tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10071805186036914452024-01-28T02:13:39.271-05:00Finding Peace in the Autism PuzzleAn online resource for families searching for peace on the puzzling road of autism spectrum disorders.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-76932307291194657842016-10-12T20:52:00.000-04:002016-10-12T21:00:01.952-04:00September was a tricky month. Starting a new school year is always exciting, bringing so much change, new experiences and unexpected events. The transition into this school year has been tough for all of us, much harder than anticipated, and worrisome. You see, I can't get into my son's brain and he can't yet find the words to
explain, so I devour every video and article written by an
adult who was once like him, and it helps me understand. I will never
feel what he feels, but I can certainly try to understand so I can be as
supportive as possible. Sometimes I ask too much of him. It's so hard to find the balance between understanding and pushing just enough out of his comfort zone to experience something new and grow. Articles like
these help me remember that on some days, he's doing the best he can just by walking out
our door in the morning. I pray for the strength and the wisdom to
support him as best as I can... I hope this article is as enlightening to you as I found it to be for me!<br />
DC <br />
Click on the link below:<br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-autism-impacts-my-life-in-ways-you-cant-see_us_57f18064e4b0972364deb7b5" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-autism-impacts-my-life-in-ways-you-cant-see_us_57f18064e4b0972364deb7b5</a><br />
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How Autism Impacts My Life In Ways You Can’t See</h1>
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You won’t see tons of pictures of me out with family and friends on social media.</h2>
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<span class="timestamp__date--published">10/02/2016 06:02 pm ET</span><span class="timestamp__date--modified">
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<span class="author-card__details-container"><a class="author-card__details__link" data-beacon="{"p":{"lnid":"author"}}" data-plid="lamarhardwick-667" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/lamarhardwick-667"><span class="author-card__details__name">Dr. Lamar Hardwick</span>
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Husband, father, pastor, author, autism advocate
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On Friday, Sept. 9, I woke
up without peripheral vision. As I struggled to get our kids ready for
school, I silently thought to myself, “I can’t see.”<br />
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I knew what that meant. It wasn’t a first-time experience. It was an
impending migraine. I took my medication and went back to bed, but
despite the fact that the medication rids me of my migraines pretty
rapidly, I still only managed to leave my bed twice that day.</div>
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You see, on Thursday I drove
to Birmingham, Alabama, to attend a one-day conference. It was
exciting. It was inspiring. I learned a lot. I got a chance to spend
time with an extraordinary young man I am mentoring. It was all worth
it, but in the back of my mind I knew I would pay the price. This is the ASD (autism spectrum disorder) I live with.<br />
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Social anxiety and sensory processing issues are a huge part of my
experience. The way autism affects those who live with it is as vast as
the personalities of the people themselves. My life with autism isn’t
going to look like the life of the other person you know with autism. In fact, if you’re secretly looking for anything that would indicate I
am on the spectrum, I would say that you most likely won’t <i>see</i> anything at all.<br />
<h4>
Sometimes understanding how autism affects me can only be found in what you <i>don’t see</i>.</h4>
Let me explain.<br />
What you <i>don’t see</i> is me leaving my home much beyond work,
church, and trips to the gym. You won’t see tons of pictures of me out
with family and friends on social media.</div>
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You won’t see me at the
football game or the concert that everyone is going to. You often won’t
see me hanging out at the mall or at an amusement park. You won’t always
see me at the Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Independence Day cookouts and
fireworks shows. I love all of those events and environments, but the reality I live
with is that I am often forced to choose very carefully how I spend my
time and my sensory resources.<br />
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Perhaps that’s why when you see me, I appear to be fine. What you
think you see is someone not affected by autism, when in reality what
you see is someone who has given up dozens of opportunities to leave
home so I can be seen in the few places you always see me. What you don’t see is how much I prepare and how much I pray. Preparation and prayer for most people is something they do when they take an exam.</div>
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For me, preparation and prayer is what I have to do just to exit my home.</h4>
Every day I spend hours preparing to encounter a world that my brain
isn’t built for, and I pray for the grace, courage, and strength to
manage it successfully. When you see that I’m doing fine, just know that fine is a short
distance between not being able to get out of bed on a Friday and being
able to speak in front of hundreds of people on Sunday morning.<span class="quote"> </span></div>
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Fine is a short distance
between failure and faith and fatigue and focus. Like a smartphone app
stuck in refresh mode, my brain is constantly searching for data, taking
in the sights, sounds, and smells using up all of my precious data, and
the end result is always a drained battery that leaves me with just
enough physical energy to climb out of bed to use the restroom.<br />
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That’s what you don’t see, but let me tell you what you do see:<br />
<h4>
What you see is a warrior. Despite my difficulties with sensory
processing and social anxiety what you don’t see is someone who is weak.
I am strong. I am a fighter. I am a gladiator.</h4>
Like the athletes who grace the gridiron on Saturdays and Sundays
playing the great sport of football, my life is the perfect blend
between beauty and brutality and between grace and grit.<br />
What you see is a gift given to me by God. A gift to persevere. A
gift to overcome. A gift to inspire. What you see is a talent for
transforming life’s toughest moments into life’s most teachable moments.<br />
My life on the spectrum showcases the strength of the human spirit.
My challenges haven’t defined me; rather, I have publicly defied the
odds that have been stacked against me.<br />
What you see is God using the stage of my struggles as a platform to
showcase a divine strength. A strength that is so other worldly that it
actually makes my life look easy. </div>
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What you see is the grace to learn how to be less of a taker and more of a giver.<br />
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Life on the spectrum may have taken parts of me, but rather than
responding by becoming a victim and a taker, it has motivated me not to
take things for granted but to take chances, take risks, take
opportunities, take charge, and to take a stand, and by taking these
things I have in return been given the grace to give the world the best
of me.<br />
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To all of my awesome autism warriors, keep fighting the good fight. We see you!<br />
<i>A version of this post appears on <a data-beacon="{"p":{"mnid":"entry_text","lnid":"citation","mpid":1,"plid":"https://autismpastor.com/"}}" href="https://autismpastor.com/" target="_blank">autismpastor.com</a></i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-35237933671344689432016-09-08T23:14:00.002-04:002016-09-08T23:35:15.808-04:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-68353738296137906592016-09-08T23:14:00.001-04:002016-09-08T23:44:39.699-04:00That Elusive Happy PlaceSometimes life is just easier when your friends are toy dinosaurs and cartoon characters who go on grand imaginary adventures with you. You are in full control, everything is predictable, colorful and stimulating (but not over-stimulating) as you replay the same adventure over and over in your mind. It's safe. It's your happy place!<br />
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The real world is a cruel and scary place. Maybe autism is a self-preserving defense mechanism. Don't we all wish we could live inside our heads in the most wonderful imaginary world most of the time instead of dealing with the real world??? We all wish it sometimes. We just don't say it. And that's the beauty of autism: most of the time you just don't care what other people think because you do what makes you happy. No one should be forced into NOT wanting to be happy!<br />
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So let's meet our loved ones where they're at: get down on the floor with them and try to ease into this wonderful place they've created. Find ways to bridge their world and ours. Help them find joy and happiness in the real world. Sometimes I worry that the rabbit hole is just so much nicer, why come out? But if we don't draw them out, what then??? It's a scary path I don't like to venture into inside my own mind. If only we could get a glimpse of what our loved ones see...maybe we wouldn't want to come back to the real world, either. In the HBO series and best selling books Game of Thrones, there's a character named Bran. He learns that he has a gift of being able to "leave" his body and enter different worlds, times and places (or the same world through another's perspective) but it comes with the cost of losing the ones he loves...the longer he stays "outside" of his body, the greater the chance that he won't be able to come back to reality. I do believe so much of autism is a gift, but often at the cost of the ones we love, or at least the connections to the ones we love. The longer they stay in their imaginary world, the less they want to be in the real world and the more isolated they become. So it's up to us to help this world be a fun and adventurous place to live.<br />
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Autism is enigmatic, mysterious. How can they love a toy dinosaur more than members of their own family? What I wouldn't give to be the toy dinosaur for a day, a moment, a second, and feel that deep love. To feel that ecstatic joy that brings on bouts of uncontrollable belly laughter until you drool...what I wouldn't give to feel that connection, share that joy and understand. THAT would be my happy place: connected by the common love and pure essence of joy in that moment, and to hold on to that memory forever. The memory of sharing that secret happy place!<br />
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This is a hard road. No joke! Remember to look out for each other: other parents on this journey who may be struggling, too. We are all joined together by autism. Let's stick together for peace's sake!<br />
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Blessings!<br />
DCUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-15188919644974732922016-08-04T18:38:00.000-04:002016-08-04T18:38:43.121-04:00I'm BAAAAACK!!!!Incredible to think how long I've been away. Shortly after my last post in December, 2014 our lives imploded. I can't go into detail, but let's just say now we're on the other side of the volcano... a little burnt from the process, but all in one piece. What's changed since I last posted?<br />
<ol>
<li>We sold our home and relocated.</li>
<li>Our little man started at a new school.</li>
<li>We mastered bike riding without training wheels!</li>
<li>We mastered swimming!!</li>
<li>We went from full inclusion to substantially separate back to inclusion again.</li>
<li>We're still searching for a new church family</li>
<li>I have a whole new administrative team at work... I outlasted everyone!!! </li>
<li>Life is good!</li>
</ol>
So, here's where the blog is going: continue to be a resource for families, take a more secular tone to be more inclusive of other families, include more OT-related information, I will no longer self-disclose personal information about our family or our son... because it's his life for HIM to share. Not mine...<br />
<br />
Well, hope to get some of you all back on board and working together to find peace in the autism puzzle.<br />
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Blessings!<br />
DC Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-42059987222400881302014-12-04T11:08:00.000-05:002014-12-04T11:08:04.845-05:00Autism-friendly Santa!I just LOVE Kerry Magro!!!!! Don't let ASD keep you from important family traditions. There are many "sensory friendly" Santa events nation-wide. I hope this motivates you to get out there and try something new... And please scroll all the way down to learn more about Kerry and his wonderful work for autism awareness and acceptance!<br />
Be well and blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/%7Er/AutismSpeaksBlog/%7E3/2MxeGd4dLbY/children-autism-meet-santa-autism?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" name="14a14c2814b07dd4_1" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18px;" target="_blank">Children with Autism to Meet a Santa with Autism</a>
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Posted: 03 Dec 2014 10:30 AM PST</div>
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<img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhUXJmtVMgk61Kjmekl4QO61XArY7gXzLA5eEPhCpk_ii3aa01RSBG8meX5-aYdASEaY7PP-yZvmV-EDJinmivMk2BC1dA5fGyKqLhhH16phGtfIL9fr6s59u7VXgH0-wG8KfAQIDE15AVrQiQGvbxzPADZtpcRkKlOzrNRDxalLpypvX5fUtMzTg3vZR-vBSPaMpO_N4HFbQ=s0-d-e1-ft" tabindex="0" width="400" /> </div>
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<img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEinZJaTCjTlmPW3gemfjBn6oQ2ajhbmyiPEWLPOR-sv0oRYq3XV4LYsUpYaORwBPMGApqHb_Or6HjVMRN63xF_9GNyAUpRbUA2kIdA1K0acC_qsDxaAj2D-ojWqhkhJ7xjMjk9XJY24Ml5qZUKXcIQvub0tGab_lQU6NvuqCI0A0c-5QBHZC5EWA9F7kGa0GfU-qS2i0JsYP6-cuYtUVg=s0-d-e1-ft" tabindex="0" width="685" /> </div>
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Autism Speaks Staffer Kerry Magro shares why he will be
playing the role of Santa Claus for children with autism this holiday
season in New Jersey...</div>
This guest blog is by Autism Speaks Staffer Kerry Magro. Kerry is an
award winning national speaker who is on the autism spectrum.<br />
<img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiqPfdbVmyU_MHBW383I_y_0Xx2XOIWwkPy-Moru1JDwNlLMBxXVApB5cLmPNs6AdYyyD3PGdQJRWeskh6MkcHKLY5_guQrB4PGqOR-gJWvWXIP-gHZLa9fEKEsop9oIPA-se8KetknrjhEA6NT0bWHVXSXPR2NqplX9lb1nYPQlyA-GViPvZGA16y3=s0-d-e1-ft" style="min-height: 385px; width: 685px;" tabindex="0" title="Me and my mom after seeing the Radio City Christmas Show" /><br />
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I remember the first time I ever saw Santa. It was during the holiday
season when my parents had taken me out to do some Christmas shopping
at our local mall. I was a five-year-old, just newly diagnosed and I was
completely terrified. I remember the loud music, the crowded lines and
the overload I was feeling. I can still remember what upset me most. We
left before I could meet Santa. I had no picture with Santa because I
was completely overwhelmed and we had to leave.<br />
Today I’m hoping to give children with autism the opportunity to do something I didn’t have the chance to do as a kid.<br />
<img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEh-EUoBl2J0DJ70RSzOTICi2qPtjBjRMF_ZPDwOQUlrO1CXEHX08qDzfHv7dRbZ-AzAhhUDF1TUjDAiq7i3OAVV_oto4Op3MOHv3DU3VsOGMWHCl9H7qXfyqIvLnPRrHyJTMaaBKHoCk_P27B5p0URm0L41mNI1OdnGKwss0wBYdGg2HMhGvw=s0-d-e1-ft" style="font-size: 11.8181819915771px; min-height: 385px; width: 685px;" tabindex="0" /><br />
<span style="font-size: x;">That’s why I decided to start an
Autism-Friendly Day for our community as part of a four day Santa Elf
Factory event in New Jersey to give children with autism the chance to
meet Santa in a sensory-friendly environment. I got the idea when I was
18 and we did a toy drive for some inner city youth in Paterson. Some of
these individuals had special needs and I took on the part of Santa
Claus for the day. Seeing the kid’s reactions was something that truly
has left a lasting impact on me to this day. One of the best memories I
had was when a four-year-old girl named Tiffany came up to me and said
“I Love you Santa” and gave me a hug. I had to fight back tears as I
gave her a Bob the Builder bulldozer. This was one of the cutest and
most special moments of in my life.</span><br />
A year later I had started college and my road to becoming an autism
advocate. During college was one of the first times I ever told anyone
that I was on the autism spectrum. Now at the age of 26 I’m using my
work in the field to yet again take on the role of Santa; now for these
children with autism. The response from our community since we announced
the event has blown me away. Several parents have <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kerrymagro88" target="_blank">contacted me via Facebook </a>saying how this will be the first time their child ever gets to meet Santa.<br />
THIS is what it’s all about. So many children with autism have to
work day and night to get through school, early intervention, therapies,
you name it. During this holiday season these kids deserve the
opportunity to have some time to enjoy themselves in a safe and nurtured
environment. If I can give even one of these kids and their families
the feeling of joy and happiness the event will have been well worth the
time we’ve been putting into it.<br />
While we hope to give back during this holiday season to make an
impact for these kids we are also hoping this will start an even bigger
conversation on getting autism-friendly Santa events for families who
want them across the country. Autism Speaks is helping out with this now
through their <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/caring-santa" target="_blank">partnership with Simon Malls</a> where 120 of their malls will be participating in autism-friendly events for our community.<br />
<img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEg3gjvKRt7SzWHY_-7npAEZeRcDXOuFvyZ1BVv_u1mvbVCkYNASgJ8iA8fn1__ZSW0gbuGsn8cOjdMi4VtH_OcJSjnQiaj6pBlJTUyuDurN2VBC5ZzMhkMnYfWU8RDBv1Oxi5qcwQ8Q0CQSq-DlkgCPiPSv4ITxGYyN6-YXePVJQKu-mOybnw=s0-d-e1-ft" tabindex="0" /><br />
I hope for those reading this that you will share this blog with your
communities, local media outlets, newspapers, websites, social media
etc. as we spread awareness for autism-friendly holiday events that can
make a lasting impact in the lives of countless children.<br />
When I was diagnosed, the numbers of autism were 1 in 1000. Today
it’s 1 in 68 with 3 million individuals having autism in the U.S and 70
million worldwide.<br />
Let’s spread some cheer for our community this season so we can make
autism a part of that conversation for all our families and giving them a
very very special holiday season.<br />
<img alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhXuMTYEMSAV6b8wzR0MbBgAHgt4_je19iPgtybefoh0esanMdFphm4b55eRsZO6DPDFoWITUifMFejoO3SWH8N9NyxfzbS3okAoz3u6-e34wCP_Vfu6F4qMC8Ri94lwX9WVzmh50TZ0R_AUgdoOm59MtsEGxL8db3Ul6r5oI6g4OOgnA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="float: right; margin: 5px; min-height: 300px; width: 300px;" tabindex="0" /><br />
Now it’s time to stock up on milk and cookies to prepare for the big day! Happy Holidays! :)
<i>Kerry is hosting an Autism-Friendly Day @ Santa’s Elf Factory sponsored by <a href="http://www.jcfunraisers.com/" target="_blank">JC Funraisers LLC</a> being held at Tommy 2 Scoops 177 York St Jersey City, New Jersey on Saturday, December 13<sup>th</sup> from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_523663606" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">10 AM to 5 PM</span></span> for 70 autism families. Spots are going fast so reserve your spot <b><a href="http://bit.ly/SantaAutism" target="_blank">TODAY here</a></b>. A portion of the proceeds from this event will help provide scholarships for adults with autism to attend college. </i><br />
Autism Speaks is partnering with <a href="http://www.simon.com/" target="_blank">Simon Property Group, Inc</a>. and the <a href="http://www.noerrprograms.com/" style="font-size: 12px;" target="_blank">Noerr Programs Corporation</a> on their <a href="http://www.simon.com/caring-santa" target="_blank">Caring Santa program</a>! Learn more to see if your local Simon Mall is participating <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/caring-santa" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.<br />
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<br />
Here are more of my earlier posts about Kerry:<br />
<a href="http://findingpeaceinthepuzzle.blogspot.com/2013/10/hi-all-i-am-reposting-this-great.html" target="_blank">http://findingpeaceinthepuzzle.blogspot.com/2013/10/hi-all-i-am-reposting-this-great.html</a><br />
<a href="http://findingpeaceinthepuzzle.blogspot.com/2013/07/thank-you-kerry-magro.html" target="_blank">http://findingpeaceinthepuzzle.blogspot.com/2013/07/thank-you-kerry-magro.html</a><br />
<a href="http://findingpeaceinthepuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/12/an-award-strange-pizza-and-new-guiding.html" target="_blank">http://findingpeaceinthepuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/12/an-award-strange-pizza-and-new-guiding.html</a><br />
<a href="http://findingpeaceinthepuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/08/star-struck.html" target="_blank">http://findingpeaceinthepuzzle.blogspot.com/2012/08/star-struck.html</a><br />
<br />
Please consider donating to his non-profit organization, which awards scholarships to young adults with ASD seeking a secondary education: <a href="http://kerrymagro.com/about/" target="_blank">http://kerrymagro.com/about/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-15804793909514984182014-11-30T21:21:00.000-05:002016-08-04T16:12:43.598-04:00Autism and the Holidays! (cue the chorus of groans!)<i>"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the year!!!"</i>... or so the song goes. But not so much for too many of our families and loved ones with ASD. This next month I will post several different resources to help us all prepare (and survive) the Holiday season and make it as enjoyable for our loved ones with ASD. Here is a wonderful article I found on the website for Bradley Hospital in Rhode Island. Not too wordy, just right for us on the run! Bookmark the site so you can read it at work or while your kids are sleeping: http://www.bradleyhospital.org/parenting-resources/autism-and-the-holidays.html<br />
Be well and be blessed!<br />
DC<br />
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The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be especially stressful for children who have autism.</h3>
From
last-minute shopping trips to holiday parties and family gatherings,
the holiday season is often a stressful time for parents. But for
children with autism spectrum disorder who rely on structure and
routine, the hustle and bustle of the holidays can be extremely
unsettling, according to experts from Bradley Hospital.<br />
This is particularly true for children who also have sensory
processing issues and may be overwhelmed by the overabundance of lights,
sights, sounds and smells during the holidays. This distress can often
impact the entire family.<br />
Maintaining the current structure and routine for your child may not
always be possible during the holidays, but there are ways to help
reduce your child's anxiety while increasing your family's enjoyment of
the holiday season, say experts from the <a href="http://www.bradleyhospital.org/services/center-for-autism-developmental-disabilities/">Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Bradley Hospital</a>.<br />
<br />
The key to preparing for the inevitable changes that come with the
holidays is to provide your child with early cues of what will be taking
place. For some, this might require depicting with words or pictures
exactly what will and will not occur at each event.<br />
<b>The following tips can make the holidays more fun for everyone involved:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Visiting</b> If you will be visiting relatives or
friends, let the child know in advance where you are going, who will be
there when you arrive, what you will do when you are there and the time
you plan to arrive and leave. Follow the same protocol if relatives or
friends will be visiting your home. Parents may also want to ensure that
a quiet area has been identified where the child with autism can go and
relax if the activities become too overwhelming.<br /><span id="ektronTempNode"> </span></li>
<li><b>Holiday shopping</b> Holiday shopping with a child
who has autism spectrum disorder may present its own set of challenges,
especially when the stores are crowded and noisy. Make a list that
identifies the items you're shopping for and do not roam the stores
trying to decide what to buy. Keeping the trip short and being organized
will help minimize the potential for the child to become overwhelmed
and have a "meltdown" in the middle of a store.<br /><span id="ektronTempNode"> </span></li>
<li><b>Decorations</b> Holiday decorations inside the
house--including bright and blinking lights, wreaths, trees, candles and
stacks of presents --could be areas of concern. Parents know best what
their child with autism enjoys and at what point things may become
overwhelming. However, parents should not expect that their child has a
higher tolerance simply because it's the holiday season.<br /><span id="ektronTempNode"> </span></li>
<li><b>Preparing siblings</b> Since the holidays are a
time for the whole family to enjoy, it's important to make siblings
aware of how stressful this season can be for their brother or sister
