Classroom.
Posted on April 26, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Down Syndrome | Tags: Down Syndrome, school
Class helps autistic kids learn to socialize
Mansfield News Journal
This post features an Ohio program that teaches social skills to autistic children. One woman interviewed has been taking kids into stores and other businesses, which has two benefits – the children learn to be comfortable there and people working in the businesses learn to accept autism.
MANSFIELD — Several programs tackle educational or physical barriers, but the Friendly House and the Independent Living Center know there’s more to living for children with autism and attention deficit disorders.That’s where “Socialization from A2Z” comes in.The new program at the Friendly House, 380 North Mulberry St., is available for children ages 2 to 18 and provides an opportunity to learn social skills in public and private settings.
via Class helps autistic kids learn to socialize | mansfieldnewsjournal.com | Mansfield News Journal.
Posted on April 26, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Autism | Tags: Autism, children with Autism
Family caregiving stress-filled and isolating
avantrasara
Family members who provide care to relatives with dementia, but do not have formal training, frequently experience overwhelming stress that sometimes leads to breakdowns or depression, according to Penn State and Benjamin Rose Institute researchers. Interventions to alleviate this stress are not always effective, leaving caregivers isolated to deal with their stresses.
via Penn State Live – Family caregiving stress-filled and isolating | Avantrasara.
Posted on April 23, 2010 | No Comments | Category: Alzheimer's, Caregiving, Dementia | Tags: Dementia, family caregiving