with autism. Before the holiday season begins, take the time to remind
children of their sibling's sensory issues, communication difficulties,
low frustration tolerance and likes and dislikes. Parents can then share
the family's strategy for avoiding potential issues and discuss what
they will do if their best efforts are unsuccessful.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>We often put pressure on ourselves to make the holidays perfect, which is unrealistic.</b>
In the end, the most important thing to remember is that the holidays
are a time to cherish one another and the joy of being together. Whether
it's scaling back or starting new traditions, celebrate in a way that
makes the most sense for your family and is something that you, your
child and the entire family will all enjoy.<br />
For more information about Bradley Hospital's Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, please visit: <a href="http://www.bradleyhospital.org/services/center-for-autism-developmental-disabilities/">http://www.lifespan.org/bradley/services/ddp/default.htm</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-59497297573081462392014-11-01T18:59:00.000-04:002016-08-04T16:25:02.198-04:00Superflex and the Unthinkables!It's no secret that my little guy is terrified of Halloween. He is terrified of costumes and strangers; put the two together and it's sheer panic! Coincidentally, this week at school he was introduced to a superhero character named Superflex. He is part of the Social Thinking curriculum and has been a godsend for my little man! You see, my little guy has been having a very hard time at school (surprise!). But the thing that's been so hard is not school itself, it's feeling so remorseful and responsible when things don't go well. He's somehow internalized that this is all his fault (sound familiar?)... enter Superflex and his team of Unthinkables! Superflex is the hero inside your brain who defeats the Unthinkable villains who are making your brain do things that aren't helpful, like getting stuck, being rigid, etc. I'm not doing this justice, so here's where you can learn more: <a href="https://www.socialthinking.com/books-products/products-by-age-range/grades-3-5/superflex-a-superhero-social-thinking-curriculum-package-detail" target="_blank">https://www.socialthinking.com/books-products/products-by-age-range/grades-3-5/superflex-a-superhero-social-thinking-curriculum-package-detail</a><br />
<br />
Here's what is so fantastic: my little guy's private speech therapist knows all about Superflex. We had OT and speech on Halloween and were ready to have to cancel because of the costumes, etc. Well, his speech therapist came up with the idea to dress up as Superflex at the clinic and try to conquer his fear! HOW AWESOME WAS THAT?!?!?! It worked! He went and even put on the cape! So...I had to introduce all my readers to this awesome character and give you guys a great little visual handout I found on Pinterest. As always, I will cite my sources. This is Superflex right from the Social Thinking website (link listed above):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8fgRw904vcX8_Zb3M0awNp6rJUxb5lGOPbmtlotoH7Q212K64-LmNlbrJOKpSU3wzXmfaKIqiivOfAWLsjjcduVfelc6vj5_xfgPJyQU8i2C_8RLklbXXpFw4QqaZDmyEAeEWQu39Os/s1600/Superflex-210x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8fgRw904vcX8_Zb3M0awNp6rJUxb5lGOPbmtlotoH7Q212K64-LmNlbrJOKpSU3wzXmfaKIqiivOfAWLsjjcduVfelc6vj5_xfgPJyQU8i2C_8RLklbXXpFw4QqaZDmyEAeEWQu39Os/s1600/Superflex-210x300.jpg" /></a></div>
And here is the awesome visual to help kids think flexibly:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVaVAtHKWl3Ec7UTw-7u4Kpyu80OEbhhHHn5E-U2j4hB-_zdnGjXS9MN0vpahUI5VrrsijIxjpywAT-XxCkA-7BiSrWthbG5foVpW2mLpYZDEQ51ajhUEbjc5B1XIwhmK5FuddsUhJHI/s1600/bbe80fbe1a2a991e88cb11868cc2265d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVaVAtHKWl3Ec7UTw-7u4Kpyu80OEbhhHHn5E-U2j4hB-_zdnGjXS9MN0vpahUI5VrrsijIxjpywAT-XxCkA-7BiSrWthbG5foVpW2mLpYZDEQ51ajhUEbjc5B1XIwhmK5FuddsUhJHI/s1600/bbe80fbe1a2a991e88cb11868cc2265d.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
for the original, go to: <a href="http://lunchbuddiesplus.wordpress.com/?s=flexible+thinking&submit=Go" target="_blank">http://lunchbuddiesplus.wordpress.com/?s=flexible+thinking&submit=Go</a><br />
<br />
I also found a great resource where all the Superflex Unthinkable characters are listed with illustrations in color and written descriptions. I hope you all enjoy these: <a href="http://srsp.weebly.com/uploads/7/2/4/4/7244139/appendix_b_-_cards.pdf" target="_blank">srsp.weebly.com/uploads/7/2/4/4/7244139/appendix_b_-_cards.pdf</a><br />
<br />
And, as always, feel free to follow my Autism page on Pinterest, where you can find great resources and links: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/dlcot/autism/" target="_blank">http://www.pinterest.com/dlcot/autism/</a><br />
<br />
Have a blessed weekend and be well!<br />
DC<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-35693499089514143892014-10-13T19:57:00.000-04:002014-10-13T19:57:08.520-04:00Triggers of Behavior in Children with AutismHello all! Here's another great visual that I think every single person who has a loved one with ASD should have AND share with their teachers, caregivers, family members... EVERYONE! I can't seem to find the original source, even by doing an extensive search online, so I will post the link to Pinterest, where I found it originally. Seriously, pass it on!!! The more people understand these small changes they can make or situations they can avoid, the easier it will be for our loved ones to be included in this world!<br />
Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVw22-UQbs9cObVZWlzSMMnhy5lLlk7VE-e2B0aukQZuUU1STJtlF4N-oBQ0VRqqSbaQihZueIx-Ik35a73EGt8ErmIqkBlvMfS7BuGMnnSFfTFGyqinbvNS7nyT85qwl9-J5TlA2NVM/s1600/38a5f6da91727a619e32f19754622268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVw22-UQbs9cObVZWlzSMMnhy5lLlk7VE-e2B0aukQZuUU1STJtlF4N-oBQ0VRqqSbaQihZueIx-Ik35a73EGt8ErmIqkBlvMfS7BuGMnnSFfTFGyqinbvNS7nyT85qwl9-J5TlA2NVM/s1600/38a5f6da91727a619e32f19754622268.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-29229101972403202612014-10-02T21:40:00.000-04:002014-10-02T21:40:18.294-04:00Since it's not about me...Great article shared by a friend: first hand perspective of church going for an adult with ASD. Truly eye opening!<br />
<br />
Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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<a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/19/mr-spock-goes-to-church-how-one-christian-copes-with-aspergers-syndrome/" rel="bookmark" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permanent Link:'Mr. Spock goes to church': How one Christian copes with Asperger's syndrome">'Mr. Spock goes to church': </a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="cnn_master_table" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: separate; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 980px;"><tbody style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/19/mr-spock-goes-to-church-how-one-christian-copes-with-aspergers-syndrome/" rel="bookmark" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permanent Link:'Mr. Spock goes to church': How one Christian copes with Asperger's syndrome">How one Christian copes with Asperger's syndrome</a></h1>
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<img alt="'Mr. Spock goes to church': How one Christian copes with Asperger's syndrome" height="360" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/131018202515-brant-hansen-story-top.jpeg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" title="'Mr. Spock goes to church': How one Christian copes with Asperger's syndrome" width="640" /><div class="cnn_spotlight_caption" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Brant Hansen, a host on Christian radio, says his Asperger's syndrome once made him feel like an alien at church.</div>
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October 19th, 2013</div>
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10:28 AM ET</div>
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<a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/19/mr-spock-goes-to-church-how-one-christian-copes-with-aspergers-syndrome/" rel="bookmark" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Permanent Link:'Mr. Spock goes to church': How one Christian copes with Asperger's syndrome">'Mr. Spock goes to church': How one Christian copes with Asperger's syndrome</a></h1>
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<div class="post-43398 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-belief category-bible category-christianity category-church category-faith category-health category-jesus category-opinion category-spirituality tag-asperger-syndrome tag-aspies tag-autism tag-autism-spectrum tag-brant-hansen tag-christianity tag-health-2 tag-jesus cnn_ie7_background_fix" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;">
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Opinion by <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Brant Hansen</strong>, <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">special to CNN</em></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">(CNN) –</strong> In the book “Jim and Caspar Go to Church,” an atheist turns to a Christian minister as they're watching a Sunday morning church service and earnestly asks, "Is this what Jesus told you guys to do?"</div>
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I've grown up in churches and I'm a Christian, and I'm right there with the atheist.</div>
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I honestly don't get the connection. (To be fair, I've grown up on Earth, too, and there are times that I don't understand <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">any</em> part of this place.)</div>
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You see, years ago, I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome - and like a lot of "Aspies," sometimes I'm convinced that I've landed on the wrong planet.</div>
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<span id="more-43398" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>For those of you who don't know the medical lingo, Asperger's syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder, but not as severe as what most people think of as autism.</div>
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It basically comes down to this: those "normal human" rules for things like eye contact, when to smile, personal distance - we just don't get them.</div>
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What's more, Aspies like me don't like those rules. They make no sense to us. So usually, we just say stuff - bluntly - and stare uncomfortably at the ground. That's how we roll.</div>
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But it gets even trickier for people of faith like me.</div>
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Feeling out of place at work is one thing. Feeling like an alien at church is a whole other matter.</div>
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Imagine Mr. Spock at an evangelical Christian tent revival, and you’ll get the idea.</div>
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<img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="234" src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130723200732-leonard-nimoy-c1-main.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="416" /></div>
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And my father is a pastor, so I was in church <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a lot</em>.</div>
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Multiple times, each week, every week, I found myself wishing I'd be moved by the worship music, or that I could shut off my skeptical mind during the sermons.</div>
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I'd see people in church services, Christian concerts and Bible camps overcome by emotion and enraptured with charismatic speakers, and I wondered why I didn't feel that way.</div>
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Why did I always feel like a cold observer?</div>
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After going to college, I was convinced my lack of feeling meant I was missing something, spiritually, so I joined charismatic Christian groups in which emotional manifestations of the Holy Spirit are common.</div>
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I desperately wanted to have what they had - an <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">emotional</em> experience of God's presence - and asked them to pray over me.</div>
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It didn't work.</div>
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When I didn’t move with the Holy Spirit or speak in tongues, they told me it was because I had rejected God.</div>
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I worried that it was the other way around: God had rejected me.</div>
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Maybe I felt like an alien because I deserved it. I deserved to be alienated, irretrievably and forever far from God.</div>
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I tried to pray, read the Bible, and do all the "right stuff." But I still felt out-of-touch.</div>
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I wondered if I was so broken, such a misfit that God simply took a look at me and decided to move on.</div>
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I wish I’d known then that I was an Aspie. And that God loves Aspies.</div>
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I still feel alienated from many parts of Christian culture, but Jesus himself finally reached me.</div>
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And man, did I feel <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that</em>.</div>
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To people who are beaten down or befuddled by religious rules, Jesus offers something that no one else does: rest. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest," he says.</div>
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And he sums up the entirety of complex and confusing religious laws with this: “Love God, and love your neighbor.”</div>
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Beautiful. Even children can understand that.</div>
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The Bible tells a story about a man who approaches Jesus and admits that he has faith, but also strong doubts.</div>
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"Help me in my unbelief," he asks Jesus.</div>
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Jesus doesn't blast him. He loves him. To me, Jesus is the only one who really makes any sense.</div>
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Oddly enough, considering my medical condition, I'm now a radio personality on a network that plays Christian music.</div>
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It’s a beautiful fit, in many ways, because I get to talk to many people who also don’t fit in, and wonder if God loves them.</div>
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It’s true, though, others won’t understand me. I know that. I’m still an alien in the American Christian subculture.</div>
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Each evening I retreat from it, and I go straight to the Gospels.</div>
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It's not out of duty that I read about Jesus; it's a respite.</div>
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I long for it, because I'm awash in two strange and baffling cultures, both the irreligious and religious.</div>
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And I long for someone I can finally understand, and someone who might finally understand me.</div>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.7em; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Brant Hansen is a radio host on the Air1 network, where his show airs from 3-7 p.m. CT. He also writes a <a href="http://www.air1.com/blog/brant/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">popular blog</a> at air1.com. The views expressed in this column belong to Hansen. </em></div>
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</td><td class="cnn_padb20 cnn_author_info" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 400; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;" valign="top"><span class="cnnBlogFiledBy" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span class="cnn_author" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 10px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/author/cnnbeliefeditors/" rel="author" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by The Editors">The Editors</a> - CNN Belief Blog</span><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><span class="cnnBlogFiledBy cnn_categories" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Filed under:<a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/belief/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Belief</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/bible/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bible</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/christianity/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Christianity</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/church/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Church</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/faith/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Faith</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/health/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Health</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/jesus/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jesus</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/opinion/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Opinion</a> • <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/category/spirituality/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Spirituality</a></span></td></tr>
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</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-49288883728445821232014-09-23T10:18:00.000-04:002014-09-23T10:18:01.874-04:00My favorite visual to explain my childSo, how many times have you found yourself in that situation where you bump into a friend somewhere and you start small talk. In the process, you coax your child with ASD to greet your friend (someone familiar and safe). The greeting goes as usual (planned/scripted), then it's time for small talk. Your friend asks a simple, typical question and your child responds with something so out of this world (yet very logical to him/her) and you find yourself "translating" between your puzzled friend and your child who desperately wants to connect but has now lost interest. Sound familiar??? Well, here is my all time favorite visual that describes this situation. I absolutely love it and share it with as many folks as I can! I found it on Pinterest and traced it back to the following site: <a href="http://thelittleblackduck.com.au/lbd/communication-difficulty-and-autism/" target="_blank">http://thelittleblackduck.com.au/lbd/communication-difficulty-and-autism/</a><br />
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I hope you find it as helpful and useful as I did. Enjoy!<br />
Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-40788837747054798062014-09-22T13:13:00.001-04:002014-09-22T13:13:52.763-04:00Because it's not about me!Hello, friendly readers!<br />
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After much prayer and thinking, I have decided to turn this blog into a peaceful location for resources to help our kids and families. I will continue to post inspirational things as well, but I've just come to the realization that autism is not about me. As a parent, I need to help my child fit into this world-- not to fully assimilate into it, but to be able to be a part of it. THAT is how I've learned to find peace. As long as I know he is not accepted, understood or acknowledged as a part of people's lives, I will not be at peace. In my journey I have discovered that his peace is my peace. I've learned to find peace on this journey-- you've all learned about that with each of my posts-- now it's time to help my child find his peace and his place. My hope is that with each post you will be able to refill your arsenal of tricks to help your loved ones with ASD. I will continue to post interesting research findings, though I'm over trying to figure out "what?" or "why?" It's time to move on and think about "how?" to make the future accessible and successful for my child.<br />
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With each new post, I will make sure to credit the source and offer a link to the original so you can learn more and become better equipped to help your loved ones find their place in this world. So, join me on the rest of this journey as we learn and share together as we move towards helping all of those touched by autism find peace in this puzzling world.<br />
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Blessings!<br />
DCUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-45135009940993216592014-08-01T14:45:00.001-04:002014-08-01T14:45:22.730-04:00New study out on brain flexibilityHi folks! It's been a busy, busy summer. Some great new research just came out and I wanted to share. Another piece in the puzzle...<br />
Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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Less Flexibility Seen in Brain Wiring of Kids With Autism: Study</h1>
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Scans reveal differences that might explain why transitions are difficult</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Tuesday, July 29, 2014</span><div id="newsmain" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; padding-top: 15px; text-align: left;">
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TUESDAY, July 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When most children take on a task, various brain connections fire up. But scans showed less of this neuro-boosting activity in kids with autism, according to a small new study.</div>
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Moreover, children with more severe symptoms of autism displayed even less of this "brain flexibility," the researchers found.</div>
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"This reduced flexibility often causes difficulty when children with autism are faced with new situations," said study lead author Lucina Uddin, a neuroscientist and assistant professor of psychology at the University of Miami in Florida. "Knowing how the brain responds differently in these scenarios can help us to make transitions easier for these kids."</div>
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The finding -- published July 29 in <i>Cerebral Cortex</i> -- won't immediately lead to improvements in prevention, diagnosis or treatment of autism, which is estimated to affect one in 68 children in the United States. Still, it may provide more insight into the mysterious workings of the brain in autism.</div>
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People with autism have trouble interacting with others because they can't interpret many social signals that humans send to one another. They also engage in repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively focusing on one topic, or repeating the same action over and over.</div>
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"Based on our recent findings of overconnectivity in the brains of children with autism, I wanted to test the idea that a flexible brain is necessary for flexible behaviors," Uddin said.</div>
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In the new study, researchers performed brain scans on 34 children with autism and 34 typically developing children while at rest and while performing a task -- either solving math problems or distinguishing faces from one another. The idea was to include tasks that would -- and wouldn't -- significantly challenge kids with autism.</div>
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The kids with autism did as well as the others on the tasks. However, "across a set of brain connections known to be important for switching between different tasks, children with autism showed reduced 'brain flexibility' compared with typically developing peers," Uddin said.</div>
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The researchers also found a connection between the severity of restricted and repetitive behaviors and the degree of inflexibility.</div>
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In the big picture, "the findings may help researchers develop new therapies that target brain flexibility through strategies, tools and games that improve task-switching, for example," said study co-author Kaustubh Supekar, a science research associate with the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine.</div>
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Jose Perez Velazquez, a senior scientist with Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, cautioned that just because the brains of people with autism work differently doesn't mean that they work in a worse way. When it comes to behaviors, "which ones we want to label pathological or deviant is, many times, a matter of taste," said Velazquez, who wasn't involved in the study.</div>
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SOURCES: Lucina Uddin, Ph.D., assistant professor, psychology, University of Miami, Florida; Kaustubh Supekar, Ph.D., research associate and scientist, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, Calif.; Jose Perez Velazquez, Ph.D., senior scientist, neurosciences and mental health, Hospital for Sick Children, and professor, department of pediatrics and the Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Canada. July 29, 2014, online, <i>Cerebral Cortex</i></div>
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HealthDay</div>
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Copyright (c) 2014 <a class=" reveal" href="http://www.healthday.com/" style="color: #990066; outline: none;" target="_new">HealthDay</a>. All rights reserved.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-41983581084391862092014-07-02T14:17:00.000-04:002014-07-02T14:17:01.566-04:00We're living proof!People ask me all the time how I got my little man to talk. I usually answer, "prayer!" But, seriously, we attribute 95% of his speech development to getting his iPad soon after he turned 3. We found a great app on there called <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vast-autism-1-core/id426041133?mt=8" target="_blank">VAST Autism 1- Core</a>, which shows a human mouth articulating single sounds, then combined sounds and continues to increase gradually to phrases and short sentences. I believe the reason he took so well to this program is that it's a human mouth but no eyes. I know, that sounds crazy, but the eyes are the part of the face that transmit most of the non-verbal emotional cues and for a lot of kids on the spectrum, it's too much. Taking away the eyes, and, thereby taking away the emotion, was the magic combination for him. Now, this research just came out this week showing the link between the use of iPad/tablets and speech development. I couldn't wait to share it with all of you!<br />
Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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iPads May Help Boost Speaking Skills in Kids With Autism: Study</h1>
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Combining use of device with therapy sessions helped minimally verbal children talk, interact</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Tuesday, July 1, 2014</span><div id="newsmain" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; padding-top: 15px; text-align: left;">
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TUESDAY, July 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Adding access to a computer tablet to traditional therapy may help children with autism talk and interact more, new research suggests.</div>
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The study compared language and social communication treatment -- with or without access to an iPad computer tablet -- in 61 young children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and found that the device helped boost the effect of the treatment.</div>
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"All the children improved, but they improved more if they had access to the iPad," said Connie Kasari, professor of human development and psychology and psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles' Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.</div>
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The children used the iPad when they were engaged in play, she said. "It focused on helping them initiate conversation, using the iPad to comment on what they were doing. The iPad worked because it is a visual stimulant with auditory feedback," she explained. For instance, children would mispronounce a word, hear it pronounced correctly on the iPad, and then learn to say it correctly, she said.</div>
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But, Kasari emphasized, "The iPad is just a tool." It worked because it was used within a treatment aimed at helping improve the children's communication skills, she noted.</div>
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The study was published in the June issue of the <i>Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry</i>. Autism Speaks, a research and advocacy organization, funded the study.</div>
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Autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental disorders. Communication and social problems are hallmarks of ASDs. As many as one in 68 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</div>
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Children in the study were between the ages of 5 and 8. All were considered "minimally verbal," which experts define as speaking fewer than 20 functional words, Kasari said. "The majority had far fewer." About 30 percent of children with an autism spectrum disorder are minimally verbal, she said, sometimes even after years of treatment.</div>
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For the first three months, all of the children received two sessions a week, totaling two to three hours a week. At the three-month mark, nearly 78 percent of children in the iPad-added group had an early response, but just 62 percent of those in the group without it did, the investigators found.</div>
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An early response was defined as an improvement of 25 percent or more in half of the 14 measures, such as the number of spoken words and the use of new words, Kasari said.</div>
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If a child was not progressing at the three-month mark, the researchers added the tablet. But adding it later was not as effective as using it from the start, Kasari's team found. The researchers followed the children for three years.</div>
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"The idea of using an iPad is a novel approach," said Dr. Ruth Milanaik, an attending physician at the Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. Milanaik treats children with autism and reviewed the study's findings.</div>
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"The idea of technology being used to help children who really need different approaches is so important," she said. It's crucial, however, she agreed, to understand that the iPad "was simply a tool" and that it was an adjunct to the traditional interventions that aimed to improve communication and other developmental advances.</div>
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While a 25 percent improvement -- the measure used to define response -- may not seem like much to some, Milanaik said that "every small step, for the parents of an autistic child, is monumental."</div>
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Kasari and her team are continuing to study the iPad, planning to enroll about 200 children in four cities during a planned five-year study.</div>
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If the research continues to bear out, the hope would be to use the iPads in school programs and to train parents in its use at home, both experts agreed.</div>
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SOURCES: Connie Kasari, Ph.D., professor, human development and psychology and psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior; Ruth Milanaik, D.O., attending physician, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, N.Y.; June 2014, <i>Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry</i></div>
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HealthDay</div>
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Copyright (c) 2014 <a class=" reveal" href="http://www.healthday.com/" style="color: #990066; outline: none;" target="_new">HealthDay</a>. All rights reserved.</div>
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<dt style="font-weight: bold;">More Health News on:</dt>
<dd style="margin: 0px;"><a class=" reveal" href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html#autism" style="color: #990066; outline: none;">Autism</a></dd><div>
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<a class="recentnews reveal" href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthnews.html" style="background-color: white; color: #990066; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; outline: none; text-align: left;"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-909320256648895232014-06-20T21:07:00.000-04:002014-06-20T21:07:31.181-04:00Someone near and dear to me had a hand in this...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
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FACE autism research lab launched</h1>
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By Dan O'Brien <br style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;" /><em style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="date-display-single" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;">April 14, 2014</span></em></div>
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<img alt="Payne" src="http://www.emerson.edu/sites/default/files/news_face_6_large.jpg" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2f2f2; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle; width: 450px;" /><div class="small" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-top: 0px;">
For the purposes of a photo demonstration, a 12-year-old girl (who is not a patient) is outfitted with reflective markers that help autism researchers in Emerson's new FACE lab examine facial expressions. (Photo by Kelsey Davis '14)</div>
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Emerson’s <a href="http://www.emerson.edu/academics/departments/communication-sciences-disorders" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Communication Sciences and Disorders Department</a> (CSD) has established a new laboratory specifically for autism research with the help of a $1.5 million grant from the <a href="http://www.nih.gov/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">National Institutes of Health (NIH)</a> awarded to Assistant Professor <a href="http://www.emerson.edu/academics/departments/communication-sciences-disorders/faculty?faculty_id=2710&filter=F" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ruth Grossman</a>.</div>
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The four-year grant has provided for state-of-the-art equipment that tracks eye gaze and facial movements with astounding precision. The grant also supports a postdoctoral fellow, Darren Hedley, and a research assistant in Emerson’s new <a href="http://facelab.emerson.edu/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facial Affective and Communicative Expressions (FACE) Lab</a>, on the second floor of the State Transportation Building, overseen by <a href="http://www.emerson.edu/academics/departments/communication-sciences-disorders/faculty?faculty_id=2710&filter=F" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Grossman</a>.</div>
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This federal funding for the autism-focused work of<a href="http://word.emerson.edu/csdresearch/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Grossman and other researchers in CSD</a> comes as a new U.S. Centers for Disease Control study shows <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2014/03/27/1-in-68-kids-has-autism-cdc-says/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">one in 68 children has autism</a>.</div>
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Grossman’s research will focus on interpretation and production of nonverbal cues, including facial expressions, by adolescents with high-functioning autism.</div>
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“The reason I am interested in studying this particular population,” Grossman said, “is that they have all the cognitive and verbal skills to be successful members of society. But they fall short of achieving their potential because they are often perceived as awkward and therefore have difficulties with their peers at school, or with getting and keeping a job. If we can find a way to help them over this hurdle of social awkwardness, it will be a tremendous benefit for this growing population.”</div>
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Grossman hopes to make progress in this area with the help of the FACE Lab’s new motion-capture equipment that can measure how different parts of the face move and interact with each other by tracking the motion of 32 reflective markers applied to the faces of participants. </div>
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<img alt="FACE Lab" src="http://www.emerson.edu/sites/default/files/news_face_5_large.jpg" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2f2f2; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle; width: 450px;" /><div class="small" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-top: 0px;">
In addition to reflective markers on their faces, research subjects will respond to stimuli on a video screen using video game controllers in the FACE lab. (Photo by Kelsey Davis '14)</div>
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“I want to use this technique to try to quantify ‘awkward,’” Grossman said. “If we can understand how the faces of kids with autism move differently from those of their typically developing peers and how that causes this perceived awkwardness, we will be one step closer to designing treatment approaches aimed at improving the social integration of these kids.” </div>
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<img alt="FACE Vicon" src="http://www.emerson.edu/sites/default/files/news_face_2_large.jpg" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2f2f2; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle; width: 450px;" /><div class="small" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-top: 0px;">
The Vicon motion-capture cameras in the FACE lab are decorated with knit caps, children's drawings, and other playful items to make the technology seem less daunting to children enrolled in the studies. (Photo by Kelsey Davis '14)</div>
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The six infrared <a href="http://www.vicon.com/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vicon</a> motion-capture cameras in the lab are decorated with knit caps, children’s drawings, and other playful items to make the technology seem less daunting to children enrolled in the studies. The equipment is capable of recording three-dimensional coordinates of each marker at up to 515 frames per second. </div>
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The young participants may be asked to use a video game controller to indicate whether images on the screen make them feel happy or sad, or will simply have to repeat a sentence or expression they see on the screen while their facial expressions are being recorded by the Vicon cameras. There is also a microphone to record their verbal responses.</div>
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<img alt="FACE " src="http://www.emerson.edu/sites/default/files/news_FACE_4_large.jpg" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2f2f2; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle; width: 450px;" /><div class="small" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-top: 0px;">
In this demonstration, a girl responds to stimuli on a video screen in the FACE Lab at Emerson. (Photo by Kelsey Davis '14)</div>
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“We will also analyze their prosody, or tone of voice, as well as their vocal quality,” Grossman said. “We’ll record their voices to determine whether they are portraying the correct emotion, sound natural, and what types of pauses and rhythm they use when speaking.” </div>
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Much of the analysis of the motion capture and voice data will be done in collaboration with researchers at other institutions, including the University of Southern California and the University of Aarhus in Denmark.</div>
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In addition to the motion capture projects, Grossman will use an infrared Remote Eye-tracker made by <a href="http://www.smivision.com/en.html" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">SensoMotoric Instruments</a> that can take up to 500 snapshots per second of a person’s eye movement.</div>
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“Typically developing individuals tend to focus on the same areas on faces at the same time, but children with autism spectrum disorders often show significantly different gaze patterns,” Grossman said. “We want to investigate those patterns, so we can better understand what type of communicative and emotional information these kids are potentially missing by looking at the wrong places at the wrong time.”</div>
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<img alt="FACE Darren" src="http://www.emerson.edu/sites/default/files/news_FACE_1_large.jpg" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #f2f2f2; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 300px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; vertical-align: middle; width: 450px;" /><div class="small" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 11px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 12px; padding-top: 0px;">
In this photo demonstration, Darren Hedley, a postdoctoral fellow who recently began working in the FACE Lab, uses a picture book with a 6-year-old girl (who is not a patient) as part of a standardized test to examine language and cognitive abilities. (Photo by Kelsey Davis '14)</div>
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Additionally, the FACE Lab will use some less technologically based techniques to work with research participants, including standardized tests to characterize the language and cognitive abilities of participants with and without autism.</div>
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The NIH grant is one of two that faculty members in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders received this year to aid in autism research. Rhiannon Luyster, together with three CSD colleagues, <a href="http://www.emerson.edu/news-events/emerson-college-today/grant-provides-infrared-eye-tracker-csd#.U0wh6OZdVUM" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">received a $41,000 grant from the National Science Foundation</a> that aided in the purchase of a second SensoMotoric Instruments infrared eye tracker.</div>
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The <a href="http://facelab.emerson.edu/" style="-webkit-margin-after: 0px; -webkit-margin-before: 0px; -webkit-margin-end: 0px; -webkit-margin-start: 0px; -webkit-padding-start: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3e51de; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">FACE Lab</a> is holding an open house for the Emerson community on Monday, April 28, from 4:00 to 6:30 pm, at its location in the State Transportation Building, second floor, Room 225. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-19511972974423884292014-06-11T18:09:00.002-04:002014-06-11T18:11:29.894-04:00Autism research worth reading<br />
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Hormone Levels in Womb Tied to Autism Risk in Boys: Study</h1>
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Experts caution that finding is preliminary, with no current implications for treatment or prevention</div>
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TUESDAY, June 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some boys with autism may have been exposed to slightly elevated levels of certain hormones in the womb, a new study suggests -- though it's not clear yet what the finding means.</div>
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Researchers found that of 345 boys with and without autism, those with the disorder had somewhat higher levels of steroid hormones in stored samples of their amniotic fluid. Specifically, they had elevated levels of four sex hormones, including testosterone and progesterone, and the stress hormone cortisol.</div>
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Experts said it's not yet clear what to make of the results, published online Tuesday in <i>Molecular Psychiatry</i>. And, it's important to note that the study doesn't prove that the elevated hormone levels caused autism, only that there appeared to be a connection between autism and higher levels of steroid hormones.</div>
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"This doesn't say anything about the role of steroid hormones in autism development," said Alycia Halladay, senior director of environmental and clinical sciences for the advocacy group Autism Speaks.</div>
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But the findings do raise questions for further research, according to Halladay, who was not involved in the research.</div>
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It's possible that steroid hormones, themselves, are the culprit, since research suggests they affect fetal brain development, according to Simon Baron-Cohen, the lead researcher on the new study.</div>
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"Elevated steroid levels could directly change gene expression in the brain," said Baron-Cohen, who directs the Autism Research Center at the University of Cambridge in the U.K.</div>
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On the other hand, he said, the hormone elevations could be the result of some other, unknown factor.</div>
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Autism spectrum disorders refer to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. These disorders are characterized by social difficulties, communication problems and repetitive behaviors, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. In the U.S., an estimated one in 68 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</div>
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For the study, the researchers used stored samples from a large pool of Danish women who underwent amniocentesis between 1993 and 1999. Amniocentesis involves drawing a small amount of fluid from the sac around the fetus; it's typically offered to women who are at increased risk of having a baby with a birth defect.</div>
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Baron-Cohen's team compared samples from 128 boys who developed autism with those from 217 boys without autism. They said they excluded girls because only a small number had autism, and other factors made it too difficult to compare steroid hormone levels between those girls and typically developing girls.</div>
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Among the boys, those with autism tended to have higher prenatal steroid hormone levels.</div>
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Still, Halladay noted, the average difference between the groups was small -- and it's hard to know the possible significance. But, figuring out why there was a difference at all might give insight into some causes of the disorder, according to Halladay.</div>
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She said that certain environmental exposures may affect steroid hormone levels -- including "endocrine-disrupting" chemicals found in plastics, metal food cans and other everyday products.</div>
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But so far, Halladay said, studies have failed to find a link between those chemicals and autism risk.</div>
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Both Baron-Cohen and Halladay stressed that the current study's findings have no practical use for now.</div>
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"This doesn't mean pregnant women should ask for amniocentesis to have their hormone levels measured," Halladay cautioned.</div>
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And, Baron-Cohen said, there are no grounds for treating autism with hormone-blocking drugs.</div>
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Another autism expert stressed that the disorder is thought to arise from a complicated mix of genetic vulnerability and environment.</div>
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"It's extremely complex, and it's not going to come down to just one factor," said Dana Levy, an assistant professor of child and adolescent psychology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.</div>
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Scientists have already linked a few hundred genes to autism, and studies are investigating potential environmental factors -- from toxic chemicals to infections during pregnancy.</div>
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"Researchers are coming at this from every angle to try to understand what is happening in autism," Levy said.</div>
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Boys are at particular risk, being affected almost five times more often than girls. And that is one of the big mysteries of autism, Levy noted.</div>
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Baron-Cohen speculated that his findings hint at one explanation. The elevated hormones in this study included not only testosterone, but precursors to testosterone.</div>
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However, everyone said more studies, including studies of girls with autism, are needed before any conclusions can be made.</div>
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For now, Baron-Cohen said the results can be seen as more evidence that the origins of autism go back to the womb.</div>
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SOURCES: Simon Baron-Cohen, FBA, director, Autism Research Center, University of Cambridge, U.K.; Alycia Halladay, Ph.D., senior director, environmental and clinical sciences, Autism Speaks, New York City; Dana Levy, Psy.D., clinical assistant professor, child and adolescent psychology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; June 3, 2014 <i>Molecular Psychiatry</i> online</div>
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Genetic 'Networks' May Play Role in Autism</h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Finding might provide new targets for drugs to treat disorder, researchers say</span></div>
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By Mary Elizabeth Dallas</div>
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<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px;"><a class=" reveal" href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder.html" style="color: #005988; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;">Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder</a></li>
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FRIDAY, June 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Three new gene networks that appear to have important roles in the development of autism have been found, researchers report.</div>
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One of the autism-related gene networks also affects some patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia, the study authors noted.</div>
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These gene networks offer potential targets for new medications for these conditions, according to the researchers.</div>
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Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can cause restricted behaviors as well as problems with children's social interaction and communication. ADHD is a disorder that affects impulsivity and attention.</div>
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In general, the symptoms and the genetics of these disorders are often different, according to study author Dr. Hakon Hakonarson, director of the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.</div>
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"However, the common biological patterns we are finding across disease categories strongly imply that focusing on underlying molecular defects may bring us closer to devising therapies," Hakonarson said in a hospital news release.</div>
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The genome-wide association study, published online June 6 in <i>Nature Communications</i>, involved more than 6,700 patients with an autism spectrum disorder. These patients were compared to more than 12,500 people who did not have autism.</div>
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Researchers found three gene networks, which include a family of proteins that regulate cell signaling and neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are substances that help cells communicate with each other. Another gene network implicated is involved in cancer development and may help explain the reported link between autism and certain forms of cancer.</div>
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The researchers also focused on a pathway involving a family of genes that affects the neurotransmitter glutamate. They explained that glutamate plays a significant role in certain brain functions, such as memory, learning, thinking, attention and behavior. The researchers noted these are all processes that are relevant to autism.</div>
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Previous studies have shown that at least 10 percent of patients with ADHD also have changes in this pathway. Scientists have also suggested that these gene defects are linked to schizophrenia.</div>
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The study's authors are planning a clinical trial to test a drug that activates this pathway on certain ADHD patients.</div>
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"If drugs affecting this pathway prove successful in this subset of patients with ADHD, we may then test these drugs in autism patients with similar gene variants," Hakonarson explained.</div>
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The study authors noted that larger studies are needed to investigate the genetics of autism, particularly the brain's glutamate signaling pathway.</div>
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"Even though our own study was large, it captures only about 20 percent of genes causing ASDs," said Hakonarson.</div>
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SOURCE: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, news release, June 6, 2014</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-35660625924577642422014-04-25T21:09:00.000-04:002014-04-25T21:09:14.822-04:00Triple A!<div class="luna-Ent" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
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<span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">state</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">condition</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">being</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/aware" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline;">aware</a><span id="hotword">; <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">having</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">knowledge;</span><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">consciousness;being informed; being alerted to</span></span></div>
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<h2 class="me" data-syllable="ac·cept·ance" style="color: black; display: inline; font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
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ac·cept·ance</a></span></span></h2>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="pg" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; padding-right: 3px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">noun</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">1.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">act</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">taking</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">receiving</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">something</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">offered.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">2.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">favorable</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">reception;</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">approval;</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">favor.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">3.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">act</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">assenting</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">believing:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">acceptance</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">theory.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span class="dnindex" style="color: #7b7b7b; display: block; float: left; width: 28px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">4.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><span id="hotword"><span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">fact</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">state</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">being</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">accepted</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span class="hwc" id="hotword" name="hotword">acceptable.</span></span></span></div>
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2014. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1007180518603691445" id="link_to_style" style="color: #7b7b7b; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 13px; padding-top: 6px; text-decoration: underline;">Link To <b>awareness </b></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1007180518603691445" id="link_to_style" style="color: #0055bb; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 13px; padding-top: 6px; text-decoration: underline;">Link To <b>acceptance</b></a></div>
***WARNING: THIS POST IS ONE TO BOOKMARK AND RETURN TO AS A REFERENCE***<br />
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Triple A! No, not the emergency roadside service or minor league baseball. <u>A</u>pril is <u>A</u>utism <u>A</u>wareness month. I'm choosing to call it <u>A</u>utism <u>A</u>cceptance month. After reading the definitions stated above, would you not agree? As you saw in my last post, the new statistics on autism prevalence in the US were published last month by the CDC. This was <u>all over the news</u>!!!! You couldn't avoid reading about it. So, it seems like the general population is pretty "aware": informed, alert, has knowledge. But do we want to world simply to be "aware" of our loved ones with ASD, or do we want our loved ones to find "acceptance": favorable reception, approval, favor, fact of being accepted?<br />
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You'd think my Triple A is for the letters underlined in the previous paragraph. However, the triple A I am so excited about is my mission for this April: I will be sharing the stories of some <u>A</u>mazing <u>A</u>utistic <u>A</u>dults! I posted a new one on Facebook each day of the month of April (or at least I hope to do so). For the sake of brevity, I will list each of these triple As with a brief description and a link if you want to lear more about them. ASD is not a death sentence. We need to let the world know that our loved ones CAN be a part of society WHEN they are given a chance, when they are accepted into the world of others! Read about these triple A's and may you feel peace as you read that success in life is not unattainable...</div>
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Blessings!</div>
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DC</div>
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My List of Triple A's: <u>A</u>mazing <u>A</u>utistic <u>A</u>dults-- I meant to make a list of 30, one for each day in April, but just had to keep going! Hope you take the time to read about each one!</div>
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(listed in alphabetical order to avoid confusion regarding importance)<br />
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1. Alexander "Alex" Plank- autism advocate, filmmaker, photographer and founder of Wrong Planet. Alex is also a consultant to the FX TV show, <a href="http://www.fxnetworks.com/thebridge/about" target="_blank">The Bridge</a>, in which actress Diane Kruger plays Sonya Cross (a police detective who happens to have ASD): <a href="http://alexplank.com/" target="_blank">http://alexplank.com/</a><br />
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2. Alexis Wineman- Miss Montana 2012 and Miss USA 2012 America's Choice award winner: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/17/health/wineman-autism/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/17/health/wineman-autism/</a><br />
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3. Amber Black- former fitness model, wellness expert, licensed paramedical aesthetician and owner/founder of Avinash Wellness in Houston, TX: <a href="http://avinashwellness.com/about/" target="_blank">http://avinashwellness.com/about/</a><br />
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4. Anthony Ianni- American former college basketball player for Michigan State University and autism advocate: <a href="http://statenews.com/article/2013/10/former-msu-basketball-player-starts-autism-anti-bullying-campaign" target="_blank">http://statenews.com/article/2013/10/former-msu-basketball-player-starts-autism-anti-bullying-campaign</a><br />
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5. Ari Ne'eman- autism advocate, first openly autistic White House appointee {<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue, Helvetica-Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; white-space: pre-line;">appointed by US President Obama to the National Council on Disability (NCD), a panel that advises the President and Congress on ways of reforming health care, schools, support services and employment policy to make society more equitable for people with all forms of disability}</span>: <a href="http://www.wired.com/2010/10/exclusive-ari-neeman-qa/" target="_blank">http://www.wired.com/2010/10/exclusive-ari-neeman-qa/</a><br />
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6. Chris Varney- Australian autism advocate and education specialist, Melbourne TEDx lecturer: <a href="http://chrisrvarney.com/" target="_blank">http://chrisrvarney.com/</a><br />
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7. Dan Aykroyd- Canadian actor/screenwriter/comedian/singer, best known for his roles in Ghostbusters, Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers and Dragnet: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2521032/Dan-Aykroyd-I-Aspergers--symptoms-included-obsessed-ghosts.html" target="_blank">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2521032/Dan-Aykroyd-I-Aspergers--symptoms-included-obsessed-ghosts.html</a><br />
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8. Dan Harmon- creator and writer for TV series <i>Community:</i> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emo-OT3RzQc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emo-OT3RzQc</a><br />
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9. Daryl Hannah- American actress, best known for her role in the movie Splash (directed by Steven Spielberg and co-starring Tom Hanks): <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20739235,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20739235,00.html</a><br />
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10. David Byrne- musician, best known for being head and lead singer of the band Talking Heads: <a href="http://www.autismkey.com/david-byrne-another-talented-indvidual-with-autism/" target="_blank">http://www.autismkey.com/david-byrne-another-talented-indvidual-with-autism/</a><br />
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11. David Noll- American singer/songwriter from Texas: <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/davidnoll/from/greatindiemusic" target="_blank">http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/davidnoll/from/greatindiemusic</a><br />
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12. Dawn Prince Hughes- American anthropologist and author: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Gorilla-Nation-Journey-Through/dp/1400082153" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Songs-Gorilla-Nation-Journey-Through/dp/1400082153</a><br />
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13. Derek Paravicini- British pianist/musical prodigy: <a href="http://www.sonustech.com/paravicini/" target="_blank">http://www.sonustech.com/paravicini/</a><br />
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14. Donna Williams- Australian writer, artist and singer (and comedienne in my opinion!): <a href="http://www.donnawilliams.net/about.0.html" target="_blank">http://www.donnawilliams.net/about.0.html</a><br />
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15. Grant Manier- American artist best known for his "eco art": <a href="http://www.grantsecoart.com/" target="_blank">http://www.grantsecoart.com/</a><br />
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16. Henriett Seth- Hungarian writer, artist and poet: <a href="http://archive.today/BIcps" target="_blank">http://archive.today/BIcps</a><br />
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17. Jack Robinson- American public speaker and co-host of the online show Autism Talk. His father is John Elder Robinson (#17 below). See this amazing video about him and his girlfriend named "Navigating Love and Autism." AMAZING!!! <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/us/navigating-love-and-autism.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/26/us/navigating-love-and-autism.html?pagewanted=all</a><br />
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18. James Durbin- American singer/performer and former American Idol contestant: <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/03/james-durbin-tale-of-adversity-fuels-me-to-do-better/1#.U03RMyhWIsp" target="_blank">http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/03/james-durbin-tale-of-adversity-fuels-me-to-do-better/1#.U03RMyhWIsp</a><br />
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19. Jason McElwain- American basketball player best known for his amazing performance in high school: <a href="http://www.cnnsi.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1172585/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.cnnsi.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1172585/index.htm</a>. Now also known for running the Boston Marathon in less than 3 hours! Go J-Mac! <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caurie-putnam/boston-marathon-jason-j-mac-mcelwain_b_5188636.html?utm_hp_ref=sports&ir=Sports" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caurie-putnam/boston-marathon-jason-j-mac-mcelwain_b_5188636.html?utm_hp_ref=sports&ir=Sports</a><br />
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20. Jessica Applegate- British Paralympic swimmer and gold medalist. Here are her swimming stats: <a href="http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/para-swimming/womens-world-class-pathway-podium/jessica-jane-applegate/15428/" target="_blank">http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/para-swimming/womens-world-class-pathway-podium/jessica-jane-applegate/15428/</a> More on Jessica: <a href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/disability-sport/21785389" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/disability-sport/21785389</a><br />
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21. John Elder Robinson- American self-taught sound and electrical engineer now owner of the largest independent foreign exotic car restoration companies. He's an author and autism advocate, as well as being the designer and builder of the famous flaming guitars used by the band KISS in the 1970's: <a href="http://jerobison.blogspot.com/p/about-john-elder-robison.html" target="_blank">http://jerobison.blogspot.com/p/about-john-elder-robison.html</a><br />
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22. Jonathan Young- American business analyst for Goldman and Sachs: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/mar/08/autism-career-ladder-workplace" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/mar/08/autism-career-ladder-workplace</a><br />
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23. Kim Miller- American artist: <a href="http://www.thegirlwhospokewithpictures.com/main.html" target="_blank">http://www.thegirlwhospokewithpictures.com/main.html</a><br />
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24. Ladyhawke (Phillipa Margaret Brown)- Award-winning New Zealand musician, artist, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladyhawke_(musician)" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladyhawke_(musician)</a><br />
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25. Lance Rice- one of my FAVORITES!!!! American beer historian known internationally for Lance's Brewery Tour. A truly outstanding man with an incredibly loving family: <a href="http://lancesbrewerytour.com/project/the-beginning/" target="_blank">http://lancesbrewerytour.com/project/the-beginning/</a><br />
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26. Larry Wall- American IT expert, writer and developer of Perl computer programming language: <a href="http://www.perl.com/pub/2004/08/18/onion.html" target="_blank">http://www.perl.com/pub/2004/08/18/onion.html</a>, <a href="http://www.wall.org/~larry/" target="_blank">http://www.wall.org/~larry/</a><br />
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27. Liane Holliday Willey- American professor, author and equestrian. An incredibly impressive woman: <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/liane-holliday-willey-edd" target="_blank">http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/liane-holliday-willey-edd</a><br />
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28. Lizzy Clark- British actress best known for her role in the TV show <i>Dustpan Baby</i>: <a href="http://www.dontplaymepayme.com/page_10.html" target="_blank">http://www.dontplaymepayme.com/page_10.html</a><br />
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29. Lucy Blackman- Australian author, non-verbal college graduate. Had a hard time finding a comprehensive description to such an amazing woman. You should google her to learn more: <a href="http://www.makers.com/blog/14-amazing-women-autism/3" target="_blank">http://www.makers.com/blog/14-amazing-women-autism/3</a><br />
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30. Matt Savage- American music prodigy: <a href="http://www.bostonconservatory.edu/bio/matt-savage" target="_blank">http://www.bostonconservatory.edu/bio/matt-savage</a><br />
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31. Paddy Considine- British actor, movie writer and director : <a href="http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a313837/paddy-considine-reveals-aspergers-diagnosis.html#~oC11F0ObSnaUpb" target="_blank">http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a313837/paddy-considine-reveals-aspergers-diagnosis.html#~oC11F0ObSnaUpb</a><br />
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32. Penny Andrews- Library specialist at Leeds Metropolitan University- watch the video: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/mar/08/autism-career-ladder-workplace" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/mar/08/autism-career-ladder-workplace</a><br />
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33. Richard Wawro- (deceased) Scottish artist: <a href="http://www.wawro.net/" target="_blank">http://www.wawro.net/</a><br />
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34. Rio "SoulShocka" Wiles- American artist/rapper: <a href="http://soulshocka.com/" target="_blank">http://soulshocka.com/</a><br />
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35. Satoshi Tajiri- videogame inventor/creator, most famous for crating the Pokemon game and empire: <a href="http://kotaku.com/5806664/how-pokemon-was-born-from-bug-collecting-and-aspergers-syndrome" target="_blank">http://kotaku.com/5806664/how-pokemon-was-born-from-bug-collecting-and-aspergers-syndrome</a><br />
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36. Steven Shore- author, autism advocate, professor at Adelphi University, musician- great video: <a href="http://www.autismasperger.net/" target="_blank">http://www.autismasperger.net/</a><br />
His faculty bio: <a href="http://www.adelphi.edu/faculty/profiles/profile.php?PID=0476" target="_blank">http://www.adelphi.edu/faculty/profiles/profile.php?PID=0476</a><br />
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37. Susan Boyle- British award winning singer and Britain's Got Talent alumnus: <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/09/exclusive-read-susan-boyle-s-essay-on-her-secret-struggle-with-asperger-s.html" target="_blank">http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/09/exclusive-read-susan-boyle-s-essay-on-her-secret-struggle-with-asperger-s.html</a><br />
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38. Temple Grandin- it was hard to pick a link for this one, with SO many good ones out there. I chose her official website. Temple is a leading expert in the field of livestock management, she's an author, professor, lecturer and leading autism advocate: <a href="http://www.templegrandin.com/" target="_blank">http://www.templegrandin.com/</a><br />
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39. Tim Burton- British screenwriter, movie writer/director/producer is rumored to have Asperger's Syndrome: <a href="http://neurodiversity.com/bio_burton.html" target="_blank">http://neurodiversity.com/bio_burton.html</a><br />
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40. Trevor Pacelli- American author and autism advocate: <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/02/health/iyw-growing-up-autistic/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/02/health/iyw-growing-up-autistic/</a><br />
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41. William Thanh- non-verbal adult employed at PAUL's Bakery in London. This one made me cry!!! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnPPbAWzUuU" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnPPbAWzUuU</a><br />
<br />
42. Valerie Paradiz- autism education consultant (Ph.D.), international speaker and autism advocate. She's also an autism parent: <a href="http://www.autismselfadvocacy.com/" target="_blank">http://www.autismselfadvocacy.com/</a><br />
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43. 50 Tyson- American rapper: <a href="http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=6395499" target="_blank">http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=6395499</a><br />
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YIKES!!! I'm sure there are PLENTY more. Please feel free to leave a comment if you know of another you'd like me to add.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-42424412553063154122014-03-29T10:05:00.002-04:002014-03-29T10:05:57.936-04:00The numbers are in!The new statistics for ASD prevalence from the CDC are in and they are staggering! I'm still trying to wrap my head around what this all means. Now, more than ever, we need to work towards autism ACCEPTANCE. These kids are here, they are a part of everyday life. People are AWARE, now we need folks to ACCEPT our loved ones into their own daily lives. Ignorance leads to fear and fear leads to prejudice. Some families get irritated when people say that they couldn't tell their loved ones have autism. My feeling is that, yeah, you're right, our loved ones are more like yours than you think. Don't let a label keep your neurotypical loved ones from enriching their lives by having someone with ASD in them, or better yet, by having a friend with ASD. Here's the latest from the CDC: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0327-autism-spectrum-disorder.html" target="_blank">http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0327-autism-spectrum-disorder.html</a><br />
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Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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Press Release</h1>
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<span class="green" style="color: #336633; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Embargoed until:</span> Thursday, March 27, 2014, 1:00pm ET <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="green" style="color: #336633; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Contact: </span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/media/index.html" style="color: #4a006e; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CDC Media Relations</a><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />(404) 639-3286</div>
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CDC estimates 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder</h2>
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<em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Latest snapshot shows proportion of children with autism and higher IQ on the rise</em></div>
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Number of children identified with ASD: 1 in 68</div>
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 68 children (or 14.7 per 1,000 eight-year-olds) in multiple communities in the United States has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This new estimate is roughly 30 percent higher than previous estimates reported in 2012 of 1 in 88 children (11.3 per 1,000 eight year olds) being identified with an autism spectrum disorder. The number of children identified with ASD ranged from 1 in 175 children in Alabama to 1 in 45 children in New Jersey.</div>
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The surveillance summary report, “Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder among Children Aged 8 Years – Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2010,” was published today in the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report</a>. Researchers reviewed records from community sources that educate, diagnose, treat and/or provide services to children with developmental disabilities. The criteria used to diagnose ASDs and the methods used to collect data have not changed.</div>
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The data continue to show that ASD is almost five times more common among boys than girls: 1 in 42 boys versus 1 in 189 girls. White children are more likely to be identified as having ASD than are black or Hispanic children.</div>
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Levels of intellectual ability vary greatly among children with autism, ranging from severe intellectual challenges to average or above average intellectual ability. The study found that almost half of children identified with ASD have average or above average intellectual ability (an IQ above 85) compared to a third of children a decade ago.</div>
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“Community leaders, health professionals, educators and childcare providers should use these data to ensure children with ASD are identified as early as possible and connected to the services they need,” said Coleen Boyle, Ph.D., M.S. hyg., director of <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities</a>.</div>
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The report also shows most children with ASD are diagnosed after age 4, even though ASD can be diagnosed as early as age 2. Healthy People 2020, the nation’s 10-year health objectives, strives to increase the proportion of young children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental delays who are screened, evaluated, and enrolled in early intervention services in a timely manner.</div>
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“The most important thing for parents to do is to act early when there is a concern about a child’s development,” said Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, M.D., chief of CDC’s Developmental Disabilities Branch. “If you have a concern about how your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, or moves, take action. Don’t wait.”</div>
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If you suspect that your child may have ASD:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;">Talk to your child’s doctor about your concerns.</li>
<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;">At the same time, call your local early intervention program or school system for a free evaluation.</li>
<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;">It’s never too late to get help for your child.</li>
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CDC’s “<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/actearly" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Learn the Signs. Act Early.</a>” program has joined with others across the federal government to promote developmental and behavioral screening through the <em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive</em> campaign, which will be launched today. The program will help families look for and celebrate milestones; promote universal screenings; identify delays as early as possible; and improve the support available to help children succeed in school and thrive alongside their peers.</div>
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“More needs to be done to identify children with autism sooner,” said Boyle. “Early identification is the most powerful tool we have right now to make a difference in the lives of children with autism.”</div>
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Through the Affordable Care Act, more Americans will have access to health coverage and to no-cost preventive services, including autism screening for children at 18 and 24 months. Most health insurance plans are <span class="cdc-decorated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="external" href="http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/rights/childrens-pre-existing-conditions/index.html" style="color: #4a006e; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">no longer allowed to deny, limit, or exclude coverage to anyone based on a pre-existing condition</a><a class="external" href="http://www.cdc.gov/Other/disclaimer.html" style="color: #4a006e; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="External Web Site Icon" class="externalImg" src="http://www.cdc.gov/TemplatePackage/images/icon_out.png" style="border: none; display: inline; height: auto; left: 3px; margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" title="External Web Site Icon" /></a></span>, including persons with autism spectrum disorder. Visit Healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY/TDD 1-855-889-4325) to learn more. Open enrollment in the Marketplace began October 1 and ends March 31, 2014.</div>
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For additional information on:</div>
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<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;">Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network and this report, visit<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/autism" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">www.cdc.gov/autism</a>.</li>
<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;">CDC’s autism research, visit <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/SEED" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">www.cdc.gov/SEED</a> </li>
<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/autism" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Community Report</a> from the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/addm.html" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network</a>.</li>
<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;">Developmental milestone checklists and other resources to help families track their child’s development, visit <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/milestones" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">www.cdc.gov/milestones</a>.</li>
<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;">What to do if you are concerned about your child’s development, visit <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/Concerned" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">www.cdc.gov/Concerned</a>.</li>
<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;">State’s early intervention contact information, visit<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html" style="color: #4a006e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html</a>.</li>
<li style="margin: 0.7em 0px 0.7em 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive,</em> is part of a coordinated federal effort to encourage developmental and behavioral screening and support for children, families, and the providers who care for them. Watch for updates at <span class="cdc-decorated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="external" href="http://www.hhs.gov/" style="color: #4a006e; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">www.hhs.gov</a><a class="external" href="http://www.cdc.gov/Other/disclaimer.html" style="color: #4a006e; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="External Web Site Icon" class="externalImg" src="http://www.cdc.gov/TemplatePackage/images/icon_out.png" style="border: none; display: inline; height: auto; left: 3px; margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" title="External Web Site Icon" /></a></span><u style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">/watchmethrive</u> (expected to be announced later today).<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </strong></li>
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###<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="cdc-decorated" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="external" href="http://www.hhs.gov/" style="color: #4a006e; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES</a><a class="external" href="http://www.cdc.gov/Other/disclaimer.html" style="color: #4a006e; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="External Web Site Icon" class="externalImg" src="http://www.cdc.gov/TemplatePackage/images/icon_out.png" style="border: none; display: inline; height: auto; left: 3px; margin: 0px 0.25em 0px 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: auto;" title="External Web Site Icon" /></a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-77706533181407420502014-02-21T20:47:00.001-05:002014-02-21T20:47:36.155-05:00A seismic shiftOK, the verdict is in: Finding Peace in the Autism Puzzle has found its second wind! Thanks to all who shared their input and for your support. Now, back in the saddle again and where we're headed:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="hwGrp"><span class="hw" d:dhw="1" d:priority="2" style="font-size: 24px;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">seis</span><span class="hsb"></span><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">mic</span></span><span class="pronGrp"><span class="pr" d:pr="US" style="font-family: HiraMinPro-W3;" type="US"> |ˈsīzmik|</span></span></span></span><span class="SB" style="display: block; margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;"><span class="prelim" style="font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="ps" d:ps="1" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">adjective</span></span></span><span class="sense" d:abs="1" style="display: block;"><span class="def" style="font-family: Baskerville; font-weight: normal;">of or relating to earthquakes or other vibrations of the earth and its <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">crust</span>.</span><span class="specUse" d:priority="2" style="display: block; text-indent: 0px;"><span class="MS" style="display: block; font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="lbl" style="font-family: LucidaGrande; font-size: 13px;">• </span><span class="def" style="font-weight: normal;"><span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">relating</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">to</span> or denoting geological surveying methods involving vibrations <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">produced</span> artificially by explosions.</span></span><span class="MS" style="display: block; font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="lbl" style="font-family: LucidaGrande; font-size: 13px;">• </span><span class="regLabel" d:priority="2" style="font-family: HelveticaNeue-Light; font-size: 13px;">figurative </span><span class="def" style="font-weight: normal;">of <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">enormous</span> <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">proportions</span> or effect </span><span class="ex" d:priority="2" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="lbl" style="font-weight: normal;">: </span>there are seismic pressures threatening American <span apple_mouseover_highlight="1">society</span>. </span></span><span class="MS" style="display: block; font-family: Baskerville;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Times; font-style: italic; line-height: 32px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville;">New Oxford American Dictionary</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Baskerville; font-size: 23px;"> </span><a href="http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195392883.001.0001/acref-9780195392883" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195392883.001.0001/acref-9780195392883</span></a></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i>{EVERY single night as part of our bedtime routine we watch a documentary about the Earth: earthquakes, volcanoes, lava. Don't ask me why! The household can not settle for the night without watching it; it's our unspoken ritual, common to so many families touched by ASD. It is NOT my favorite, but if it puts everyone to sleep: PRICELESS! Having seen this documentary every single night for at least the past 6 months, words like "seismic," "plate tectonics," and "pyroclastic flow" are now a part of my daily vocabulary. So, it is simply natural for me to use this phrase as the title of this post, and so fitting!}</i></div>
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A few years ago we had a small earthquake here in the Northeast. It was small and lasted only seconds, yet the sensation was terrifying and completely disorienting. It only took a minuscule tremor to make us appreciate solid ground and how we take it for granted. Sometimes the physical ground we stand on may be still and stable, but our social/emotional/spiritual/mental ground can be completely off the Richter scale!<br />
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You see, as a family we decided to make some tough decisions this past fall. If you noticed, the definition of "seismic" includes words like "explosions" and "enormous proportions or effect." I did not choose that word lightly. The changes our family made surely felt like explosions and absolutely had an "enormous effect" on our daily lives. So much change happening so fast... all for good reasons, but all together they made for a shift of epic proportions, including losing most of our outside social networks and supports. We knew in the end it would be worth the struggle and the loss, but the process felt like slowly peeling off an old bandage.<br />
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In the documentary, we learn that after each destructive eruption of a volcano, the lava cools into rock and enriches the soil. Before long, new lush green life returns and what once was the product of a destructive force becomes a paradise full of life (case in point: the islands of Hawaii). So, here we are... Now that the dust has settled, we see the value in having gone through the process, knowing we have come out a much stronger and closer family than before.<br />
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You see, I've always said that the first step towards peace on this journey is "acceptance." As I've previously written, that involves grieving the dreams you may have had for your child/family/life. But moving out of the grief and into acceptance is the first step in enjoying your child/loved one and your life for what it is. It's not giving up, it's shifting your view! In my twenty years of working with kids who have ASD, I have seen first hand how much better off a child and his/her family fares when they have accepted their reality and learned to love their child and their life for what it is (not what they expected it to be). Now as a parent, I have learned to find the joy in the smallest wins: eye contact, following a direction, going one night without wetting the bed, trying a new food... celebrating each small win keeps us thinking positively.<br />
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This leads me to the main reason why we made the tough choices that we did. As a family, we have made the seismic shift from "autism awareness" to "autism ACCEPTANCE." It's not like people aren't "aware" that our son is different! We don't need pity, we don't need to complain, we just want to be a part of this world. Perhaps our family's shift from substantially separate special education to inclusive regular education forced us to move in that direction. For once, we are hearing that all of the adults in my son's life are responsible for teaching him the tools he needs to be a part of "this world," not keeping him in a bubble of a giant label. We're not trying to "fix" him, we're trying to "guide" him.<br />
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You see, once you feel that acceptance, you have NO tolerance for pity or exclusion! I just got flat out tired of feeling pitied and excluded, of the whispers and the pointing fingers. Most of all I got sick of hearing my own self complain! Ironically, the catalyst in moving me in this direction was hearing the head of a leading autism organization describe autism families as needing to be pitied and felt sorry for because our lives are such calamities. If we truly believe the Scriptures in Romans 8:28 (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+8&version=NKJV" target="_blank">And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to<i>His</i> purpose- NKJV</a>)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">,</span> then we know this is the right choice for our lives: acceptance is the first step towards peace because we trust that God will make this work for good! But this involves eliminating toxic and negative influences around us and, instead, surrounding ourselves with those who are supportive, uplifting and ACCEPTING. Ripping off that old bandage to allow healing, letting the hot lava scorch the land so new life can grow into a beautiful paradise!<br />
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Now, don't get me wrong, ACCEPTANCE is not the same as COMPLACENCY! Just because we accept our children and loved ones for who they are, doesn't mean we give up on progress. Praise, reinforcement, exhorting, loving encouragement can all be tools to guide our loved ones towards the next level of achievement. Acceptance does not mean giving up on your goals and dreams. It simply means you learn to be OK with the way things are now, while you work towards getting better. Will it be harder than for families without ASD? Sure! But the rewards and the joy will also be that much sweeter!<br />
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My family's life has made quite the transformation and although things are still rocky, like lava after it's cooled, I know in the end we will see paradise! We will find a new house of worship where we feel "at home," we will find new organizations to support through fundraising that share our views of acceptance, we will continue to be a part of the world and capitalize on every opportunity to help others see the joys we live every day... not the calamities you read about everywhere else... and share those joys with everyone we encounter.<br />
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So, here's where this blog is going:<br />
- continue to share new research findings<br />
- share stories of amazing individuals with ASD and their accomplishments<br />
- share resources for parents and families<br />
- share inspirational devotionals, songs, videos and stories<br />
- less opinions, no more complaining, no more pity parties, no more personal disclosure<br />
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So, welcome to the new view! I am at peace! I pray you, too, will be able to find your peace through acceptance, knowing that "all things work together for good to those who love God" (Rom 8:28 NKJV).</div>
Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lava rock bringing new life to paradise, Kiholo Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii<br /><a href="http://www.to-hawaii.com/big-island/beaches/kiholobay.php" target="_blank">http://www.to-hawaii.com/big-island/beaches/kiholobay.php</a></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-5173160111759964622014-02-15T17:07:00.000-05:002014-02-15T17:09:55.777-05:00Readers! I need your input!!!It has been nearly three months since I wrote here... Soon after my last post things just unraveled all around us and life needed my 100% undivided attention. To say that our lives have changed since Nathan started kindergarten is such an understatement that I don't even know where to start! In all of these changes I've had a shift in my view of being an autism family. I'm no longer about "awareness," I am about "acceptance." I don't want folks to feel pity for me, my family and my son. I want people to accept us for just the way we are and be OK with that. No pretenses, no tiptoeing, no walking on eggshells. We are what we are and it is what it is!<br />
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So, in weighing my options to: a) respect my son's privacy, and b) continue to be an active advocate in the autism community, I have come to a crossroads. Do I close down "Finding Peace in the Autism Puzzle"? Have I finally come to the place where I am at peace, I have accepted our lives and I'm ready to move on? Do you as my readers wish that I continue to share information about current research, current news and trends regarding autism and posting uplifting messages of hope, faith and peace?<br />
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I would like my readers to help me make this difficult decision. I am perfectly happy to continue to be a source of information for those who are interested, but one thing is for sure, I will no longer be sharing information about my family and our situation out of respect for my son.<br />
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So, please reply below and let me know your thoughts. I do this for my readers. I've found my peace, but, if you wish, I will continue to be here to help you find yours!<br />
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Blessings!<br />
DCUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-48294449907462787262013-11-20T19:06:00.000-05:002013-11-20T19:11:33.582-05:00Celebrities who have children with ASD<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Celebrities with children and/or loved ones with ASD<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Recently I read a post on a social network site that pondered the idea of how different the world could be if the "Royal Baby," first born to Prince William and Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge, would be diagnosed with ASD. This caused quite an uproar, causing some parents to reprimand the person who asked the rhetorical question for "wishing ill" upon the royal couple. Others confessed that they, too, wondered if it would change anything. This opened quite a can of worms and, to my surprise, all these comments started flying around about celebrities who "hide" their children's disabilities. Sure, the Royal Family is famous for their history of hiding their "imperfect" or "defective" children, but surely not ALL celebrities do the same... or do they??? This got me thinking and I decided to do some searching online to see what I could find.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">In this country, celebrities are viewed as somewhat "royalty" and their actions influence many. In the case of celebrities with children or loved ones with ASD, some are highly vocal about it, others are silent but active in the community, and then there are the ones who just stay silent. Below is a list of "known" celebrities who have children with autism spectrum disorders (in no special order!!!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Click on any of the highlighted text to open links related to each of their stories. I just wanted to share these stories to let people know that there are more celebrities out there talking about their children's autism and doing so much for the communities! I have divided the list into three sections: 1) Active "on the front lines," 2) Quiet but active, and 3) Silent majority. I think you'll be surprised with what I found. I really could care less about whether celebrities make it public or not, but it sure was refreshing to read about the wonderful things so many of these folks with some power of influence are doing within their communities. Click on any highlighted text to go to their respective stories or websites. I hope you'll find their stories inspiring! This is a LONG post that took me MONTHS to compose, so bookmark it and come back to it for reference! :)</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Blessings!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">DC</span><br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">1. Holly Robinson Peete </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">This actress and NFL quarterback, Rodney Peete, have four children together. O</span>ne of their sons, Rodney Jr., was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">. They run a non-profit organization out of LA called <a href="http://www.hollyrod.org/holly/#.Ue3bPeDH0qY" target="_blank">HollyRod</a>, which helps families with children who have autism.</span> They are also highly active within the autism community, including Autism Speaks. To learn more about HollyRod, visit their website: <a href="http://www.hollyrod.org/holly/#.Uj-I6eCPIsp" target="_blank">http://www.hollyrod.org/holly/#.Uj-I6eCPIsp</a></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">2. Toni Braxton </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Toni Braxton's son son, Diezel, has autism. The R&B singer has been very vocal about doctors' reluctance to diagnose the condition right away, but instead recommended she should wait and see. She is now a major advocate for early detection and intervention for individuals with ASD and has been a <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/about-us/press-releases/toni-braxton-named-national-celebrity-spokesperson-autism-speaks" target="_blank">spokesperson for Autism Speaks</a>. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">3. Dan Marino </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino has a son named Michael who is diagnosed with autism. Like Toni Braxton, the Marino family was told by the doctor to wait and see how their son developed before diagnosing him with autism at age 2. Dan and his wife, Claire, started the <a href="http://www.danmarinofoundation.org/portal/web/guest" target="_blank">Dan Marino Foundation</a> to help countless families in partnership with Miami Children's Hospital in Florida, which specializes in treating children with autism and other developmental disorders.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;"> Michael is now an adult and, after receiving intensive therapy at an early age, is now reportedly living a wonderful, productive life.</span></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4. Dough Flutie </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie’s son, Doug Flutie Jr., was diagnosed with autism, specifically Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (one of the rarer forms of "Pervasive Developmental Disorders" now commonly known as ASD). He and his wife, Laurie, have been fervently active in the autism community through fundraising, autism awareness campaigns and community grants. In 200 they established the <a href="http://www.dougflutiejrfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation</a> and stand by their motto of, "<i>Helping families along the way...proudly serving the autism community since 1998.</i>"</span></b><br />
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<b>5. Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ocleppo has been quoted saying that she and her now husband initially bonded over shared family values. His older daughter and her son have been diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Both Tommy and Dee have been extremely active with Autism Speaks, making <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNf9cGqjVg8" target="_blank">Public Service Announcements</a> (PSA), <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/site-wide/tommy-hilfiger" target="_blank">fundraisers and various high-profile events</a> to increase autism awareness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6. Jaci Velasquez</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GKZt0D0jFghG4ygWSGUFtPbu0eXLQI0X9U0V99vfj1nBqZJjuDNB0HUHRhyphenhyphenUz0r4W9BoTRmV_KSEL-XA4Wpyd9mfnphUkapAtqX__tWLZspZR008ditjLNxMGdDbjDxos2WxFe164Xc/s1600/Jaci_Velasquez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1GKZt0D0jFghG4ygWSGUFtPbu0eXLQI0X9U0V99vfj1nBqZJjuDNB0HUHRhyphenhyphenUz0r4W9BoTRmV_KSEL-XA4Wpyd9mfnphUkapAtqX__tWLZspZR008ditjLNxMGdDbjDxos2WxFe164Xc/s320/Jaci_Velasquez.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dove Award-winning Latin Christian contemporary singer, Jaci Velasquez, was named the Spokesperson for the 2013 Tennessee Walk Now For Autism Speaks. Jaci is married to Nic Gonzales, fellow Christian artist and lead singer of the Latin Christian contemporary band Salvador. Their son, Zealand, was diagnosed with autism in kindergarten.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="-webkit-transition-delay: 0s; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.2s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Read more at <a href="http://global.christianpost.com/news/jaci-velaszquez-named-spokesperson-for-2013-tennessee-walk-now-for-autism-speaks-106889/#tS9elom0HAJXizok.99" style="-webkit-transition-delay: 0s; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.2s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease; color: #003399; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://global.christianpost.com/news/jaci-velaszquez-named-spokesperson-for-2013-tennessee-walk-now-for-autism-speaks-106889/#tS9elom0HAJXizok.99</a></span></span></div>
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<b>7. Curt and Shonda Schilling </b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This former major-league baseball pitcher with several World Series championships and a well-known legacy of the "bloody sock" while pitching with an open ankle injury to bring the Red Sox their first World Series victory in 86 years and his wife, Shonda, have a son with Aspergers named Grant. Shonda authored a New York Times Best Selling book, <a href="http://thebestkindofdifferent.com/" target="_blank">The Best Kind of Different</a>, about her experiences as a parent of a child on the autism spectrum. They are both active in spreading autism awareness and sharing their experiences for the benefits of others.</span><br />
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">8. Sylvester Stallone </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Another one of the celebrities who has an autistic child is Sylvester Stallone. His son Seargeoh was diagnosed with autism at age 3 after the infamous "Rocky" star and his former wife, Sasha Czack, recognized that he was having difficulties with communication. They refused to remain silent and Sylvester openly discussed the diagnosis and its impact in an interview with <a href="http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20090891,00.html" target="_blank">People Magazine in 1995</a>. In 2005, he narrated a documentary and educational video produced by Rob Reiner titled </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Child-Special-Needs-Sylvester-Stallone/dp/product-description/B000EBFW0I" target="_blank">A Child with Special Needs</a> to help families cope with the diagnosis of autism. After the untimely death of his second son with former wife Sasha, Sage Stallone (who died of heart disease at the age of 36 in 2012 </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20625980,00.html" target="_blank">http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20625980,00.html</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">), the family requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Autism Speaks in honor of Seargeoh. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>9. Tisha Campbell-Martin and Dwayne Martin </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;">This actress and actor duo has been extremely vocal and active within the African American autism community. Their son, Xen, has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. They began the foundation, <a href="http://simplytisha.com/tag/autism/" target="_blank">Color My Mind</a>, to raise funds and awareness of autism targeting African American families. She recently completed a documentary with the same title and continues to work fervently for the cause. To read more about their story: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZvI66eZ3PI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZvI66eZ3PI</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>9. Ernie Els </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;">South African PGA golf champion, Ernie Els and his wife, Leizl, are the proud parents of their son, Ben, who has been diagnosed with ASD. In 2009 they established the Els for Autism Foundation and hope to open the Center of Excellence in 2015. The center is described as follows: "The physical components include an educational program for 300 students ages 3 to 21, applied research, medical and professional services, transition to adulthood and its myriad of aspects including adult living and job training." Ernie holds a yearly golf challenge to raise funds for his organization. Like Tommy Hilfiger and Toni Braxton, Ernie has joined forces with Autism Speaks and made a PSA to raise autism awareness internationally. To learn more:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Els for Autism: <a href="http://www.elsforautism.com/site/PageServer?pagename=Els_events_April_Autism_Awareness" target="_blank">http://www.elsforautism.com/site/PageServer?pagename=Els_events_April_Autism_Awareness</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Center of Excellence: <a href="http://www.ernieels.com/els_for_autism/center_of_excellence/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.ernieels.com/els_for_autism/center_of_excellence/index.html</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Golf Challenge: <a href="http://www.elsforautism.com/site/PageServer?pagename=golf_challenge" target="_blank">http://www.elsforautism.com/site/PageServer?pagename=golf_challenge</a></span><br />
Autism Speaks PSA: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDc4auio2oQ" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDc4auio2oQ</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><b>10. Jamie McMurray </b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 16px;">In honor of his niece who has been diagnosed with autism, NASCAR driver, Jamie McMurray, has used his high profile and his voice to fuel the <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/nascar-jamie-mcmurray-foundation-launch-auction-benefit-autism-speaks" target="_blank">autism awareness campaign</a>. He started the <a href="http://www.jamiemcmurray.com/foundation/" target="_blank">Jamie McMurray Foundation</a> and has also made a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsqXDSJZVMY" target="_blank">PSA with Autism Speaks</a>. </span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">11. Jenny McCarthy</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Although not my favorite person, there is no doubt that the Playboy model/actress/comedienne Jenny McCarthy is one of the most well
known celebrities with child on the autism spectrum. Her son, Evan, was diagnosed with
autism in 2005. The actress claims that this is what caused her divorce with
her husband, as he was unwilling to deal with their son's condition. Since
then, Jenny McCarthy has been an advocate of the condition. She is well known
for her beliefs that childhood vaccines cause autism and that the condition can
be controlled through proper diet. More recently, Jenny has joined the cast of the daily talk show The View and frequently uses that platform to express her position on autism care.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>12. Jaqueline Laurita </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Known for her role on the reality show Real Housewives of New Jersey, Jaqueline revealed to the world that her son, Nicholas, has been diagnosed with autism. She has been extremely public about her journey, but not as active in fundraising or other organizations. Read more here: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-murro/jacqueline-laurita-opens-_b_1848658.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-murro/jacqueline-laurita-opens-_b_1848658.html</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><b><u><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The quiet but active:</span></i></u></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1. Ed Asner </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cEssfbDFqIWy_MWZ1rjmgMFPYLNZBTGq8ZlzUIADaPVIBWoTKry2Ji7avpylS4G0IWH_0ZDquKrIcLSgmw-rb5ArDR01RTVepn4eiTzWXrz5EkXEBxYhay3fCSX-1iqlLEGsJjIcx-8/s1600/ed_asner_2010_a_p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cEssfbDFqIWy_MWZ1rjmgMFPYLNZBTGq8ZlzUIADaPVIBWoTKry2Ji7avpylS4G0IWH_0ZDquKrIcLSgmw-rb5ArDR01RTVepn4eiTzWXrz5EkXEBxYhay3fCSX-1iqlLEGsJjIcx-8/s200/ed_asner_2010_a_p.jpg" width="149" /></a></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Actor probably best known for his role in the 70's sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and president of the Screen Actor's Guild. His son, Matthew, was diagnosed with autism around the age of 7 or 8 and is now an adult and has served as executive director of the Southern California chapter for Autism Speaks. He also has a grandson who was diagnosed with ASD. Not very visibly active within the autism community, he gave an interview for a video called <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMhP9sL0WMo" target="_blank">Faces of Autism</a>, has hosted <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/ed-asner-hosts-poker-tournament-benefiting-autism-speaks" target="_blank">poker tournaments to benefit Autism Speaks</a> and Ed is quietly active with <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/ed-asner-autism-my-life-makes-me-better-man" target="_blank">Autism Speaks</a>. He serves on the advisory committee for <a href="http://aspiritech.org/" target="_blank">Aspiritech</a>, a suburban Chicago firm that employs persons with autism spectrum disorders to test and program software.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">2. Joe Mantegna </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5MQz4le99ldpjk2jYGFqLOIgE6TYzGCjFIqNdQvBbZYSVc4_3JHt-0rVNqFCeqwQ-Qk9zKk4uqPikJRAsBGbJENLOjFYr4mh8KicdwSz4KI_On9Ab09l4vZW88CtbCJW-ZQbYHjnxNU/s1600/joes_new_publicity_shot2_med.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5MQz4le99ldpjk2jYGFqLOIgE6TYzGCjFIqNdQvBbZYSVc4_3JHt-0rVNqFCeqwQ-Qk9zKk4uqPikJRAsBGbJENLOjFYr4mh8KicdwSz4KI_On9Ab09l4vZW88CtbCJW-ZQbYHjnxNU/s200/joes_new_publicity_shot2_med.jpeg" width="154" /></a></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The actor known for his role on the drama Criminal Minds, has a daughter who is diagnosed with ASD. He has been quietly but actively involved in the autism fundraising and awareness campaign for decades. His wife, Arlene, created the <a href="http://autismfamiliestogethernetwork.com/?page_id=162" target="_blank">Autism Families Together Network</a>.</span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">3. Gary Cole </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNxrzSKTODVGW_H1orAgYDvNKOK6carIm22Vg-p4_Q-LbymcK_J1mpZYkOB7uPV0XKOgzDK8UfpOP6k0N1p_7MYxYFJf8FT6pgxWjI_ylny_2gd2f5EtrXf0N1YwpIRKLzutHhbAs2dg/s1600/Cole_TD00532113_150x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNxrzSKTODVGW_H1orAgYDvNKOK6carIm22Vg-p4_Q-LbymcK_J1mpZYkOB7uPV0XKOgzDK8UfpOP6k0N1p_7MYxYFJf8FT6pgxWjI_ylny_2gd2f5EtrXf0N1YwpIRKLzutHhbAs2dg/s200/Cole_TD00532113_150x200.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The actor known for his roles in the movie Office Space and the HBO hit series Entourage has a daughter, Mary, who was diagnosed with ASD at the age of 2 in 1995. Gary is highly active and supportive with Autism Speaks and <a href="http://www.thehelpgroup.org/" target="_blank">The Help Group</a>. Read more of this story: <a href="http://celebritybabies.people.com/2009/03/28/gary-cole-opens-up-about-daughters-autism/" target="_blank">http://celebritybabies.people.com/2009/03/28/gary-cole-opens-up-about-daughters-autism/</a> </span></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Steven Stills </span></b></b></div>
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<b><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTQVT3iF0ZKrZt07ADRVlhUy4HzghnvAyxAn58Sa_DilnL_XXzIcGUawbQYw0bkub3WMOqiZeODlm-Zu-Ph78NXfuFH3DyXlcieP3i8JE6NwvsmJCwpHTEXoYjT-4Pt2nOeqFXIcBN64/s1600/STEPHEN-STILLS-Issue-No26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTQVT3iF0ZKrZt07ADRVlhUy4HzghnvAyxAn58Sa_DilnL_XXzIcGUawbQYw0bkub3WMOqiZeODlm-Zu-Ph78NXfuFH3DyXlcieP3i8JE6NwvsmJCwpHTEXoYjT-4Pt2nOeqFXIcBN64/s200/STEPHEN-STILLS-Issue-No26.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></b></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Known as a member of the music group Crosby, Stills, and Nash has a s</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">on, Henry, who </span>was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at age 3. He had been spinning things and lining up cars. "I'm shy about going public with this," Stephen explains. Kristen, his mom, believes autism is caused by a combination between genetic predisposition and environmental toxins. "Henry didn't have the regressive thing," she explains. "He was always a little 'off.' It was more pronounced at 2 because that's when kids are more social." In 2013, he and his wife decided to organize a concert for Autism Awareness Month: <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/08/entertainment/la-et-ms-stephen-stills-benefit-20130409" target="_blank">http://articles.latimes.com/2013/apr/08/entertainment/la-et-ms-stephen-stills-benefit-20130409</a></span></div>
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<b>5. Aidan Quinn </b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0g9Y9JtTLaLqcyY3MXwrnQZSeCiGOIkw1J7tqKFHaT0knMVAlqA7BXXgVhTuJ44AKkYhPPdNy4V2LdXFFDtpMzu1OZ7qgAOo8-OGvjKst75bt3i4NjtCcpp81mDMhju7Kv05DqwtclY/s1600/irish_rh_promos_aidan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0g9Y9JtTLaLqcyY3MXwrnQZSeCiGOIkw1J7tqKFHaT0knMVAlqA7BXXgVhTuJ44AKkYhPPdNy4V2LdXFFDtpMzu1OZ7qgAOo8-OGvjKst75bt3i4NjtCcpp81mDMhju7Kv05DqwtclY/s200/irish_rh_promos_aidan.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Actor Aidan Quinn has a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> daughter diagnosed with autism. "The incidence of autism has gone up 500 percent since my daughter was diagnosed," says the actor. He is quietly involved with several organizations for autism research.</span></span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>6. John Schneider (1) </b></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpzwKdkFb2HAtjs2RQrauiWUvf6nn2OPEBnWzPNg_JvB-nvgCdgCFjAlDI2AAkGaPAO2s86SCYGWGdXqw_jeHG1PWeNRkJKYiVAwW5RQrwVtuTJ9z6k9vO4CAkWi9_V9lz-F_zJxP-0M/s1600/schneider2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpzwKdkFb2HAtjs2RQrauiWUvf6nn2OPEBnWzPNg_JvB-nvgCdgCFjAlDI2AAkGaPAO2s86SCYGWGdXqw_jeHG1PWeNRkJKYiVAwW5RQrwVtuTJ9z6k9vO4CAkWi9_V9lz-F_zJxP-0M/s200/schneider2.jpg" width="149" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Dukes of Hazzard</i> star John Schneider’s son, Chasen, has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. "Chasen responded well to speech and language therapy and went from there to occupational therapy. But some things that most children just kind of learn by osmosis need to be taught to a child with Asperger's." John has also been quietly involved with <a href="http://nonprofitshoppingmall.com/people-who-care/john-schneider" target="_blank">Autism Speaks</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">7. John Schneider (2)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7B4XgILyDOcnVyPrH6mrbh2oiNZD_5YMDkmos6p335GDc2Smwb_Bj1uawxjWPJXu8VdLBf5h_bL1LyQ-n6QsqPpjdewE31IBDM-FD6ny_wZX2xhwIz8WL1jT2wuzsgjESKgz0ve1V10/s1600/JOHNSCHNEIDER-480x382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7B4XgILyDOcnVyPrH6mrbh2oiNZD_5YMDkmos6p335GDc2Smwb_Bj1uawxjWPJXu8VdLBf5h_bL1LyQ-n6QsqPpjdewE31IBDM-FD6ny_wZX2xhwIz8WL1jT2wuzsgjESKgz0ve1V10/s200/JOHNSCHNEIDER-480x382.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">No known relation to the actor, NFL's Seattle Seahawks' general manager, John Schneider and his wife, Traci, have been quietly active in the autism campaign. Their son, Ben, has been diagnosed with autism. They have been actively raising funds and awareness and are launching <a href="http://www.featwa.org/grants/" target="_blank">Ben's Fund in partnership with the Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) </a>of the state of Washington to help provide grants and funding to families in need.</span><br />
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<b><u><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Just some of the "silent majority." I'm sure there are PLENTY more, but they choose to remain silent...</span></i></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 22.0pt;">1. John Travolta and Kelly Preston </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s first son, Jett, had autism </span><a href="http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/807221/john-travoltas-son-jett-dead"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">before sadly passing
away at the age of 16 after he had a seizure</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">. The couple, who are
Scientologists, didn’t talk about their son’s condition until he was testifying
to a grand jury after the death of his son and revealed his son was indeed
autistic. Preston said her son was "the most wonderful son that two
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<b>2. Shawn Stockman </b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The R&B singer best known for being a member of the grop Boyz II Men revealed his "private
battles" with autism in an exclusive <a href="http://www.boyziimen.com/media/videos/20501/31071" target="_blank">interview with CNN</a>. Stockman describes how his world came crashing down 9 years ago
when his then 2-year-old son Micah was diagnosed with
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Will Clark </span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Former Major League Baseball player nicknamed "The
Thrill", best known for his time with the San Francisco Giants. </span>Will's son, Trey, who was born around 1996 was diagnosed with autism shortly after the age of 2. Since Will was still playing baseball at
the time he admits that wife, Lisa, is the one who handled all the therapy
appointments.</span></div>
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<b>4. D.L. Hughley </b></div>
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The comedian and radio personality has an adult son who is diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Unfortunately, Mr. Hughley has not been very kind with the use of his words in regards to his son's disorder, so I will just put his name on the list as a "dishonorable mention."<br />
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<b>5. DiDi Conn </b></div>
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Best known for her performance as "Frenchie" in the movie Grease, DiDi Conn's adult son, Danny, was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at the age of 2. He is now more accurately described as having "high functioning autism."Didi has spoken of her son's diagnosis but continues to be part of the "silent majority"... or at least one of the ones we know about...<br />
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/02/conn.autism/" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/04/02/conn.autism/</a><br />
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<b>6. Richard Burton </b></div>
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The well known actor who was married, not once, but twice to the graceful Elizabeth Taylor has a daughter, Jessica, who was diagnosed as autistic. Very little is known about her story, and what we know is very sad, including spending most of her life in an institution in New York:<br />
<a href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Richard+Burton+story%3A+Part+3+-+Heartbreak+of+devoted+dad%3B+STALKED...-a062274373" target="_blank">http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Richard+Burton+story%3A+Part+3+-+Heartbreak+of+devoted+dad%3B+STALKED...-a062274373</a><br />
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<b>7. Angie Dickinson and Burt Bacharach </b></div>
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She's the actress best known for her TV role as the lead in "Police Woman." He is an accomplished and award winning composer, musician and performer. Together they had a daughter, Nikki, who was born extremely prematurely, was a very late talker, lacked social interactions and coping skills. Later in life she would be diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Angie's only daughter, she spent most of her life in various hospitals and institutions. Sadly, Nikki committed suicide in 2007. Angie told her story in 2010 at the age of 78: <a href="http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29/angie-dickinson-reveals-tormented-motherhood-with-aspergers-dau/" target="_blank">http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29/angie-dickinson-reveals-tormented-motherhood-with-aspergers-dau/</a><br />
Burt told his side of the story as well: <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-2321487/Burt-Bacharach-married-times-lost-daughter-suicide--long-tells-story-words.html" target="_blank">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-2321487/Burt-Bacharach-married-times-lost-daughter-suicide--long-tells-story-words.html</a><br />
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<b>8. Branford and Wynton Marsalis </b></div>
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The award-winning and "genius" jazz musicians, known for their mastery of the trumpet and clarinet, have a younger brother, Mboya, who is autistic. Very little is known about him, but the following piece is quite touching: <a href="http://injectingsense.blogspot.com/2006/06/inspiration-of-love.html" target="_blank">http://injectingsense.blogspot.com/2006/06/inspiration-of-love.html</a></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com108tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-29208702614267899512013-10-17T20:06:00.001-04:002013-10-17T20:07:36.104-04:00National Disability Employment Awareness MonthHi all! I am reposting this great article that my wonderful friend, Kerry Magro, wrote for the Autism Speaks blog. As you may know, October is national disability employment awareness month. Kerry's article focuses advice on how young adults with autism can prepare for entering the work force. Here are some startling statistics:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">-The number of such (autistic) individuals has increased by more than 121 percent from 2002 to 2006. Moreover, though adults with autism were employed at higher rates than most disability groups investigated, they tended to work far fewer hours and earn less in wages per week. The study also found that adults with autism were among the most costly individuals to serve. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19369389" target="_blank">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19369389</a></span><br />
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-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #111111; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">For adults with autism, Autism Speaks has found that 9 out of 10 either are unemployed or underemployed, regardless of their IQ or education level. <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/adult-employment-new-allies-come-board" target="_blank">http://www.autismspeaks.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/adult-employment-new-allies-come-board</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;">One in 3 young adults with autism have no paid job experience, college or technical school nearly seven years after high school graduation, a study finds. <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-05-14/autistic-young-adults-jobs/54954292/1" target="_blank">http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-05-14/autistic-young-adults-jobs/54954292/1</a></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2012/many-youths-with-autism-not-employed-or-in-college-2-years-after-high-school.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2012/many-youths-with-autism-not-employed-or-in-college-2-years-after-high-school.shtml</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">OK, enough depressing news, now some upbeat words from Kerry. </span>Please feel free to pass it on! And if you haven't already done so, pick up a copy of Kerry's book, "Defining Autism from the Heart," available at amazon (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Defining-Autism-From-The-Heart/dp/0615818102" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Defining-Autism-From-The-Heart/dp/0615818102</a>)</span><br />
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Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AutismSpeaksBlog/~3/-cdd71_l6E0/five-tips-individuals-autism-finding-employment?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email" name="141bb5d3c693cc78_1" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;" target="_blank">Five Tips for Individuals with Autism on Finding Employment</a></div>
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Posted: 14 Oct 2013 06:00 AM PDT</div>
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Autism Speaks Staffer Kerry Magro shares his experiences finding employment and tips to help other adults with autism to do the same.</div>
<img alt="" src="http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/images/kerry_black_shirt_headshot.jpg" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 5px; min-height: 250px; width: 166px;" /><br />
<em>This is a post by Kerry Magro, Social Marketing Coordinator at Autism Speaks! Kerry was diagnosed with autism at age four. He is a self-advocate and recently released his debut book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Defining-Autism-From-The-Heart/dp/0615818102/ref=tmm_pap_title_0" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Defining Autism From The Heart</a>" in which he discusses his life on the spectrum. </em><br />
Last March, I started working full time for Autism Speaks as a Social Marketing Coordinator. After finishing my course work for my Masters in January, I was thrilled that Autism Speaks would offer me an opportunity for my first full time position within their organization.<br />
My employment record before this included several internships and part time jobs. As we get further into National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I wanted to share some tips I’ve learned from my experiences with individuals with autism looking for employment.<br />
1. <strong><u>Find your passion and maximize it</u></strong>.<br />
During college, I was constantly told about the hardships I would face trying to find a job in this economy. One way I managed to work through that was working on my first book called <em>“Defining Autism From The Heart</em>”. I have always loved to write and using that passion to do something I was interested in really benefited me. During college, I also started the paperwork to establish my 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization to build on another passion of mine, Self-Advocacy. I know these both seem like big projects and they did take a few years of work to accomplish. But no matter what you do, you should always be reflecting on what you’re passionate about and try to turn those passions into opportunities for yourself.<br />
<img alt="" src="http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/images/book_1.jpg" style="min-height: 300px; width: 400px;" /><br />
<strong>2. </strong><strong><u>Ask Questions.</u></strong><br />
In school they always tell you that the only dumb question is not asking that question. I’ve always seen asking questions as a critical element to whatever you are doing. No matter what type of education you have, self-advocating and being aware are key to any success you’ll have. Many young kids I know with autism have trouble with this. For those educators out there, teaching these “social skills” and self-advocacy skills can be critical to future success.<br />
<strong>3. </strong><strong><u>Do Your Research.</u></strong><br />
This goes hand-in-hand with what I mentioned earlier about reflection. Research needs to become both an internal and external factor in your efforts to find a job. You need to target your strengths and then capitalize on them. Take the first two tips above, internally try to process this and then switch to external research, which is ultimately who is hiring and if a job isn't available, what possibilities there are in these situations to create volunteer/internships. Getting experience as a volunteer or an intern may open the door to entry-level employment within organizations or companies.<br />
<img alt="" src="http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/images/kerry_headshot_shu_webpage.jpg" style="min-height: 285px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />
<strong>4. </strong><strong><u>Don’t Run From Learning Experiences</u>. </strong><br />
Many individuals with autism who get an early diagnosis have already been working a nine to five job focusing on their therapies. So as young adults, they have already had work experience getting themselves to the point where they can be employed today. Hard work is not new to them. No matter what’s on the table, you should always give it a test run! Make sure you are very open about the accommodations you need in that workplace and then give it a few days to feel it out.<br />
<strong>5. </strong><strong><u>Don’t Sell Yourself Short! Reach for the Stars!</u></strong><br />
No matter if this is the first job you are looking for or your 30<sup>th</sup>, never sell yourself short. Always go in with the mantra that no matter if you have autism or you don’t, you can and will achieve greatness. I always tell kids I consult for to “define their autism.” Go look for work with the confidence that you are who you are and that you have a passion and unique ability that can be valued in the workforce. Then find the places that will best value that.<br />
Individuals with autism are reaching adulthood every day. I encourage those young adults out there who do have positive job experiences to share them with our community. When I was a kid, I didn’t know that one day I would have a job in something I enjoyed, but I do now and it’s an amazing feeling! Our autism spectrum is very huge, don’t get me wrong, but I do believe there are opportunities out there and more will be available in the future.<br />
<a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/october-national-disability-employment-awareness-month" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/images/ndeam_logo_1.jpg" style="min-height: 197px; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<strong>To learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month go <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/news/news-item/october-national-disability-employment-awareness-month" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also download our Employment Tool Kit to help in your search for a job <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/employment" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>. </strong></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-42221494329767630762013-09-22T20:01:00.000-04:002013-09-22T20:01:30.821-04:00Great article on play and autismBlessings, everyone! It's been a busy month in our household with our little guy starting kindergarten! I have a wonderful piece that I'm working on right now, but while I polish that off, I wanted to share this great article I read about play and autism. I hope you find it helpful in understanding your loved one(s) with ASD. As usual, I will post the link in my Parent Resources page for future reference.<br />
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Have a blessed week!<br />
DC<br />
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What Is 'Play' to a Child With Autism?</h1>
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Motion preferred to arts and crafts or pretending, study finds</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Tuesday, August 27, 2013</span><div id="newsmain" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; padding-top: 15px;">
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TUESDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- When free to choose, kids with autism pick games that engage their senses and avoid games that ask them to pretend, a new study finds.</div>
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Experts said the results are not surprising. It's known, for instance, that when children do not show an interest in pretend play, such as "feeding" a doll, by about age 2, that is a potential sign of an autism spectrum disorder.</div>
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What is unique about the new study is that it went out into the real world, said lead researcher Kathy Ralabate Doody, an assistant professor of exceptional education at the State University of New York, Buffalo State.</div>
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Doody's team spent six months observing children who attended a local museum's Au-some Evenings, a monthly program designed for children with autism. The program offered 20 exhibits with different activities, including a train that children could climb on, arts and crafts and a make-believe farm where kids could pretend to pick vegetables and collect eggs.</div>
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The researchers found that children with autism were naturally drawn to activities that got them moving, or allowed them to watch moving objects. The biggest crowd pleaser was an exhibit in which kids climbed a short staircase and dropped a ball into a track to watch it travel over hills. Another favorite was a windmill that the children could spin.</div>
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On the other hand, arts and crafts, and exhibits that required pretending were the least popular, according to the findings, which were reported in a recent issue of the <i>North American Journal of Medicine and Science.</i></div>
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"We know that kids on the spectrum have a fascination with things that move, and with repetition," Doody said.</div>
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In contrast, she said, pretend play requires "putting yourself in someone's shoes," and talking and acting as if you were another person. That's an ability with which children with autism spectrum disorders struggle.</div>
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The current findings are what you would expect, said Dana Levy, a clinical assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, in New York City.</div>
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"I think it's a really nice idea," Levy said, referring to the museum's autism spectrum disorders program.</div>
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"We do know that kids with autism are able to practice social skills when they're doing something they enjoy," Levy said. So if an activity gets your child around other kids -- and talking or learning to take turns, for instance -- it could benefit his or her development.</div>
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"If it becomes just a solitary thing, though, it's not really helpful," Levy said.</div>
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Plus, letting children do only the things they're innately drawn to can be limiting. When young children with autism spectrum disorders are in therapy, pretend play is typically part of it, Levy said.</div>
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But if there is a social setting with activities a child with autism enjoys, parents can use that as a door, Levy said. If your child loves the museum's stair-climbing exhibit, on your next visit tell him or her that you're going to try one new thing first and then go to the stairs, Levy suggested.</div>
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It's estimated that about one in 88 children has an autism spectrum disorder -- a group of developmental disorders that hinder a person's ability to communicate and interact socially. Autism spectrum disorders range widely in severity: Some children speak very little and have an intense preoccupation with just a few things, while other kids have normal or above-normal intelligence and milder problems with socializing.</div>
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For the current study, Doody's team watched children during six Au-some Evenings events. An average of 31 children with autism spectrum disorders and 22 without (usually siblings) attended each night. One limitation of the research, Doody said, is that they had no medical information on the children, including the severity of their autism.</div>
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Doody, who has a child with an autism spectrum disorder, said it would be helpful if more public places had events like this, since parents can struggle to find activities the whole family enjoys -- particularly if they also have kids without autism.</div>
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She said the current findings could help community programs develop inclusive activities so kids with autism have more chances to interact with typically developing children.</div>
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"Being in a social environment is great for them," Levy said.</div>
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Even if your local museum doesn't have a special program, she said, it might have something that would appeal to your child. If he or she likes to look at maps, for instance, a museum or park that has maps scattered throughout might be a good place to start.</div>
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SOURCES: Kathy Ralabate Doody, Ph.D., assistant professor, exceptional education, SUNY Buffalo State, Buffalo, New York; Dana Levy, Psy.D., Ph.D., clinical assistant professor, child and adolescent psychiatry, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; July 2013, <i>North American Journal of Medicine and Science</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-48424967452437026442013-09-15T18:24:00.002-04:002013-09-15T18:24:41.266-04:00Better late than never...Sorry, folks! I should have posted this a few weeks ago, but we were kind of nutty getting our little guy ready to start kindergarten... in a general education class!!!! YIKES!!! Anyway, here is a wonderful article that came out in preparation for back to school. I will post it in my Parent Resources page. I think many of the tips are helpful for any new situation, not just starting school and many of the tips are great for every day use. Great info for future reference.<br />
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Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
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Back-to-School Tips May Help Ease Sensory Overload in Kids</h1>
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Students with 'sensory processing disorder' often struggle with adapting to change</div>
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By Mary Elizabeth Dallas</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Friday, August 30, 2013</span><div id="newsmain" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; padding-top: 15px;">
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FRIDAY, Aug. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Transitioning from summer to a new school year is hard for any kid, but it is particularly difficult for children who have trouble processing new sensations, according to an expert on what is known as "sensory processing disorder."</div>
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Sensory processing disorder is a neurological problem that affects behavior and learning. For kids with this disorder, too much sensory overload or the wrong kind of stimulation can lead to problems with attention, coordination and impulsiveness as the child tries to either increase or decrease the sensations they are experiencing.</div>
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Varleisha Gibbs, an assistant professor of occupational therapy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, explained that the transition back to school disrupts the daily routines that these children have established during the summer. She noted, however, planning ahead can help ease the stress of this transition.</div>
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"Students with sensory processing disorders typically struggle with adapting to change," Gibbs said in a university news release. "A new school year brings an abundance of changes, including new teachers and classmates, schedules and routines, classrooms and settings, as well as new demands and expectations in the classroom."</div>
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To ease the transition to a new school year for children with sensory processing disorders, Gibbs recommended that children, teachers and parents or caregivers take the following steps:</div>
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<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 5px;"><b>Plan a visit.</b> Before the first day of class, arrange a visit to the school to familiarize the child with the school setting and the teacher. If possible, take photos of the surroundings to help the child acclimate to the environment ahead of time.</li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 5px;"><b>Be proactive.</b> Reach out to the school early to inform administrators about the child's therapy schedule. A child's private occupational therapy sessions should be coordinated with any therapy offered at school so they do not overlap.</li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 5px;"><b>Pack a sensory kit.</b> Certain fidget devices may help keep children calm and focused during a stressful transition time. These objects include stress balls, seat cushions, gum and music with headphones. Teachers can also provide a variety of seating options in the classrooms, including beanbag chairs and therapy balls.</li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 5px;"><b>Be open.</b> Because not all children with sensory processing disorders are placed in special education, communicating a child's needs to teachers and school administrators can help ensure they are able to benefit from their calming strategies. For example, these children may need to chew gum in class or listen to headphones between classes.</li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 5px;"><b>Shop early.</b> Purchase backpacks and school clothes well in advance so children can try them on and identify any items that are bothersome or uncomfortable. Be sure to remove all tags, wash the clothes and find underwear that can alleviate any irritability from the fabric rubbing against the skin.</li>
<li style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin-left: 5px;"><b>Set an example.</b> When parents are calm and collected, it's easier for children to feel the same way about going back to school.</li>
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SOURCE: University of the Sciences, news release, Aug. 28, 2013</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-48140799536426678232013-08-19T12:12:00.000-04:002013-08-19T12:12:10.227-04:00Finally some guilt-free research findings!!!My regular readers will know I'm all about sharing the newest research findings. I've stopped doing that as much on this blog because it feels like the "blame game," or it's just bad news all around. Today a new study was in the news and this one finally has good news that we can feel happy about and not feel guilt or pessimism for the future. It's about ASD and standardized state testing. I hope it gives you a little bit of hope and peace!<br />
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Blessings!<br />
DC<br />
<br />
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Kids With Autism Outperformed Others on Math Test, Study Found</h1>
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Parents might be reassured by focusing on children's strengths, researcher says</div>
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By Robert Preidt</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Friday, August 16, 2013</span><div id="newsmain" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; padding-top: 15px;">
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FRIDAY, Aug. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Children with autism and average IQs consistently did better on math tests than non-autistic children in the same IQ range, according to a small new study.</div>
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The superiority in math skills among children with autism was tied to patterns of activation in a particular area of the brain, an area normally associated with recognizing faces and visual objects.</div>
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"There appears to be a unique pattern of brain organization that underlies superior problem-solving abilities in children with autism," study senior author Vinod Menon, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, said in a university news release.</div>
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The study included 18 children with autism, aged 7 to 12, and a control group of 18 children without autism. All participants showed normal verbal and reading skills on standardized tests, but the children with autism outperformed their peers without autism on standardized math tests.</div>
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The researchers also had all of the children work on math problems while their brain activity was measured using MRI. The brain scans of the children with autism revealed an unusual pattern of activity in the ventral temporal occipital cortex, an area of the brain specialized for processing faces and other visual objects.</div>
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The study will be published online Aug. 17 in the journal <i>Biological Psychiatry</i>.</div>
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"[Previous research] has focused almost exclusively on weaknesses in children with autism," said Menon, a member of the Child Health Research Institute at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. "Our study supports the idea that the atypical brain development in autism can lead not just to deficits, but also to some remarkable cognitive strengths. We think this can be reassuring to parents."</div>
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Menon said children with autism sometimes exhibit exceptional talents or skills. For example, some can instantly recall the day of the week of any calendar date within a particular range of years, and others have outstanding math skills.</div>
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"Remembering calendar dates is probably not going to help you with academic and professional success," Menon said. "But being able to solve numerical problems and developing good mathematical skills could make a big difference in the life of a child with autism."</div>
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About one in 88 children has some form of autism, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</div>
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SOURCE: Stanford University, news release, Aug. 16, 2013</div>
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HealthDay</div>
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Copyright (c) 2013 <a class=" reveal" href="http://www.healthday.com/" style="color: #005988; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_new">HealthDay</a>. All rights reserved.</div>
<br />
To read the original story: <a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_139817.html" target="_blank">http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_139817.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1007180518603691445.post-61638599452344464122013-07-26T17:10:00.002-04:002013-07-26T17:10:43.705-04:00Thank you, Kerry Magro!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to our amazing friend, Kerry Magro, Social Marketing Coordinator at Autism Speaks, for putting my boy and I as the cover photo this week on the Autism Speaks' Facebook Page!!!</span><div>
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background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: default; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1px; white-space: nowrap;" type="submit" value="Liked" /></label></span></span></span><span class="uiButtonGroup mtm mlm actionsContents profileHeaderButton uiButtonGroupOverlay" id="u_jsonp_3_k" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 0px 1px 0px; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="firstItem uiButtonGroupItem buttonItem" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"><a ajaxify="/ajax/messaging/composer.php?ids%5B0%5D=75219157496&ref=timeline" class="uiButton uiButtonOverlay uiButtonLarge" href="https://www.facebook.com/messages/autismspeaks" rel="dialog" role="button" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: none; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y1/r/qo26tPN5Hpy.png); background-position: 0px -53px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: transparent; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: transparent; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: 19px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: -1px; margin-left: -1px; margin-right: -1px; margin-top: -1px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="uiButtonText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1px; white-space: nowrap;">Message</span></a></span><span class="lastItem uiButtonGroupItem selectorItem" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"><div class="uiSelector inlineBlock fbTimelineActionSelector uiSelectorRight" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: -1px; margin-left: -1px; margin-right: -1px; margin-top: -1px; max-width: none; vertical-align: top; zoom: 1;">
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<a aria-haspopup="1" aria-label="Other actions" class="fbTimelineActionSelectorButton uiSelectorButton uiButton uiButtonOverlay uiButtonLarge uiButtonNoText" href="https://www.facebook.com/#" rel="toggle" role="button" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: none; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y1/r/qo26tPN5Hpy.png); background-position: 100% -103px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: transparent; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: transparent; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: 19px; line-height: 16px; max-width: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><i class="mrs img sp_at8kd9 sx_7e8063" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/ya/r/wjorsTVUCAf.png); background-position: -31px -570px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 14px; margin-left: -1px; margin-right: -1px; margin-top: 4px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; vertical-align: top; width: 10px;"></i><span class="uiButtonText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1px; white-space: nowrap; width: 9px;"></span></a></div>
</div>
</span></span></div>
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<div class="name" style="overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">
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<a class="profilePicThumb" href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150710208492497&set=a.452935472496.243017.75219157496&type=1&source=11" id="profile_pic_education" rel="theater" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0664063) 0px 1px 1px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.296875); background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; left: 23px; margin-top: -104px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: absolute; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Autism Speaks - New York, NY" class="profilePic img" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash3/c21.21.259.259/s160x160/525982_10150710208492497_776574080_n.jpg" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 4px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 4px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 4px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 4px; display: block; height: 160px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 160px;" /></a></div>
<h2 style="bottom: 50px; color: #1c2a47; font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 206px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 16px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span itemprop="name">Autism Speaks<span aria-label="Verified Page" class="_56_f _5dzy _5d-1" data-hover="tooltip" data-tooltip-position="right" id="u_jsonp_3_4" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yy/r/1UlXl9vGZzL.png); background-position: 0px -51px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 19px; margin-left: 4px; vertical-align: -2px; width: 19px;"></span></span><div class="fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">
<div class="fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">
1,135,198 likes · 25,616 talking about this · 3,919 were here</div>
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</h2>
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<a class="profileThumb" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks?ref=stream" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; height: 32px; margin-top: -1px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" class="_s0 _rw img" src="https://profile-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ash3/41569_75219157496_1019167101_q.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline-block; height: 32px; width: 32px;" /></a><span class="uiButtonGroup fbStickyHeaderBreadcrumb uiButtonGroupOverlay" id="u_jsonp_3_6i" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 0px 1px 0px; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: inline-block; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 3px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="uiButtonGroupItem buttonItem firstItem" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"><a class="nameButton uiButton uiButtonOverlay" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks?ref=stream" role="button" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: none; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y1/r/qo26tPN5Hpy.png); background-position: 0px -53px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: transparent; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: transparent; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 19px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: -1px; margin-left: -1px; margin-right: -1px; margin-top: -1px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="uiButtonText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">Autism Speaks</span></a></span><span class="uiButtonGroupItem selectorItem" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"><div class="uiSelector inlineBlock pageMenu uiSelectorNormal uiSelectorDynamicLabel" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: -1px; margin-left: -1px; margin-right: -1px; margin-top: -1px; max-width: none; vertical-align: top; zoom: 1;">
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<a aria-haspopup="1" class="pageMenuButton uiSelectorButton uiButton uiButtonOverlay" data-label="Timeline" data-length="30" href="https://www.facebook.com/#" rel="toggle" role="button" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: none; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y1/r/qo26tPN5Hpy.png); background-position: 100% -103px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: transparent; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: transparent; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 19px; line-height: 19px; max-width: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 23px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="uiButtonText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Timeline</span></a></div>
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</span><span class="uiButtonGroupItem selectorItem lastItem" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"><div class="uiSelector inlineBlock sectionMenu uiSelectorNormal uiSelectorDynamicLabel" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: -1px; margin-left: -1px; margin-right: -1px; margin-top: -1px; max-width: none; vertical-align: top; zoom: 1;">
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<a aria-haspopup="1" class="uiSelectorButton uiButton uiButtonOverlay" data-length="30" href="https://www.facebook.com/#" rel="toggle" role="button" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: none; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y1/r/qo26tPN5Hpy.png); background-position: 100% -103px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: transparent; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: transparent; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; height: 19px; line-height: 19px; max-width: none; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 23px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="uiButtonText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: none; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Recent</span></a></div>
<select style="border-bottom-color: rgb(189, 199, 216); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(189, 199, 216); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(189, 199, 216); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(189, 199, 216); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: none; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 2px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 2px;"><option value=""></option><option selected="1" value="recent">Recent</option><option value="year_2013">2013</option><option value="year_2012">2012</option><option value="year_2011">2011</option><option value="year_2010">2010</option><option value="year_2009">2009</option><option value="year_2005">Founded</option></select></div>
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<div class="actions" style="float: right; padding-bottom: 7px; padding-left: 16px; padding-right: 25px; padding-top: 9px; position: relative;">
<span class="uiButtonGroup fbTimelineConnectButtonGroup uiButtonGroupOverlay" id="u_jsonp_3_6c" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 0px 1px 0px; background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.347656); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: inline-block; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="firstItem lastItem uiButtonGroupItem buttonItem" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"><span class="_52m- PageLikeButton _5cq-" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"><label class="PageLikedButton _52nf _3spg uiButton uiButtonOverlay uiButtonLarge" for="u_jsonp_3_6h" id="u_jsonp_3_6f" style="-webkit-background-clip: padding-box; -webkit-box-shadow: none; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/y1/r/qo26tPN5Hpy.png); background-position: 0px -53px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: transparent; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: transparent; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; cursor: default; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; height: 19px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: -1px; margin-left: -1px; margin-right: -1px; margin-top: -1px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;"><i class="mrs img sp_at8kd9 sx_d4ea38" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/ya/r/wjorsTVUCAf.png); background-position: -169px -570px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 14px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 4px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; vertical-align: top; width: 9px;"></i><input data-profileid="75219157496" id="u_jsonp_3_6h" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; cursor: default; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 1px; white-space: nowrap;" type="submit" value="Liked" /></label></span></span></span></div>
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<div id="fbSuggestionsPlaceHolder">
</div>
<div class="fbTimelineNavigationPagelet" data-referrer="pagelet_timeline_nav" id="pagelet_timeline_nav" style="min-height: 130px;">
<div class="fbTimelineNavigationWrapper" id="timelineNavContent">
<div class="fbTimelineNavigation" id="u_jsonp_3_i" style="height: 121px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: relative;">
<ul class="clearfix" id="fbTimelineNavTopRow" style="list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 21px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;">
<li class="about tile" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; float: left; height: 108px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; position: relative; width: 328px;"><div data-referrer="pagelet_timeline_summary_tc" id="pagelet_timeline_summary">
<div class="fbTimelineSummarySectionWrapper">
<div class="detail frame" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-left: 0px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; margin-left: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px;">
<div class="fbTimelineSummarySection" style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 26px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;">
<span class="fbProfileNonIconBylineFragment" style="color: #333333; display: block; line-height: 16px; margin-right: 8px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><div class="fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;">
<span class="fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/226326230802065/places" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Charity Organization</a> · <a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/152142351517013/places" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Corporate Office</a></span></div>
</span><span class="fbLongBlurb" style="color: #333333; display: block; line-height: 16px; margin-right: 8px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; white-space: normal;"><div>
Visit us on the web at <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.autismspeaks.org/</a>or follow us on Twitter at<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fautismspeaks&h=qAQHw27VH&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://twitter.com/autismspeaks</a>! Call the Autism Response team for help and resources: 888-AUTISM2.</div>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<a aria-label="About Autism Speaks" class="title" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/info" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: inline; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-left: 43px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none;"><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">About</span></a><div class="pls page_suggest_link" style="display: inline; padding-left: 5px;">
<span class="fss fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 9px;">–</span><a ajaxify="/ajax/pages/suggest/dialog.php?id=75219157496" class="pls" href="https://www.facebook.com/#" rel="async" role="button" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; padding-left: 5px; text-decoration: none;">Suggest an Edit</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="photos tile firstTab" id="pagelet_timeline_photos_nav_top" style="display: block; float: left; position: relative;"><div data-referrer="pagelet_timeline_photos_nav_top_tc" id="pagelet_timeline_photos_nav_top">
<div class="modify" id="u_jsonp_3_g">
<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/photos_stream" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<i class="photo" style="background-color: #eceff5; background-image: url(https://photos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/999645_10151772866072497_1509441721_a.png); background-size: cover; display: block; height: 74px; text-align: left; width: 111px;"></i></div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="title" style="display: block; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 4px;">
<span class="icon" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><i class="img sp_4p6kmz sx_40395f" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yI/r/aoGVaWCuzdk.png); background-position: -51px -118px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; width: 16px;"></i></span><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Photos</span></div>
</a></div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="likes tile " id="pagelet_timeline_likes_nav_top" style="display: block; float: left; position: relative;"><div data-referrer="pagelet_timeline_likes_nav_top_tc" id="pagelet_timeline_likes_nav_top">
<div class="modify" id="u_jsonp_3_6">
<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/likes" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="uiGrid statsContainer" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; height: 74px; width: 111px; word-wrap: normal;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="vMid hCent" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><span class="_wj stats fwb" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yN/r/jZBV2CzYMZK.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1c2a47; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 32px;">1.1m</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(229, 231, 235); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="title" style="display: block; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 4px;">
<span class="icon" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><i class="img sp_f52w7l sx_d17df9" style="background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yk/r/seUDdFWNaZ_.png); background-position: 0px -36px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: auto; display: inline-block; height: 16px; width: 16px;"></i></span><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Likes</span></div>
</a></div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="app_267091300008193 tile " id="pagelet_timeline_app_nav_app_267091300008193_top" style="display: block; float: left; position: relative;"><div data-referrer="pagelet_timeline_app_nav_app_267091300008193_top_tc" id="pagelet_timeline_app_nav_app_267091300008193_top">
<div class="modify" id="u_jsonp_3_d">
<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/app_267091300008193" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<i class="appimage" style="background-color: #f2f3f8; background-image: url(https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/851578_541341382583182_1772426823_n.png); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 74px; width: 111px;"></i></div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="title" style="display: block; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 4px;">
<span class="icon" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://photos-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/851578_547001738683813_2030039434_n.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /></span><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Instagram feed</span></div>
</a></div>
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<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/app_231167786916557" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<i class="appimage" style="background-color: #f2f3f8; background-image: url(https://fbcdn-photos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/851565_572848746081791_165035410_n.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 74px; width: 111px;"></i></div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="title" style="display: block; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 4px;">
<span class="icon" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://photos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/851564_572848739415125_1792405363_n.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /></span><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Walk Now!</span></div>
</a></div>
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<div class="modify" id="u_jsonp_3_b">
<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/app_112247615529244" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<i class="appimage" style="background-color: #f2f3f8; background-image: url(https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/851580_441012175986118_802664995_n.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 74px; width: 111px;"></i></div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="title" style="display: block; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 4px;">
<span class="icon" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://photos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/851576_441012172652785_613066059_n.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /></span><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Family Services Resources</span></div>
</a></div>
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<div class="modify" id="u_jsonp_3_a">
<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/app_246034598752426" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<i class="appimage" style="background-color: #f2f3f8; background-image: url(https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/851576_566462150043001_683891424_n.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 74px; width: 111px;"></i></div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="title" style="display: block; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 4px;">
<span class="icon" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://photos-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/851576_566462146709668_92480030_n.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /></span><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Participate in Research</span></div>
</a></div>
</div>
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<div class="modify" id="u_jsonp_3_e">
<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/app_196506863720166" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<i class="appimage" style="background-color: #f2f3f8; background-image: url(https://photos-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/851580_536520053052177_1110421764_n.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 74px; width: 111px;"></i></div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="title" style="display: block; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 4px;">
<span class="icon" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://fbcdn-photos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/851561_536520043052178_1100354148_n.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /></span><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">Live from the LA Walk</span></div>
</a></div>
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<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/app_282344041776712" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<i class="appimage" style="background-color: #f2f3f8; background-image: url(https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/851557_611829372161509_911000145_n.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 74px; width: 111px;"></i></div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="title" style="display: block; height: 17px; line-height: 17px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-top: 4px;">
<span class="icon" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; display: inline-block; height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1px; vertical-align: top; width: 16px;"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://fbcdn-photos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/851577_611829368828176_1203559022_n.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /></span><span class="text" style="-webkit-transition-delay: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.29s; -webkit-transition-property: all; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-in-out; color: #3b5998; display: inline-block; height: 17px; max-width: 111px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">College Student March Q&A</span></div>
</a></div>
</div>
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<a class="tab" href="https://www.facebook.com/autismspeaks/app_242473895802497" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 110px; padding-left: 6px; text-decoration: none; width: 113px;"><div class="detail" style="background-color: #f1f3f8; border-bottom-color: white; border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: white; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: white; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: white; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 74px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; width: 111px;">
<i class="appimage" style="background-color: #f2f3f8; background-image: url(https://fbcdn-photos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/851580_497987516917799_166698363_n.gif); background-position: 50% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 74px; width: 111px;"></i></div>
<div class="frame" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-top: -76px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; position: absolute; width: 111px;">
<div class="mat" style="border-bottom-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-bottom-left-radius: 2px; border-bottom-right-radius: 2px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.148438); border-top-left-radius: 2px; border-top-right-radius: 2px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; height: 70px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; width: 107px;">
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<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Having said that, I should remind everyone that Kerry's book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Defining-Autism-From-The-Heart/dp/0615818102/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top" target="_blank">Defining Autism From the Heart</a>, is now available on amazon.com! I HAVE read the book at it is AMAZING!!!! You can read my review of the book here:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Defining-Autism-From-The-Heart/product-reviews/0615818102/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Defining-Autism-From-The-Heart/product-reviews/0615818102/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1</a></span></div>
<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6uL4oq2VctmI_MSZ8WqmC95dSwpmOQy1IXrCTm1DyTjbU2ySKTgojSm9yaK9QSclwuRvgrVlO5a_3ZpLGa8bps-RlEis6W9ADvgYOJdjy5MoK0qO4b3mdU3DKpaH5X-857DkXptNtsQ/s1600/gI_128753_Book+Cover+Preview.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6uL4oq2VctmI_MSZ8WqmC95dSwpmOQy1IXrCTm1DyTjbU2ySKTgojSm9yaK9QSclwuRvgrVlO5a_3ZpLGa8bps-RlEis6W9ADvgYOJdjy5MoK0qO4b3mdU3DKpaH5X-857DkXptNtsQ/s400/gI_128753_Book+Cover+Preview.png" width="262" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, run and check out Autism Speaks on Facebook and don't forget to pick up your copy of Kerry's book!!!</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Blessings!</span></div>
<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">DC</span></div>
</div>
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